1:100 Armored Observation Cupola 9x8mm (2)

What the part is for

An armored observation cupola is a small protected station on the superstructure of a warship. From it the crew watched the surroundings and directed fire without being exposed to splinters and small arms fire: narrow vision slits around the perimeter left a view out and a thick wall covered the occupants. On a model it is a small thing, but it gives the superstructure its scale and reveals at first glance that this is a fighting vessel and not a civilian ship.

Dimensions and scale

The part is intended for 1:100 scale and its product name gives the dimensions as 9 by 8 millimeters. At full size that corresponds to a station of roughly 0.9 by 0.8 meters, that is room for one person. If you are building in another scale, work out first whether such a dimension suits your ship; on a superstructure a small difference shows at once.

Building and painting tips

Working with a part this small follows a few simple rules. Work over a surface with raised edges, hold the part with tweezers and apply the glue with a wire or a pin rather than straight from the tube. Degrease the area before gluing and check that the part beds down over its whole underside; choose the glue according to the material of the part and go through the procedure in the manufacturer's instructions. Apply the paint in a thin coat, so that the vision slits do not disappear under a deposit, and only then bring them out with a dark wash. A gentle emphasis on the top edge gives the part its shape even under display case lighting.

Who it is for

For builders of ship models in 1:100 scale who are fitting out superstructures with small elements, and for modelers who put a ship together from accessories by several suppliers. The model, paints and glue are not included in the box, unless stated otherwise.