1:72 Dewoitine 510 export

The real subject

The Dewoitine D.510 is a French single-seat fighter of the mid-1930s. It was an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear and an open cockpit, that is a machine of the transitional period when the fighter force was only just leaving biplanes behind. Its armament was completed by a cannon firing through the hollow propeller shaft. The word export in the designation refers to aircraft delivered to foreign customers.

What the panel solves

An open cockpit means that the viewer sees into it without obstruction and that the instrument panel is the most visible part of the whole interior. The injection-molded part from a kit usually has the instruments only suggested, and filling the dials in with a brush is thankless work in 1:72 scale. The replacement panel brings finer rendering and crisper division of the panel, which shows at first glance on a finished model.

• 1:72 scale, a replacement instrument panel
• the subject is the cockpit of the Dewoitine D.510 in its export form
• an accessory for a kit, not a model on its own
• an open cockpit, so the panel is clearly visible on the finished model

Building tips

Seat the panel dry first and compare it with the part from the kit; the space in the cockpit usually needs slight adjustment so that the fuselage can be closed. It is glued with a small amount of glue applied with a pin, because any surplus would soak through onto the visible side. Do not take the visible surfaces between your fingers, as fingerprints are hard to clean off fine artwork. The panel is fitted before the fuselage is closed, so go through the whole procedure in advance according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Terms of supply

The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.