Our main target for this year is to move the complete production of the aircraft sets to new color standard. You already know our new photoetch seatbelts sets. During first quarter 2002, we will release all seatbelt sets in all three main scales. Then, we will bring out the first full sets. Right now, we are designing the sets for quarter scale Spitfire Mk.I (Tamiya), Spitfire Mk.IX (Hasegawa) and new AH-64 Apache (Hasegawa). In 1/2nd scale, the first sets are designed for re-issued Hasegawa Zeroes. Altogether, the color line has to grow quite rapidly during the year.

As usual, we have a short statistic of the 2001 photoetch production. We released 209 sets, among them there were 89 in 1/35th scale, 10 in 1/32nd, 42 in 1/48th, 28 in 1/72nd. 1/72nd scale Zoms were 20, as well as in 1/48th scale. The most successful set in 1/35h scale was the set for Marder III (Tamiya), the second one was the set for Bison (Alan). The best set in 1/48th scale was the color USAF/USN seatbelts set, the second best one was set for our P-39, the following one was Do 217 (Monogram). In 1/72nd scale, the best set was He 177 (Revell), and in 1/32nd scale two sets for Hasegawa F-104.

Interesting January releases are two sets of the landing lights. These small sets are manufactured with polished chrome surface and they represent the landing reflectors in four different sizes. To do a lens by Clearfix or gloss clear on front side, you get a perfect reflector. There are two color sets, both are the seatbelts sets for Japanese aircraft. Especially the 1/72nd scale set with IJA/IJN seatbelts is very fine and delicious. Among the others, there are two very nice sets for old but still good Monogram 1/48th scale Black Widow.

Colour photoetch seems to be the future of detailing kits, but the classic black metal photoetch is still here and it is still going to be around for quite a while. In December the most interesting release among all photoetch lines are three sets for Tamiya's 1/32nd scale Zero. The kits is perfect, so you can expect etched details aren't needed. No, that's mistake! The perfect kit is a perfect place for perfect details, and where you can get perfect details when not in an Eduard set? Check the pictures, you can see that there still many, many details to be upgraded. Amongst the other sets, a nice one is the set for Italeri 1/72nd scale F-22 and the set for the new 1/48th Hasegawa Oscar Ki-43-I.

We released 194 mask sets during 2001. 20 of them were in 1/35th scale, 28 in 1/32, 74 in 1/48th and 72 in 1/72nd scales.

This is a brand new line, we expect it will grow every month. Right now, we are preparing two new barrels, for King Tiger and Stug III G.

We have small delay against the kit release schedule. At this moment, we have two kits very close to be released. The first one is 1/48th scale Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun. This kit is to be released in February. It is kit done in our Airacobra style, and I believe it should be very successful. It has a highly detailed cockpit interior, complete engine, crystal clear canopy. Transfers are for two aircraft in basic version, and for four in the ProfiPACK. And, of course, the canopy mask is included. The second kit, which will be released in the first quarter, is re-designed 1/48th scale Albatros D.V. It should be simply to say, that it is a reissued old kit, but it's not true. The new Albatros is really new, with new surface, new interior, new engine, new marking options… For second quarter, we have two 1/72nd scale kit, Fokkers E.III and E.IV, and then we will release 1/144th scale Junkers Ju 52.

Kit for January is 1/48th scale Roland C.IIa. It is the final version of Walfish, with large rudder. And it is also the final Eduard Roland.

The figures program is also delayed a bit, but right now we have four figures in the process and we want to release them during 2nd and 3rd quarter. As usual, at least in our company, we will bring out something new in this line. We trust these figures will be highly commented for their quality and innovative design.

Gavia is going to release very nice Lavochkin La-7 in 1/48 scale in second quarter. La-7 seems to be the best Gavia kit, thanks its fine design and surface details.

The new catalogue will be issued in late January to be available during Nurberg Toy Fair. The new photoetch catalogue is completely newly designed and will offer a very good way how to see what each set contains. However, the best how to check our sets is our web site. We want to add some new sections to web site during 2002, what should do it more interesting. We will be in Nurnberg in late January, our booth is B-73 in Hall 7. We are looking forward to meet you there!

Vladimir Sulc