1:72 Polish Uhlans 1939

Polish uhlans 1939 in 1:72 scale from the manufacturer First to Fight

A set of unpainted plastic figures in 1:72 scale from the Polish manufacturer First to Fight. These are not finished painted figures and not a kit of a vehicle; the parts are taken off the sprue, cleaned up and glued, and only then are the figures painted. The 1:72 scale matches ordinary kits of aircraft and ground vehicles, so you can use the set both as an addition to a diorama and as a subject of its own for a display case.

The real subject

The uhlans were cavalry regiments of the Polish army. In 1939 the cavalry formations made up the mobile component of the armed forces and carried out reconnaissance, liaison and security tasks in particular. Typical parts of the equipment were the saddlery, a carbine and a saber. The uniform had a khaki shade, and the characteristic feature of the headgear was a cap with a square top, called a rogatywka.

Building and painting tips

Cut the small parts off with sprue nippers or a sharp knife and run a fine file or a sanding sponge over the parting lines. Spray the figures with primer before painting, as acrylic paint holds poorly on bare smooth plastic and rubs off during handling. Apply the base tones with a brush, bring the relief out with a dark wash into the folds of the cloth and accent the edges and raised places with a dry brush. Leave the faces and the small metal parts until last, when you no longer have to touch the figures so much. Fix the finished figures with matte varnish, and for metal details a satin one in spots comes in useful.

Who the set is for

• builders of dioramas and scenes in 1:72 scale
• collectors of figures focused on the period of 1939
• modelers who want to add a human scale to vehicles
• those interested in painting small figures with a brush

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.