1:72 Iranian Helmet M62

A mark of recognition in a small scale

The smaller the format you build, the more the silhouette decides. On a 1:72 figure a viewer will make out neither badges nor the cut of a tunic, but he will catch the outline of the headgear at once. The set therefore deals with exactly the point at which the impression breaks or holds, that the scene belongs to the Middle East and not just anywhere.

How the pieces split

The ten parts are split into two equal groups. The five without a band match equipment issued from the stores, the five with a band across the shell match how the helmet looked after a few days in the field, when soldiers tucked whatever grew nearby into the rubber band. Alternating the two versions turns the group into a body of men rather than a row of castings.

Suggested uses

The helmets suit the heads of figures, hung at the belt, a crate of equipment or the deck of a vehicle. Setting them out around a vehicle is in fact rewarding in a small scale, because a vehicle without a crew then does not look abandoned.

Tips for a steady hand

Get out tweezers with fine tips and a light-colored surface on which you will not lose the part. Apply glue with the tip of a wooden stick rather than straight from the bottle. Choose a matte color in sand and olive tones; one final, very light dry brush on the rim of the shell is enough to make the shape stand out even under the ordinary lighting of a display case. Before you start work, split the parts into two piles by version, because once they are mixed they are almost impossible to tell apart by eye. Keep the leftover pieces; they will come in useful on the next build.