1:48 Luftschutz Gladiator

The real subject

Luftschutz was the name of the German civil air defense. During the war its members manned shelters and the warning service and cleared up the aftermath of air raids, so in uniform they moved among soldiers and civilians alike. The helmet they wore is recognized by the conspicuous comb on the crown; among collectors the designation Gladiator has come into use for it. It is thanks to that helmet that a figure belongs to a civilian scene without needing a caption for it.

What you are buying

An accessory for figures in 1:48 scale rendered as this helmet. You use it to swap the headgear on a figure that is to represent a member of the air defense service, or as a small item set down in a scene. The manufacturer makes the same subject in 1:16, 1:35 and 1:72 as well, and besides the basic version it offers a variant marked as detail.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remnant gently.
• Wash and degrease the part before painting, as paint does not hold on a glossy surface.
• Trace the comb on the crown with a dark wash, and the shape of the helmet stands out at once.
• The right glue depends on the material of the parts, which the manufacturer gives on the box.
• Work over a tray with a raised edge, as the part is small.

Who it is for

For a modeler of figures and dioramas who is building a scene from the German home front of the Second World War, that is the setting of shelters, firefighters and clearing up after an air raid. It also suits anyone who wants at least one non-military figure in a group. Figures, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.