1:72 Israeli infantry boots

1:72 Israeli infantry boots: Israeli infantry footwear in a small scale

This item is neither a figure nor a kit. It is an accessory for converting figures in 1:72 scale: the footwear of the Israeli infantry, which a modeler uses when reworking an existing figure. Firma49 offers parts of this type in several scales at once, so the same rework can be done on larger figures as well.

Why the footwear matters even in 1:72

In a small scale the detail of a uniform is all but lost, but the silhouette remains. And it is precisely the footwear that shapes the silhouette of a figure: a high lace-up boot with a heavy sole gives the leg a different outline from a European jackboot or the American ankle-boot pattern. When figures with the right shape of footwear come together in one scene, the whole group reads as a unit and the viewer places it even without making out the individual details. For scenes from Middle Eastern conflicts this is the most efficient way to arrive at the right look for the infantry.

Tips for working with small parts

• Work over a surface in a light color, on which you will see a small part if it falls.
• Cut the leg as close as possible to the edge of the trouser leg, so that the joint is hidden.
• Glue the parts on first and paint only afterward, otherwise handling rubs the paint off.
• Set the sole and the upper apart only slightly: strong contrast looks unnatural in this scale.

Who the set is for

For modelers who rework figures to go with vehicles in 1:72 and want the figures to match a particular army. Working with parts this small calls for tweezers, a sharp blade and a magnifying glass, so it suits a more experienced hand.