1:35 Australia - Flags

1:35 Australia - Flags from ETA diorama

Flag equipment for a diorama, not a model to be assembled. The accessory is aimed at Australian motifs and in its 1:35 size it follows on from the usual figures and vehicles. A flag tends to be the first thing a viewer notices in a scene, because in a single glance it says where the scene takes place.

What the Australian flag looks like

On a blue field it carries the British Union Jack in the corner at the staff, the large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star beneath it and the constellation of the Southern Cross in the right-hand half. The seven points of the star refer to the six states and the shared territory, and the Southern Cross is a constellation visible from the southern hemisphere. The composition of the flag settled at the beginning of the twentieth century and has lasted in this form to this day.

Tips for seating it in a scene

A flag tells most when you suggest a movement of air in the scene. Match the direction in which the flag streams with the other items showing the wind, so that the scene does not contradict itself. At the staff, reckon with the flag holding its shape differently from the free end. Level the edges after trimming so that they do not look frayed. Choose a position for the flag where it does not cover the main point of the scene but stands close to it and refers to it.

Who the accessory is useful for

• Builders of scenes with Australian participation
• Modelers of bases, posts and ceremonial scenes
• Those interested in small things that give a scene a country
• Collectors of diorama accessories in 1:35

Arrange the staff, the base and the figures separately.