1:72 Yak-3, wheel bay cover

Photo-etched landing gear bay doors for the Yak-3, 1:72

A set of photo-etched landing gear bay doors for a model of the Soviet Yak-3 fighter in 1:72 scale. It is not a model but a replacement part. In such a small scale the plastic doors from the kit are necessarily thick, because a mold could not make them thinner, and it shows on a finished model, especially with the landing gear extended and the door hanging on the edge of the bay.

What it is for

• Replacing thick plastic doors with a thin photo-etched part.
• A faithful edge thickness, which is visible with the landing gear extended.
• The option of suggesting the internal stiffeners on the inner face of the door.
• Repairing a model with a lost or damaged door.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts out of the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface rather than snapping them off. Make the bends over a metal edge. They are bonded with super glue in a tiny amount. Degrease the parts before painting and apply a primer, as paint will not hold on bare metal. Fit the doors at the very end of the build, as thin photo-etch bends easily. The inner side of the door is usually in the shade of the landing gear bay and the outer in the color of the underside of the wing.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Soviet fighters in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers bothered by thick plastic doors.
• Anyone repairing finished models with damaged doors.

The set contains photo-etched parts only. Glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.