1:72 Henschel Hs 129 B-1/R4 Bomb rack (AIRF/ITA)

Bomb rack for the Hs 129 B-1/R4, 1:72 (AML)

An accessory set in cast resin in 1:72 scale for models of the German attack aircraft Henschel Hs 129. It adds to the equipment under the fuselage a rack matching the R4 fit. It is not an aircraft kit but an aftermarket detail that is fitted to a finished plastic model.

The real subject

The Henschel Hs 129 was a twin-engine single-seat aircraft intended for attacks on ground targets. Characteristic of it was a narrow armored cockpit with a triangular cross-section and a very limited view, because the pilot sat practically inside an armored tub and some of the instruments therefore had to go outside on the sides of the fuselage. Fits designated Rüstsatz made it possible to adapt the machine to a particular task in production or directly at the unit; the R4 fit concerned the carriage of bombs under the fuselage.

Building tips

First wash the resin parts in warm soapy water so that the release agent from the mold comes off the surface, otherwise paint will not hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, never break them off, and sand wet with respiratory protection. It is bonded with super glue, best of all a gel one for the time it gives to adjust the position, or with epoxy. Plastic cement has no effect on resin. Before gluing, check the seating face on the fuselage, level it on abrasive paper laid on glass and try the rack dry so that it sits on the center line of the machine.

Who the set is for

• Modelers of attack aircraft in 1:72 scale
• Those who want to add external equipment to a model
• Modelers with experience of gluing resin parts
• Builders who care about a faithful rendering of a particular fit

The set is an accessory for a plastic model, not a kit in its own right. The model, glue and paints are not included in the package.