1:48 Tornado ECR Italian Version interior 3D decals (with 3D-printed resin parts)

1:48 Tornado ECR Italian - a 3D interior with resin parts

The set joins two approaches to cockpit detail: color panels printed on a decal carrier and, according to the name, also 3D-printed parts in resin. The printed elements bring finished coloring of the instruments, while the resin parts bring real volume where flat printing is not enough. It is an accessory for modelers who already have a plastic Tornado kit.

The real subject

The Italian Tornado ECR arose by modifying strike machines for the task of suppressing air defenses, and it differs from the German variant in details of equipment. The aircraft is two-seat, with the pilot in front and the systems operator behind, and thanks to the variable-geometry wing it managed both a fast run-in at low altitude and long patrol legs. The cockpit corresponds to the generation of aircraft in which classic dials are still combined with screens.

Usage tips

With combined sets the most valuable habit is the dry run. First simply lay each resin part and each larger printed panel in place and see whether it seats over its whole area and whether the halves of the fuselage or the frame of the canopy will still go together. If a part gets in the way somewhere, take material off its back rather than off the model, and in small steps. When a printed panel does not fit, the fault tends to lie with the remains of a mold parting line or with a thick coat of paint on the plastic underneath. The sets are drawn for the parts of a particular kit, so on another kit reckon with modifications. Only once the fit has been tuned should you start gluing for good.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Italian Tornado ECR in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want a cockpit with both printed panels and three-dimensional parts
• Those who care about an exact fit and are not afraid to tune the mating surfaces
• Those interested in Italian combat aviation