1:48 Bell P-39N Airacobra LooK

What the set is for

An accessory set from the LööK line intended for a model of the Bell P-39N Airacobra in 1:48 scale. It replaces the instrument panel, the part that is usually the weakest point of a cockpit straight out of the box: in plastic the dials are only suggested, and seen through the glazing that is glaring. A replacement panel finishes this part of the cockpit without laborious painting by hand.

The real subject

The Airacobra was an American fighter with an unusual layout. The engine sat behind the pilot in the middle of the fuselage and a long shaft ran to the propeller under the cockpit floor, which left room in the nose for the armament and the nosewheel. The cockpit was entered through a door in the side like a car, not through a sliding canopy. A large part of the machines built went to the Soviet Air Force.

Fitting tips

• always try the panel dry first and only then fix it in place
• do the fitting before you glue the fuselage halves together
• handle it with tweezers; fingerprints are hard to remove from a visible part
• if the part is not polystyrene, plastic cement will not hold on it; use cyanoacrylate
• the manufacturer's instructions give the method of attachment and any adjustment of the shades

Who it is for

The set suits builders who want a cockpit on a par with the rest of the model and do not want to work it all up by hand. It is made to fit a particular kit, so check which one it matches against the manufacturer's data. It is an accessory, not a model in its own right; the kit, paints and glue are not supplied with it, unless stated otherwise.