Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/32 X-1E Conversion set

Product # CEC32116 for $29.99 for Revell kit

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Oct 1  2003

 

 

 

This is one of the many X-1 detail items from Cutting Edge Modelworks.  This particular set will permit you to convert the Revell X-1 to an X-1E.  This set contains 10 gray resin items and one clear canopy.  The canopy is an interesting item.  This piece is made from some sort of clear resin and the window part is nice and clear, while the rest of the piece is slight frosted in appearance.  This won't affect anything and it should look quite good once it's painted and installed. 

Click on canopy image below to see larger image

Canopy Canopy sill Spine and canopy Hinge Triangle Support
The one page of instructions explain the installation of this fairly straightforward set.  The parts came free from their casting blocks fairly easily with some careful scoring from the backside of an X-Acto knife blade.  Once the parts were free, you should do the usual test fitting and careful sanding/filing to ensure a perfect fit.  I found the fit to be very good and required little if any clean-up.  The main areas this set focuses on is the canopy and canopy hinge area....new wings and strakes below the tail of the fuselage.  A Dremel Mini-Mite is a handy tool for the cutting you are required to do to the fuselage in the wingroot area.  Nothing major......just routine type of cutting and fitting that is required on most resin conversion sets.  The instructions also detail some minor modifications you do to the fuselage to create one of the later X-1 variants. 

Click on image below to see larger image

The wings are beautifully done with crisp and delicate looking panel line and flap hinge detail.  The strakes attach to the lower left and right of the fuselage tail area.  Later X-1E's will require the removal of the rectangular access panels on the rear of the fuselage.....this is all detailed in the photos on the instruction sheet.

Bottom of wing Topside of wing Strake

I found no flaws in this set and the resin casting was first rate with no air bubbles.  All in all a great set for the Revell kit.  Cutting Edge Modelworks will be releasing a cockpit for this kit as well as a selection of X-1 decals.  Now you can accurately capture this very famous aircraft in it's many variants.  I would like to thank Cutting Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.  Check out Cutting Edge Modelworks first for all your X-1 needs.....they are really focusing in on this famous plane.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford