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In-Box Review
172
Sea Venom FAW.21 Cockpit Set
Resin and Vac Formed Parts Designed for the Cyber-Hobby Kit
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by: Tim Hatton [ LITESPEED ]

Pavla Models has released a resin cockpit set and vac formed canopy for the recently released 1/72 Cyber-Modeler Sea Venom FAW.21. The seats and canopy are available separately.

Contents:

Sea Venom FAW.21 Cockpit Set
Contained inside the vac formed blister packaging is two vac formed parts and a number of resin parts to detail the cockpit of the Cyber-Modeler kit. Some of the more delicate resin parts are bagged separately. Contents include:
-2 x MB Mk.4A ejection seats.
-1 x cockpit floor and rear bulkhead.
-1 x detailed turtle deck.
-1 x instrument panel.
-1 x pilots side panel.
-1 x central side panel.
-1 x control stick.
-1 x two part canopy arm.
-1 x one piece canopy and windscreen.
-1 x one piece opening canopy.
-3 x small sheets of instructions.

One thing that immediately impresses is the quality and the detail of the resin castings. The undercuts around the pipe work creates the impression they are not attached to the wall they run along. Another impressive feature is the thinness of the attachment points that connect the parts to their casting blocks, which means there will be little effort required to separate parts.
The ejection seats are superb, replacing the woefully undersized kit items. The seats include the seat firing handles above the pilot’s heads and between the legs. Seat harnesses are cast onto the cushions and are draped very effectively. The rest of the cockpit parts are very well done. I like the look of the area just behind the two seats and also the rudder pedals cast with the instrument panel. The trim wheel, throttle levers, etc. do look very well done on the side console to the left of the pilot. The HUD display screen needs to be scratch built; the vac formed packaging could be used for the purpose.
Some surgery is required to the kit involving the removal of the area behind the crew’s seats.

A real bonus with this kit is the inclusion of the vac formed canopy. Pavla Models has created a one piece canopy with well-defined framework. Also included is a separate vac formed part of the canopy that opens. This inclusion of the separate canopy in the cockpit set does not appear in the separate canopy release. Some careful cutting will be required, but it’s an excellent inclusion. Pavla Models has also included resin parts for the arm which features the hinge that opens the canopy.

Instructions are very clear and provide plenty of paint guidance for the various parts. The black line drawings are very well done and instructions are written in Czech and English.
Ref no: C 720109

MB Mk.4A Ejection Seat
The excellent looking seat is available separately. One seat is contained in the plastic bag.
Ref no: S 72076

Sea Venom FAW.21 Canopy.
This separate release features the one piece canopy and windscreen that is contained in the cockpit set. The separate canopy that provides you with the option to display the canopy open is not included with this release.
Ref no: V72-95

Conclusions:

This is an excellent release from Pavla Models and will go some way to address some of the problems with the cyber-Modeler kit. Quality of the resin castings and the vac formed parts is superb. They will certainly improve the look of the office no end. Highly recommended.

SUMMARY
Highs: Quality of the resin castings and the vac formed parts is superb.
Lows: A couple very small parts had broken off.
Verdict: This is another great release from Pavla Models with some fine work from the Company.
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: 1:72
  Mfg. ID: See text
  Suggested Retail: TBA
  PUBLISHED: Jul 25, 2012
  NATIONALITY: United Kingdom
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.86%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.99%

Our Thanks to Pavla Models!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Tim Hatton (litespeed)
FROM: ENGLAND - NORTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

Aircraft are my primary interest from WWll to present day.

Copyright ©2021 text by Tim Hatton [ LITESPEED ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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