1:72 Heinkel He-46C in Spanish service

Heinkel He 46C in Spanish service - a 1:72 kit from RS Models

A plastic kit of the single-engine two-seat reconnaissance and observation aircraft Heinkel He 46C in 1:72 scale, released by RS Models in the form of the machines used in Spain. It is a kit to be glued together and painted, not a finished model.

The real subject

The He 46 was a parasol high-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear, a radial engine and a crew of two in open cockpits. It first flew at the beginning of the 1930s and served for reconnaissance, observation and cooperation with ground units. The C version was the main production form and, besides its home air force, it also reached other users, among them Spain. From today's point of view the type represents the transitional period between strut-braced biplanes and modern monoplanes, which makes it a rewarding subject for a collection of interwar aircraft.

Building and painting tips

With short-run kits it pays to dry-fit every part first and to remove any flash and remains of the sprue gates with a scalpel and fine abrasive paper. The interior of the open cockpits is clearly visible on the finished model, so paint and pick it out before the fuselage is closed up. The wing of this type is carried on a system of struts, which is best glued step by step and left to cure supported in position, so that the assembly does not end up twisted. Add the bracing from thin thread or drawn sprue only after the base coat has been applied. We recommend a gloss coat before the decals, and once they are dry unify the surface with a matte varnish and a fine dust shade.

Who the model is for

• Modelers with experience of short-run kits.
• Collectors of interwar aircraft in 1:72 scale.
• Anyone interested in reconnaissance and observation aircraft of the 1930s.
• Builders of display cases completed with less usual types.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.