Cutting Edge 1/48
SR-71A/B, YF-12A, & A-12 Blackbird Super Detailed Nozzles

Cutting Edge Modelworks is back again with some interesting new products and a hint at the near future. Check out that title above. SR-71A/B, YF-12A, A-12. We know that Testors has released the SR-71A and SR-71B kits as well as the YF-12A in 1/48 scale. Rumor has it that there may be an A-12 conversion in the wings as well. Kiwi Resin produced a conversion for the A-12, but it is my understanding that the conversion is no longer in production.

According to several online stores, the 1/48 scale SR-71 kit is still available while the YF-12 is only available through kit swaps and eBay. Both are still available in 1/72 scale.

So back to this release, Cutting Edge has produced some beautiful castings of the rather complex exhaust nozzle and afterburner chamber for the monstrous J58 engines that power the SR-71A/B/C, YF-12A, and the A-11/A-12.M-12. I had a chance to see the masters under development along with the reference photos from the National Air & Space Museum's SR-71 display. I was intrigued enough to stop by there myself for my own photo reference.

Each assembly is three pieces, the dish-like afterburner spray ring array that caps on one end of the afterburner chamber. On the other end of the chamber is the ring section of blow (suck)-in doors that mounts to the rear of each engine nacelle. Over this goes another length of tailpipe that ends in a standard-looking nozzle. The instructions clearly show how all of this goes together and when you put these three pieces together with some good painting and weathering, you'll have a very realistic afterburner section on your model.

Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Meteor Productions for this review sample!