1:32 Panavia Tornado GR.1 cockpit set

Aires, Tornado GR.1 cockpit in 1:32 scale

This product is not an aircraft kit but a resin accessory that replaces the cockpit in the large 1:32 scale. Aires is a Czech maker of resin detail and its castings are recognizable by the fine rendering of the instruments, the raised detail on the side consoles and the sharp edges that injection-molded plastic cannot reach. The set is meant for more experienced modelers, because it calls for cutting, sanding and dry fitting.

The real subject

The Tornado GR.1 is the British strike version of the two-seat Panavia Tornado combat aircraft with a variable-geometry wing, developed in international cooperation. It was built for penetrating to a target at low altitude and high speed, and the layout of the cabin matches that: a front pilot station and a rear navigator station with different instrumentation. In the large 1:32 scale practically everything is visible under an opened canopy, so it is exactly the detail of the cockpit that decides the impression a finished model makes.

Usage tips

First wash the parts in warm soapy water to remove any mold release residue. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc rather than breaking them, and do not inhale the fine dust after sanding; work with respiratory protection and preferably wet. Dry fitting follows: a resin tub tends to be bulkier than the plastic original, so it is usually necessary to thin the inner walls of the fuselage and possibly to shorten the tub in length. It is glued with super glue, to advantage with the thicker gel kind, which gives you time to align the part. Spray and weather the parts before gluing them into the fuselage, because once it is closed you can no longer get to them. A dark wash and a dry brush suit the fine rendering of the instruments.

Who the set is for

• More experienced modelers who have already worked with resin and super glue.
• Builders of large models in 1:32 scale, where the cabin is the dominant feature.
• Those building a model with the canopy opened.
• Modelers for whom the instrument rendering in the plastic of the base box is not enough.

This is an accessory, not an aircraft model. Kits, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.