1:72 Ohka MXY7-K1 KAI (two seat) vacu canopy (Brengun kit)

A vacuum-formed canopy 1:72 for the Ohka MXY7-K1 KAI, manufacturer Brengun

A replacement clear canopy made by vacuum forming from thin clear film. It is intended for the plastic kit of the two-seat trainer Ohka MXY7-K1 KAI in 1:72 scale. Against the standard injection-molded part it is markedly thinner and optically cleaner, so it shows the cockpit equipment better, and thanks to the small wall thickness it makes it possible to build a model with the canopy slid back and open. It is neither a kit nor an aircraft model but a standalone accessory.

The real subject

The Ohka Model 43 K-1 KAI was the training version of the Japanese rocket machine from the end of the Second World War. In place of the warhead it had a second seat for a pupil, as well as one rocket engine, flaps and a landing skid. It is precisely the two seats in tandem that make the glazing the most conspicuous feature of the machine's silhouette, and that is why a quality canopy pays off on it.

Building and painting tips

Cut the part out with a margin of a few tenths of a millimeter and sand the exact line down on fine abrasive paper, trying the fit on the fuselage as you go. It is glued with clear PVA canopy glue or with white glue, which turns transparent once dry; cyanoacrylate, by contrast, fogs the film. Mask the frames with narrow tape or with pre-cut masks and spray the interior shade first, only then the exterior color. Because the film is thin, we recommend working calmly and leaving yourself a margin — a vacuum-formed part does not stand being over-sanded.

Who the accessory is for

• Modelers who want to build a model with the cockpit open
• Builders bothered by the thickness and the optical distortion of ordinary clear parts
• Anyone interested in Japanese hardware of the end of the Second World War in 1:72 scale
• Competition modelers fine-tuning the detail of a cockpit

The accessory is supplied unpainted. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.