1:48 Henschel Hs-129B

Photo-etched set Henschel Hs 129B 1:48 (Eduard)

The item is not a model of an aircraft but an accessory. Photo-etched metal is a fret of parts etched from thin metal sheet; the modeler separates them, bends them where needed and glues them to a separately purchased plastic kit in 1:48 scale. The point of etched metal lies in the thickness of the material: parts that are meant to be paper-thin in scale cannot be so in injection-molded plastic. The manufacturer is Eduard, a Czech company based in Obrnice near Most.

The real subject

The Henschel Hs 129 was a twin-engine ground attack aircraft of German design from the Second World War period. Characteristic features were the very narrow pilot's cockpit with an armored space for the pilot and the engine nacelles set low at the sides. The B series used radial engines of French origin and carried various forms of external gun armament. The narrow fuselage and a heavily broken-up surface mean that even small details that cannot be molded in plastic come into their own on a model.

Tips for working with photo-etched parts

Cut the parts off with a scalpel straight from the fret on a hard surface and take them off only when you need them. Make the bends over a straight steel edge. Cyanoacrylate glue provides the bond; with larger parts a gel version helps, as it allows a part to be lined up. Remove the molded details that the etched part replaces from the plastic beforehand and level the surface. Degrease the metal parts before painting and spray them with a base coat, otherwise the paint will not hold.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to raise the level of detail on the Hs 129 attack aircraft.
• Builders with experience of working with photo-etched metal.
• Collectors of aircraft in 1:48 scale.
• Those who build a model for a display case or a competition.

The set is an accessory, not a model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package. Check the match with your kit before buying.