1:72 SM-79 Sparviero Photoetched parts instrument panel for Italeri ex Modell-Hobby/ITA

The real subject

The SM-79 Sparviero is an Italian three-engine aircraft of the 1930s which made its name as a bomber and torpedo machine. You can tell it at a glance by the prominent hump above the fuselage behind the cockpit and by the engine in the nose between the two engines on the wing. Its crew cabin is glazed on all sides, so on a finished model you can see well into it.

What the set solves

In 1:72 kits the instrument panel tends to be no more than a flat area with shallow relief, because plastic at this size will not hold the fine drawing of the dials. A photo-etched part from thin metal has the outlines of the instruments sharp and legible, so the cockpit does not look empty once the model is built. The name gives the Italeri kit as the intended one; with another kit, therefore, check the dimensions dry first. The manufacturer's instructions give the exact contents of the package and the fitting procedure.

Building and painting tips

The panel is fitted before the fuselage halves are glued together, so leave the dry test for the very start of the build. The plastic part underneath usually has to be thinned or leveled, otherwise the fuselage will not close. Cut the photo-etched part from the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface and level the remaining tab with a file. The metal is not polystyrene and is bonded with super glue. Wash and degrease it before painting and start with a primer, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surface.

• a photo-etched instrument panel for a model in 1:72 scale
• the subject is the three-engine SM-79 Sparviero
• according to the name it is intended for the Italeri kit
• it is fitted before the fuselage halves are glued together
• bonded with super glue, not with cement for plastic

Terms of supply

A photo-etched part is supplied. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.