1:72 I.A.R. IAR.81C SPACE

The IAR.81C in 1:72 and color cockpit decals

This accessory is aimed at the late development branch of the Romanian low-wing monoplane. The elements of the SPACE line are placed into a finished pilot's compartment and bring color and a three-dimensional impression at once, so painting dials and bending tiny photo-etched parts both fall away. The aircraft model is bought separately; what you buy here is only the interior upgrade.

The late development version

While the original machine came about as a fighter with machine gun armament, the later versions received heavier cannon armament and were modified along the way according to combat experience. It is the version marked with the letter C that is associated with the attempt to keep pace with opponents who were coming over Romanian territory at ever greater altitudes and speeds. The machines served until the close of the war, and some of them ended up on the opposite side of the front after the change of political orientation, which makes them a rewarding subject for modelers and historians alike.

The recommended order of steps

First try the seating dry and if necessary level the plastic underneath. Then comes a gloss clear coat, releasing the element in lukewarm water and transferring it carefully. Once it has dried, take the cockpit down to matte, add a subtle shadow in the recesses and only then fit the clear parts.

Suitable for

• Builders of less known Allied and Axis types
• Modelers who want the interior visible through the glazing
• Those looking for a quick route to a color cockpit

The extent of the set is not stated here.