Eduard (manufacturer)
Czech manufacturer of plastic models and photoetched accessories.
Eduard Model Accessories, a Czech firm, produces plastic model kits and high-detail accessories. It started in 1989 in a rented cellar in Most, focusing on photoetched brass parts. After those early products did well, the company moved into plastic models in 1993. By 2006, Eduard offered about 30 plastic kits and over 800 individual photoetch detail sets. Among plastic modellers, the brand is a well-known name for photoetched components, and its products are sold globally.
The company’s aircraft kits cover designs from World War I to the present. Notable World War I subjects include the Fokker D.VII, Pfalz D.III, Albatros D.III, and Sopwith Pup. World War II offerings include the Yakovlev Yak-3, Hawker Hurricane, Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109, available in 1:32, 1:48, 1:72, and 1:144 scales. While older kits are of good quality, newer releases—such as the Spitfire IXs and MiG-21s in “Profipack” editions—come with a brassin set, photoetched detail set, painting masks, and other extras. These newer kits are gaining a reputation as good as or better than those from Tamiya and Hasegawa.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location City
- Obrnice
- Hq Location Country
- Czech Republic
- Key People
- Stanislav Motl, Karel Pádár, Vladimír Šulc
- Num Employees
- 131
- Num Employees Year
- 2022
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Eduard was formed in 1989 in the city of Most, beginning in a rented cellar as a manufacturer of photoetched brass model components. The success of these early products led the company to branch into plastic models in 1993. By 2006, Eduard's product line contained some 30 plastic kits and more than 800 individual photoetch detail sets. Their aircraft kits range from World War I to the present day, including notable World War I fighters such as the Fokker D.VII, Pfalz D.III, Albatros D.III, and Sopwith Pup, as well as World War II types like the Yakovlev Yak-3, Hawker Hurricane, Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109, all in various sizes in 1:32, 1:48, 1:72, and 1:144. Their older kits are of good quality, but newer releases such as the Spitfire IXs and MiG-21s in their 'Profipack' releases—which include a brassin set, photoetched detail set, painting masks, and other goodies—are acquiring a reputation as good as or better than the newer Tamiya and Hasegawa kits.
Reader's Guide
Eduard's significance lies in its pioneering role in photoetched brass components for plastic models, a field where it has become a household word among modellers. Starting from a rented cellar in Most, the company grew to offer over 800 individual photoetch detail sets by 2006, alongside 30 plastic kits. Their product range spans aircraft from World War I to the present, with scales including 1:32, 1:48, 1:72, and 1:144. The 'Profipack' releases, which bundle a brassin set, photoetched detail set, painting masks, and other extras, have earned a reputation comparable to or exceeding that of newer kits from Tamiya and Hasegawa. Eduard's products are available worldwide, reflecting their broad reach and enduring influence in the modelling community.
Did You Know?
- Eduard began in 1989 in a rented cellar in the city of Most.
- The company's first products were photoetched brass model components.
- By 2006, Eduard offered more than 800 individual photoetch detail sets.
- Their Profipack releases include a brassin set, photoetched detail set, and painting masks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eduard (manufacturer)?
Eduard is a Czech model company based in Most that produces both plastic model kits and high-detail photoetched accessory sets. It is widely recognized in the hobby community for its metal etched parts that add fine surface detail to scale models.
When and where did Eduard start?
The company was founded in 1989 in a rented cellar in Most, Czech Republic, and initially focused on making photoetched brass components for model kits. It expanded into producing its own plastic kits in 1993.
What scales does Eduard produce models in?
Eduard offers products across four standard scales: 1:32, 1:48, 1:72, and 1:144. This range covers everything from large display pieces to small desk-top models.
How large is Eduard's product range?
By 2006 the catalog included roughly 30 plastic kits alongside more than 800 separate photoetch detail sets. The company's aircraft subjects span from World War I designs through modern aircraft.
Why is Eduard important to the modeling hobby?
Eduard became a go-to brand for photoetched components, giving hobbyists access to finely detailed metal parts that plastic molding alone cannot replicate. Its products are distributed worldwide, making it a staple name in the global scale-modeling community.
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