Aires

1/48 S35E Draken (Recon) Cockpit Set Item # 4389 & S35E Draken Recon Conversion Item # 4390 For the Hasegawa Draken

Reviewed By  Floyd S. Werner, Jr., IPMS# 26266

MSRP: Cockpit- $23.50 Conversion - $17.50 Website: www.aires.cz So you have the new Hasegawa Draken, sure it is a great kit but yours will look like the next guys, what to do? How about a photo recon version of the aircraft? That will be difficult you say, but wait, Aires has you covered. These two sets are beautifully cast and will provide you with a unique looking aircraft that will set yours apart from the rest. The S35E is the photo recon version of the Swedish Draken. The S35E was operated by three Reconnaissance Squadrons and these were 1 and 2 Spaningsdivisions of F11 Wing at Nyköping-Skavsta and 1 Spaningsdivision of F21 Wing at Luleå-Kallax. The first set is the cockpit set. Typical Aires quality light grey resin with impeccable detail and exquisite detail. In combination with the resin is the intelligent uses of photo etch and printed film. You will have to thin out the sidewalls of the kit that is relatively easy and extremely realistic. The detail on the resin pieces is simply gorgeous. Besides the cockpit tub you get a sidewall (the other one is molded on the cockpit tub), a new ejection seat and cockpit coaming.

The photo etch is primarily used for the instrument panel but the one really unique use is the Heads Up Display. Mirrors are provided as well for the kit canopy that is a really nice touch. A really nice cockpit would be superfluous without the camera nose. Here Aires provides a cream-colored resin bit for the nose with the appropriate bulges for the cameras. The resin is distortion and blemish free as is the norm with Aires products. Along with the resin nose you get the lenses in bubble free clear resin. You will have to open some holes in the fuselage for the cameras mounted there, but the nose is a simple conversion. Simply replacing the kit nose cone with the new resin nose and add paint. The instructions would have you remove the entire pour block but I would suggest you leave part of it on and use it to help secure the nose to the model.

With these two sets you can come up with a unique looking version of a unique looking airplane. Even though Hasegawa has announced a special edition of this airplane the Aires cockpit and nose will no doubt be superior to the kits offering and more than justifying the costs. Highly recommended. Thanks to Aires for the review copy. You can obtain your copy from www.aires.cz.