1:32 MG 15 Aircraft (pair)

The MG 15 Aircraft in 1:32 scale, a resin accessory from GasPatch models

This is not a kit of an aircraft but an aftermarket accessory from the Greek GasPatch models brand: a pair of separate MG 15 aircraft machine guns in 1:32 scale, made of resin. A large scale reveals every detail, so the weapon from a plastic kit tends to be the first thing a builder replaces on such a model. A resin casting will offer sharp edges, a drawn-out barrel jacket and a fine texture that an injection mold cannot render.

The real subject

The MG 15 is a German aircraft machine gun of 7.92 mm caliber intended for the flexible mounts of defensive positions. It is air-cooled and its barrel is covered by a perforated jacket that carries the heat away. The weapon was operated by a gunner by hand on a pivoting or ring mount. The description stays with the technical side of the design.

Tips for working and painting

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent, as the remains of release agent would prevent paint from adhering. Cut the casting blocks off with a thin saw or a fresh blade and never break them off by twisting. Sand wet and with protection for the breathing. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); cement for plastic has no effect on resin. In a large scale it pays to paint in layers: a thin primer, a dark metallic shade, a careful dry brush on the edges and the perforation and a dark wash, which will emphasize the shadows between the openings of the jacket. Set the grips and the wooden parts, if the model contains them, apart in color from the metal.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building aircraft in the large 1:32 scale
• Builders of open gunner's positions, where the weapon is fully visible
• More experienced modelers used to working with resin
• Collectors who want to raise the level of detail above that of a box

This is a modeling accessory, not a complete kit. The parts are supplied unpainted; glue, paints and the basic model are not included in the package.