1:32 Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter (Model 21) (for Tamiya kit)

1:32 Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter, Model 21 — 3D instrument panels on decal paper

This Red Fox Studio set in 1:32 scale brings a color-printed instrument panel with a raised texture. The carrier is decal paper, so the panel is soaked in water, slid onto its base and held by the decal's own adhesive. It is not a plastic or resin part and it is not glued. The target kit is from Tamiya.

What is special about this cockpit

From a modeler's point of view the Zero cockpit is straightforward but treacherous. The panel is small, made up of a tight group of round analog dials with tiny labels, above it sits the gunsight and to the sides are simple side consoles with control levers and rods: none of it hides behind panels, so the bare structure is on show. The canopy is long and divided into frames; when it is closed only part of the panel is visible, while when it is slid back the whole cockpit including the rear of the space is on view. The decision about the canopy therefore determines how much work is worth doing at all.

Before the panel's turn comes

That is exactly why you should start with how the model will look: with the canopy slid back or closed. Choose how much effort to put into the side consoles accordingly. Then come the framework and the interior, their painting and thorough drying: on the Zero you often work with a strong interior color that has to be completely cured before the print goes on. Only then place the panel, blot the surplus water away and leave it alone for a day. Do the masking and the gluing of the clear parts last.

Who the set is for

• modelers building the large Zero with an open cockpit
• those who do not want to paint tiny dials and labels with a brush
• builds where the simple internal structure of the fuselage is on show
• 1:32 scale, where a flat plastic panel shows up immediately

This is an accessory for a kit, not an aircraft model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Before buying, check that it matches the kit you are building.