1:48 BMW 327 (HASEGAWA)

The real subject

The BMW 327 is a German passenger car of the late 1930s, that is, an elegant civilian vehicle with rounded shapes and fine detail. It is on a car like this that you see in 1:48 scale where plastic is necessarily thicker than the real thing would call for: the grilles, handles, wipers and trims look soft and blunted on a model.

What the set adds

This is a photo-etched set meant for the kit of this car from Hasegawa. The photo-etched parts replace or complete items that are supposed to be thin and sharp, so once they are fitted the model comes across more finely than out of the kit on its own. Which parts the set holds and where they belong is given in the manufacturer's instructions; go through them before you start building, because some of the parts are fitted before the body is glued together.

Working with photo-etch

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by twisting, or they will warp. Run the bends against a ruler or in a bender and start from the longest edge. It is bonded with super glue applied in a negligible amount; ordinary cement for plastic does not hold on metal. Degrease the parts before painting and use a base coat meant for metal. On a glossy civilian body it pays to paint the photo-etched parts separately and fit them at the very end, so that the smooth paintwork is not damaged by tweezers.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who build civilian vehicles in a small scale and want the small items of the body thin and legible.

The kit, the model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.