1:35 Laptop

A laptop in 1:35 scale from Eureka XXL

A small diorama accessory, not a kit of a vehicle or an airplane. The theme is a portable computer in 1:35 scale, that is, a prop that gives a modern scene a specific action: somebody is working here, watching data or running an operation. Note that other brands make a similarly named accessory; this item comes from Eureka XXL.

Placing it in the scene

In 1:35 scale a laptop is a very small object, which makes where you put it matter all the more. It works best where the viewer expects it: on a desk beside a chair, on a folded-down panel in the back of a vehicle, on a crate by a figure crouched over the display, or in the hands of a figure carrying it somewhere. An open lid creates a pronounced triangular outline that draws the eye, so you can use it to lead the gaze to the place where the main action happens. It helps the sense of reality to add a thin wire as a power or data lead and a few other small things around it, such as papers, a mug or a headset. Check that the lower part sits flat on the base across its whole face.

Painting tips

Once cleaned and degreased, lay down a primer appropriate to the material of the parts. The body of the laptop looks good in a dark semi-flat or gray shade, with the edges and the area around the hinges lifted gently with a dry brush. Treat the display as glass, that is, smoothly and with a gloss varnish: switched off as a dark area with a reflection, switched on as a light area with a hint of an image. Do not draw the keyboard key by key at this scale; a dark wash over the area and a gentle lifting of the edges is enough.

Who the accessory is for

• builders of modern dioramas in 1:35 scale
• modelers who give a scene a story with small props
• anyone interested in furnishing offices, posts and field workplaces
• collectors of small diorama accessories

This is an accessory for dioramas, not a model in its own right. Paints, glue, figures and the base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.