1:144 U.K. seats

Photo-etched seats for British aircraft, 1:144 scale

An accessory set from the Czech maker Brengun for builders of British aircraft in a small scale. The contents are photo-etched parts meant for fitting out a cabin; the set holds no aircraft itself, and it is assumed that you already have the model part built.

When the detail makes sense

It pays to decide right at the beginning of the build. If you finish the model with closed and heavily tinted glazing, little of the interior will be seen. But as soon as you leave the canopy clear, or open, an empty cabin gives away at once that the model is only a shell. A photo-etched seat at the thickness of sheet is in such a situation the quickest route to credibility, because the outline of the backrest is the only thing the viewer makes out at all from such a distance.

Working and painting

Cut the parts out on a hard surface, level the fret tabs with a file and run the bends exactly along the marked line. British cabins of the Second World War were commonly painted an interior green shade, but on a whole series of types the seats themselves were not of metal but pressed from a resin compound with a reddish brown tone; a combination of a green cabin and a brown-red seat therefore looks more credible than green over the whole area. After painting, bring the edges out by drybrushing and support the shadows with a thin dark wash. Glue it into the model with super glue applied in a slight amount and hold the seat with tweezers until the glue has set.

Who the set is for

• modelers of British aircraft in 1:144 scale
• builders who want to finish a model with clear glazing
• those interested in working with photo-etch and in detailing small models
• collectors building a coherent series of aircraft in one scale

The set is an aftermarket accessory. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.