1:48 F-22A Raptor cockpit set for academy

Cockpit for the F-22A Raptor in 1:48, for the Hasegawa kit

An accessory cockpit interior set for the F-22A Raptor model in 1:48. According to the name it is prepared for the Hasegawa kit and replaces the simplified cockpit from the box with a more thoroughly rendered whole.

The real subject

The F-22A Raptor is an American single-seat fifth-generation fighter, built with an emphasis on being hard to detect. Its cockpit is covered by a one-piece canopy with no transverse frame, so on a model you can see into it along its whole length. That is exactly why adding to the interior pays off more on the Raptor than on aircraft with a heavily framed canopy.

What the set contains

Cockpit interior parts in 1:48 to be built into the fuselage of the kit. The exact extent of the set and the number of parts are given by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Building and painting tips

• Seat the parts dry and only then take material out of the inside of the fuselage as the fit requires, always a little at a time.
• Try squeezing the fuselage halves together with a rubber band before you glue anything, to reveal the places where the set pushes them apart.
• Cut the surplus material and the traces of manufacture off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the area.
• Choose the glue according to the material of the parts; anything that is not polystyrene will only be joined by cyanoacrylate glue.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting and apply the primer in a thin coat, or the relief of the instruments will disappear.
• Paint and finish the whole interior before you close the fuselage; afterwards you will not get inside.

Who it is for

For the modeler who builds a Raptor in 1:48 with the canopy open and wants the detail of the interior to match how much of it can be seen under the glazing.

The kit, paints and glue are not supplied, unless stated otherwise.