Aires

1/48 F-14A Tomcat cockpit set

Product # 4523 for Academy kit

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Oct 5 2011

 

This latest release from Aires features a complete resin and photo etch cockpit for the F-14A Tomcat from Academy.   

This detail set includes;

  • Resin cockpit tub and 2 ejection seats

  • 4 cockpit side walls

  • 2 Instrument panels in resin with very detailed instrument panel coaming

  • Acetate panels for the instrument panels

  • Photo Etch panels for the instrument panel

  • Small resin bits to detail the cockpit 

  • Photo etch detail parts including seatbelts, canopy mirrors, rudder pedals, control sticks and much more

  • You get photo etch seat belts to pose any way you please

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The quality of the resin casting is flawless and bubble free.  The cockpit is loaded with detail including on the side consoles that are loaded with plenty of tiny switches and buttons.  There is even cockpit detail behind the seat.  The ejection seats are loaded with detail including dozens of microscopic rivets and the seat padding is very realistic looking.  These seats have extremely crisp and plenty of really well done detail.  The cockpit sidewalls have very well done detail and there are even the hooks for locking the canopy into place.  The instrument panels are look very accurate and the top of the instrument coaming has all the wonderful detail that is seen on the real jet. 

The 5 pages of instructions contain the usual easy to follow line drawings and the instructions do show what you need to cut on the kit parts to fit this resin cockpit.

The F-14 Tomcat is a great looking jet and with it's 2 seat cockpit and long canopy.....there is plenty to see in the cockpit area.  This resin and photo etch cockpit includes all the wonderful detail you want to really bring your Tomcat to life.  There is no doubt this cockpit is a big wonderful improvement over the Academy kit cockpit.

You can purchase this and other fine resin detail items directly from Aires or from the many retailers that carry their products.  

I would like to thank Aires for providing me with this review sample.

Steve Bamford

Click on images below to see larger images

 

      

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford