1:72 Aero L-39 Albatros - Pitot Tubes

MASTER 1:72 - pitot tubes for the Aero L-39 Albatros

An accessory for model builders, not an aircraft kit. The set contains turned metal pitot tubes for a model of the Aero L-39 Albatros in 1:72 scale. A plastic part in the same place is always a compromise between what a mold can cast and what a probe should look like. Turned metal removes that compromise: it has a constant diameter, a sharp transition and nowhere a parting line that would have to be sanded away.

The real subject

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a two-seat jet trainer of Czechoslovak design that followed on from the earlier L-29 type. It entered service in the 1970s, received a turbofan engine and more modern cockpit equipment. It was built for many years in large numbers and is still used by a number of operators today, including civil and display machines.

Fitting and painting tips

The key thing with metal parts is surface preparation. Brass is smooth and carries grease from manufacture, so neither paint nor primer will hold on it without degreasing; it is enough to wash it briefly with alcohol and then not to touch it with your fingers. Then apply a thin layer of primer intended for metal and only after that the top color. If you leave the primer out, the paint will dry, but at the first touch it will peel off in whole sheets. The other option is to leave the probe in bare metal and simply darken it; on trainers in civil colors this approach often looks better than full paint.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the L-39 Albatros in 1:72 scale
• Anyone interested in Czechoslovak and present-day training aircraft
• Those who want sharp detail without sanding a parting line
• Builders who want to try working with metal accessories

This is an accessory for modelers. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.