1:48 E/A-6 Intruder masks (inside and outside) Hasegawa, Revell

The wide canopy of the Intruder from two sides

A double form of the stencils: shapes for the outer frames and matching pieces for the inner side of the glazing. The scale is 1:48 and the targets are the Hasegawa and Revell moldings mentioned in the name.

The work of the crew in the dark

The cockpit of the A-6 is unusually roomy, because both airmen sit side by side and room is left between them for control panels. That is exactly why far more can be seen inside through its glazing than on a narrow fighter cockpit, and an unfinished interior is hard to hide. The interiors of naval aircraft of that period were painted a dark gray, which absorbed reflections during a night flight and did not distract the crew from watching the instruments. The frames inside should have the same shade, otherwise the view into the cockpit falls apart.

How to go about it

Apply the reverse shapes before you glue the glazing into the fuselage, while the part can still be turned freely. Spray the inner shade square to the surface so that the mist does not creep under the edge. Once it has dried, seat the part and only then start on the face side and the exterior finish. Anyone who wants to be sure should look the part over against a window after spraying the interior: a place showing through means a shape has not seated somewhere and it is sensible to put it right at once. A large area of glazing also likes to attract static dust, so dust it off with a soft brush before the final spraying.

It suits

• models with the canopy slid back
• builds with added seats and belts
• collectors of Cold War naval aircraft
• where the framing should look the same from both views