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Avionix 1/32 F-8E Crusader Cockpit Set

By Will Riepl

Putting the cart before the horse, Avionix has a resin cockpit set for the soon to be released Trumpeter 1/32 scale kit of the F-8E Crusader. From the first look at the resin cockpit set it is very well done. But, of course, I do not have a kit to see if it will fit, or how much work might be required if it doesn't. I do hope that when they made the master that they had a final kit to work with, and Trumpeter did not make any changes to the kit afterwards.

So this is what you will get in the set. The cockpit tub looks very nice and I can see that it will very likely look better than the kit. They have a Martin Baker (early version) Mk. 5 seat. Very nicely done, you just have to add the pull curtain which is nicely done and two of them are included just in case that you break one! All the detail of the seat (belts, pads, etc) is there and will look nice when it is painted. Avionix has said that they will have a set with an Mk 7 seat for the later F-8s, or you could use one of the F-4 seats that they have out now.

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They have some new sidewall parts that do look better than the Trumpeter issued ones. The new Avionix instrument panel is nicely done. However, the Trumpeter kit I have viewed online appears to have a clear panel with a film backing for the instruments. I think I will use it instead of the Avionix part. The resin set has a very nice coaming that will fit over the panel. There is an exceptional Heads Up Display part.

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There is a bunch of little busy stuff that you can add to the tub: beautifully done control stick, aft Deck assembly, and rudder pedals. Of course, once the kit is built, most of it won't be visible. But you'll know it's there!

And that is about it. All that we need now is the Trumpeter kit. With the addition of the Avionix cockpit resin set you can end up with an outstanding 1/32 Crusader.