1:24 German AirSpeed Indicator

A German airspeed indicator in 1:24 scale from GasPatch models

This item is neither a kit nor a finished model but a small accessory for your own kit. The contents are a resin reproduction of an airspeed indicator of German design, intended for the cockpit of a model in 1:24 scale. The exact number of parts in the package, and whether a printed dial is included, are given on the manufacturer's packaging.

The airspeed indicator in the cockpit

The airspeed indicator was part of the basic cockpit equipment and on First World War machines it was often a conspicuous feature — it frequently sat outside or on the rim of the cockpit, where it was easy to take in at a glance. In 1:24 scale the cockpit is open and clearly visible, so the instruments are one of the first places a viewer looks. Plastic kits usually deal with them only as suggested relief, which is lost once the paint goes on.

How to work the accessory in

Wash the part in lukewarm water with detergent and let it dry. Cut the casting block off with a new blade, level the seating surface with a file and sand wet with respiratory protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue, best the gel version, which gives you time to line the position up. Paint the body of the instrument dark, then the dial a deep black, and apply the needle or the figures on the tip of a toothpick; imitate the glass with a drop of clear gloss varnish or with a drop of the cyanoacrylate glue intended for glazing, which does not fog.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of large aircraft models in 1:24 scale
• Modelers who work the cockpit up beyond what the kit offers
• More advanced builders used to small resin parts
• Cabinet builds with an open cockpit

The accessory is supplied unpainted, as a separate resin part. The kit, the glue and the paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.