Here's a review of the MH-53J
Pave Low Cockpit set by Cutting
Edge Modelworks. This set is designed, along with the MH-53 Pave Low
Weapons Set, to convert the Revell-Monogram 1/48 CH-53 to the MH-53 Pave Low
special operations helicopter used by the US Air Force. Combine these two
sets with the Cobra Company MH-53 Exterior Conversion Set, and you'll have an
accurate MH-53J to add to your collection.
WHAT YOU GET:
Unless my count is off, you get
20 resin cast parts to bring the cockpit up the Pave Low standards. The
set provides a replacement cockpit floor, seats, armor panels, cyclic sticks,
and the 'pizza rack' electronics set. All are cast in the tradition gray
Cutting Edge resin, with the exception of the seat armor panels, which are cast
in a darker gray resin. A full page instruction sheet is also provided.
My set arrived with just a little flash around a few of the parts, and I also
noticed that the forward flanges on the replacement floor are very fragile.
Use care when handling this part....these flanges are not designed to be
removed, from what I can tell. The instructions are pretty comprehensive,
and will guide you through the cockpit conversion step by step.
Detail of the
parts is excellent, especially the instrument panels, and the electronics boxes
in the 'pizza rack' assembly. The only drawback to the set from what I can
see is that the actual supports for the rack are not included. Instead,
Cutting Edge instructs you to cut four piece of "L" angle styrene to
the proper height to make the shelving unit. This isn't really a big deal
considering the amount of sheet and strip styrene on my workbench, but it is
worth noting, so that you know to pick some up ahead of time. All in all,
a very detailed set, and combined with the weapons set, will provide all of the
updates to the interior of the aircraft to make an accurate MH-53J. Once
again, don't forget that you'll also need to purchase the Cobra Company exterior
set to complete the conversion. As always, I'd like to thank Cutting
Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.
Steve
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