1:32 Schwarzlose 07/12 without Water Jacket (2 items)

Schwarzlose 07/12 without Water Jacket 1:32 — a resin accessory from GasPatch models

The set brings two castings of the Schwarzlose Model 07/12 aircraft machine gun in the version without a water cooling jacket, in 1:32 scale. It is neither an aircraft kit nor a stand-alone model — it is a higher-quality replacement part that takes the place of the simplified gun from a plastic kit, or fills in the armament on models where it is missing. Resin castings capture fine detail that cannot be reliably carried over into injected plastic, and once painted they lift the level of the finished model considerably.

The real subject

The Schwarzlose M.07/12 was an Austro-Hungarian 8 mm machine gun built around a delayed blowback action with a toggle-lever mechanism. In its ground form it had a water cooling jacket around the barrel. Aircraft installations did away with the jacket, because the oncoming airstream cooled the gun well enough and the weight and bulk of the tank were saved. The gun was used on airplanes in both fixed and flexible installations for the observer.

Tips for working and painting

First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water to remove the mold release residue, otherwise paint will not hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a cutting disc or a fine saw and never snap them off. It is bonded with super glue, that is cyanoacrylate; plastic cement does not work on resin. Sand wet and protect your airways. Before painting lay down a primer, then a dark metal shade, draw a wash into the recesses and bring out the edges with a dry brush.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building First World War airplanes in 1:32 scale
• Builders who want to replace a coarse plastic gun with a more accurate part
• Anyone interested in Austro-Hungarian aviation
• Builders of dioramas and detailed gun positions

This is an accessory, not a complete kit. Glue, paints and the base model are not included in the package.