Reviewed by Brett Green
 

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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:

CEC32182 - F/A-18C & F/A-18D Corrected Seamless Intakes

Four parts in grey resin and two parts in white resin. The intake ducting is supplied free of any casting blocks and ready to use. This will be a very valuable accessory in the large scale of 1/32.

This set is shown at the top of the page.

CEC48504 - A-6E/EA-6A/EA-6B Seamless Intakes

This set is designed specifically for the Revell/Monogram A-6 / EA-6 family. It is not recommended for Airfix.

The intakes themselves are supplied in white resin, and the remaining two parts are the engine faces. Some cutting and thinning of the kit parts are required.

CEC48505 - F-15E Strike Eagle Seamless Intakes

This set is designed exclusively for the excellent Revell 1/48 scale F-15E Strike Eagle. It is not likely to fit other F-15 kits.

Six parts are included - intake fronts and engine faces in grey, plus intake ducting in white resin. Some thinning of the Revell kit intake lip will be required before installing the parts, but this should be within the range of most modellers who have previously worked with resin.

It is a shame that the white resin is so difficult to photograph, because the intake ramps feature some very subtle texturing.

CEC48506 - F-8 Crusader Seamless Intakes

The intake on the Crusader is the entire lower nose, so this set is a bit more ambitious in terms of engineering.

The F-8 Crusader intake set is cleverly limited to just three resin parts, including a new forward wheel well with nice structural detail on the sidewalls. The outside of the ducting has been cast with structural detail for the wheel well ceiling - very clever!

The area around the intake on the lower forward fuselage of the kit will have to be removed. This will require careful measuring and cutting.

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 05 January, 2007
Last updated 04 June, 2007

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