1:48 SMB-2 Super Mystere Israeli AF

The real subject

The Super Mystere SMB-2 was a French single-seat fighter with a swept wing that belonged to the generation of the first supersonic machines of Western Europe. Besides the home air force it also reached the armament of the Israeli Air Force, whose machines the designation in the name of the set refers to. In shape it is an aircraft with an angular air intake in the nose and a low cockpit, on which every simplified detail shows at once.

What the set offers

The set is photo-etched, that is, made of thin metal sheet. It replaces parts that an injection-molded kit can only manage with a coarser wall thickness and adds fine texture where plastic would have to be cast too thick. The extent of the parts and their placement are described by the manufacturer's instructions enclosed with the set.

Building and painting tips

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface so that the sheet does not twist.
• Make the bends in a bending tool or over the edge of a blade; the edge will then be straight.
• Use cyanoacrylate, as cement for polystyrene will not join metal.
• Degrease the sheet before painting and lay down a primer, otherwise the paint cracks and peels off.
• Fit the parts in an order that does not block access to places not yet finished.

Who it is for

The set belongs in the hands of a modeler who already dares to take on photo-etch and wants to get the most out of a model. Working with it is slower than building from the box, but the result holds up even under a magnifier.

This is an accessory for a kit. The model of the aircraft, paints and glue are not in the package, unless stated otherwise.