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Typhoon
Cockpit Super Detailing Set
Reviewed by Brett Green
Hasegawa's 1/48 scale Car Door Typhoon continues that company's tradition of accurate models of outstanding moulding quality. It also persists with the legacy of basic interior detail! To its credit, the kit cockpit boasts accurate tubular framework for the lower fuselage sides and rudder skid plates suspended over the fuselage floor, but the instrument panel and control column are oversimplified. Some switch boxes and wiring detail is also missing. Cutting Edge Modelworks have released a detail set to redress this shortcoming. The "Typhoon Cockpit" title of the set sells itself short. In addition to completely replacing the kit cockpit, the 37 resin parts include bomb racks, cannon barrels, tailwheel strut and two styles of tailwheel. Two 1,000lb. bombs are also included, as are shell ejector port extenders used when bombracks are fitted. A choice of covered and exposed exhausts are supplied, and three cannon barrel styles will ensure that almost any variation of early Tiffie can be modelled. With the inclusion of a replacement door, the set even allows modellers to depict their Typhoon with the window partly wound down! The set also obviously caters for the bubble-topped Typhoon as it includes the pilot armour for the later aircraft. Casting quality is first rate with the only imperfection in my sample being a crack in the bubble-top pilot armour - damaged in transit I assume. Details on all parts are very crisp. Engineering is well thought out. The cockpit tub sub-floor, elevated rudder skid-plates, forward and aft bulkheads are all cast as a single, well detailed resin part. This maintains the illusion of the "bottomless cockpit" without exposing the kit lower fuselage seam line running below. The lower cockpit sidewalls are each cast as a solid part. This means that the tubular framework is moulded as one with the fuselage skin. The three-dimensional effect is quite convincing. More importantly, this method of manufacture permits additional detail to be added to the lower sidewalls while minimising small parts (and therefore speeding buildup time). The pilot's seat is depicted with harness and backrest moulded in place. Instructions are good, with helpful diagrams and concise construction notes. Some cutting of the kit is required and a wide mould block must be removed from the bottom of the cockpit tub, however these tasks will be within the range of skills of most modellers. Cutting Edge Modelworks is one of a small band of after-market companies that can be consistently relied upon for the very high quality of their products. This set will add plenty of character to your Hasegawa Typhoon. Highly Recommended. Review Copyright © 1999 by Brett
Green
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