TECHNICAL STEPLADDER 1/32

Technical stepladder 1:32 from Temp Models

The set contains a 3D printed resin model of a technical stepladder of the kind technicians use when working on an aircraft. Unlike the ladders listed for particular types, this one is not tied to any machine, so it suits any airfield scene. It is not a model of an aircraft but a piece of ground equipment.

The real subject

A technical stepladder belongs to the basic equipment of every aviation workshop and field post. It is used for work on the fuselage, the wing and the engines, that is everywhere a technician cannot reach from the ground. It tends to be wheeled, with a platform and a handrail, and painted in an unremarkable technical shade with warning markings. In a diorama it gives the scene its sense of scale and explains why the technicians are standing exactly where they are.

Building and painting tips

First wash the 3D printed parts in warm water with a little dish soap, so that they are rid of the residue of printing resin. Cut the supports off with a sharp blade or a fine saw as close to the part as possible and sand the marks down with your airways protected. Resin does not bond with cement for polystyrene, so use cyanoacrylate glue. Lay a thin coat of primer on before painting, otherwise the paint holds poorly on a smooth print. Equipment beside an aircraft comes out best with weathering: a dark wash into the gaps, dust with dry pigment and scuffed spots suggested with a metallic shade.

Who the set is for

• A model of a technical stepladder for aircraft maintenance in 1:32 scale
• With no tie to a particular type of aircraft
• A resin 3D print with fine resolution
• An accessory for an airfield diorama, not a model of an aircraft
• Calls for cyanoacrylate glue and a primer under the paint

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.