1:35 US ARMY PA-108 'Fat 50' Ammunition Can

PA-108 Fat 50 ammunition can 1:35 (E.T. Model)

A photo-etched set in 1:35 scale from E.T. Model for building the American PA-108 ammunition can, known among the soldiers by the nickname Fat 50. It is the wider and roomier variant of the metal can for 12.7 mm ammunition, with a folding handle and a hinged lid with a gasket. The package holds flat metal parts to be folded up; it is not a kit of a vehicle and not a finished model.

What the set is for

The wider can differs from the ordinary one at first glance by its proportions, so it is a rewarding detail on modern American vehicles and in scenes with equipment. The plastic equivalents from kits have thick walls and soft edges. Photo-etched sheet has a real thickness, so the lid, its rim and the catch are all legible. The can finds a good use on the roof of a vehicle, in a load bed, by the mount of a heavy machine gun and as a separate object in a diorama.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a scalpel on a hard surface, and never break them out. Make the folds along the marked score lines and work step by step, so that the walls do not twist. Degrease the metal with alcohol and join it with small drops of cyanoacrylate; excess glue floods the detail that the etching gave shape to. Spray a base coat meant for metal before painting. Cans are usually painted matte, with scuffed edges and a dusty base; a dark wash in the corners and gentle drybrushing along the rim of the lid will give the whole thing depth.

Who the set is for

• Builders of modern and historical American vehicles in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who build loads and equipment onto vehicles
• Builders of dioramas and scenes with figures
• More experienced modelers with practice in working with photo-etched parts

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