1:35 Fragile Alliance Axis Forces Balkans 1943

Axis forces figures in 1:35 scale

A plastic set of military figures in 1:35 scale, offered under the Fragile Alliance designation. In subject it aims at members of the Axis forces in the Balkans and completes models of equipment and dioramas from the European theater of the Second World War. The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted; the parts are polystyrene and are glued with ordinary modeling cement for plastics.

Why people belong in a diorama

A vehicle on its own on a base looks like a museum exhibit. As soon as a crew or a group of soldiers joins it, the scene gains both scale and action: the viewer can see how big the machine is and what is going on around it. 1:35 is a rewarding scale for figures, because it carries well-worked faces, folds of cloth and small items of gear.

Building and painting tips

• Before gluing, sand off the excess material and the traces of production, above all at the joints of the arms and the torso.
• Assemble the figures dry and try out their arrangement before you glue them to a base.
• Paint them separately from the vehicle, otherwise it is hard to reach the hidden spots with a brush.
• A base coat unifies the surface, and paint holds on it better than on bare plastic.
• Shade and highlight the uniforms in layers; the volume comes from the transitions, not from the outline.
• Leave the faces and the hands to the end, when you can already hold the figure firmly by its base.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build dioramas and military equipment in 1:35 scale and want to add figures to a scene. Painting figures is brush work and calls for a calm hand, but there is nothing to stop a beginner from starting right here. The number of figures, their poses and the extent of the gear are stated by the manufacturer on the packaging and in the instructions.

The package contains the figures. The paints, the glue, the vehicle and the base are not included, unless stated otherwise.