Dewoitine D.520
1/32 Multimedia Superdetailing Set

Contact Résine
 

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Contact Résine has burst onto the modelling scene with a stack of impressive new releases, and an obvious focus on large scale subjects.

The most ambitious release amongst their initial offerings is the multimedia detailing set for Azur's 1/32 scale Dewoitine D.520. This set comprises 19 parts in pale cream coloured resin, 10 white metal parts, one large photo-etched fret, printed instruments and a vacform canopy.

The most prominent component of this set is the solid resin nose, which completely replaces that section of the kit's forward fuselage.

This part is beautifully cast with fabulous detail, including accurate depiction of fasteners, crisply recessed panel lines, vents, raised features as appropriate and deeply undercut intakes on each side of the nose. The front of the part has a hole to locate the propeller shaft - a nice touch. There is almost no cleanup required for this part, just a little sanding at the back.

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The remaining resin parts reflect this very high standard. Fabric detail on the control surfaces is amongst the best I have ever seen; and the wheels are just fabulous. Horizontal stabilisers are offered in resin, with a deep groove in the mating surface for the elevators. This will ensure a solid fit, and permit the modeller to position the elevators up, down or neutral.

Two styles of spinner plus corrected propeller blades are also supplied; as is a corrected radiator fairing.

The remaining resin parts are destined for the cockpit, including a new floor, seat back and quilted cushion, and sidewalls. These exquisite parts are a vast improvement over the items supplied in the Azur kit.

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White metal parts are included for the undercarriage and for a number of cockpit components. In fact, alternative cockpit sidewalls and seat cushion are supplied in white metal, although I think that the resin items are cleaner and crisper than the metal parts.

The photo etched fret is large and quite thick. This is just as well considering the size of some of the parts. Photo etched parts include the instrument panel, radiator vents and grilles, gear doors and a harness. The harness is cleverly configured as a single photo-etched part, simplifying the task of positioning the straps convincingly.

The gunsight is also designed to be folded from brass. This is a facinating item that looks more like an antique timepiece than a method to aim a machine gun! This method of assembly should capture the gunsight's unique appearance.

The final component is the replacement canopy. This is very welcome because Azur has moulded their styrene canopy as a single part with the sliding section slightly overlapping the rear section. This would make it extremely difficult to depict the canopy open. With Contact Résine's vacform canopy, this problem is avoided because the sliding section and the rear section are formed separately. This way you will be able to display all that lovely interior detail!

As a basic kit, Azur's 1/32 scale Dewoitine D.520 is a good start, but Contact Résine's multimedia superdetailing set will transform the plastic into a real materpiece.

This detail set would be impressive from any manufacturer. It is extraordinary as the debut detail set from a brand new company.

Detail is superb, construction does not look difficult, casting is world class and the set addresses several noticeable shortcomings of the donor kit.

If you are planning to build Azur's 1/32 scale Dewoitine D.520, you really should consider Contact Résine's multimedia superdetailing set.

Highly Recommended.