1:72 Spitfire PR cockpit structure insert - up-armoured (post April 1940)

Spitfire PR cockpit structure insert (1:72, IBG)

A detail accessory made by 3D printing in resin, not a model of the aircraft. The set adds a faithful internal structure to the cockpit, the truss structure of the fuselage, the stiffeners and the small elements that an ordinary kit does not contain, for the reconnaissance Spitfire PR versions in 1:72 scale. The insert raises the level of detail in the cockpit area markedly, above all on a model with the canopy open. The set is shaped for Spitfire PR kits from IBG, the Polish producer of plastic models and 3D-printed accessories.

The real subject

The photo-reconnaissance (PR) versions of the Supermarine Spitfire were lightened aircraft without armament, carrying cameras and extra fuel instead of cannon for long-range flights over enemy territory.

Fitting and painting

• Wash the parts with lukewarm water and dish soap, which takes off the residue of uncured print resin.
• Cut the print supports off with a sharp scalpel; 3D printing is brittle, so never snap it.
• Try seating the insert dry before closing the fuselage, as 3D replacements usually need a small adjustment.
• Glue it with cyanoacrylate glue; cement for plastic will not hold on resin.
• Lay down a primer; the interior is normally painted in the shade of British aircraft cockpits, and a wash and drybrushing of the edges will bring the structure out.

Who the set is for

• For modelers building reconnaissance Spitfire PR aircraft in 1:72 scale from IBG.
• For those who want a faithful internal structure in the cockpit with the canopy open.
• Working with fine 3D printing calls for care and cyanoacrylate glue.

The accessory is supplied unpainted. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package. When sanding resin, use a respirator and ventilate.