1:35 Mk.IV Periscopes for British tanks - Late A/ Late B

SBS Model 1:35, Mk.IV periscopes for British tanks, the late form

This is a resin accessory set, not a model of a tank. It contains Mk.IV type periscopes in the late form, in two sub-variants marked A and B. An important clarification: Mk.IV is the designation of the periscope, not of a type of tank. The set is intended for models of British and Allied armored vehicles in 1:35 scale and replaces periscopes that in kits tend to be molded in one piece with the turret and without a distinct shape.

The real subject

The Mk.IV periscope allowed the crew of an armored vehicle to observe their surroundings without opening a hatch. It was set into the roof of the turret and of the hull, it rotated and it was designed as an easily replaceable part: a damaged piece could be swapped in the field. It was used across British vehicle types and went through modifications during the war, so late pieces differ from early ones in details of the body and the cover. For a modeler it is an important detail: periscopes sit on the upper silhouette of the model, where the eye falls on them as one of the first elements.

Building and painting tips

First wash the castings in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent, so that no mold release agent is left on the surface. Separate the small parts with a fine saw or a fresh knife blade, and do not snap them off. Sand wet and with respiratory protection. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); apply it with a pin or a piece of wire so that it does not run onto the visible face, as it leaves a matte stain on resin that you will no longer cover. Apply a thin primer before painting. Do the optics at the end: a dark base and a tiny drop of gloss varnish. Bring out the surroundings with a faint wash, so that the outline of the body stands out.

Who the set is for

• Builders of British armored vehicles in 1:35 scale in the late form.
• Modelers who want to replace periscopes molded in one piece with the turret.
• Anyone after an accurate distinction between the early and late sub-variants of the device.
• More experienced modelers who dare to tackle very small resin parts.

This is an accessory to a model, not a kit in its own right. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; the base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.