1:48 Thomson M19285A1 / M1A1

The real subject

The Thompson is an American submachine gun in .45 ACP caliber, widespread among Allied units in the Second World War. You recognize the older M1928A1 version by the compensator with cuts at the muzzle, by the cocking handle on top of the receiver and by the option of fitting a drum magazine. The simplified wartime M1A1 version has a plain muzzle, the cocking handle on the right side and only straight box magazines. It is exactly these small things that tell the early and the late form of the weapon apart.

What the set offers

Armament worked out for 1:48 scale. That is the size in which a weapon still keeps a legible shape, but the work already calls for tweezers and a steady hand. The set suits figures as well as models of military vehicles, where a weapon fills a rack or leans against the side of a bed. The exact number of pieces is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the surface down. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts, apply it in a minute amount and hold the part with tweezers until it sets. Wash and degrease the parts before painting. In this scale a simpler painting method works: a dark base, brown on the wooden parts, steel on the metal ones and a light dry brush to bring out the edges. An overdone wash would rather flood the small shape than draw it out.

Who it is for

For builders of models in 1:48 scale who are completing figures or vehicles with faithful armament. Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.