CF-105 Avro Arrow Detail Sets

So now I’ll take a look at the aftermarket detail sets available for Hobbycraft’s CF-105 Avro Arrow. I was able to find the North Star Editions cockpit and MasterCasters’ landing gear and exterior sets. However, MasterCasters also released a cockpit set, or at least intended to. All sets are intended for the re-tooled Hobbycraft Arrow.

North Star Editions CF-105 Arrow Cockpit (NSE 48-001)

North Star’s cockpit consists 25 resin pieces, 3 photo-etch frets, a pre-cut acetate sheet and a four page set of instructions.

The instructions are pictorial and provide guidance in both English and French, typical of Canadian companies. They also suggest colour references for the bulk of the parts. The rest of the detail colours will need be researched or, guessed.

24 of the resin parts make up the cockpit floor, instrument panel, side consoles, seats and other smaller parts, typical of resin replacement cockpits. The cast parts are finely detailed and rendered in a grey resin. The photo-etch frets provide the side wall framing, Martin-Baker Mk 5 seat harnesses, windscreen frame and miscellaneous levers. The set also includes two extras, a photo-etch name plate, which could be mounted beside the finished aircraft and a resin upper fuselage piece, which the modeller can used is he/she wishes to display the cockpit as a separate model outside of the aircraft.

Note that in the picture, I am missing the fuselage piece as I am not using it as well as the forward canopy clamshells, which seem to have become a cat toy. I am in the process of obtaining the missing parts from North Star Editions.

What seems to be unique with this set is the canopy. North Star Editions capture the Arrow’s distinctive clam shell canopy in the open position. It consists of 7 resin pieces making up the clam shell canopy with glass inserts provided by the pre-cut acetate sheet. Also, the windscreen consists of 2 photo-etch pieces as well as the glass inserts. This will allow the modeller to paint the interior and exterior of the canopy, unlike a clear canopy part provided with most model kits. From references, it appears that North Star Editions has captured the Arrow cockpit very well. If all a modeller wanted to do was add this set, it would make a vast improvement over the stock kit.

MasterCasters’ CF-105 Avro Arrow Exterior Detail Set (MST 48003)

MasterCasters’ Exterior Detail set consists of 7 pale yellow resin pieces, 5 clear resin pieces and a single page of instructions. The set provides replacement intakes, exhaust and the clamshell canopy in the open position.

The instructions are colour and use a combination of pictures of the actual parts and narrative description of what to do. One observation, is that in a couple of the pictures, those showing the canopy installation, MasterCasters also depict the a resin cockpit, which is definitely not the North Star Editions cockpit. However, I have not found any cockpit from MasterCasters here in Canada. Hence my earlier comment at the beginning with respect to MasterCasters’ cockpit.

The replacement intakes are not that much improved over the kit parts. However, there is improved detailing in the recessed lines and each intake is one piece vice the two piece assembly of the kit. This will be a plus in that there will be no seam line to clean up except that between the intake and the fuselage. The replacement exhaust consists of the exhaust housing and two nozzles. The exhaust housing is more finely cast than the kit part and MasterCasters has also added the recessed panel detail lacking from the kit part. The replacement nozzles probably make this detail set worth the price. MasterCasters exquisitely rendered the afterburner nozzles depicting the fuels lines and panels of the nozzles. The nozzle inserts from the kit will be required to complete the exhaust assembly.

MasterCasters also provides part to replace the kit clamshell antenna. Unlike North Star Editions, MasterCasters cast the clamshells and windscreen in clear resin. This will make getting a realistic look more tricky. The typical trick of painting the inside colour on the outside of the canopy frame then the outside colour will not work as well since the Arrow canopy is more frame than glass. Thus, one will need to mask both sides to produce a realistic look. Hence, my desire to replace the North Star Editions’ parts.

MasterCasters’ CF-105 Avro Arrow Undercarriage Set (MST 48002)

MasterCasters’ Undercarriage set consists of 38 pale yellow resin pieces and a two page set of instructions. The set provides detailed landing gear bays and replacement parts for the undercarriage.

Like the Exterior Detail set, the instructions are colour and use a combination of actual parts pictures and narrative description. They are divided, naturally, into two distinct sub-assemblies, the Main Gear and the Nose Gear assemblies.

The Main Gear assembly consists of 26 pieces divided evenly between left and right sides and making up the bays, struts and doors. Each side contains a well detailed bay that will need to be fitted into the lower wing. The ribbing is rendered with very thin resin and care in handling is required, I will need to replace some of this ribbing since I was not very careful in the clean up. Each strut assembly consists of 6 parts plus a door and two wheels. This appears to be a very delicate assembly and I am somewhat concerned that it will be easily damaged in handling of the model as well as its ability to support the completed model. Unlike the kit, the wheels are a single piece.

The Nose Gear assembly consists of 12 pieces making up the bay, strut and doors. Given that the nose section of airframe 206, complete with Nose gear and bay, is displayed in the Canadian National Aviation Museum, the lack of detail in landing gear bay for this assembly is somewhat disappointing. All MasterCasters rendered is the ribs. However, a bit of wire and strip styrene will improve this aspect of a rather excellent detail set. The strut appears more sturdy than the main Gear assembly but its mounting point in the bay may prove to be the Achilles heel.

All in all, MasterCasters has captured the Arrow undercarriage quite well and it will prove to be a great improvement to the Hobbycraft kit.