1:48 Mitsubishi A6M2 engine 3D PRINTED

Mitsubishi A6M2 — engine, 3D printing, 1:48, Eduard

An accessory set from the Czech manufacturer Eduard: a three-dimensionally printed engine for a model of the Mitsubishi A6M2 carrier-based fighter in 1:48 scale. It is not a kit of the aircraft but a replacement for the engine part of the base model. Three-dimensional printing technology can manage the fine details of a radial engine that cannot be made in injection-molded plastic — the finning of the cylinders, the pushrods and small fittings. The exact package contents and the target kit are not stated here.

The real subject

The A6M was a Japanese carrier-based fighter of the Second World War period, valued for its long range and agility, bought at the cost of a light structure. The A6M2 version was among the early production variants. The power came from an air-cooled radial engine with a twin-row arrangement of cylinders, hidden under a ring cowling. That is exactly why detailing the engine on a model pays off only when you plan to remove the cowling or open the front end.

Building and painting tips

Wash the three-dimensionally printed parts first in lukewarm water with detergent, so that no print residue is left on the surface. Cut the supports off with a saw or with cutting nippers; never break them out. Sanding should be done wet and with respiratory protection. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue; resin does not react to ordinary cement for plastic. A base coat is needed before painting; the cylinders are usually undercoated in a dark shade and the edges of the fins brought out with a dry brush.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese fighters in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want to show the engine with the cowling removed
• More experienced modelers — resin calls for a different procedure from plastic
• Display-case and competition models with an open front end

The set is an accessory, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.