1:72 Lewis MKI Stripped Full Heat Sinks (2 Items)

Lewis MkI Stripped Full Heat Sinks 1:72 (GasPatch models)

This is a resin accessory in 1:72 scale from the Greek manufacturer GasPatch models. It is not an aircraft kit but a set of castings with which you replace the coarser plastic part in the cockpit or at the defensive position of a model under construction. According to the name the package contains two pieces. The form corresponds to the Lewis machine gun without the outer cooling jacket, with a bare barrel and the cooling fins rendered.

The real subject

The Lewis was a British light air-cooled machine gun of 7.7 mm caliber with a characteristic pan magazine above the body of the weapon. In aviation service it differed from the infantry form mainly in that the outer cooling jacket was taken off it. In flight the airflow provided the cooling by itself and the lightening was an advantage for airborne use. The designation MkI refers to the older production form. The weapon appeared in this shape on machines of the First World War period, typically on the observer's movable mounts.

Building and painting tips

The most delicate step is separating the part from the casting block. Never break the part off or cut it with pliers meant for plastic, as resin cracks unpredictably. Use a fine modeling saw with a thin blade, cut at a distance from the part and only then sand the remainder of the block down to the target plane. Cut over a surface and above a dish so that the small part is not lost. Do not inhale the dust that results, work with respiratory protection and wipe the area down with a damp cloth after sanding. Once the base coat has cured, a dark metallic shade with the edges lightly accented by a dry brush looks good.

Who the set is for

• Modelers of 1:72 aircraft models of the First World War period
• Builders bothered by the coarse plastic machine gun from the base kit
• More experienced modelers used to working with resin
• Cabinet builds with an open cockpit, where the weapon is clearly visible

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted as resin castings. Glue, paints and the base model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.