As more and more kits are released with all those items included in the box which only a year ago where considered after-market, after-market producers are having to look at creating new or higher quality parts. After all why would you buy an after-market item if that same item is already included in the kit?

the barrel

It seems strange then for Eduard to produce a replacement barrel for a set of kits which already have a turned aluminium barrel included. The Eduard barrel is not up to the usual quality of Eduards PE sets, and the only real difference between them is that the AVF barrels have a separate muzzle brake, whilst the Eduard barrel and muzzle break are in one part. The muzzle brake is well machined, with the correct overall shape, but lacks any of the small details, such as the locking bolt on top of the sleeve or the locking ring inside. The barrel I have has a badly turned edge to the muzzle brake flange (where the muzzle brake meets the barrel) which is uneven around the circumference of the barrel.
The barrel collar is not defined very well, turned too smooth with no edge or 'gap' around the barrel where the barrel and collar meet. The collar does have two small 'cut-outs' which represent the mounting screw positions. This is notably absent on the AFV barrels.
The base of the barrel is a copy of the AFV barrels, to provide a 'drop-in' replacement.

conclusion

As a replacement for the AFV barrels I think this is not really worth it, unless you don't want to work with the separate multi piece muzzle brake of the AFV kit. With some extra work I'm sure you could use this barrel for a number of other, older Tiger I kits, and as a replacement for a plastic barrel I feel it has some merrit.

Thanks to Eduard for the review sample.