1:72 Ju 87B-1 Stuka control surfaces

Aires 1:72 Ju 87B-1 Stuka control surfaces - resin control surfaces

The set from the Czech manufacturer Aires in 1:72 scale replaces the control surfaces of a plastic kit of the Junkers Ju 87B-1 dive bomber with castings in casting resin. It is not a kit of the aircraft but an aftermarket accessory for a model under construction. The base kit has to be had or bought separately.

What the set solves

The Ju 87 has fairly large control surfaces with marked fabric covering, and in a small scale it is precisely this detail that is lost most in injection-molded plastic. A resin casting allows finer ribbing and thinner trailing edges. The second advantage is position: the surfaces are separate, so the model can stand with the rudder and the ailerons deflected instead of in a stiff neutral position. With a display case model that changes the impression markedly without your having to build the whole aircraft again.

Tips for working it

Wash the castings in warm water with detergent, so that the release agent from the mold is removed. Cut the original surfaces out of the kit with a fine saw and level the cut with a file - in 1:72 scale every irregularity shows. It is glued with cyanoacrylate super glue; cement for plastic does not work on resin. Sand wet and with respiratory protection. Choose a mild deflection and keep to the same logic on both sides. Once glued in, fill the seams, spray a base coat and paint; the fabric covering will stand out after a fine dark wash and a discreet dry brush.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want a livelier, less stiff look to a Ju 87
• Builders used to cutting into the parts of a kit and fitting resin
• Display case and competition models in 1:72 scale
• Dioramas with a parked aircraft on a stand or in terrain

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.