Aires

1/48 Focke Wulf Ta-183A Cockpit Set For the Tamiya kit

Stock Number: 4397

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

MSRP: $23.50 Website: www.aires.cz Ever wonder what might have happened had the German jets been able to turn the tables in the skies over Europe in 1944/45? Then you are a Luftwaffe '46 buff. OK admit it you really like the unique looking paperclip projects. One of those that was very close to being built was the Focke Wulf Ta-183 Huckebein. First marketed by AmTech, this kit has recently been released by Tamiya along with their great little Kettenkraftrad. One of the unique things about Luft '46 is no one can tell you your paint scheme isn't accurate. It is sort of like dinosaurs, how do you know it wasn't pink polka-dotted? Aires has a new cockpit for the Tamiya kit, molded in blemish free light grey plastic, there are six exquisitely detailed resin pieces, including a beautiful cockpit tub. The cockpit tub contains relief not seen on the kit parts. Also included is a fret of photo etch and a pre-printed film for the instrument panel and gunsight. The resin tub is beautiful and includes the molded on rear decking with beautiful detail that is very important especially with the large canopy. The ejection seat is significantly better than the kit offering. It consists of the main seat assembly with molded on pad and headrest and the foot pegs as two separate pieces. The resin seat also has the side mounted activation handles.. My copy had the control stick break free from the pour block but that was not an issue as it broke off where it would have been cut off anyway. Construction is very straightforward. Simply remove the parts from the pour blocks. If you are not familiar with the way Aires depicts this, the instructions are shadowed where the pour block has to be removed, very easy to understand. You will not need to thin any part of the model to install this cockpit. The use of the photo etch is thoughtful and not excessive. Photo etch is used where it makes sense, like the instrument panel, seatbelts and rudder pedals. Actually that is all there is on the sheet. The film is used for the instrument markings and just requires some white on the backside and added to the photo etch panel to highlight this element. If you can make a sandwich you can make up this multi-layered instrument panel. Aires is certainly not unfamiliar with this kit as it also has a wheel well set for it, Item # 4352. A simple yet effective multi-media upgrade to a very unique aircraft. The intelligent use of resin, photo etch and clear film plus the simple construction means this set is a perfect first multi media upgrade set. Highly recommended Thanks to Aires for the review copy. You can obtain yours online at www.aires.cz or www.modelchoice.net .