Reviewed by Brett Green
 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

One of the frustrations about jet kits is the engineering of jet intakes. Intakes are almost always supplied in multiple parts due to the limitations of the injection moulding process. This usually means a very visible joining seam on the inside of the intake that is almost impossible to remove.

Cutting Edge Modelworks has released several seamless replacement jet intakes in resin over the last five years or so. I have used one of these earlier sets on my Hasegawa 1/48 scale A-4K Skyhawk. The intakes had a big impact on the model and were quite easy to install.

In the meantime, Cutting Edge's seamless intakes have become more detailed and more comprehensive.

The latest batch of intakes are all presented in parts of both grey and white coloured resin. The white parts are the intake ducts. One of the other challenging tasks associated with intakes is spraying the deep interiors of the ducting, especially as the standard colour of this area is white. White is difficult to spray evenly and with solid coverage at the best of times, but these tight quarters make things very difficult indeed. The white resin makes painting this area much easier, if the modeller decides to paint it at all! All sets include instructions with text and photographs to guide construction.

Cutting Edge's latest seamless intake releases are as follows:

CEC48495 - A-7 Corsair II Seamless Intakes

This set comprises just two parts in grey resin and one in white. The grey parts are a replacement nose gear bay and the fan face. The white intake ducting is supplied free of any casting blocks and ready to use. This will be a very valuable accessory considering the prominent intake in the nose of the Corsair II.

This is a simple conversion, with the only cutting required being the removal of the kit intake lip.

CEC48514 - F-111A/C/EF Triple Plow I Seamless Intakes

This set is designed specifically for Academy's early F-111 variants. It contains eight grey resin pieces plus two white resin seamless intakes.

The resin parts are pictured at the top of this page.

The themselves are cast without blocks and are ready to use. The grey resin parts are for the fan faces, shock cones, spacers and splitter plates. Some cutting of the kit parts is required.

CEC48525 - F-111D/E/F/G/FB-111A TP II

This set is designed for Academy's late variant F-111s.

These are similar to the Triple Plow I intakes above, but the splitter plates are not required.

Cutting Edge's seamless intakes are a worthwhile addition to any jet model. It is great to see these subjects added to the exclusive, but growing list of models to receive the CE Seamless treatment!

Highly Recommended.

 

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review sample

Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 09 April, 2007
Last updated 04 June, 2007

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