1:35 Army store - furniture for modern weapons

1:35 Army store – fittings of a gun shop from ETA diorama

A printed paper accessory for a diorama in 1:35 scale. It is not a kit or a decal: you get a printed sheet from which you cut the individual elements out yourself, fold them if need be and glue them into a scene. The motif is the interior fittings of a shop with modern weapons, that is the kind of fittings that belong in a modern urban scene with figures.

How to work with the sheet

Cut the parts out with a sharp scalpel against a metal rule, and curves rather with several shallow strokes than one heavy one. On bulkier pieces it pays to glue the print onto thin card or a board of extruded polystyrene with PVA glue; paper on its own stands softly and breaks at a fold. Score the fold lines in advance with the blunt side of a knife or an empty ballpoint pen and only then fold; the edge then comes out sharp and does not fray.

Tips for setting it into a scene

The white cut edge of paper gives away even a well-built scene, so darken all the edges with dry pastel or a thin layer of acrylic in the shade of the print. Spray the finished pieces with matte clear coat – it unifies the sheen of the print with the surroundings and at the same time strengthens the paper against humidity. Keep the weathering restrained: a fine wash in the corners, dust pigment at the floor, a hint of wear on the edges. The interior only comes alive with figures, so leave free areas between the fittings for figures and small equipment.

Who the accessory is for

• builders of dioramas and vignettes in 1:35 with present-day themes
• modelers who want to furnish an interior quickly and without building furniture from plastic
• figure painters looking for a convincing setting for a scene
• beginners, because working with paper calls for neither an airbrush nor expensive tools

The accessory is supplied as a printed sheet. Glue, paints, tools and figures are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.