By
John Wilkes
This
is the first set I have had the privilege to review from this company and
their products are some of the best within our scale. This set is mainly
concentrated on the cockpit area and as such only one of the cleanly cast
resin parts is not for this area. The set consists of 17 parts that will give
the modeller the chance to completely detail the cockpit to a high standard.
This breaks down logically into the main areas we would expect. Instrument
panel with raised instruments and switches. Both sidewalls with raised
throttle, trim levers, radio and map pocket. Even the oxygen regulator is cast
on the starboard wall, as is the canopy-cranking handle. Careful removal of
the casting block will be required but this has been made with the block in a
position where you will not see it when you have built the cockpit. A complete
new floor provides you with the appropriate locating points for the cast
control stick and rudder pedals.
A
new more accurately represented radio compartment is next with separate
support framing and radio boxes. The support will require some fine removal of
the carrier film/backing block, as this will be very thin when prepared for
the kit. A completely new seat with separate supporting rear bulkhead and head
rest come as individually cast items. The seat has the full harness and seat
belts cast which are crying out for some delicate painting to be done. The
final parts for the cockpit are the gun sight which will require some thin
acetate which the modeller will need to supply and the canopy slide rails to
be used if the canopy is to be left open.
The
only other area of detailing is the oil cooler that just fits into the lower
fuselage as described within the instructions. The instructions are clear and
easy to follow with several drawings of the placement of parts. A final
listing of references is provided and to this I would add Squadron's new Walk
Around as additional material. The set is accurate and will add a lot to the
Hasegawa kit for which it has been made. If
you are building a P-51 D Mustang then I have no hesitation in recommending
this set as a good point for detailing the cockpit.
John
Review
sample supplied by Paragon Models.
32032 Hawker Typhoon Mk 1B
Conversion
Price £21.99
This set provides the modeller
with parts required to convert the Revell car door Typhoon to the later
'Bubble Top' version. The set is very cleanly cast in buff coloured resin and
is up to Neil Burkill's usual very high standard.
For the cockpit, the set
provides a new, and very clear, vacform canopy, new seat with integrally
moulded straps, instrument panel, fuselage decking insert, canopy rail,
gunsight and coaming - when used with the kit parts the result should look
very good indeed.
The Revell kit comes with the
three bladed prop - this set provides the blades and spinner for the four
bladed type applicable to versions of both the 'car door' and 'bubble top'
Typhoons. Replacement exhaust stacks are provided, as are replacement 'bulged'
wheels, along with 8 RPs and their associated launch rails.
I've not had a chance to test
fit these components yet, but I have seen a model built using the Revell kit
and the Paragon set and the result was superb.
Overall, very highly
recommended.
Review set courtesy Neil
Burkill, Paragon Designs.
Iain Ogilvie
Mosquito FB.VI fighter
conversion and full cockpit interior
Price £24.99
What can I say... This set has
to be one of Neil's best and is quite exquisite!
So, what do you get? Really,
the set can be divided into two distinct areas - cockpit and the Fighter
Bomber nose.
The cockpit is beautifully
detailed and compares very favourably with photographs I have in my
possession, with some beautiful casting and good undercuts. As can be seen
from the instruction sheet pictured below, the interior is very complete,
comprising floors, cockpit wall detail, seats (with integral straps), control
panel, joystick, gun sight and radio equipment - having seen this put together
and carefully painted the result is astonishingly realistic! A new 'fighter'
canopy is provided, vacform moulded in very clear plastic.
The nose is broken down into
four fuselage sections, with separate cannon muzzles as shown above. I've not
been able to test fit components yet, but I'm informed that getting the nose
parts together and onto the Revell fuselage may require some filler.
Well worth the money and very
highly recommended. Whilst on the subject, I can also recommend the Scale
Aviation Modeller book on the Mosquito, by Richard Franks - should tell you
everything you need to know when using this set.
We'll shortly be reviewing some
of Paragons other Mosquito goodies.
Iain Ogilvie
