Cutting Edge's Latest Resin Detail Releases

Meteor Productions has been busy with their line of Cutting Edge resin detail sets! All of their resin detail sets are crisply molded in bubble-free medium gray resin. Here's a look at some of their latest offerings in 1/48 and 1/32 scale:

This first set is a replacement cockpit for the Trumpeter 1/32 A-10A Thunderbolt II kit. The set begins with a new cockpit tub that is bristling with details on the side panels and cockpit walls. The instrument panel is a three-part laminated assembly with two thin panels sandwiching acetate instrument faces (nicely done too). This set is rounded out with a new instrument hood and HUD, canopy rails, ACES II ejection seat and all of the requisite details to populate the Hog's office.

If you are also aware of the 1/32 Black Box A-10 Cockpit set and are wondering which one to get, the Black Box set represents a post-Desert Storm (LASTE upgraded) Hog office. If you are modeling an A-10 during the tank plinking of Desert Storm or as a cold war defender, the Cutting Edge cockpit is the only choice for an accurate cockpit.

(LOW ALTITUDE SAFETY AND TARGET ENHANCEMENT (LASTE))

This detail set compliments the set above with a number of corrections and/or enhancements to the exterior of the Trumpeter 1/32 A-10A kit. This set includes an impressive two-piece 30mm Avenger gun muzzle, replacement sponsoon undersides with chaff/flare launchers, replacement TF34 engine turbine exhaust nozzles, an open refueling port for the sponsoon, wing fences and a variety of antennas. These are the sort of details that you might not notice on an assembled model since these are details that any A-10 fan would take for granted UNTIL you park the model next to a stock Trumpeter Hog on a contest or display table. If you're looking to build an accurate A-10A, this is a must-have set.

To round out Cutting Edge's 1/32 A-10 offerings is this set of flattened wheels to properly 'weight' the aircraft on its gear. The tires don't bulge in this release as a bulging tire was a distinctive sign of tire failure. The rear of the main wheels also provide nice detailing of the anti-skid brakes.

This set is a VERY welcome addition to the 1/32 scale realm! This conversion transforms the stock Hasegawa 1/32 A-4E/F kit into a 'Super Fox'. The A-4Fs that soldiered on into the 1980s were gradually modified to accept the 11,200 lb thrust J52-P-408A, an improvement of 2,700 lb thrust over the original 'stock' J52. This set provides the enlarged intakes needed for the more powerful engine, compressor faces to see when looking down the intakes, a new exhaust duct, and an optional fairing for the top of the vertical stabilizer. Many of the A-4Fs were retrofitted with this fairing late in their service lives, though not the adversary aircraft. Check your references before using this part. If you want to build one of the distinctive 'hot rod' scooters in USN or USMC service, this set is a MUST HAVE!

It is hard to imagine that the recent Trumpeter MiG-21MF kit would benefit from any aftermarket sets, but this detail set is a definite exception. While the stock kit cockpit is Trumpeter's best effort yet, the sheer size of the kit and resulting visibility of the cockpit still shows off some of lack of detail when compared to the available photo references. This set provides the nicest ejection seat I've seen yet in any scale for the later MiG-21s and the cockpit tub captures the feel of the details and switchology of its 1:1 scale big brother. While you might be satisfied with the Trumpeter kit straight from the box, you'll definitely have a contest contender if you properly apply this set.

This was a big surprise to see! Absolutely no one paid attention to this early cold warrior - that is until now! This set transforms the Hawk/Testors 1/48 scale U-2A/C into a work of art. Included in this set is a new cockpit tub, three-part instrument panel with acetate instrument faces, ejection seat, cockpit sidewalls and numerous details. After one look at this set and the associated Cutting Edge decals (reviewed elsewhere in this issue), I'll be dusting off my U-2.

NOTE: While the U-2 kit has been re-issued numerous times and is still available from Testors, you might want to note that the Testors kit has never represented the U-2A. When Testors acquired the molds from Hawk, they had already been altered into the U-2C. The early releases of the Hawk kit are still readily available 'out there' if you want an accurate U-2A. What is the difference? The U-2C featured enlarged engine intakes. While I doubt many people would know the difference, this is one of those facts that will taunt the AMS-infected modelers (I too am infected).

Speaking of pleasant surprises, here is another impressive offering from Cutting Edge. This set transforms the Monogram 1/48 OS2U Kingfisher kit into a contest grade kit with this fantastic interior. The set begins with new interior flooring and bulkheads for the forward and rear crew compartments, three-part instrument panels with acetate instrument faces, and nice pilot and crew seats. Add the detail set below and a new float and you'll have an unbeatable Kingfisher to add to your floatplane line-up!

This set compliments the cockpit detail set above by providing a 'corrected' cowling. While I'm not aware of any defects in the original kit's cowling, this set is immediately a player as it provides you with a cowling that features open cowl flaps and a new engine mount that will also serve as the cowl mount. Just add a nice engine like one of the Engines 'N Things offerings, and you'll have the front end of the Kingfisher conquered. Now if we can get the centerline float...

Another interesting offering is this new set of cowls for the Monogram 1/48 P-61 Black Widow. The stock kit is designed to be displayed with one of the cowls to be left off to reveal the engine details inside. If you've tried to build the kit 'buttoned up', you've found it frustrating to do so without buying another P-61 kit and robbing the closed cowl.

This set provides two closed cowls with open cowl flaps, a detail that you would normally see with an air-cooled piston aircraft on the ground. Also included in this set is a replacement firewall to facilitate mounting the new cowl on the boom that normally sports the cowl removed.

This set is also VERY welcome addition to the 1/48 scale realm! This conversion transforms the stock Hasegawa 1/48 A-4E/F kit into a 'Super Fox'. As I mentioned above, the A-4Fs that soldiered on into the 1980s were gradually modified to accept the 11,200 lb thrust J52-P-408A. This set provides the enlarged intakes needed for the more powerful engine and an optional fairing for the top of the vertical stabilizer. Many of the A-4Fs were retrofitted with this fairing late in their service lives, though not the adversary aircraft. Check your references before using this part. If you want to build one of the distinctive 'hot rod' scooters in USN or USMC service, this set is a MUST HAVE!

Our sincere thanks to Meteor Productions for these review samples.