1:72 J.A.S.D.F T-4 Trainer

The real subject

The T-4 is a Japanese two-seat trainer on which pilots of the Air Self-Defense Force move from basic training to combat machines. It is an all-metal twin-engine aircraft with the instructor seated behind the student, so it has a long and prominently glazed canopy. It is known outside the training units as well, because the Japanese display aerobatic team flies in its colors.

What the set contains

A photo-etched metal fret in 1:72 scale. Photo-etching makes it possible to produce parts of a thickness that plastic parts from a kit cannot reach, which is why photo-etched sets are used wherever sheet metal should really look like sheet metal: seat belts, frames, grilles and fine stiffeners. The extent of the fret, and which kit it is laid out for, is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• cut the parts off the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface and do not snap them out
• true the remains of the tab after cutting with a file or abrasive paper
• make the folds over the edge of a straightedge or in a bender, along the scored groove
• they are bonded with a minute amount of super glue
• before painting, wash and degrease the metal and lay down a thin coat of base color

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who want to replace the coarsest plastic details on a model in 1:72 scale with thin metal. Work with tweezers and over a tray, as the parts are small and a dropped piece is hard to find. The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.