1:48 Volvo 954TL Starter

Volvo 954TL Starter 1:48 (Pilot Replicas)

A short-run kit of the Volvo 954TL airfield starter vehicle in 1:48 scale from the maker Pilot Replicas, who has long specialized in Swedish aviation subjects. The vehicle served to spin the engines of aircraft up on the apron.

The real subject

Airfield starter vehicles carry their own source of power, with which the engine of an aircraft is spun up on the ground, so that the onboard sources do not have to be loaded. The Volvo 954TL is such a vehicle built on the chassis of a Swedish truck and it was used at bases at the time when jet types came to the fore in service. On a diorama it goes with a standing aircraft and gives the scene both scale and action; a starter truck is one of the few accessories that reveal at once that the aircraft is not merely on display but is being prepared for takeoff.

Building and painting tips

Short-run sets call for careful preparation. Separate the parts from the casting blocks, wash and degrease them and level the mating faces on abrasive paper laid on glass. Protect your airways while sanding. Glue the small and non-absorbent parts with cyanoacrylate glue, and fit the larger sub-assemblies dry and glue them on a flat surface. Lay a filler primer on before painting, because it will reveal scratches, bubbles and remains of the mold release agent. Paint the cab and the body separately and join them only after painting. Working equipment takes marked weathering: a wash into the recesses, fine scuffs on the edges of the hood and the steps, dust and mud on the lower surfaces and the tires.

Who the model is for

• Modelers who build airfield support in 1:48 scale
• Anyone interested in Swedish aviation and automotive subjects
• More experienced modelers used to short-run sets
• Builders of dioramas with an aircraft being prepared for takeoff

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.