1:35 German 12,8 cm Emil canvas

The real subject

The German 12.8 cm self-propelled gun, which became known as Emil, is one of the oddest machines of the Second World War. A long heavy gun barrel was set on a lengthened chassis, and around it nothing but tall armor plates open at the top, so the crew worked practically in the open air. Only two were built, and they were used on the Eastern Front. That open fighting compartment is exactly why a tarpaulin turned up on a vehicle like this: it protected the crew and the stored material from rain, snow and dust, and at the same time it hid from outside what was inside.

What the accessory offers

It is a separate part representing a tarpaulin in 1:35 scale, that is an element with sag and folds of the kind that are hard to make from flat foil or from putty. The model thereby gains a soft shape against the hard armor surfaces and looks more like a machine in the field than a product from a factory.

• Imitation tarpaulin for a model of the 12.8 cm gun in 1:35 scale
• A separate part with sag and folds in the cloth
• Softens the look of the open fighting compartment
• Choose the glue to suit the material of the part
• The model and the paints are not included in the package

Building and painting tips

Try the part dry before gluing and check where exactly it seats on the kit; the exact position is given by the manufacturer's instructions. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the rest off, then wash and degrease the part. Painting canvas has rules of its own: choose a base noticeably lighter than the armor, bring the folds out with drybrushing and put a dark wash into the hollows. Dusty edges and a faded upper surface do the rest, because a tarpaulin turns gray in the sun faster than the paint on the vehicle.

Who it is for

For modelers of German vehicles in 1:35 scale who want to round the model out and bring its surface into play. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.