1:35 British SAS Africa N°1

1:35 British SAS Africa No. 1 from Black Dog model

A resin figure in 1:35 scale from the series devoted to the British Special Air Service in North Africa. It is a stand-alone accessory, not a vehicle kit. The designation No. 1 distinguishes the individual items of the series, so a whole patrol can be put together around one vehicle. The same series also includes a combined set that holds several figures at once.

The real subject

The SAS came into being in North Africa during the Second World War as a small unit for deep raids behind the lines, mainly against airfields and supply routes. It worked in small groups on modified light cars and trucks, often together with desert patrol units. The equipment matched: loose desert clothing, Arab scarves against dust and sun, goggles, belts with magazines and improvised kit for long drives across the desert. It is exactly this unmilitary look that makes the SAS in Africa a favorite subject among figure painters.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water to get rid of the mold release so that the primer takes. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, trim the surface and sand it gently; wear respiratory protection when sanding resin. Bond the joints with super glue. For a desert scene it pays to keep to a muted palette of khaki and sand shades and to make the difference with texture rather than saturation: a dry brush on the edges of the cloth, a darker glaze into the folds and finally a fine dust of pigment on the boots and trouser legs.

Who the figure is for

• Builders of desert dioramas of the Second World War in 1:35 scale.
• Modelers who build SAS jeeps and light trucks and are looking for a crew for them.
• Figure painters who enjoy loose, almost civilian kit instead of a classic uniform.
• Collectors of the series who want to add further figures from the same run.