1:32 Colt M1895/14 "Potato Digger" (pair)

1:32 Colt M1895/14 Potato Digger (pair), a resin accessory from GasPatch models

The set brings two castings of the machine gun in the M1895/14 standard, that is, the later form of the weapon, which GasPatch models offers as a separate item alongside the original M1895. The difference between the two sets lies precisely in the standard of the weapon, so check before buying which variant your subject carried. The castings serve as a replacement for the simplified plastic weapons, and in 1:32 scale even the small details come out.

The real subject

The M1895/14 designation refers to the updated form of the original Colt, which came about in the mid-1910s and was used during the First World War in ground service as well as in training and in aircraft armament. The weapon kept the characteristic gas tap with the swinging lever under the barrel, from which the nickname Potato Digger comes, but it differs in the details of the barrel and the mounting.

Tips for working and painting

Resin is always washed before painting; otherwise the greasy mold release agent stays under the paint. Cut the casting block off with a thin saw a little away from the part and sand the remainder flat. Use super glue to join the parts; if the joint carries a load, add a small pin of thin wire. A black or dark gray primer works well as a base, on which dark steel looks deep. Lift the sharp edges with a dry brush and suggest any oil traces very discreetly, so that a small weapon does not look overdone.

Who the set is for

• modelers building First World War aircraft in 1:32 scale
• those who want the exact variant of the weapon on the model, not a universal casting from the box
• makers of display models and dioramas where the weapon is in the foreground
• more experienced builders used to working with resin

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