1:72 AV-8B Plus

The real subject

The AV-8B Harrier II is a single-seat attack aircraft with vertical and short takeoff capability. The thrust of the powerplant is deflected by swiveling nozzles on the sides of the fuselage, so the machine can take off from a short strip or from the deck of a smaller ship. The wing is set high and the pylons for the armament are under it, while the outrigger landing gear legs retract into pods at the wingtips. The Plus version received a radar in the nose, which widened its capability beyond attacks on ground targets.

What the set solves

These are photo-etched parts for 1:72 scale. Photo-etched metal is thin sheet on which fine definition is possible in a thickness a molded part cannot reach. It is therefore used where plastic is too coarse for the scale. The extent of the set and the places the individual parts belong are given in the instructions enclosed by the manufacturer, so compare the set with your own kit before building.

• 1:72 scale, photo-etched parts for the AV-8B Plus model
• an accessory for a kit, not a model of its own
• fine detail in a thickness a molded part cannot reach
• the extent of the set and the placement of the parts according to the manufacturer's instructions

How photo-etched parts are worked

The parts are held on the carrier sheet by narrow tabs. Separate them with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with nippers, or the thin sheet will bend. Make the bends over the edge of a bending tool or a ruler so that they are sharp and in one line. They are bonded with super glue applied in a tiny amount, and on larger areas epoxy suits as well, since it gives time to line the part up. Degrease the sheet before painting and use a primer meant for metal, otherwise the paint flakes off during handling.

Terms of supply

The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.