1:32 Matra Durandal Bomb (4 pcs)

Matra Durandal in 1:32 scale (Reskit)

According to the name, the set brings four pieces of the Matra Durandal bomb in 1:32 scale. It is not an airplane model but an additional store with which the pylons of a model under construction are fitted. The four in the package make it possible to build a symmetrical configuration under both wings.

The real subject

The Durandal is a French bomb intended for breaking up hardened surfaces. Its shape is defined by a slim cylindrical body with a sharp front end, pronounced cruciform stabilizing surfaces at the rear and a clearly distinct rear section; the whole part is considerably longer and thinner than an ordinary bomb. It is precisely that slimness that gives plastic parts trouble — they tend to be thicker than they should be, and the stabilizers come out of the mold blunt. In resin the shape can be cast closer to the original.

Building and painting tips

Once the casting blocks are removed, wet sanding comes next. Use a high-grit sanding paper soaked in water with a drop of dish soap; the water carries the dust away, cools the surface and, above all, prevents resin sanding dust from being breathed in. Work from coarser toward ever finer paper, and sand the cylindrical body by rotating it against the surface so that no flat spot forms. Finally rinse the part and let it dry through completely, otherwise residual moisture will leave patches under the primer. Painting rests on a clean division between the body and the rear section and on thin bands that are not overpainted.

Who the set is for

• Builders of models of French aircraft in 1:32 scale.
• Modelers who want a slim, sharp shape instead of a thicker plastic part.
• Anyone after four pieces for a symmetrical fit of the pylons.
• The advanced, who can handle sanding resin and cyanoacrylate glue.

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.