1:72 E16A1 Zuiun Weapons

Hobby 2000 1:72 E16A1 Zuiun Weapons – armament set

This item is not a model of an aircraft. It is a supplementary armament set from the Polish manufacturer Hobby 2000 intended for models of the Japanese floatplane Aichi E16A1 Zuiun in 1:72 scale. As designated by the manufacturer, the set brings armament parts – the barrels of the 20 mm cannon and of the 12.7 mm machine gun. These small but very visible parts tend to be the weakest point of a kit in injection-molded plastic; replacing them with more accurate parts is one of the most effective ways to move a model toward a realistic look.

The real subject

The Aichi E16A1 Zuiun (Allied reporting name Paul) was a two-seat floatplane of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed for reconnaissance and at the same time for dive bombing attacks. It was used in the final phase of the war in the Pacific, when it had little chance against Allied fighter cover. The machine had a pair of floats and its struts could act as air brakes in a dive. For its own defense and for offensive use it carried cannon and machine gun armament – exactly what this set aims at.

Use

• The set serves to replace the armament parts from the plastic E16A1 Zuiun kit in 1:72 scale – the model of the aircraft has to be bought separately.
• Separate the parts carefully, clean them up and dry fit them into the wing and into the rear cockpit before gluing.
• On very small parts, super glue (cyanoacrylate) applied with a pin or a toothpick works well.
• Use a primer before spraying; pick the muzzles of the barrels out with a dark shade and a fine wash.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the Zuiun in 1:72 and want the armament in matching detail, and for collectors of Japanese naval aircraft who like to improve series kits without extensive work. Working with small parts takes patience, but the gain on the finished model is visible immediately.

This is an accessory for a model: the package contains neither the aircraft kit nor glue or paints.