1:35 .30 CAL FULL AMMUNITION BOXES

Full .30 caliber ammunition boxes, 1:35 scale (AMMO of Mig Jimenez)

A set of scaled-down sheet-metal boxes for .30 caliber machine gun ammunition, that is roughly 7.62 mm, in 1:35 scale, done as full ones — with the lid closed or with the contents suggested. The manufacturer keeps the empty version as a separate item. It is not a kit but accessories used to fill the cargo space of a vehicle, a load bed, the area around a gun or the scene of a diorama. The manufacturer is the Spanish company AMMO of Mig Jimenez.

What the accessory is for

Boxes of machine gun ammunition were stored and moved in whole heaps, so on models and in dioramas they are a natural way to fill empty areas and give a scene scale. The full version suits anywhere a stock is meant to be suggested: neat stacks in the bed of a truck, boxes ready by a mounting, a load on a fender. Combining full and empty boxes in the same scene also looks more believable than just one type.

Usage and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm water with detergent and cut the casting blocks off with a sharp knife or a fine saw. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue, that is with super glue, and a primer should be applied before painting. With neat stacks it pays to paint the boxes individually first and glue them together only once they are dry, otherwise you will not reach into the gaps. Bring out the edges and corners with abrasion, put dust or mud matching the base on the lower parts, and vary the shade of the individual pieces slightly — boxes that are absolutely identical give away that they are castings from one mold.

Who the set is for

• Diorama builders who need to fill a load bed or a supply scene
• Builders of American equipment in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want to combine full and empty boxes in one scene
• Those interested in practicing weathering on small separate objects

This is an accessory set, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.