1:72 Bell P-39Q Airacobra 500lb bomb PRINT

Eduard 1:72 Bell P-39Q Airacobra 500lb bomb

A printed resin set in 1:72 scale that adds an external bomb of the five-hundred-pound class to a model of the Bell P-39Q Airacobra. It is not a kit of the airplane but an accessory fitted to a model that is already built. In 1:72 scale this is a small item, and printed resin allows sharper fin edges and a cleaner body shape than injection-molded plastic gives. Check the number of parts on the packaging.

The real subject

The P-39Q was the most numerous version of the Airacobra, an aircraft of unusual layout: the Allison V-1710 V12 engine sat behind the pilot, a drive shaft ran under the cockpit to the propeller and the aircraft had a nose gear, which was uncommon for its day. Under the fuselage the Airacobra had a pylon that carried a drop tank or, as here, a bomb. The combination of airframe and store is therefore documented for this type, and the set is built for it.

Building and painting tips

Printed parts are fragile: separate them with a fine saw or a sharp scalpel and work over a surface. Wash them in lukewarm soapy water before gluing to remove the print resin residue, then apply a primer. Bonding is done with super glue. Paint the bomb separately and fit it to the model right at the end so that it does not break off while the model is handled. Keep the weathering restrained, as strong effects on such a small item in 1:72 scale are easily overdone. Before gluing, check that the pylon on your model matches and that the bomb does not foul the nose gear.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Bell P-39Q Airacobra in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers who want to fit the model with a documented external configuration.
• Those who work with small printed parts and super glue.
• Display builds where the plastic armament from the kit is not enough.

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