Paval Models have released a very welcome cockpit set for the attractive Aermacchi MB 326. This resin and vac formed set is designed for the Italeri and Supermodel kits. The MB.Mk WY6A/M seats and the vac formed canopy are available separately.

Contents.

C 72103 Aermacchi MB 326 Cockpit Set.
All the contents are contained in a transparent vac formed blister pack. It contains:
-1 x vac formed canopy.
-1 x cockpit tub.
-2 x MB.Mk WY6A/M seats.
-2 x instrument panels.
-2 x control sticks.
-2 x part canopy brace and hydraulic ram.
-5 x miscellaneous cockpit parts.
-2 x small instruction and painting guides.

The single vac formed canopy looks very good, formed in a strong clear plastic, nothing flimsy about this. The opening part of the canopy and the windscreen is separated by about 5mm of excess plastic so there should be no problems separating them
The cockpit tub is excellent with lots of low relief detail as well as two throttle levers on the port side side walls. There is also some good detail on the rear wall of the tub.
The two Martin Baker Mk WY6A/M bang seats look the business. Again some lovely detail including harnesses, harness fastenings, cushions and seat firing rings. The rails on the back of the seats are also reproduced. Each seat comes with a small casting block that needs to be removed before fitting into the tub.
The two instrument panels look quite superb with the dials and switches in low relief and will certainly benefit with some careful painting and highlighting. The top of the forward instrument panel has a small hood attached. The rear instrument panel has a small groove where the hydraulic ram for the canopy is located. There is a little thin flash in the foot wells to remove. But be careful not to remove the what are possibly the rudder pedals as well. Each instrument panel has a small casting block to remove as well as three very thin flow channels.
The control sticks are nicely shaped with very convincing hand grips. The hydraulic ram and the canopy brace are a both welcome inclusions with this release particularly if you are displaying the canopy open. The canopy is hinged and opens to the starboard side..
Instructions: have very good, detailed and clear black line drawings. There are plenty of colour references as for the instruments and seats.. Some very minor surgery is required to the kit to enable the fitting of the resin parts. The hood for the front instrument panel and the partial bulkhead at the rear of the cockpit need removing.

Available separately are:

S 72070Aermacchi MB 326 MB.Mk-WY6/M Seats.
See above. These seats can also be used for the Impala, a licensed built Aermacchi MB 326 built in South Africa. Contained in a resealable plastic bag. No painting instructions.

V 72-85 Aermacchi MB 326 canopy
See above. Contained in a resealable plastic bag.

Conclusions.

This is a excellent release by Pavla Models and it continues their policy of producing quality resin and vac formed products for kits that a lot of us have in our stashes. Nice one Pavla Models.