1:48 "Pataugas"

The real subject

Pataugas is the name of canvas laced footwear with a rubber sole, which took hold with French units in the tropics. The light boot dried quickly and in heat and damp lasted better than a classic leather one; the name therefore took root as a general designation for this kind of field footwear. On a figure you will recognize it by the soft shape of the instep and by the sole, which, unlike a hobnailed leather boot, has no sharp edge.

What you are buying

An accessory for figures in 1:48 scale, executed after footwear of the Pataugas type. The exact contents of the package and the number of pieces are stated by the manufacturer on the packaging, because the name alone does not specify them more closely. The same item is also made in 1:72 scale, so it can be matched with figures of different sizes.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down gently.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold on such a small area.
• Canvas and rubber should not have the same sheen: a matte surface suits canvas, and a somewhat more saturated shade suits the sole.
• Dusting the bottom of the boot with a pigment or a dry paint sets a figure in the terrain at once.
• The suitable glue depends on the material of the parts, which the manufacturer states on the packaging.

Who it is for

For modelers of figures and dioramas who are building figures in a tropical setting and want to change their footwear for the kind that belongs to that setting. It will also serve anyone who is putting a scene together from several figures and needs them to differ in more than their stance. Figures, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.