1:72 Me-262 A

Clear vacuform canopy for the Me 262 A (1:72)

A vacuum-formed (vacuform) clear replacement for the cockpit canopy of 1:72 plastic models of the Me 262 A jet fighter. It is not an aircraft kit but a separate clear accessory — a thin formed film replacing the thicker canopy from the base kit. The package usually contains several pieces, so you have a spare as well as a choice of position.

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed Schwalbe, was the first jet fighter in the world to enter series service. This twin-engine German aircraft from the end of the Second World War outpaced piston fighters; the Me 262 A version was the basic fighter and fighter-bomber configuration. Its long, well-glazed cockpit was characteristic.

Use and fitting

• Cut the part from the carrier film with a sharp knife or scissors and lightly sand the edges.
• Glue it with clear canopy glue or with white PVA glue, which will not fog the transparent material.
• Mask the frames carefully before spraying; the thin wall looks more true to scale than the canopy from the kit.
• The thin frames make it possible to model an open cockpit and show the interior.

Who it is for

For more advanced modelers who want to replace the thick production canopy with a clear part that gives a better view into the interior. Cutting out vacuform film takes a little practice.

The accessory is supplied as a clear vacuum-formed molding, unpainted and without glue. The base model and paints are not included in the package.