1:16 Lifting Hooks Set (Early Version) for PzKpfw III/IV

Lifting eyes, early form for the PzKpfw III and IV — resin in 1:16

Small resin castings replacing the lifting eyes on a large model. According to the name they are intended for the early form of the vehicles of the PzKpfw III and IV series, which shared this detail.

What distinguishes this part on the vehicle

Both types came from the same school of design and had a number of small things in common — among them the early form of the lifting eyes welded to the hull and the turret. That is practical for the modeler: one set covers the detail on two different machines, as long as you are building the early version of both. The eye itself is a simple steel bow with a hole for a hook. A seemingly trivial part, except that in 1:16 scale the thickness of the material, the radius of the bend and whether there really is a hole under the bow can all be seen on it. A plastic kit usually molds it in one piece with the plate of the hull and only suggests the hole.

Working with resin

The castings are small, so put a light-colored tray with a raised edge on the table. Wash them in warm water with detergent because of the mold release agent, cut them off with a new blade and sand the remainder of the casting block back with a fine file. Cut the original plastic eyes off and level the area. Glue them with cyanoacrylate glue; the gel version gives time to get all the eyes on one side standing at the same height and at the same angle.

Who the set is for

• Builders of early versions of the PzKpfw III and PzKpfw IV in 1:16 scale
• Modelers who want a real hole under the eye rather than a suggested notch
• Those building two vehicles at once who will make use of a shared detail
• Patient modelers used to small resin parts

The accessory is supplied unpainted. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.