1:72 Da-42 L-360 Aircraft

The Austrian twin in 1:72 scale

The Diamond DA42 first flew in 2002 and quickly became one of the most widespread machines for multi-engine rating training. The composite airframe with a narrow, high-aspect-ratio wing, a T-tail and a pair of engines hung close to the fuselage give it a silhouette you will not confuse with anything else. The original version ran on diesel engines, but the troubles of their supplier forced the manufacturer to offer a variant with conventional Lycoming piston units running on avgas, and it is that one the designation used in the name refers to.

Aircraft of this family serve flying schools all over Europe, patrol and surveillance units and owners who appreciate low fuel consumption on cross-country flights. As a result you will find liveries on one type ranging from soberly white school machines to the striking stripes of surveillance versions.

Inside the box you will find injection-molded sprues from which the finished aircraft still has to be built. Expect the usual preparation of the parts, that is cleaning up the mold seams and dry-fitting them before gluing. Glue, paints and filler are bought separately and are not included in the package.

When finishing it, bear in mind that the real airframe is smooth composite with no rivets and no pronounced panel lines. The model is therefore painted differently from a military machine: a glossy light base, sharply outlined marking lines and only a hint of staining around the exhausts and the landing gear legs suit it. Emphasizing the panel lines, which pays off on armored vehicles, would look out of place here.

Smaller civilian types also forgive small inaccuracies less readily than camouflaged aircraft, because everything shows on a uniform surface. So it pays to spend more time on sanding and polishing than on weathering.