1:35 Canadian soldier in Afganistan N°1

The real subject

A Canadian soldier from service in Afghanistan in 1:35 scale. An infantry figure is the simplest way to give a finished vehicle model a story: the vehicle alone on a base looks like a museum exhibit, whereas a soldier beside it gives the scene a direction of view and suggests what is happening. The serial number in the name tells the variants within the range apart, so several figures in different poses can be placed together.

Preparing the figure

Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest down with fine sandpaper; on figures it is more important to keep the edges of the equipment sharp than to achieve a perfectly smooth surface. Join the parts with a glue that matches the material, and wash the figure in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent before painting. Grease from fingers is the most frequent reason why paint on a figure holds only until the first touch.

Painting and placing in the scene

On an infantry figure the whole impression is carried by the face and the position of the hands, so leave the most time and the best light for them. Lighten the uniform on the edges and, conversely, darken it in the folds, or it will stay flat. Apply dust from the bottom upwards and only as high as it would actually reach, that is mainly to the boots and the lower trouser legs; an evenly dusted figure looks unnatural.

Terms of supply

The item belongs among the figures for 1:35 scale and is intended to be painted. Paints, brushes, glue and other modeling aids are not supplied with it, unless stated otherwise.