1:72 Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete

Photo-etched set for the Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete, 1:72

A photo-etched set for the model of the Re.2002 Ariete in 1:72 scale. Photo-etch is a thin metal sheet with the pattern etched into it, so the parts come out at a thickness a plastic molding cannot come close to. In the small scale it shows most in the places where the material is meant to be genuinely thin, that is on sheet-metal and grated parts and in the cockpit.

The real subject

The Re.2002 Ariete was an Italian single-engine fighter-bomber that came about in the Reggiane family of machines as a type aimed at attacks on ground targets. Against its pure fighter siblings it received a stronger structure and armament under the wing. In miniature it is a rewarding subject: the silhouette is compact and the Italian finish gives an opportunity to work with mottling and with shades.

Working with photo-etch

• Separate the part with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with scissors, which ripple the metal.
• Make the bends along the etched score, best on the edge of a steel rule or in a bender.
• They are bonded with super glue applied in a tiny amount; plastic cement will not join metal.
• Degrease unpainted parts before spraying and prime them for metal, otherwise the coat will not hold on the smooth surface.
• Color-printed elements, if the set holds any, are left as they are.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build aircraft in 1:72 scale and want to take the cockpit and the sheet-metal details higher than the box contents allow. Working with photo-etch calls for tweezers, a calm hand and good light. The scope of the set and the kit it is cut for are given by the manufacturer in the instructions. The model, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.