1:35 British paratroopers set

The real subject

Airborne infantry differs from the line infantry in that it comes into battle by air and for the first hours relies only on what it can carry. The look of the figures matches that: packed kit, closed clothing and the carriage of a man used to moving on foot. British paratroopers are among the popular subjects precisely because their scenes manage without large hardware and make do with terrain and a few accessories.

What you can build with the set

A group of figures allows you to put together a scene with a story rather than just standing a lone figure up. A gathering around a map, an advance along a wall or a short halt with a view of the surroundings all suggest themselves. In 1:35 scale an adult figure measures about five centimeters, so the set combines with vehicles, buildings and accessories in the same scale. A smaller base with grass and waterlogged soil often does more for the effect than an extensive diorama.

Building and painting tips

Cut any excess material away a little distance from the part with a sharp blade and sand the remainder; with figures watch the face, the hands and the edges of the equipment above all. Before painting, wash, degrease and prime the surface. Cyanoacrylate glue suits the joining, as it holds on ordinary modeling materials. Build the uniform from a darker base up to lighter coats in the places the light falls on, underline the folds with a wash and go carefully over the edges with a dry brush. Dirty the footwear and the bottoms of the trousers from the ground upward and finish the whole with a matte varnish.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who build dioramas with infantry, and also those who want to add figures to a vehicle model and give it scale. The painting is rewarding, because the uniform takes a single palette and the result is lifted mainly by a well-executed face.

Paints, glue and the other material needed to finish it are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.