Good things really do come in small packages.

Cooper's new late Spitfire cockpit set comprises over 70 parts. The majority are cast in a creamy yellow resin. Larger parts such as sidewalls and the pilot's seat are cast onto individual mould blocks, while small parts are either surrounded by a wafer of resin, or accompanied by other small parts on a resin block.

Make sure you're familiar with the subject before parts cleanup - you'll need to be clear about what parts are kit and what parts are sprue!

Removal of parts is not as daunting as it first looks. A few swipes with a sharp knife will take care of the casting blocks, although extreme care will be required removing the block from the pilot's seat. Small parts encased in a wafer of resin may easily be removed by sanding. My preferred method is to pin down a piece of 600-grit paper, and apply gentle finger pressure on the part - rotating the part on the static sandpaper. Any remaining flash can be tidied up with a sharp knife.

Casting quality is superb. All parts are crisp and proud in relief. There are no air bubbles on my example. Comments about flash are not really appropriate, as resin "flash" is part of Cooper's moulding process! Photo etch brass is limited to a single small fret, but it is packed with details etched in half-relief.

Engineering of the set is thoughtful. A new false fuselage floor with moulded-on detail is supplied. This ensures a solid base for the cockpit components, whilst retaining the impression of the "bottomless cockpit". Spitfires did not have a cockpit floor - only rails and control rods. Cooper's set conveys this perfectly.

The seat is a real standout. The lap belts and the lower half of the shoulder harness is moulded onto the seat in resin, while the upper harness is a separate brass item.

Brass is also used for the instrument panel. Although I'm a big resin fan, I really prefer this style of instrument panel, particularly when it is combined with acetate backed instrument details. Cooper's acetate instruments are very sharp indeed.

A brief check of my references indicates that this set is pretty much complete for the final Spitfires' busy "office". Where appropriate, alternate parts are supplied for the Spit 22 or for the Seafire 47.

Roy Sutherland's instructions have always been comprehensive. This set is no exception. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by scrap-view drawings. Many other resin manufacturers should take a leaf out of Mr Sutherland's book in this respect!

The instructions point out that this is not a "shake to assemble" kit. The key to painless and successful construction will be preparation of the kit parts per instructions - mainly the removal of sidewall detail and thinning of the fuselage halves.

This set will require a fair degree of work, but the results will be spectacular. Is this the ultimate Spitfire cockpit set? You bet!

Highly recommended.