1:72 European Iron Gates (pattern5)(GP)

European iron gates, pattern 5, in 1:72 scale (Voyager Model)

A diorama accessory from the maker Voyager Model in 1:72 scale. The name marks it as pattern number five from a range of European iron gates, and further patterns of the same range exist. It is not a model of a vehicle and not a kit: the set serves for completing the setting into which you place your model.

What the accessory is for

A gate or a fence does more for a diorama than it seems at first glance. It sets the scale of the scene, closes it off at the edges and gives the viewer a reference by which to judge the size of a vehicle or a figure. In 1:72 scale, meanwhile, a latticed gate is an element that is hard to build from plastic or wire; every bar would have to be thinner than a tenth of a millimeter. A ready-made cut-out part solves that problem.

Tips for building the scene

Cut the parts out with a scalpel on a hard surface and sand the remains of the tabs back. Degrease the surfaces with alcohol before painting and apply a base coat intended for metal, otherwise the paint will not hold. Wrought railings and gates tend to be dark; a very dark gray completed by a suggestion of rust at the fixings and at the foot of the post is more realistic than pure black. Glue the gate to the base with cyanoacrylate glue, or set it into drilled holes. A little asymmetry also helps: a slightly open leaf or a gently leaning post looks more alive than a perfectly straight assembly.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of dioramas and vignettes in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want to set a model into a setting rather than merely stand it on a base
• Anyone interested in European town and country scenery
• More experienced builders used to working with thin cut-out parts

The accessory is supplied unpainted and without a base board. Glue, paints and other material are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.