1:48 Hafthohlladung

Hafthohlladung in 1:48 scale

This is a small accessory set, not a kit on its own. It contains a miniature of the German adhesive shaped charge in 1:48 scale and is intended to enliven a display model, a diorama or the gear of figures. It is built into a model that is already finished — on the bed or the side of a vehicle, on a box of gear or beside an infantry figure.

The real subject

The Hafthohlladung was a German hand-placed antiarmor charge of the Second World War. It had a conical body, a wooden handle with an igniter and magnetic feet by which it was attached to a steel surface. Its shape differs markedly from both plate mines and stick charges, so it is recognizable on a model even in a small scale and tends to be a rewarding detail with German vehicles and infantry.

Building and painting tips

Separate the small parts with a sharp scalpel or a fine saw, sand the sprue gate remnants back and wash the part in lukewarm soapy water before painting — the paint then holds considerably better. Accessories this small are made from resin as well as from injection-molded plastic, so check the material before gluing: for resin reach for cyanoacrylate glue, for plastic for the classic polystyrene cement. Paint over a thin coat of primer; after that a dark wash in the recesses and a light dry brush on the edges and on the wooden handle are enough. In 1:48 scale it pays to ease off the contrast — too strong a wash visually fills a small object.

Who the set is for

• Builders of German Second World War vehicles in 1:48 scale
• Makers of dioramas looking for believable small things for a scene
• Modelers adding gear to figures
• Anyone who wants to set a finished model apart from a build straight out of the box

This is an accessory set for modelers, not a toy. Glue, paints and the base model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.