Cutting Edge Modelworks Details
By Michael Benolkin
Last October, we had the pleasure of showing you a huge array of resin detail offerings from Cutting Edge Modelworks. Amongst the cool items was a real surprise - a cockpit detail set for the Testors (former Hawk) 1/48 U-2C spyplane. In that review, I pointed out that the Testors kit is definitely a C-model aircraft as Hawk modified the molds of their kit with the enlarged intakes (the A-model had smaller intakes and these early kits are amongst the kit collectors now) and a dorsal spine. Leave it to Cutting Edge to solve that problem...
As you'll see in the accompanying scans, the resin castings are all crisp, finely detailed and free from bubbles. The type of resin that Cutting Edge is easy to work with as it is not as brittle as some types of resin available.
CEC32072 - Douglas A-4H Skyhawk Conversion
MSRP: $20.99 - Recommended Kit: Hasegawa 1/32 A-4E/F Skyhawk
This set will convert the stock Hasegawa into a standard Israeli Air Force A-4H Skyhawk, complete with the IR-suppression tailpipe, unique antennas and air scoops. The set also provides the revised gun fairings used on this variant. The instructions clearly walk you through the conversion with photos and even provide reference photos of an actual A-4H. Note that this set also requires the Super Fox intakes from CEC32065.
CEC32074 - McDonnell Douglas F-15I Ra'am Conversion
MSRP: $22.99 - Recommended Kit: Tamiya F-15E
This set converts the Tamiya 1/32 Strike Eagle into the F-15I. The instructions also walk you through the various other kit details to remove or modify to render an accurate F-15I. One thing you'll note is the turkey feathered exhaust nozzles. Israeli Eagles continue to operate with their turkey feathers installed. The Tamiya kit lacks the turkey feather exhausts as the US deleted these 'feathers' from their F-15 nozzles because they had little contribution to reducing drag and only added to maintenance complexity. (Note: All F-16s keep their turkey feathers installed.)
CEC32080 - Escapac 1C Ejection Seat w/Belts
MSRP: $11.99
This is a nicely cast ejection seat that will replace that drab kit seat in any 1/32 A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, A-10 Thunderbolt II (early), S-3 Viking, B-57 Canberra, or early F-15 Eagle. Granted, even Trumpeter won't tackle all of these in 1/32, but these are handy for vacuform kit cockpits as well!
CEC32081 - Escapac 1C Ejection Seat w/o Belts
MSRP: $11.99
This is a nicely cast ejection seat that will replace that drab kit seat in any 1/32 A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, A-10 Thunderbolt II (early), S-3 Viking, B-57 Canberra, or early F-15 Eagle. Granted, even Trumpeter won't tackle all of these in 1/32, but these are handy for vacuform kit cockpits as well!
CEC32083 - Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 Super Detailed Cockpit
MSRP: $21.99 USD - Recommended Kit: Hasegawa 1/32 Bf109G-6
Hasegawa recently released their much anticipated 1/32 Bf109G-6. The kit represents some upgrades to their molding over their much older Bf109E series in 1/32, but as is standard with most Hasegawa kits, the cockpit leaves plenty of room for detailing. This set provides a completely new cockpit tub, side panels, instrument panels w/acetate instrument faces, oxygen hose w/regulator, control yoke and rudder pedals. The seat belts and harness are molded onto the pilot's seat. If you want positionable seat belts, see the set immediately below.
CEC32090 - Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 Super Detailed Cockpit
MSRP: $24.99 USD - Recommended Kit: Hasegawa 1/32 Bf109G-6
Hasegawa recently released their much anticipated 1/32 Bf109G-6. The kit represents some upgrades to their molding over their much older Bf109E series in 1/32, but as is standard with most Hasegawa kits, the cockpit leaves plenty of room for detailing. This set is identical to the set reviewed above except that the seat belts/shoulder harnesses are not pre-molded onto the seat. Instead, these items are cast in a flexible rubber that will allow them to be posed inside the cockpit or around a pilot figure seated in the cockpit.
CEC48287 - Lockheed U-2A Conversion
MSRP: $16.99 USD - Recommended Kit: Testors U-2C
Can't find the Hawk U-2A kit? No problem! This cool conversion will backdate the Testor's kit to the U-2A profile. This set replaces the dorsal hump with 'round' fuselage, replaces the J75 exhaust cone with the correct J57 tail cone, and provides the narrower intake trunks. Comparing this set's tail cone with the 'original' Hawk tailcone, you might consider grafting this onto your Hawk kit as well. If you do have the Hawk kit, none of the rest of these parts are needed.
CEC48289 - Lockheed U-2A/C "B Camera" Q-Bay Cover
MSRP: $8.99 USD - Suggested Kit: Hawk/Testors U-2
This is a novel item- this replaces the underside Q-Bay cover with a piece of clear resin that can be masked to protect the camera windows during painting. In fact, Cutting Edge includes a set of BlackMagic masks to mask these windows!
CEC48290 - Lockheed U-2E/F "Ram's Horns" Conversion
MSRP: $9.99 USD - Suggested Kit: Hawk/Testors U-2
This set will convert your U-2A into the E/F collection platform with the unique "Ram's Horn's" antennas. This set will work directly with the Hawk kit and will also work with the Testors kit if you also use set CEC48287 (above) to backdate that kit to the U-2A standard.
