1:144 Detailing set for aircraft model C-141

A metal detail set 1:144 for the C-141 (Metallic Details)

A detail set in 1:144 scale intended to add detail to a plastic model of the four-engine C-141 military transport aircraft. This is not a kit of the aircraft but an accessory which replaces softly molded plastic shapes with fine metal parts. In this small scale it is precisely the thickness of the material that sets a model apart from a toy.

The real subject

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was an American strategic transport aircraft with jet engines, a high-mounted swept wing and a T-tail. It came about in the 1960s as a machine designed from the start for the long-range carriage of cargo and paratroops; loading was through the rear ramp under a raised tail. It stayed in service until the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, and part of the fleet went through a lengthening of the fuselage by the insertion of additional sections.

Building and painting tips

Separate the thin metal sheet with a sharp scalpel on a glass or metal surface, never with nippers, which will ripple the part. Sand the remainder of the tab down with a fine file. Make the bends in a bending tool or between two razor blades, always toward the marked groove. Degrease the metal with alcohol before painting and lay a primer on, or the paint will not hold on the smooth surface and will peel during handling. It is glued with superglue of gel consistency, which gives time to seat the part; on larger areas epoxy is surer. Shave the matching plastic detail off the model beforehand, so that the metal part seats flush.

Who the set is for

• modelers building large aircraft in 1:144 scale
• those who want sharp edges instead of soft plastic relief
• builders with experience of photo-etch and superglue
• collectors finishing a model for a display case

This is an accessory for adding detail to a plastic kit, not a model of its own. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.