1:72 A-6E Intruder SPACE

A-6E Intruder SPACE 1:72, colored 3D decals for the interior

It is not an aircraft model but an accessory to a kit in 1:72 scale you already own. The SPACE line is built on decals with a shaped, three-dimensional relief, which are fixed to the plastic parts of a kit with PVA glue. The result is a colored and raised interior with no need to bend photo-etch. The exact make-up of the package and the number of sheets are given by the manufacturer on the packaging.

The real subject

The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a carrier attack aircraft of the US Navy with a crew of two seated side by side. The A-6E version was a modernized development branch with reworked avionics and a navigation and attack system that allowed operation in poor visibility. The characteristic features of the machine were a bulky nose, folding wings for carrier operation and air intakes set low on the sides of the fuselage.

Building and painting tips

Clean the plastic parts the decals are going onto first and paint them a dark base color, as light plastic showing through is the most common mistake. The surface has to be smooth and degreased. Moisten only the backing paper, lift the decal off with tweezers and seat it into PVA glue. Do not use a decal softener or a decal fixer, as the chemicals attack the printed resin and ruin the element. Once dry it is worth going over the surface with matte varnish so that the gloss of the backing film disappears.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want a colored interior quickly and without the work of bending photo-etch.
• Builders in a small scale, where working with tiny photo-etched parts is demanding.
• Beginners and advanced builders alike, as it is simpler to apply than conventional photo-etch.

The accessory is supplied as a set of decals. The paints, the varnish and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.