1:48 F-16A ACES II Ejection seat for single seat F-16 (early)

Mini Craft Collection 1:48 - ACES II ejection seat for the F-16A (early version)

A resin detail set from Mini Craft Collection in 1:48 scale: the ACES II ejection seat in the version for the single-seat early F-16A. It is not an airplane model but a cockpit accessory; it replaces the simplified seat from the plastic kit with a casting that has the faithful shape of the shell, the harness, the ejection handles and the small touches that cannot be made in an injection mold. The seat is the most prominent element of the interior with the canopy open, so it is one of those accessories you notice in the result straight away. Watch the version: ACES II seats differed in detail over the years and between single-seat and two-seat machines, and this set aims at the early single-seat form.

Use and procedure

• Wash the casting in lukewarm soapy water, because mold release agent residue keeps the primer and the paint from sticking.
• Cut the casting block off with a saw or a cutting disc, do not snap it off, because resin is brittle.
• Sand only wet and with respiratory protection.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); cement for plastic does not bond resin.
• Lay down a primer before painting; paint and shade the seat off the model and fit it into the cockpit only when it is finished.
• Check the dry fit into the cockpit tub of the particular kit; small adjustment of the mating surfaces is normal with resin.

Who the set is for

For modelers building the F-16A in 1:48 scale who want the cockpit to match the rest of the model, especially if they plan an open canopy, a display case or a diorama. Working with resin calls for basic experience and for cyanoacrylate glue, so the set rather suits more advanced modelers.

An accessory for a kit, not a model. The kit itself, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.