Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

The Douglas A-26, later re-named the B-26 served for a long time. As a consequence of this, it underwent many different modifications and up-dates. With this fact in mind, plus the number of different colour schemes and markings that it bore it is no surprise that it is a popular aircraft with modellers. The various aftermarket companies have come to the party and provided a myriad of decals, photo-etch and resin to cater for this popularity.

This conversion from Cutting Edge allows you to convert the Monogram/Pro Modeller kit into the 8-gun version.

The set consists of 15 resin pieces:

• The nose itself,

• Ten gun barrels (two spare),

• Two connector covers, and

• Two pitot tubes.

The nose is cast as a single solid piece of resin, and it is heavy so it should solve the tail-sitting. The casting is blemish free with scribed lines and raised detail as appropriate. The rear of the vents to extract gun gases have been cast with undercuts that are so petite you need magnification to appreciate them. To make it even easier for you, the holes for locating the gun barrels into are already drilled.

Where this set really shines is the instruction sheet. There are size issues with the Monogram kit and these are all fully explained. The nose size problem has been addressed by Cutting Edge. The way the nose has been designed, and is attached to the kit will rectify the problem.

The instruction sheet provides clear diagrams with measurements in both metric and imperial to ensure that you get the gun barrels to sit properly and replicate the look of the one-to-one example. The sheet also provides both a diagram and written instructions on how to modify the wings guns on the Monogram kit. What is missing from the sheet though is the name of the person who crafted the masters and wrote the instructions. Whoever it was sure is a fan of the A-26 as they have done a superb job.

The set is packed into a plastic Zip-loc bag with the traditional black and yellow Cutting Edge cardboard header. What is unusual though is the fact that the two sprues containing the gun barrels have been taped to pieces of stiff cardboard. An excellent move, as this will protect the delicate barrels during shipment and handling..

This is a good product from Cutting Edge.

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples.

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Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 16 October, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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