Cutting Edge 1/48
RA-5C Vigilante Correction Set

Cutting Edge has developed a wide range of detail sets, conversions, and even kit corrections. In this release, Cutting Edge has taken on the job to fix the Trumpeter 1/48 RA-5C Vigilante kit. Out of the box, the Trumpeter kit looks impressive (as do all Trumpeter kits), but when you start looking closer, you find a few glitches in their interpretation of the airframe.

Does the completed model look like a Vigilante without corrections? For the average modeler, yes (see the build review link below), but for the naval aviation enthusiast (and for Cutting Edge), the forward fuselage lines don't look quite right, and the clip of the vertical stabilizer tip is off as well.

So what to do? If you're an AMS modeler or naval aviation enthusiast, you have but to replace the kit part of the folding vertical stab top and to simply graft on this new forward fuselage.

As with most Cutting Edge conversions, if they can't simply have you replace a kit part, they at least make it easy to make the conversion by following the existing panel lines on the kit for cut lines. The resin fuselage halves are hollow-cast and will work with the existing kit parts (if you're so inclined) or with the upcoming cockpit replacement set (that will also work in the unconverted kit nose).

To make the kit even more correct, Cutting Edge has also replaced the windscreen, forward and rear canopies with their fantastic clear resin to work with the new nose. To my eye, the resin transparencies look clearer than the kit parts.

Cutting Edge has released separately a set of corrected intakes and intake trunks for this kit. Set 48487 will backdate the intakes to the early configuration of the Vigilante, while 48488 has corrected intakes and intake trunks for the later block aircraft. Cutting Edge is also planning a conversion to backdate the model to the early A3J-1 (A-5A) bomber version.

This set is definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Meteor Productions for this review sample!