1:35 British snipers WW I set

British snipers of the First World War, a set, 1:35 scale

A set of resin figures from the Czech maker Black Dog out of its range of First World War infantry. Compared with the standalone figures from the same range, this is a package meant for putting a scene together, so the figures are designed to work with each other on a base. They are supplied unpainted and unassembled, as raw castings with casting blocks.

The real subject

A sniper pair was common practice in trench warfare: one soldier observed the ground with binoculars and picked out the target, the other shot. The gear consisted of a khaki uniform, webbing pouches, a steel helmet and a rifle with a telescopic sight. A scene with several figures therefore makes sense historically as well and is a rewarding subject for a small diorama or a vignette.

Building and painting tips

Paint the figures from the set together, in one batch: mix the base khaki tones all at once and divide them up, so that the uniforms hold a shade in common. Then create differences only through the degree of wear and dust, not with a different color. Wash the castings beforehand, cut the casting blocks off with a saw and sand the seams wet. Before gluing, set the figures out on paper and look for a composition in which the gazes of the figures cross and free space is left between them; an overcrowded scene looks static. Only then drill holes in the soles of the feet for a wire pin, which will anchor the figures to the base reliably.

Who the set is for

• builders of dioramas and vignettes from the First World War
• modelers who want a scene with several figures in one package
• anyone interested in British infantry gear of the years 1914 to 1918
• more advanced builders of figures in 1:35 scale

The figures are supplied unpainted, as resin castings. Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package.