1:48 MD-3 Navy Tractor with 3 figures

The real subject

The MD-3 is a low American tractor used on the decks of aircraft carriers and at naval aviation airfields. It serves to move aircraft around the deck and to tow them into the hangar, which is why it has a low overall height so that it can pass under a fuselage, and a low-set operator's seat. A machine like this belongs to an aviation scene just as much as the aircraft itself, and it gives a finished model both scale and a story.

What the set contains

A model of the MD-3 tractor in 1:48 scale and, according to the name, three figures. The extent of the parts, the material and the recommended procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions. The finished tractor is small in this scale and takes up little room beside a model aircraft, while it lets the scene show how large the aircraft really is.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder carefully. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts; super glue will serve universally. Before painting, wash and degrease the whole thing and apply a base on which the paint will hold. Figures are painted part by part, starting with the face and the hands, with the paint applied in thin coats. Deck equipment tends to be scuffed and dirty, so richer shading and dry-brushing pay off on it.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who build a scene around an aircraft and want to bring deck operations into it. If you place the tractor beside the model, you will bring even an ordinary display case to life. The aircraft, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.