1:350 WWII Japanese Aircraft Van

Photo-etched accessory: Japanese aircraft van, 1:350 scale (Flyhawk)

This is a photo-etched fret for ship models in 1:350, not a kit. The etched parts are cut out of the fret, folded into a three-dimensional shape and glued onto a finished model. The subject of the set, according to the name, is a Japanese aircraft van, that is a ground vehicle used to handle aircraft and their equipment. In 1:350 small items like this cannot sensibly be made by injection molding, because their walls would have to be unrealistically thick. Photo-etched parts solve that with thin metal carrying engraved surface detail.

What the etched fret brings

The main benefit lies in the scale thickness of the parts. Whereas a plastic equivalent looks massive even after careful sanding, an etched part has a thickness matching real sheet metal. Small elements on a deck, which the eye reads as the scale of the whole scene, therefore look more convincing. The exact number of parts and the make-up of the fret are stated on the packaging of the set.

Working with photo-etched parts

Cut the parts off with a sharp scalpel or special photo-etch nippers against a hard surface; never break them out with your fingers. Make the folds in a bending tool or between two blades along the scored lines on the reverse of the part. It is bonded with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a minimal amount, ideally with a pin. Degrease the fret before painting and use a primer for metal, otherwise the paint flakes off the smooth surface. With parts this small it works well to paint them while still on the fret and to touch in only the cut points.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese ship models in 1:350.
• Modelers finishing details and scenic small items on a deck.
• More experienced modelers with experience of folding photo-etched parts.
• Collectors who are bothered by oversized plastic small parts on a model.

This is a photo-etched accessory for a model, not a kit in its own right. The model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.