1:32 P51D Mustang Gun Bays (Tamiya)

Gun bays, P-51D Mustang 1:32 (Kopecky Scale Models, for Tamiya)

A resin detail part from the Czech brand Kopecky Scale Models. It is not an airplane model but an accessory for the Tamiya P-51D Mustang kit in 1:32 scale, which you have to have. The set shows the interior of the wing with the gun covers open: the bays with six 12.7 mm Browning machine guns (three in each wing), ammunition and belts. The kit has the wing closed as standard; this part opens it and offers detail that catches the eye.

What it is for

A model with the gun covers open looks alive, like a machine under maintenance on an airfield, with armorers topping up the ammunition. The exposed interior of the wing gives the model a story, and 1:32 scale gives the detail enough room to come out. The P-51D Mustang is an iconic American fighter of the Second World War, so the set will please anyone building its large model for a display case.

Fitting and painting

• First wash the parts to remove the residue of the mold release agent from the casting (lukewarm water, a mild detergent).
• Cut off the casting blocks with a saw or a knife and sand the surfaces; protect your breathing when sanding resin.
• It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue), not with ordinary cement for plastic.
• The fine parts (the barrels and the belts) are fragile, so work calmly and with a sharp tool.
• The interior is usually painted in shades of zinc chromate yellow or interior green, the metal parts of the guns with a metallic paint; a dark wash will bring out the detail.

Who it is for

• For builders of the large Tamiya Mustang in 1:32 who want an open wing with the guns visible.
• For modelers who like to finish a kit off with resin details.
• For display pieces and airfield dioramas on a maintenance theme.

This is an accessory for a kit, not a model in its own right. The Tamiya base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.