1:35 US ensign flag WWII STEEL

Eduard 1:35 US ensign flag WWII STEEL: a photo-etched flag for 1:35 scale

This is a small modeling accessory, not a kit. The package holds a photo-etched flag of the United States in the form used during the Second World War, printed on both sides and made in steel. The flag is used on vessels, vehicles and in diorama scenes in 1:35 scale, where it is commonly handled with a paper or decal substitute that never looks like fabric.

Why steel etching in particular

Steel is springier than brass and, above all, it holds its shape once bent. The flag can therefore be rippled so that it looks lifted by the wind, and the shape stays. Printing on both sides solves a problem that always arises with paper and decal flags: seen from the other side, the reverse shows. In Eduard's terms the STEEL designation is precisely the name of the pre-colored steel range.

Usage tips

Cut the flag from the fret with a sharp knife and dress the burr with a fine file. Shape it gradually over a round rod or a wooden stick rather than with your fingers over an edge, because the printing will crack on a sharp kink. It looks most natural with a slight lengthwise ripple plus one deeper fold near the free end. Attach it to a mast or a bracket with spots of cyanoacrylate. Do not sand or overspray the printing; if you want to match the flag to a weathered scene, very fine dusting with pigment or a barely noticeable knocking back of the color with a thin filter is enough.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of dioramas and scenes in 1:35 scale
• Modelers of vessels and vehicles who need a flag with a realistic ripple
• Anyone who does not want to handle a flag with paper or a decal
• Beginners, as the work is simple and needs only a knife, tweezers and patience

This is an accessory for modelers, not a stand-alone model. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.