1:72 Gloster E28/39 brass pitot tube

Turned brass pitot tube for the Gloster E.28/39 in 1:72 scale

A small but striking accessory from Clear Prop Models. It is not a kit but a single precisely machined metal part that replaces the plastic tube from the sprue. The difference shows at once: turned brass has a sharp tip, a constant diameter along its whole length and, above all, it will not bend or snap every time the finished model is handled. The exact dimensions of the part are given on the packaging of the set.

What a pitot tube is for

A pitot tube is a total pressure sensor from which the onboard instruments derive airspeed. It is placed so that the airflow around it is not affected by the fuselage or the wing, which is why it usually projects into the free stream. On the Gloster E.28/39 research aircraft, on which the British first tested jet propulsion in the air, an accurate measuring system was crucial, because the whole program rested on evaluating flight data.

How the part is fitted

Cut the original plastic tube off and sand the area down. Drill a hole in the skin with a micro drill bit of a diameter matching the pin of the metal part; drill up gradually from a smaller diameter so that the bit does not slip. Glue the part with cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin in a minimal amount. Degrease the brass before painting and use a primer for metal. Leave the fitting to the very end of the build, after varnishing and decals, otherwise the tube will bend during handling. Some modelers leave it in a metal shade and only bring out the root with a dark wash.

Who the accessory is for

• Modelers whose plastic pitot tube keeps breaking
• Builders of competition models focused on fine detail
• Anyone after a quick and simple improvement to a visible feature of a model
• Collectors of pioneering British jet aircraft

This is a modeling accessory. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.