1:35 German Leopard A5/A6 Turret Basket Grill for Tamiya

The real subject

The Leopard tank carries a basket at the rear of the turret in which the crew stow equipment and materiel. Its walls are formed by a grill of thin sections with gaps you can see through. The plastic part from a kit has to be considerably thicker for rigidity, so the basket looks coarse and the grill tends to be merely suggested. A photo-etched part replaces this section at a thickness that matches the scale, and on a finished model the difference is visible at a glance.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts for the grill of the turret basket of the Leopard tank in the A5 and A6 versions in 1:35, built according to the name for the Tamiya kit. The number of parts on the fret and their layout are given in the instructions from the manufacturer. Check which version you are building before buying.

Building tips

Separate the parts on a hard surface with a sharp blade or photo-etch scissors, always right at the part, and sand the remaining stub back. Make the folds along the scored lines, ideally in a bending tool or between two straight jaws, and fold in one movement; repeated straightening breaks the material. It is bonded with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a tiny amount, ideally on the tip of a wire. Remove the original plastic part from the turret and level the area, so that the grill seats without a gap. Before painting, degrease the parts and use a primer intended for metal, otherwise the coat will come off during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to swap the coarser plastic version of the basket on a 1:35 Leopard model for a fine grill. Working with photo-etched parts calls for patience and basic equipment. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.