1:72 Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules cargo floor

C-130J-30 Hercules 1:72 — a photo-etched cargo floor

This set from the Czech manufacturer Eduard is focused on the cargo floor of a model of the stretched Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft in 1:72 scale. The focus is given in the name itself, so unlike general interior sets you know what you are dealing with: the most conspicuous area, which is visible through the open rear ramp. It is not a kit but a detail accessory to a model that you obtain separately.

The real subject

The cargo hold of the Hercules is designed for quick loading over the rear ramp, so the floor is not a smooth board — it is divided up, with features for securing and handling cargo. In injection-molded plastic such a structure can only be suggested roughly, because fine pierced features would have to be disproportionately thick. The C-130J is the newest generation of this four-engine turboprop aircraft, and the J-30 variant has a longer fuselage than the basic guise, so the cargo hold is longer too and all the more visible with the ramp open.

Building and painting tips

Fit and paint the floor before you close the fuselage. The photo-etched piece is large and flat, so glue it on a flat surface and spread the glue in a thin layer — spot drops would ripple the sheet. Degrease the metal and go over it with a primer. Once painted, it pays to go over the area with a dark wash and to pick the edges out with a dry brush, so that the structure stands out; a smoothly sprayed area blends together at a small scale. If you are building the model with the ramp open, reckon on the floor being one of the first places a viewer looks.

Who the set is for

• modelers who want to display a model with the cargo ramp open
• builders planning to place cargo or figures in the cargo hold
• more experienced buyers used to working with large-area photo-etched parts
• anyone for whom a smooth plastic floor spoils an otherwise well-built model

The set is an accessory to a kit, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Before you buy, check the match with the model you are building.