1:48 Bf 109E LööK

Eduard LööK 1:48 Bf 109E, instrument panel and seat belts

The LööK set from the Czech manufacturer Eduard is an accessory for the cockpit of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E model in 1:48 scale, not an aircraft model. It combines the two elements a viewer notices first in a cockpit: an instrument panel cast in resin with the dials rendered in color, and pre-printed steel seat belts. Both are ready for immediate use, so you can manage the most demanding detail of the cockpit even without experience of painting miniature instruments.

What the set is for

On models in 1:48 scale the cockpit of the Bf 109E is clearly visible through the sliding glazing and the framed canopy. The original plastic panel tends to be a flat part with a decal, whereas a resin panel offers real depth in the instrument wells and sharp edges. Steel belts can be shaped with the fingers or with tweezers and, unlike paper or plastic parts, they hold a sag and fall naturally over the seat.

Fitting tips

First wash the resin parts in lukewarm soapy water so that the mold release residue disappears; without that, neither glue nor paint holds. Cut the casting block off with a fine-toothed saw, not with pliers, and level the surface on abrasive paper. They are bonded with super glue or with slow-setting epoxy resin; modeling cement for plastic has no effect on resin or on metal. Bend the belts slightly before gluing them in, so that they look loaded, and trim any excess length only after a dry fit. Before closing the fuselage, always check that the part seats in the cockpit without pressure.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to raise the level of the cockpit without laborious painting of instruments
• Builders of Second World War aircraft in 1:48 scale
• Those who build a model with the glazing open or the canopy swung back
• Beginners who want to try a resin accessory for the first time

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