These new resin
conversion set from Cutting
Edge Modelworks will permit you to change the Trumpeter RA-5C kit into the
A3J-1 (A-5A) Vigilante. This aircraft was not a small aircraft and
this very comprehensive set is also not small in any measure of the word. This huge
conversion set allows you to create an accurate Viggie bomber from the
1/48 Trumpeter RA-5C kit...and yes, there's not much Trumpeter plastic
left when you use this set! Vigilante bombers were built between 1961
and 1963. In September 1962, all A3J-1s were redesignated as A-5As in
accordance with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's edict forcing
all services to use the same aircraft nomenclature system. You will
see both designations in this set. Also note that quite a few A-5As
were actually rebuilt as RA-5Cs! This set includes all airframe parts
necessary for the conversion, including new wings with separate slats
and flaps, wing pylons, intakes, spine, correct front fuselage,
beautiful canopies cast in clear resin, etc. The set also includes TWO
full decal sheets that include markings for FIVE different birds!
Because of the large areas of International Orange or Dayglo Orange on
some of the aircraft, they also include TWO huge sheets of
BlackMagic(tm) Precut Painting Masks to make your painting chores
extremely easy! However, this is a MAJOR conversion intended only for
modelers with advanced modeling skills, and Cutting
Edge Modelworks are not planning to
produce all that many of them. These big sets are a pain to produce
won't be in production for long.....so buy it while you can.
Click
on images below to see larger images
You get 3 canopy
parts that are flawlessly cast in clear resin. You also get a full set of
correct resin intakes. As you can see by the photo above the recessed
surface detail is beautifully excuted.
Here's a bottom
view of the upper fuselage/wing root section. This is a very large
model and the equally large wing/fuselage overlap joint will ensure there
will be no problems with the model coming apart in the future. Don't
take on this conversion without carefully studying the 8 pages of
instructions before you begin cutting. This set is not for the faint
of heart, but a determined and careful modeller with a healthy dose of
patience can easily get this project done. |
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on image below to see larger image |
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The 1/48 Trumpeter
RA-5C front fuselage has numerous shape errors, including being too wide and not
having the "mae west" or "double bubble" shape along the
bottom of the canopy and spine. This set corrects these errors, and even
includes clear cast windscreen, pilot's canopy, and rear cockpit cover. It also
includes a correct pitot tube to fit the new resin fuselage and a correctly
sized and shaped upper vertical fin to replace the too-short and misshapen kit
part.
Here's a photos
of the fuselage section by the cockpit. There is flash that covers
the cockpit opening but it is less than paper thin and will be easy to
remove with no effort. The recessed panel lines are nicely done. |
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on image below to see larger image |
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You
get 2 decal sheets for a total of 5 different aircraft including one NASA
bird. Here are the specific aircraft
for which markings are included on the decal sheets: |
- A-5A, BuNo
147858/NASA 858, NASA Flight Research Center (now Dryden Flight
Research Center), Edwards AFB, for SST Program testing, 1962.
- A3J-1,
BuNo 147856, Modex 856, Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility,
Albuquerque, NM, for special weapons testing, 1961.
- A3J-1, BuNo
146697, Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD, used for the first
Vigilante landing on an aircraft carrier, the USS Saratoga, 22 July
1960.
- A-5A, BuNo 149295, AG/607, VAH-1 "Smokin' Tigers,"
USS Independence, 1963.
- A3J-1, BuNo 149283, AF/710, VAH-7
"Peacemakers of the Fleet," USS Enterprise, 1963.
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on image below to see larger image |
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The 8 pages of
instructions walk you through this project step by step and helps you keep organized and
avoid problems during the conversion. This set is for advanced modellers,
but with care and patience a skilled modeller could pull this project
off.
Click
on images below to see larger images
Resin casting
is of a very high quality and all the detail is very well done with no air
bubbles. This
new resin set from Cutting
Edge Modelworks will permit modelers to build themselves an accurate
version of this wonderful bomber in it's bright '60's paint scheme.
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.
Steve
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