1:48 Tiedown-set Set

The set

An accessory set of tie-down fittings in 1:48 scale. These are the small parts with which a machine or a load is secured against movement: tie-down eyes, brackets and the lashings that go with them. On a model it is a detail that is easy to overlook as long as it is missing, and which at the same time gives a scene scale and order.

What it is suited to

Tie-down fittings make sense anywhere a machine stands parked: on an apron, on a transporter, on a deck. They work well as an addition to a diorama too, because out of a few small parts they make a legible story about a machine that is secured and is not going anywhere just now.

Building tips

The parts are not polystyrene, so they are glued with cyanoacrylate glue, not with solvent cement for plastic. Cut off surplus material with a sharp blade a short distance from the part and sand the remainder carefully, so as not to damage the edge. Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint holds badly.

• lay out the position of the parts dry, and only then glue them
• pick up the small parts with tweezers and work over a tray with a raised edge
• apply the paint in a thin coat, so that the detail does not get clogged

Who it is for

For the modeler who takes a build through to the last detail and wants the surroundings of a machine fitted out as carefully as the model itself. The work is fine but calls for no special tool beyond tweezers and a sharp blade.

This is an accessory set. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.