1:48 A-6E 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Kinetic) (Small version)

Colored 3D interior for the A-6E on decal paper, 1:48 scale

This is not a kit but a detail accessory for the cockpit. The features are printed in relief, are supplied already painted and are carried on decal papers, so they transfer onto the plastic parts much like ordinary decals. The modeler thereby gains a three-dimensional interior with legible instruments without having to bend photo-etch or paint individual dials. The name gives the kit the set is cut for and states that this is the smaller version of the set, so do not infer its extent from the full variant.

The real subject

The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American carrier attack aircraft with a two-man crew sitting side by side. It was built for precise strikes in the dark and in bad weather, for which it had extensive radar and navigation equipment. The A-6E version brought modernized avionics and kept the type in service with the US Navy and Marine Corps until the 1990s. With two stations side by side the cockpit is wide and clearly visible through the large canopy, so detail in 1:48 scale is worth putting into it.

Usage tips

• Smooth the surfaces under the features and go over them with a gloss varnish; on a matte base the feature will not hold.
• Work with plenty of water and move the feature with a soft brush.
• Do not use decal softener or setting solution; the chemicals would damage the printed resin.
• Once dry, check that it lies down along the edges and in the corners, and settle it with a damp brush if needed.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the Intruder in 1:48 scale and want a cockpit on show
• builders who do not get on with photo-etched parts
• those looking for a marked improvement to a model from a single accessory