1:35 Suomi KP/-31

The real subject

The Suomi KP/-31 is a Finnish submachine gun that came about at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s and made its name in the Winter War. It fired a 9 mm round and differed from most submachine guns of the day in its careful, robust workmanship: the perforated cooling jacket around the barrel helped it take sustained fire, and even so the weapon kept the accuracy that Finnish soldiers grew used to relying on. It was also built under license outside Finland. Its most conspicuous feature is the drum magazine for seventy-one rounds, by which the weapon can be recognized even on a small model.

What the set offers

The set captures this weapon in 1:48 scale. The real submachine gun measured roughly 87 cm, so on a model it works out at about 18 mm; this small part therefore lifts the credibility of a figure considerably, or it can furnish the interior of a vehicle or a shelf in a diorama.

• The Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun in 1:48 scale, that is roughly 18 mm
• A weapon with a cooling jacket around the barrel and a drum magazine
• An add-on for figures, for interiors and for dioramas
• The number of pieces and the make-up of the parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Building and painting tips

The part is small, so cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little way from the weapon and only then sand the remainder carefully; the barrel jacket and the edges of the magazine are easily damaged. Wash and degrease the parts before painting, and choose the glue according to the material, with super glue serving as the all-round option. The wooden stock and the metal part separate better through gloss than through shade; for the metal a dark base and a light lift of the edges is enough.

Who it is for

For builders of figures and scenes in 1:48 scale and for modelers who want a period weapon set aside by a vehicle or in an interior. Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.