Model Armour

B1 Centauro Detail Set

Late Version (3rd Series) Italian

Manufacturer: ET Model

Scale: 1/35

Material: Photo-etched brass, Resin & Metal

Serial Number: S35-008

Price:  £14.51

Introduction

ET Model from China has a rapidly expanding catalogue of photo-etched and detail sets for a wide variety of kits in varying scales, together with a very prolific release schedule. This set is actually a collection of three previously released sets for the Trumpeter kit.

Set Contents

The Centauro? Trumpeter? Yup. Take a look through the instructions reproduced below and you'll see what's involved in this set. It's not small....and I can't even put a name to most of what you do get! It includes set E35-060, which is the basic detail set for this kit released some time ago by ET Model, E35-061, consisting of the machine gun and associated parts for the kit, and E35-009, consisting of the turret spatial armour for the Centauro.

This is a so-called 'value' package from ET Model, hence the three sets in one at a slightly reduced price. The set also therefore includes three separate sets of instructions, since they've just been reproduced and included from the separate sets.

This set should keep the worst case of advance modeller's syndrome occupied for ages, since there are no really large parts. If you look at the scans of the photo-etched frets themselves below, you'll see that the vast majority of the set is composed of tiny detail parts. The instructions for the basic detail set alone run to five sides of A4, with the first side just illustrating the construction of various sub-assemblies to be used later in the build. There's also some surgery to perform on the kit itself, although as would be suggested from the PE frets, most of the details to be removed are all tiny as well!

Looking at the photographs of the installed set taken from the ET Model site, it's difficult to reconcile the amount of brass provided in the set with the amount of brass in the pictures. Where is it all? The largest parts are those making up the spatial armour on the roof of the turret. Take all that away, plus the machine guns, with their shields, ammunition cans and associated bits and pieces, and it really does leave you wondering where all the other parts have gone. Well....it's there somewhere! First off all the various tool clamps and brackets are completely replaced, with some of the tools, such as the spade and the bow saw having parts replaced too. There are new light housings for the front lights, plus reflectors for the rear. The travel lock for the main gun is virtually all replaced, just retaining the A frame of the original Trumpeter part. Then it's a case of making numerous tiny sub-assemblies again before fixing these all over the upper hull....and I do mean all over. Take a look at the instructions and you'll see what I mean. Flaps, caps, hinges, brackets and plates!

The Beretta MG 42/59 detail that comprises part of the set is fairly comprehensive, even if little of it is actually for the gun itself! We're provided with replacement semi-circular skate rings for around the two turret hatches, each of which is comprised of two layers of PE, and are mounted on small resin supports supplied in set still attached to their pouring blocks, and in need of careful removal! For the actual machine guns themselves, all we get are new front and rear sights, although there are various details provided to enhance their mounts, together with new small shields, and a full ammunition can assembly, with two belts of ammunition, which given that they're flat and two dimensional, they're actually amongst the best PE ammunition belts I've seen so might look good once they're in place with an appropriate finish.

The spatial armour set included in the set consists of a fret of irregular shaped parts made from thick brass. Each part has a tread pattern etched onto its upper surface, and there's a small half-page instruction diagram illustrating in what pattern the plates should be attached to the turret roof. Each of the parts is supported by small pieces of plastic rod, 0.5mm in diameter which you'll have to supply yourself, since they're not included in the set! Lastly, there are two tiny bi-conical metal springs to use as aerial mounts.

Conclusion

If you're planning on building the Trumpeter kit, then this is certainly a set worth considering, but apart from that spatial armour, don't expect your finished painted model to stand that far out from the crowd! It is definitely a set that is all about the enjoyment of installing it rather than for the effect it will have on the finished model...if you see what I mean! It's comprised of mostly tiny detail enhancements, which certainly do make a big difference to the finished model, but one that you'll have to look closely to appreciate!

My thanks to ET MODEL for the review sample.