1:72 Jednořadá kolejnicová překážka

A single-row rail obstacle, 1:72 scale

A model of the antitank obstacle that belonged to the fortification lines just as inseparably as the pillboxes themselves. It serves as an addition to a scene, not as a structure in its own right.

The real subject

Rail obstacles were made up of lengths of rail sunk into a concrete foundation and tilted against the expected direction of vehicle travel. They were laid along the defensive lines and, depending on the terrain and the importance of the sector, were built in one row or in several. The task was to stop armored vehicles in ground that the defense could cover with fire. Besides rails, wire obstacles and concrete pyramids were also used, so the obstacle belt in front of the fortifications was usually several layers deep.

Building and painting tips

The rails deserve more than a single brown shade: start with a dark base, add a warmer rust and bring out the edges with a metallic sheen, as though something scraped against them regularly. Leave the concrete at the foot light and slightly dirtied. The obstacle looks best when you set it out in a slightly irregular line and add grass and low bushes between the elements.

Who the accessory is for

• For scenes with pillboxes of the Czechoslovak fortifications
• For dioramas with advancing armored vehicles
• For filling the landscape between the structures of the line
• For modelers who enjoy working on metal weathering

The set is unpainted and has to be assembled before use; paints are not included.