1:32 B-17G Flying Fortress interior

The real subject

The B-17G Flying Fortress is the last and most numerously built version of the American four-engine bomber of the Second World War. At first glance it is told from the older versions by the gun turret under the nose, which strengthened the defense against head-on attacks. The inside of the fuselage on this machine was unusually broken up: the pilots' station, the stations of the navigator and bombardier, the bomb bay with its racks and several gun stations one behind the other.

What the set is for

Injection-molded plastic has its limits. Thin sheet metal parts, brackets, belt buckles or instrument panels have to be simplified in it, because otherwise they could neither be molded nor released from the mold. Photo-etched parts, by contrast, are as thin as real sheet metal, so once assembled the inside of the model looks correct in scale. In 1:32 that goes double: the model is large and the inside is clearly visible through the open apertures and entrances.

How photo-etch is worked

The parts are held in the fret by thin tabs. Separate them with a sharp blade on a hard surface rather than by twisting, and sand the remains of the tab away. Make the bends over a straight edge, ideally in a bending tool or between two blades, so that the edge comes out crisp. Photo-etch is glued with cyanoacrylate or two-part glue; cement for polystyrene does not hold on metal. Degrease the parts before painting and cover them with a primer, otherwise the paint will not last on smooth metal.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who want the inside of a large model well worked out and are not afraid of working with small metal parts. The kit, paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.