1:72 MG-15 (2pcs for Do 17, He 111, Ju 88,...) 3D print

3DF, MG-15 machine guns (1:72, 2 pieces), 3D print

The set contains two pieces of the German MG-15 aircraft machine gun in 1:72 scale, made by 3D printing. The manufacturer is 3DF. The parts are intended as a replacement for the plastic machine guns of the base kit: in such a small scale, weapons out of a mold are necessarily simplified, with thick barrels and no legible detail. 3D printing makes it possible to print a thin barrel, the jacket and the magazine with a crispness that injected plastic cannot reach in 1:72.

The real subject

The MG-15 was the standard hand-aimed defensive machine gun of the Luftwaffe in 7.92 mm caliber, used in the gun positions of bombers and reconnaissance machines, among them the Do 17, the He 111 and the Ju 88. These movable weapons in the gun positions are among the most conspicuous details on bomber models.

Use

• Carefully separate the parts from the print supports with a sharp knife or a fine saw; do not snap them off, because the print is rigid but small.
• Wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water before painting; that removes the print residue and the paint holds better.
• Sand the marks left by the supports with fine sandpaper; protect your airways while sanding.
• Glue with super glue (cyanoacrylate); cement for plastic does not work on printed parts.
• Apply primer and paint, with a fine brush or an airbrush; the barrels come out best in a dark metallic shade, and light drybrushing brings out the edges.
• Fit the machine guns at the end of the build, once the glazing is finished and masked, so that they do not break off during handling.

Who the set is for

For modelers of German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft in 1:72 scale who want a weapon that really looks like one instead of a coarse plastic part. Working with small printed parts calls for tweezers, super glue and a steady hand; it is an easy but delicate upgrade with a very visible effect.

An accessory, not a model. It is supplied as 3D-printed parts: unpainted, without glue, paints and the base kit. Ventilate the room when cutting and sanding, and protect your airways and your eyes.