1:48 Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C/D

What photo-etched metal can do on a model

Etched metal comes about by etching a shape into thin metal sheet. The part is therefore noticeably thinner than its plastic counterpart, and in 1:48 scale that tells on everything that is to be made of thin material on the real aircraft: on seat belts, instrument panels, stiffeners, grilles and the edges of covers. Metal also holds its shape after bending. The set is built for the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C/D in 1:48 scale; the make-up of the parts and their placing is described by the enclosed instructions.

The real subject

The Buccaneer is a British twin-engined attack aircraft built for penetration at low altitude over the sea, where the machine hid below the reach of radars. Because of carrier service it has folding wingtips and a folding nose, so that it fits below decks, and its bomb bay does not open with doors downward but with a rotating floor, which tips the load out. The fuselage has a conspicuous widening at the wing arising from shaping to reduce drag around the speed of sound. The designations S.2C and S.2D tell later forms of the S.2 version apart.

Building tips

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, as side cutters will twist the metal.
• Make the bend against a metal edge or in a bending tool, with pressure along the whole length of the part.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin, as one drop too many will harm the part.
• Degrease the surface before gluing, as glue does not hold on greasy metal.
• Metal takes paint less well than plastic, so a base layer pays off.
• Most of the parts are fitted during the build, not onto a finished model.

Terms of supply

The kit, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.