| Date of Review |
July 2006 |
| Manufacturer |
Cutting Edge |
| Subject |
F-4E(S) Peace Jack Israeli Recce Fighter |
| Scale |
1/32 |
| Kit Number |
CEC32176 |
| Media |
Resin |
| Pros |
Impressive conversion for Tamiya 1/32 F-4E |
| Cons |
|
| Skill Level |
Intermediate |
| MSRP (USD) |
$34.99 |
Cutting Edge has produced an interesting variety of conversions
in the past, and here is one that is quite interesting! This latest
release from Cutting Edge transforms the Tamiya 1/32 F-4E Phantom
II into the extremely unique F-4E(S) Peace Jack. Peace Jack? What
is that?
Israel needed improved reconnaissance capabilities and had wanted
to use the US High Altitude Camera system (HIAC) used in the RB-57F
Canberra. When a slimmed down camera became available in the early
1970s, the USAF and IDF looked into the F-4X program, giving the
aircraft Mach 2.7 cruise and Mach 3+ dash capabilities. The project
didn't work out as planned, but the IDF continued with the adaptation
of the HIAC into a highly modified F-4E nose. The F-4E(S) Peace
Jack was born. F-4E 69-7576 became the first Phantom to loft the
big honking camera.
When I first heard about this project, I visualized a huge chunk
of resin that would be grafted onto the nose of the Tamiya kit.
Not that many years ago, that really would have been the only way
to produce a resin conversion of this type, but that was then.
Today, Cutting Edge has mastered the art of resin casting and has
not only produced a hollow-nose conversion, the interior of the
nose has a complete HIAC camera on gimbals inside!
The conversion is cast in gray resin and of course features nicely
scribed details that will blend nicely into the Tamiya kit. The
set also includes a full set of clear resin windows which are perfectly
clear (their process works wonders!) and allows you to see all
of that detail you're installing inside the nose.
Most importantly, because this conversion is hollow cast, and
the castings are about as thick as the styrene parts themselves,
you're not adding much weight in the nose. Had this been developed
in the 'old days', you'd need a serious nose gear strut to hold
the nose of the aircraft up. With this conversion, the stock landing
gear will work perfectly.
Definitely recommended!
My sincere thanks to Meteor
Productions for this review sample!
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