1:32 300 gallon fuel tank AERO 1D

The real subject

Drop tanks are among the most frequently carried loads of combat aircraft. The AERO 1D type tank with a capacity of 300 gallons, that is roughly 1136 liters, is an American standardized tank of cigar shape with stabilizing surfaces at the tail. With it an aircraft substantially lengthens its range, at the cost of higher drag and a limit on maneuverability.

What the set contains

The set brings the tank in the large 1:32 scale, where the fine surface, the panel lines and the shape of the tail stand out. It serves as a replacement for the kit part or as an accessory to a model that lacks the tank. The result looks more faithful above all on the underside of the model, which the viewer often has in view.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not of injection-molded polystyrene, so reach for superglue when gluing. Cut off the excess material with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder. Before painting, wash the tank in lukewarm water with detergent and let it dry out.

Try the tank dry on the pylon, so that the longitudinal axis lines up and the tank is not twisted. Paint it separately off the model and fit it only at the end, otherwise it will be hard to get under the wing and the fuselage with either a brush or an airbrush. The particular assembly procedure follows from the instructions of the kit concerned.

Who it is for

The set suits a modeler who is building a large aircraft model and wants the external stores in the same quality as the rest of the machine. The aircraft model, the pylon, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.