1:35 Japanese helmet M30-32

1:35 Japanese M30-32 helmet - an accessory for figures

A modeling accessory of its own in 1:35 scale. It is not a kit or a whole figure but a casting of a single object: the Japanese steel helmet carried under the designation M30-32. It comes into its own wherever the helmet molded on a figure is the wrong shape, and in a diorama as equipment set down beside a figure, on a crate or on a weapon.

The real subject

Japanese steel helmets of the first half of the twentieth century have a characteristic shallow, almost hemispherical shape with a low rim, which differs markedly from European helmets of that time. It is exactly that profile which is the mark of Japanese infantry, and a simplified casting from a kit often fails to catch it: the outline tends to be too angular and the rim thick. Swapping in a separate casting is therefore one of the most noticeable improvements that can be made on Japanese figures.

Building and painting tips

Separate the casting from the casting block with a saw or a sharp knife, and never snap it off. Wash a resin part in lukewarm water with detergent before painting and glue it with cyanoacrylate glue; a plastic one is joined with ordinary modeling cement. Wet-sand and do so with respiratory protection. Apply a primer, and only then the covering coat. Paint the helmet on its own before you set it on the figure. Choose the shade according to the period and the unit you are building; deal with any insignia on the shell only once the base coat has dried. A dark wash into the rim and fine drybrushing of the edges will give the shell depth.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese infantry and vehicles in 1:35 scale
• Modelers for whom the shape of the helmet from a kit is wrong
• Diorama builders who want equipment set down in a scene
• More experienced modelers working with small castings

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The figure, glue, paints and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.