1:48 A6M3 Type 22 folding wingtips PRINT

Eduard 1:48 A6M3 Type 22, folding wingtips from 3D printing

The set deals with one particular but conspicuous detail of a model of the Mitsubishi A6M3 Type 22 fighter: the wingtips, which on this version could be folded upward. The parts are produced by 3D printing in resin, so they manage thin trailing edges and a suggested hinge mechanism that injected plastic cannot reach in 1:48 scale. It is not a model of an aircraft but an accessory for an already purchased kit.

The real subject

The A6M3 Type 22 version returned to the longer wing with rounded, folding tips after the previous Type 32 had received shortened square tips. The longer wing meant better range and maneuverability, and the folding tips made handling easier in the limited space of carrier hangars. For a modeler it is a rewarding subject: a machine with folded wingtips looks different from most Zero models on a shelf and gives away at once which version it is.

Building and painting tips

First try dry exactly where to cut the wing, and only then cut. The margin for error here is small. Cut the parts off the print supports with a saw, level the cuts with wet sandpaper and wash the resin in soapy water before painting. It is bonded with super glue, as ordinary cement for plastic does not hold on resin. If you raise the tips, count on the inner side of the wing being visible too, so it pays to paint it and bring it out with a wash. Cover the transition between resin and plastic after sanding with a primer, otherwise the difference between the bases will show in the shade of the paint.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the A6M3 Type 22 model in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want to build a machine with folded wingtips
• Those who want to set their model apart from an ordinary out of box build
• More experienced builders, as the fitting calls for precise cutting

This is an accessory set, not a kit. The base model of the aircraft, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.