1:350 WW II USN Bollards I

Bollards for models of American ships, 1:350 scale

This is an add-on set, not a ship model. A bollard is a short post on the deck around which a line is wound when the ship is made fast. On a real ship there are dozens of them, and on a model they are one of those small repeated elements that show how much work someone has put into it. In an injection-molded kit the bollards tend to be only suggested by a molded lump, because a mold will not reproduce such a small and articulated shape. A separate set replaces them with parts that have the real shape, that is with a widened head and a visible gap between the posts.

Usage tips

• Cut the original lumps off and level the deck carefully at that spot, and only then fit the new parts.
• Mark out the layout beforehand, because unevenly seated bollards show on the deck at once.
• Glue with a cyanoacrylate glue in the smallest amount, because any excess clogs the detail.
• Apply a base coat before painting, because on a smooth surface the paint comes off.
• Work over a mat, because a part of this size disappears from the table immediately.

Who it is for

The set is for ship modelers who are finishing off the deck and want it to stand up to a close look. The work is small and repetitive, but the result shows clearly on the finished model, because the deck is the surface that everyone looks at from above.

It is not a ship model. The base kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.