One kit that I think most of us have built at one time or another is the Hasegawa 1/72 Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune. It is a geriatric case amongst the many kits that have been done over the years, with thick plastic, raised details and rivets, as was the style of the time. Very much a first generation Hasegawa kit when they concentrated on planes operated by the Japanese defense forces.

It was sadly lacking in any sort of meaningful cockpit detailing, with a couple of generic seats for some rather stiff figures to sit in. Nothing worth looking through the transparencies at, that is for sure.

Well, now Pavla has once again come to the rescue of builders of these older kits with a very nice cockpit set for the Hasegawa Neptune. A bit of trimming will be needed, but not much. A nice cockpit tub, two seats with harnesses molded in place, control columns, wheels and rudder pedals are included as well. There is an overhead console, nicely done instrument panel and a radar scope in the center. The co-pilot also has a joystick for controlling the spotlight should he so wish to, something that was carried over to the P-3.

It is something you should seriously pick up if considering building this aircraft.

June 2008

Review copy courtesy of the fine folks atPavla Models. Visit them at theirwebsite.

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