EA-6B Prowler
Folded Wings Conversion

EA-6E Prowler of VAQ-139 Cougars on USS Abraham Lincoln.
More detailed reference pictures at the end of the review.

Cutting Edge Modelworks 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

I have to confess that when I first heard that Cutting Edge was to produce a wing fold conversion for the 1/48 scale Monogram EA-6B Prowler I was a happy man!

Being a fan of US Naval aircraft I had always wanted to build the Monogram kit with folded wings but every time I took a close look at the detail contained within the wing fold mechanism I quietly shuddered and put the kit back in its box. Another excuse not to build a Prowler is that the wings contained in the kit are from their A-6 Intruder. Whilst bearing a close resemblance to the Prowler wings, the Intruder wings are different in many details and frankly, the modelling time need to correct these differences could be better spent building Hasegawa F-4s, A-4s and A-7s.

Was the wait worth it? You bet!

The conversion consists of 37 resin pieces cast in the familiar mid-grey resin favoured by Cutting Edge. The parts consist of outer wings (cast as a complete unit), inner wings (tops only), inner pylons, pylon doors, actuator arms, track stiffeners, flapperons, various hinges and plumbing pipes as well as a pair of ALQ-41/ALQ-100 pylon antennas. The pylon antennas are a nice inclusion should you wish to model a Standard (read early) or EXCAP Prowler.

The wings are cast with the wing fold mechanism already in place rather than as a separate piece that needs to be inserted into the wing stubs. This is a good move on Cutting Edge's behalf as it makes the completed assembly nice and strong. The detail cast into the wing stubs is crisp and clean and faithfully reproduces the full sized aircraft. The flapperons are straight and thinly cast and the "hinge and plumbing" parts are cast so that there is a definite line between them and the casting blocks This method ensures that their removal from the casting block is a simple and easy task.

Cutting Edge has also done the modeller a favour by supplying sharply scribed surface detail onto the wing's top and bottom surfaces. Thanks Cutting Edge - now I will have to scribe the rest of the kit!

The kit's instructions are printed on both sides of an A-4 sized sheet and feature clear photographs of the assembly process as well concise construction notes. Also mentioned is the fact that not all of the inaccuracies inherent in the Monogram kit are addressed by this conversion.

The kit comes packed in a stiff cardboard box that protects the delicate resin pieces from damage whilst in transit. This form of packing is important for those of us who depend on mail order for their modelling supplies and is welcomed.

Lets be frank. At USD$44.99(RRP), this conversion is not cheap. However, if you want to build a Monogram Prowler with accurate folded wings, and not spend forever doing it, then it is worth every penny.

In summary, this is an excellent conversion kit that that allows you to build the Monogram Prowler with folded wings and to correct the majority of errors present in the kit at the same time. 

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the review samples

The accompanying detail photographs are of a VAQ-131 Lancers aircraft and were taken aboard the USS Constellation when she visited Perth a few weeks back whilst the heading photograph is of a VAQ-139 Cougars aircraft taken aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Cutting Edge Modelworks products are available from Meteor Productions Website

Review Copyright © 2001 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 03 May, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page