Super Bug Models is an aftermarket manufacturer of resin update and conversion
sets. I came across their website when researching aftermarket options to
improve on the kit cockpit supplied with Special Hobby's 1/32 scale X-15A2. I
ordered set SMBR32001 from Super Bug Models and waited...... and
waited..... and waited..... but more about that later.
When I opened the box after the set finally arrived, I found the items to
be well packed in a sturdy box with the parts protected in the traditional
zip lock bag and surrounded by bubble wrap packaging. I took stock of the set to
make sure everything was there and that it had survived the journey. All seemed
well and accounted for with no broken parts so I started to take a closer
look. They are all moulded in grey resin and on closer inspection, everything is
cast with exceptional detail and fidelity. All the rivets, wires, conduits,
bumps, lumps, switches and knobs seem to be in place and perfectly cast with
very little flash. The pour blocks are quite small and for the most part
very thin so they won't be a problem to dispense with quickly. I
didn't see any bubbles or blemishes of any kind so I was immediately impressed
by the quality of the casting, the weight of the parts and the many additional
small bits and pieces that are included. The fine details of the casting
are superb with special care and effort spent on electrical cabling,
various conduits and sidewall details. This amounts to a very complete
mini-kit in itself.
Included are the main cockpit tub moulded with rear bulkhead
and floor, port and starboard side switch panel consoles and the seat
ejection rail cast as part of the rear bulkhead. Also a finely crafted
ejection seat complete with excellent renditions of the X-15's seat belts and
harness arrangement as well as foot wells, elbow rests and other small details.
There's also two very nicely cast cockpit side walls with cabling detail, a very
nice instrument panel with forward combing and centre console. Rudder pedals,
ejection seat fold-out stabilization wings, various actuating handles, a small
rear canopy bulkhead, and the main controls stick and side console controllers
are also included and very nicely rendered. There is also a folded page
sized instructions sheet of exploded view parts but no reference material of any
kind is included.
Expertly rendered are finely cast rivet or snap
fastener details on the forward combing, stabilization wings and in the
appropriate spots on the sidewalls. The effect here is spot on and looks like
the real thing and will add much to the finished details. The instrument panel
looks every bit to be the part, but it's hard to comment on the accuracy because
there was more than one X-15 airframe. The instrument panels changed from flight
to flight and could look very different depending on which test profile was
being flown.
The only things missing that would complete the X-15A2
cockpit are any details appearing on the inside of the canopy such as electrical
cabling, film camera and the pilot's deceleration rest for his forehead. These
items will have to be scratchbuilt but without too much difficulty I expect.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Really, the only negatives I can say about this kit centered around the
woefully inadequate order fulfilment process executed by Super Bug Models.
I had ordered this set online directly from the company website but
it did not arrive until almost 3 months later. I had almost given up
when I discovered after repeated attempts to email the owner and with
only one reply that amounted to not much more than an empty promise, that
Super Bug Models was no longer selling to customers directly and their
items could now be ordered only through Great Models Webstore. I contacted
Great Models 1-800 customer service number and was assured by them
that the set would be in the mail the next day. The mailman delivered
the box to me a few days later and all is now well. I do have to say
that if not for Great Models, I feel I would still be waiting for the
set to arrive and would have likely cut my losses.
In conclusion, I would like to
say that Super Bug Models has produced a very fine mini-kit in
their X-15 cockpit set and should be commended on a superb job of design
and casting. It's a shame that this fine set falls so short in expectations
because of their poor customer service. However, all may not be lost. Now
that Great Models webstore is in the picture, I'm hoping that order fulfilment
issues are solved and customer service improves. Overall, I'm very pleased
with this set and can hardly wait to see it in my Special Hobby X-15A2!!
http://superbugmodels.net/
Bob
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Click on
images below to see larger images
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