1:35 Butterfly screw 5

What it is

Tiny replicas of butterfly screws in 1:35 scale. A butterfly screw has two wings on the sides of the head so that it can be tightened by hand without a wrench. On military and civilian equipment alike it holds down the things that are moved often: tools and shovels on the fenders, jerrycans, light guards, locker hatches or tie-down straps. The number in the designation is a serial one, and the range also covers other sizes and shapes.

What they are good for

In a kit these fasteners are usually only suggested as a shapeless bump, because a mold will not hold the fine shape of the wings. A separate part, by contrast, reads clearly from every side, and on the finished model you can tell at once that it is a screw and not a blob of plastic. They pay off above all where the light falls on the part and the viewer looks from close up, that is on the fenders, on the upper surfaces and on the sides of superstructures.

• 1:35 scale
• replicas of butterfly screws for models of equipment
• they replace the simplified relief on kit parts
• serial designation 5 within the range
• the number of pieces in the box is stated by the manufacturer

How to work with them

Work over a tray or over a box, as parts of this size are easily lost and you will not find them on a carpet. Remove the original suggested shape on the model first with a sharp blade and sand the surface flat. Pick the parts up with tweezers with fine tips, not with your fingers. Choose the glue to suit the material of the parts; cyanoacrylate glue holds on metal and on resin and is applied in a minute amount, best of all with the tip of a toothpick or a piece of wire. Degrease the surface before painting.

Who they are for

For modelers of equipment in 1:35 scale who are finishing off the detail in the places that are on show. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.