1:48 Junkers Ju 87B-2 STUKA detail set

A detail set for the Junkers Ju 87B-2 Stuka in 1:48 from Aires

This is a resin detail set, not a kit of the aircraft. The package serves to replace or supplement selected areas of a plastic model of the Ju 87B-2 dive bomber in 1:48. Sets labeled as a detail set tend to be more extensive than cockpit sets on their own; you will find the particular make-up and the number of parts in the instructions inside the package. The base plastic kit is not part of the delivery and has to be bought separately.

What the set is for

Resin accessories are used where injection-molded plastic runs up against its technological limits. A casting is able to hold markedly finer texture, sharper edges and deeper undercuts, so areas such as the instrument panel, the seats, the side walls of the cockpit or the spaces behind the panels look substantially more faithful after replacement than the plastic original. The price for that is more demanding work: the parts have to be separated from the casting blocks, the mating surfaces adjusted and often something taken off the plastic kit as well, so that the set sits down.

Building tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent, so that the residue of mold release agent is removed from the surface, otherwise the paint will not hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutter and level the surfaces with a file; when sanding resin work wet and with protection of the airways, resin dust is not to be inhaled. It is glued with cyanoacrylate, that is with a second glue, or with a two-part epoxy; ordinary cement for plastic does not work on resin. Before gluing anything in, always try the dry seating and adjust any differences; with resin sets that is a standard part of the work, not a defect. Before painting lay on a thin coat of primer, which will at the same time reveal the remains of sanding marks.

Who the set is for

• More experienced modelers who work with resin and cyanoacrylate.
• Builders who care about rendering the details in 1:48 as faithfully as possible.
• Modelers building an aircraft with an open cockpit or uncovered panels, where the detail can be seen.

Before buying, check against the data on the packaging that the set matches your particular plastic kit of the Ju 87B-2 in 1:48. The set is supplied unpainted; paints, glue and the base model are not included in the package.