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Cammett 1:72 Nimrod AEW Conversion Set (in box review)


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Maybe Cammett and their pattern makers thought that due to the limit appeal of this set, they'd release it as a very enticing price. It worked with me, and I purchased a set earlier in the week, depsite not having a spare Nimrod kit to attach it to.

The kit arrived this morning in a small brown box, with details of the contents on one end. Very low key so far. Inside is a 2 page instruction sheet, printed on both sides. It discusses both general resin handling techniques and how best to install this kit on a donor Nimrod, including detailed color pictures of the installation process.

The parts are split into three padded bags, which on opening reveal the resin parts, each of which is wrapped in a poly-bag to prevent chaffing. The nose is a partial hollow casting and shows fine detailing on a par with the Airfix kit onto which it will be grafted. The tail radome section is solid cast, and includes revised empennage with individually articulated flying surfaces, giving you an easy option of adding more interest to the area.

Nimrod-AEW.jpg

The fuselage cut lines are clearly marked on the instructions, along with a caution to the builder to check their references for different layouts of windows etc. during the build process.

It is difficult to say whether it will fit well to the kit without actually taking a razor saw to the fuselage halves myself (tricky, as I don't yet have a kit!). Judging by the care that has clearly been taken in creating the parts however, I am hopeful that the same care has been exercised with regard to fit. One word of caution is the weight of the rear part of the kit, which may require the builder to add additional weight to the front, which although heavy in itself, isn't going to counter that big chunk of resin in the rear. All of this is going to put strain on the plastic landing gear. If some bright spark releases an upgraded metal landing gear set, I for one would be installing it in this beast!

Overall, an excellent and unusual subject for a conversion, which is beautifully executed. The price is VERY competitive for the amount of resin & craftsmanship that has gone into it, so I would heartily recommend it to anyone that has an interest in this extinct offshoot from the Nimrod family, or has a spare Nimrod that they just can't think what to do with.

All that's required to add to the wish list of ancillary parts in addition to metal landing gear would be some AEW specific decals. :)

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I believe the tail actually contains a foam core, rather than being solid resin, to cut down on the weight. The tail radome itself is 108g, the solid nose 60.5g. The instructions tell you to add an additional 75g of weight in the nose. Metal aftermarket gear would definitely help as you are adding a minimium of 140g of weight to the kit (excluding the tailplanes etc)!

As has I have posted elsewhere I'd like to see a decal sheet including for example these schemes.

Pic 1 Grey

Pic 2 two tone white/grey

The two-tone is my favourite. I'm not snooty about who does them - Model Alliance are you listening!

Best

Rich

Edited by Richard M
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Despite the fact that I view Nimrod AEW as by some margin the biggest fiasco in UK defence procurement since WWII (and it is up against some amazingly stiff competition), I have been unable to resist this conversion kit. I think I need professional help...

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Despite the fact that I view Nimrod AEW as by some margin the biggest fiasco in UK defence procurement since WWII (and it is up against some amazingly stiff competition), I have been unable to resist this conversion kit. I think I need professional help...

You are not wrong there. The competition was strong but the £1 billion we wasted on this was too much (and that was way back when a £billion was lot! :analintruder: )

I just got one of these conversions the other day and the resin is first class, the service from cammett was first class as well!

Julien (another lover of fugly planes)

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  • 1 year later...
You are not wrong there. The competition was strong but the £1 billion we wasted on this was too much (and that was way back when a £billion was lot! :analintruder: )

I just got one of these conversions the other day and the resin is first class, the service from cammett was first class as well!

Julien (another lover of fugly planes)

My dad worked on the radar on these when he was at Thorn EMI in Hayes and said that the radar was very good just the concept was wrong, when the government pulled the plug he was laid of with a few hundred other workers

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  • 3 weeks later...

Gotta agree Mike,

This is one cracking set from Cammett.

The crispness and quality has to be seen. Can highly recommend this set.

Plan to do mine in the W/G scheme.

But money and space allowing might have to do the other optionas well :analintruder:

Adrian

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