YOUR FIRST 3D PRINTED MODEL KIT?

Offered as part of the the GOR.339 Project that would spawn the much-vaunted, but ultimately unsuccessful TSR.2, the Type 75 was just one of many potential designs offered to fulfil that requirement.

Over the last few years few can have been made unaware of how much 3D printing has impacted our hobby. From small acorns great Oak trees can grow, and so from the release of tiny, printed details, we are now witnessing the release of full-blown kits using this fast improving technology.

Though I’ve used 3D printed parts throughout the last few years (most notably inside my build of the Eduard Wildcat) I have yet to build a complete kit. That is until now. Now, I have the chance to see what all of the fuss is about with the delivery of Aerocraft’s latest release, the Fairey Tactical Strike Aircraft GOR.339 Project Type 75 (phew!).

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Aerocraft’s new release is a complete kit of this 1950’s paper project. Offered as part of the the GOR.339 Project that would spawn the much-vaunted, but ultimately unsuccessful TSR.2, the Type 75 was just one of many potential designs offered to fulfil that requirement. As such, the Type 75 was a large, imposing design that would have looked as impressive as it would have been implausible, had it ever worked its way from drawing board to factory floor.

All of this kit, save for the canopy is 3D printed in dark grey resin. The kit though large looks to be sensibly broken down, easy to build and nicely detailed. A complete cockpit is included complete with ejector seats furnish with delicate straps and ring-pull handles in situ. Instrument details are well-rendered, as are such things as delicate control columns, the latter once again printed in place. Under the clearly-cast resin canopy, the cockpit detail should be easily seen, so the inclusion of the high levels of detail found upon first inspection, is more than welcome.

All of the airframe parts are printed hollow, which keeps weight down without compromising structural strength. Clever design keeps structural integrity to the fore. For instance, the pylons for the nacelles drop into troughs under the wings rather than being simple peg and socket joints.

In terms of additional features, the kit includes some delightful undercarriage legs and wheels. I was particularly take by the wheels. Undoubtedly designed thus to ensure stretch under the model, the hubs are moulded as part of the legs, the tyres being very delicate, separate parts. I really like this idea because it not only ensures that the wheels are perfectly square and true, it makes painting so much easier! Once again, strength is guaranteed betwixt legs and bays, large tab and socket joints (likely to be all-but hidden within each bay) keeping everything in place. I appreciate that this is a repeated point, but this is a heavy model so anything that helps to keep it all together is not only welcome, but I’d argue, essential.

Away from the kit parts, Aerocraft offer this aircraft in four different boxes, two in 1/72, two in 1/144, with each scale being in “Hi Viz” colours, as well as overall Anti Flash White. My sample came complete with both decal sheets which will allow me to build either version, though camouflage seems most likely. The decals are superb, being very nicely printed, with nice opaque colours and in my case, perfect register. 

This morning I created a little video on this kit, which you can see below. This will give you more information on it and alongside the images reproduced here, a good idea of what you can expect should you decide to build one of these models.

This kit will be completed for an in-depth feature in a future edition of Model Airplane International magazine, hopefully around Easter time or thereabouts. In the meantime, I would like to thank Alistair McLean for the sample kit seen here and Brett green for his role in facilitating the project!

One for the future then and one that I am definitely looking forward to building!

See you next time.

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