1:72 Hawker Demon rigging wire set

Hawker Demon — bracing wire set, 1:72 (SBS Model)

A photo-etched set in 1:72 scale intended for a model of the British two-seat Hawker Demon fighter biplane. It is not a kit — it is an accessory that covers the interplane and tail bracing wires. Against fishing line or stretched wire, flat etched wires have a profile that matches reality, they hold their shape and do not go slack, so the model does not look as if it had been tied up with thread.

The real subject

The Hawker Demon was a British two-seat fighter biplane of the interwar era, derived from the Hawker line of fast light bombers. Unlike single-seat fighters it had a rear defensive position with a gunner, which showed in the shape of the rear fuselage. It served with the Royal Air Force in the 1930s, in the period of transition from biplanes to modern monoplanes.

Building and painting tips

Paint the etched parts while they are still in the fret, before you cut them off — finished wires are hard to handle afterward. Drill the attachment holes in the wings with a pin vise before cementing the halves together. Glue with super glue applied on the tip of a piece of wire, not straight from the tube. Work in pairs from the inner ones outward and let each pair cure; when building a biplane it pays not to rush the order, otherwise the wings will twist.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Hawker Demon model in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers of interwar British biplanes.
• Patient builders with experience of photo-etched parts.

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.