1:48 Mil Mi-8MT/Mi-17 DISS cover AMK

Quickboost 1:48 Mil Mi-8MT/Mi-17 - the DISS system cover

This is a stand-alone resin part, not a kit. It replaces the cover of the DISS Doppler navigation system on a model of a helicopter of the Mi-8MT and Mi-17 line in 1:48 scale. A resin casting holds the shape more sharply than an injection-molded part and has no parting line across the whole surface, so the strongly shaped cover looks more convincing once varnished. It is the kind of improvement that costs little, takes a few minutes and still shows on a finished model.

Working with resin

First wash the part in lukewarm water with detergent so that the remains of the release agent disappear from the surface; without that, paint will not hold on it. Cut the casting block off with a modeling saw or a cutting disc a little way from the part and sand the remainder off dry, with your airways protected, because resin dust must not be breathed in. Level the surface the part is to go on and remove the original shape if need be. It is bonded with super glue, ideally gel, which gives time to set it in place; the excess can be removed with an accelerator once dry. Before painting comes a thin coat of filler primer, which also shows where more sanding is needed.

The real subject

The Mi-8MT and the export Mi-17 derived from it are transport helicopters with twin-engine propulsion and a wide cargo cabin. DISS is a Doppler system for measuring speed and drift that serves for navigation; its antenna is covered by an aerodynamic fairing on the fuselage and is one of the identifying features of the machine.

Who the part is for

• builders of the Mi-8MT or Mi-17 in 1:48 scale who want more accurate details
• modelers who have already worked with resin accessories
• those interested in small improvements with a good ratio of work to result
• builders who combine several accessory sets on one model

The package holds the accessory part only. The model, paints and glue are not included.