1:72 British tropical pith helmet

British tropical helmet in 1:72 scale

This is a small accessory for figures, not a kit and not a whole figure either. The set brings the British tropical helmet in 1:72 scale, which you set on an altered figure's head or use as equipment set down in a diorama. The manufacturer makes the same subject in larger scales as well, so you can pick the one that matches your model.

The real subject

The British tropical helmet is light cloth-covered headgear that protected against the sun, not against splinters. It was worn in British units in tropical and desert garrisons and is typical of colonial service and of the first part of the war in North Africa; as the conflict went on, the steel helmet and lighter field headgear pushed it out of combat units. For a modeler that means it suits rear-area and garrison scenes rather than figures in the front line.

Usage and painting tips

The part is very small in 1:72 scale, so work with tweezers over a tray. Wash the casting in lukewarm water with detergent, separate it from the casting block with a new blade and level the mark only lightly, so as not to rub the shape of the brim away. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue applied on a pin. After a thin primer apply a light base shade, suggest the texture of the cover with a fine drybrush and choose a heavily thinned wash. The light surface of the helmet is prominent in a small scale, so it pays to dirty it lightly with pigment to suit the setting of the scene.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of figures for tropical and desert dioramas
• Conversions of figures where the original headgear does not match
• Rear-area and garrison scenes from the first part of the war in North Africa
• Modelers used to working with very small parts

The accessory is supplied unpainted and without a figure. Paints, glue and other parts are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.