Da-42 L-360 aircraft

Description

The DA‑42 L‑360 is a Lycoming-powered offshoot of Diamond’s Twin Star, introduced around 2008 with a pair of 180 hp Lycoming IO‑360 engines that made it easier to maintain and fueled via traditional AvGas—an appealing option in North America and flight training fleets. Known for its composite, low-drag airframe and Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, the L‑360 offers reliable cruise speeds around 300 km/h (about 186 mph) with solid climb performance and good single-engine handling, although rudder forces can be demanding in asymmetric scenarios. With its counter-rotating propellers, advanced avionics, and safety-oriented design, it balances efficiency and redundancy, making it a popular choice for training as well as private owners.

As for scale models, Amodel released a 1:72 kit of the DA‑42 Twin Star, often listed under different part numbers depending on the version (such as the standard Twin Star or the VI variant). The kit includes multiple parts that allow you to build specific configurations, including the Lycoming-powered L‑360 version. It provides a fair amount of surface detail and some cockpit representation, although the canopy is molded in opaque plastic, meaning the cockpit is not intended to be visible—more suited to static display builds.

Modelers generally describe the kit as clean and easy to assemble, especially for a short-run release. That said, it’s a limited-production kit, so you can expect the usual hallmarks: a bit of flash on some parts, the occasional tight fit, and a need for test-fitting and patience in alignment. It’s not overly complex and is accessible to both intermediate and experienced builders, though aftermarket support is minimal due to the subject’s niche appeal.

In short, the DA‑42 L‑360 is a refined and practical light twin in the real world, and the Amodel 1:72 kit offers a solid, if modest, representation of it—ideal for modelers who appreciate civilian or training aircraft and don’t mind a bit of old-school modeling work.

Based on 2019 tooled kit.