Aires

1/72 F-22A Raptor cockpit set

Product # 7263 for Revell kit

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 26 2011

 

This latest release from Aires features a complete resin and photo etch cockpit for the F-22A Raptor from Revell.

This detail set includes;

  • Resin cockpit tub and 1 ejection seat

  • Instrument panel in resin and coaming molded together

  • Small resin bits to detail the cockpit including a canopy actuating rod

  • Photo etch detail parts including seatbelts, rudder pedals, canopy handle and more

  • You get photo etch seat belts to pose any way you please

  • The HUD has Photo etch sides with a clear acetate center glass.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

The quality of the resin casting is flawless and bubble free.  As you can see in the photos the detail on these sets is very fine and beautifully mastered.  The cockpit tub is loaded with detail including rivets and the seat of course has detail on all sides and there are ejection seat handles included in the photo etch fret.  The photo etch parts include seatbelts that will look excellent on the ejection seat.  A very nice feature on the set is the resin canopy base to mount the kit canopy to.  This canopy base has the fine locking hooks on the underside which will provide plenty of added detailing when you pose the canopy in the open position.  The HUD is a special item that includes a photo etch HUD frame with a clear acetate glass for the HUD.  The resin instrument panel has plenty of raised and recessed detail that will respond very well to painting and washed and possible some dry brushing.  The coaming on top of the instrument panel has plenty of detail including recessed panel lines that will show quite well on the finished model.

The instructions include the usually exploded view line drawings that Aires does so well on all their sets.

I'm impressed with the level of detail in this 1/72 cockpit set and this would be a noticeable improvement over the kit cockpit.  Remember the fumes from CA glue will fog canopies that are not coated in Future, so either use something like white glue to attach the canopy to the canopy base or coat the canopy in Future.

You can purchase this and other fine resin detail items directly from Aires or from the many retailers that carry their products.  

I would like to thank Aires for providing me with this review sample.

Steve Bamford

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford