TBD-1 SPACE 1/32

The real subject

The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator was an American carrier-based torpedo bomber. In the second half of the 1930s it was among the modern machines: all-metal construction, a folding wing for carrier operations and a long glazed canopy. It is that canopy that matters to the modeler, because three crew members sit under it and the interior is visible along its whole length. By the start of the Second World War the aircraft was already falling behind newer types, but as a subject it remains rewarding, above all in a large scale.

How the SPACE range works

The elements of the SPACE range are colored and printed on a backing paper. They have no adhesive layer of their own, so you cannot peel them off the backing: you dampen the paper under the element with a sponge and a drop of detergent, lift the element off with tweezers and lay it on the part of the kit. A drop of PVA glue holds it in place; Eduard does not recommend super glue. The color printing already carries the shades as well as the small placards, so there is no need to brush individual areas in.

Building tips

• Paint the cockpit parts and let them dry right through, as the elements will not bed onto wet paint.
• Get dust and grease from your fingers off the surface before fixing them.
• Dampen only the backing paper and move the element with tweezers, never with your fingers.
• Fix it with PVA glue and settle it with a blunt tool or a cotton bud; follow the manufacturer's instructions for placement and order.
• Do not use a decal softener, as its chemistry would damage the printed resin and ruin the element.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who want a faithful cockpit interior without hours spent on fine painting. Working with it is quick and forgiving, because the element can still be moved until the glue has dried. This is an accessory to a kit; paints, glue and other materials are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.