TBD-1 Devastator LööK 1/32

The real subject

The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator is an American carrier-borne torpedo bomber from the second half of the nineteen-thirties. In its day it was a modern machine: an all-metal low-wing aircraft with folding wings, retractable landing gear and a crew of three under a long glazed canopy. By the start of the war, however, it was already among the outdated types, and its use at Midway ended in heavy losses for the torpedo squadrons. For a modeler the long glazing means one thing only: the cockpit can be seen into.

What the set solves

A kit panel usually has its instruments merely suggested, and painting them in with a fine brush is thankless work in which every tremor of the hand shows. The set from the LööK range offers a ready-made part instead, with finer dial detail and a legible layout of the panel. In the large 1:32 scale that pays off twice over, because the viewer looks at the panel from close up. The exact extent of the set and the fitting sequence are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

• test the part dry and only then remove material from the original panel accordingly
• if it sits without pressure, it will not lift the surrounding cockpit parts once glued
• do not paint over the printed instrument detail; any sheen can be knocked back with varnish
• place it with tweezers and apply glue in minute amounts
• finish the cockpit before you close the fuselage and fit the glazing

Terms of supply

A cockpit accessory is supplied. The model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.