1:35 British sniper WW I N°1

A British sniper of the First World War, 1:35 scale, number 1

A resin figure from the Czech maker Black Dog out of its range of First World War infantry. In 1:35 scale it combines with models of vehicles, guns and with diorama bases, so a scene comes out of a single model. It is supplied unpainted and unassembled, as a raw casting.

The real subject

The British Army built up sniper training from 1915 as a response to trench warfare. The marksmen were equipped with a repeating rifle fitted with a telescopic sight and worked from covered positions, often behind a camouflaged screen. The uniform was in a khaki shade, completed by webbing and a steel helmet, which was introduced in the British Army during 1916. The silhouette of the figure is therefore markedly different from figures of the beginning of the war.

Building and painting tips

After washing the casting and cutting the casting blocks off, look the figure over against the light; small bubbles in the resin are best seen exactly like that and are easily filled with putty. Do not use the khaki uniform in a single color; under the primer the tone is brought to life with glazes toward a warmer and a cooler shade. Apply the wash deliberately into the folds, not over the whole area. Darken the helmet against the uniform and leave the surface rather matte. Paint the rifle separately while it is accessible, and only then seat it. Try the figure on the planned base as you paint, so that the stance and the height of the feet in the terrain both work.

Who the figure is for

• builders of dioramas from the period of the First World War
• modelers focused on the British Army of the years 1914 to 1918
• anyone interested in infantry figures in 1:35 scale
• those completing a vehicle model with a human sense of scale

The figure is supplied unpainted, as a resin casting. Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package.