Reviewed: Feb 2023
Red Fox Studio have continued a steady release schedule of new cockpit detailing sets in 1/48, 1/32, 1/35 and 1/24. The Red Fox "Quick Set" product is designed for upgrading model aircraft cockpits. It has an acrylic plastic, non-flat surface with a 3D effect.
It is best glued with cyanoacrylate, but PVA or other glues can also be used. The product can safely be washed with both oil-based and acrylic paints and moderately ester-based paints. It can also be minimally bent or sanded.
In my previous step-by-step review of the Red Fox 1:32 F-5E detail set I found the whole thing super easy to work with and the results were excellent.
This time around I'll have a look at three of Red Fox's recent sets in 1:48, designed for some of the very latest kits and some for older kits.
Designed for the Hasegawa 1:48 F-22A Raptor kit, this Red Fox set provides detailed replacement parts for the cockpit main instrument panel and side consoles.
This is one of the only Red Fox sets that I have seen which offers options for both powered on and powered off MFD's. This is a welcome addition as it provides flexibility for the modeller. In common with all the 3D sets which are designed to replace the kit plastic detail, it is necessary to remove the kits raised detail first.
The fifth generation F-22 cockpit interior is mostly black which works very well for a 3D printed replacement. Solid colors (like black) seem to be the easiest color to accurately reproduce for the 3D printers used by the likes of Red Fox and Quinta. Blended colors seem to come out pixelated.
The raised detail on the Hasegawa kit parts will need to be sanded down prior to attaching the Red Fox parts. A file or sanding stick is best for this as you want to ensure the main parts are not damged as well. To secure the Red Fox acrylic parts I find its best to use either CA (Super) glue or a more forgiving option is the flexible MiG Ammo "Ultra Glue"
Designed for the Kinetic 1:48 F/A-18C Hornet kit, this Red Fox set provides detailed replacement parts for the cockpit main instrument panel and side consoles.
The Red Fox F/A-18C set consists of ten parts, spread out across the main instrument panel and side consoles. Preparation is required for the kit parts by sanding the raised detail off prior to gluing.
Red Fox has logically broken the parts for the cockpit into several components, designed to best fit the different levels found on the main panel. The three MFD's and central UFC (Up Front Controller) directly below the HUD are separate. Each of the side consoles are a single piece making installation and alignment very easy.
The F/A-18C Hornet is a fourth-generation, multirole combat aircraft. As such the cockpit is a combination of new digital Multi Function Displays (MFD) alongside more traditional analog backup instruments. The primary interior cockpit color on the Hornet is FS36231 Dark Gull Grey which Red Fox have color matched to MIG-0205 FS 26231 (BS 638)
The raised detail on the Kinetic kit parts will need to be sanded down prior to attaching the Red Fox parts. A file or firm sanding stick is best for this as you want to ensure the main framework is not damged as well. To secure the Red Fox acrylic parts I find its best to use either CA (Super) glue or a more forgiving option is the flexible MiG Ammo "Ultra Glue"
Designed for the Tamiya 1:48 Bf 109G-6 kit, this Red Fox set provides detailed replacement parts for the cockpit main instrument panel and side consoles. This set is meant to represent a 109G-6 fitted with the underwing WFR.21.GR rockets. This modification included a new panel added to the cockpit which allowed the pilot to arm and fire the rockets.
Unlike other kits of the Bf 109G-6, the Tamiya 109 has the main instrument panel broken into two parts with the slightly raised main center cluster provided as a separate part. Red Fox has therefore needed to design their Quick Set to accomodate this "feature" of the Tamiya build. Unlike the clean design of modern jet cockpits, WW2 cockpits tended to have many of the smaller parts scattered in and around the cockpit or the side walls and floor.
Late war Luftwaffe cockpits were typically painted in RLM 66, a very dark gray. In their attempt to match the color it seems the Red Fox process has ended up creating a quite grainy/pixelated result which I personally find very distracting. The solid primary colors like blue, yellow and black do not suffer from this problem it seems.
The Tamiya kit provides nice raised detail onto which the provided decals are applied. Of course all this detail will need to be removed prior to using the Red Fox parts.
A good study of a museum 109 cockpit shows the RLM 66 color as well the general layout and colors of the cockpit.
Another welcome set of releases by Red Fox, this time in 1:48. They are earning a well deserved reputation for thoroughly researched upgrade sets. The main benefit I find with these new 3D sets is how easy they are to apply.
Red Fox is based in Hungary and have partnered with MiG Ammo for worldwide marketing and distribution. For more details you can visit the Red Fox website and Facebook page.
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Red-Fox-Studio-112301346967714
Website: https://rfstudio.hu/