Scale aviation modeller international

a mass of integral structural

framing, though here, the

excess of detail comes at

a price. Unfortunately, it is

on the hull interior that we

encounter a problem that has

become another recognisable

feature of Airfix’s recent releases –

the ejector pin mark. I counted no

less than thirty such marks on the

inner hull walls and floor. These

circular marks are not normally

a significant problem to remove,

especially from the soft styrene

favoured by this manufacturer,

but because of the comprehensive

raised detail, many of the pin

marks are all but inaccessible.

As is my usual practice of

tackling burdensome tasks first,

I set about removing those marks

that were accessible and covering

others with squares of plastic

card. Luckily too, I possessed the

Eduard Interior Detail Set (49848),

containing a host of etched items

which helped obliterate some

of the unsightly marks. It was a

prolonged and annoyingly tiresome

process, but as much of the interior

would remain visible behind

open windows and hatches once

the kit was assembled, the time

taken during these early stages of

construction seemed worthwhile.

INNER DEPTHS

There is a lot of internal detail to

add straight from the box, and six

A-4 pages of the instruction booklet

are dedicated to its construction.

The highlights include three

hull-floor sections and a platform

for the nose gun position, which

feature wonderful raised detail; a

nicely modelled instrument panel

for the pilot’s station, which is

detailed both front and back with

raised bezels; a control column

and foot pedals; an anchor; desks

and chairs; a fire extinguisher;

rolled life rafts in a wall-mounted

cradle, radios; and cable rolls.

Solidly moulded bulkheads are

supplied that click firmly into the

hull floor, which creates a solid

internal structure around which

the hull is built. These parts may

be solid but they are not crude,

featuring as they do hollowed-out

sections and hatchways which

reflect those of the real aircraft.

The etched brass of the Eduard

detail set adds to this assortment

of riches, but only superficially. The

most useful additions, as already

mentioned, are those that disguise

or hide the ejector pin marks. That

having been said, I did spend three

days supergluing minute bits of

brass in place against the hull sides

and cutting ammunition drums

from plastic card upon which to

mount the etched drum faces.

The most beneficial additions

were the window frames that

allowed me to pose the large side

windows in the open position.

These open inwardly, so they need

to be attached before the hull is

assembled. Note that seat harnesses

are not included in the Mk.1

Interior set and must be purchased

separately, if required (see below).

I couldn’t help but take my

time painting the hull interior

with its plethora of detail, and I

gave free vent to my obsession

for weathering. Other than the

metallic base coat, which was

applied using Alclad lacquers, only

Colourcoats and Humbrol enamels

78 • MARCH 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

076-81-FEAT-Walrus-0318.indd 78 09/02/2018 14:31