you may have mentioned this but have you ever built the wnw version? i dont recall although for some reson as i type something makes me think i remember you doing "schweinhund" so perhaps you did another roden kit. my point i was wondering how you felt this encore with bells and whistles stacked up against the wnw kit. i am sure it take more work. but i really like how the resin pulley assy's look on the encore as compared to the wnw etc. just interested in your opinions.
I haven't built the WNW version...yet. Like you I do own one though. A quick comparison of the two kits resulted in the following:
1. Instrument panel better than WNW using the Encore PE parts
2. I personally like the stitching on the fuselage side on the Encore kit better. (Marginally)
3. The interior is Better in the WNW kit, again Marginally. The PE and a little scratch building can even this out to a degree. One thing I don't like is the molded in bracing wires on the WNW kit. WNW also gives you the ammo can, oil tank, and spent shell ejection chute.
4. The wings are better on the WNW kit, or at least the rib tapes( A little heavy but better than nothing at all).
6. Like you I like the resin inserts for the pulley inspection panels but at least you don't have to cut out, insert, fill and sand the WNW version.
7. The wrinkled fuselage panels are a nice addition but Not hard to add to the Encore kit using a little thick Acrylic paint.
8. A lot of the PE is great on the Encore kit and if one is PE friendly will close the gap a lot when looking at control horns and certain attachment points.
My final analysis was that if one has the Encore kit in their stash and only plans 1 SE then I wouldn't go for a WNW kit just to replace the encore version. If you plan to do more than 1, then the WNW kit perhaps mated to the PE aftermarket from HGW would be the choice. Finally I will assume that the fit will be better on the WNW kit
JMHO on all points!
RAGIII
