| Date of Review |
June 2004 |
| Manufacturer |
Cutting Edge |
| Subject |
F-16C/D 'Big Mouth' Seamless Intake |
| Scale |
1/48 |
| Kit Number |
CEC48474 |
| Media |
Resin |
| Pros |
Drop-in replacement of kit intake, seamless, molded white so painting optional |
| Cons |
Resin molding blocks require care for removal |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate |
| MSRP (USD) |
$19.99 |
If you're a Viper modeler, you know there are four key visibility areas
on your Hasegawa kit that need to look right:
- Cockpit
- Wheel Wells
- Tailpipe
- Intake
The cockpit is spartan in the kit, but Aires & Black Box have
released solutions there. The kit's wheel wells are nice, straight
from the box, but there are aftermarket replacements for these
too. The Block 30/40/50/60 Vipers are all GE-powered and most
of the Hasegawa F-16C/Ds have a very nice GE turbine face, afterburner
can and the distinctive exhaust nozzle. Where all of the F-16
releases suffer is down the inlet.
 While
all Hasegawa 1/48 F-16 releases prior to the F-16CG and F-16CJ/DJ
kits offered only the smaller inlet common to all F-16A/B, all
Pratt-powered F-16C/D, and some of the early GE-powered Block
30 F-16C/D. With the F-16CG and F-16CJ/DJ releases, the kits offered
both the smallmouth (Pratt) and largemouth (GE) inlets and tailpipes/nozzles.
Nevertheless, ALL of the inlets end abruptly at a plastic bulkhead
at the main gear wells.
This release offers a replacement inlet that offers significant
advantages:
- The intake is seamless - no sanding/filling.
- The intake is molded in white, minimal painting/weathering is required.
- The intake wraps over the top of the main gear wells, has scale depth,
and ends in a engine compressor face, just like the real aircraft.
- The intake is a drop-in replacement for the kit intake, contains an
identical nosegear well
- Requires minimal surgery in non-visible areas of the kit to accomodate
new intake.
 If
you have one of the CG/CJ kits and want a better intake, this
set is what you're looking for. If you have any of the other Hasegawa
F-16C/D kits and want to accurately model a widemouth GE-powered
aircraft, then this set is what you'll need for the conversion.
Note: If you're wanting to accurately convert one of the F-16C/D
kits released prior to the CG/CJ/DJ releases, you'll also need
the larger main wheels, bulged main gear doors, and the larger
HUD (in the case of the CG). Check your references.
Definitely recommended!
My sincere thanks to Meteor Productions
for this review sample!
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