1:35 35 Holographic film M109A7 Paladin (PANDA)

What the film is for

On a real vehicle, vision blocks, periscope heads and instrument glass have depth: depending on the viewing angle they darken, brighten or catch a flash of reflection. A painted plastic part cannot do that and stays flat. Holographic film replaces it with an element that changes shade according to where you look at the model from, so the optics stop reading as a blind patch and start to match the full-size subject.

The real subject

The M109A7 Paladin is an American 155 mm self-propelled howitzer on a tracked chassis. It follows the long M109 line, in service since the 1960s, and represents its latest stage: the barrel and the turret remain recognizable, while the chassis and the internal equipment are new. The vehicle carries a number of optical elements on the turret and the hull, and it is these that decide, once a model is painted, whether the machine looks inhabited.

How to fit the film

Cut the elements out with a sharp blade close to the outline and handle them with smooth-jawed tweezers, as a fingerprint shows on a glossy surface and is hard to remove. Fit them only onto a finished and dried coat of paint, as no further work is possible on a glossy surface. Whether the elements have an adhesive layer of their own or need glue is given in the instructions enclosed in the package; where glue is needed, reach for one that does not fog clear parts, as super glue can mark the surface with a white film. A thin dark line around the perimeter of a fitted vision block helps the glass recede optically into its frame.

• 1:35 scale, holographic film for optics and vision blocks
• prepared for the M109A7 Paladin model from the Panda kit
• fitted only once the surrounding paint is finished and dry
• the scope of the elements and their placement are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Terms of supply

The howitzer kit, paints, varnishes and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.