1:72 Shackleton AEW.2

The real subject

The Avro Shackleton is a large British four-engine aircraft with long range, built for patrolling over the sea. The AEW.2 version came about by conversion for airborne early warning, that is for service with a bulky radar, and machines in this form served with the Royal Air Force unusually long, still into the early 1990s. For a modeler it is a subject with a large expanse of fuselage on which added detail shows to good effect.

What the set contains

This is a set of photo-etched parts, that is metal elements etched into a thin fret in which they are held by narrow tabs. Photo-etch can be thinner and more intricate than injection-molded plastic, and is therefore used for fine fittings, grilles and covers. The exact list of parts and the kit they are cut for are given in the manufacturer's instructions; check it against the kit you have, because the elements are cut to the shape of the parts of a particular model.

Building and painting tips

Fit the internal elements before you close the fuselage. Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a firm surface, sand down the remnant of the tab and make the bends along the marked score lines in one movement, because repeated bending tires the metal and the part will crack. A drop of super glue applied with a toothpick is enough for bonding; on larger areas a two-part adhesive with a longer setting time is better. Degrease the elements and spray them with primer before painting.

Terms of supply

The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.