Black Cat Models Aircraft Review

Black Cat Models has added to their many 3D printed parts with a large compliment of WWII era aircraft. Aircraft are offered with wings in down position, or if the aircraft has folding wings offered separately printed with the wings folded. There is no photo etch offered with these models. Instead, Black Cat Models prints all the possible parts (landing gears, canopy frames, weapons, etc.) as printed parts. The engines are over the top with detail. The canopy frames are in the open position so that you can slide the pilot figure in the cockpit, and there’s no option for a closed canopy. If this is an issue, you may try contacting Ben at Black Cat to see if he will make the adjustment. Each airplane typically offers multiple parts in case the modeler makes a mistake. They also include figures including pilot figures that can be placed in the cockpits. Black Cat uses a very expensive commercial resin printer. The supports have the finest connection points I’ve seen on any 3D prints and separate from the model incredibly easily.

There are quite a few 1/350 and 1/700 aircraft available on the market, but what is unique to these models is that the aircraft don’t have deep trench, out of scale panel lines on the wings and fuselage. They have a very scale look to them. The aircraft include some very nice detailing in the cockpit which includes the impression of instruments, joy sticks, and masts. The canopy frames are printed without glass. The modeler has the choice of not adding any glass, or using a product such as Micro Kristal Klear. The 1/700 models are essentially smaller versions of the 1/350 models with all the same details.

I used the photos from Black Cat with the exception of the parts I own myself. To see the 1/700 photos be sure to visit the Black Cat Models web page.