SJU-5/6A Ejection Seat
1/32 scale for F/A-18 Hornet

Aires

Item number 2018 from Aires Hobby Models is a 1/32 scale resin Martin-Baker SJU-5/6 ejection seat for the F/A-18 Hornet. 

The kit is mixed-media offering.   The seat itself and the separate centre pull actuation handle are cast in light buff coloured resin whilst the belts and buckles are photo-etched. 

The casting superbly done and all details are crisp and sharp.  The squab and back have been cast with texture and creases that will be enhanced with a wash and dry brush.  Detail has even been cast on the lower half of the seat back.  Most of this will be hidden when it is placed inside the cockpit but should you decide to place it on a stand as a part of a maintenance diorama it will be shown.  There are no miscasts or pinholes in my sample.  Flash is absolutely minimal and can be taken care of with a sharp modelling knife and sandpaper in a matter of minutes. 

A small instruction sheet is included.  It shows black and white illustrations of how to put the seat harness together.   No painting instructions are included.  The lack of painting instructions is not really a problem as there are plenty of on-line references available.  One of the best is The Ejection Site at http://users.bestweb.net/~kcoyne/sju56aseat.htm  It has some great full colour pics that can act as your painting guide. 

Packaging is excellent. The seat itself sits in a vacformed tray which in turn sits on top of the cardboard header on which the photoetch fret and instructions are also placed.  A vacformed clear plactic cover is then slid over both the tray and the header and it both traps and displays the seat and photoetch parts.  Staples are then punched through the header card and the plastic cover to fasten them together.   This manner of packaging is a real boon as, in these days of mail order hobby shops; your seat has a far better chance of arriving at your mail box intact. 

A nice effort from Aires that will look great in your Academy F/A-18. 

Recommended.