1:72 Chicken

A chicken in 1:72 scale from Offset Scale Models

The figure 1:72 Chicken is the smallest of the three sizes in which Offset Scale Models makes this subject. It is an accessory for finished models and dioramas in 1:72 scale — it is exactly these small things that make the difference between a model standing on a bare board and a scene the viewer believes in.

What it is suited to

In 1:72 both aircraft and vehicles get built, and the scenes tend to be generous in space, so a whole farmyard, the edge of a village or a field airfield set up around a farm will fit into them. A chicken works there as a touch of life and at the same time as a guide to scale. It also works well in a display case beside a model on its own, where a patch of grassy base and one or two small subjects are enough to stop the model reading as a sample on a plinth. How many pieces the package holds does not follow from the name and is not stated here; if you are planning a flock, check the contents in advance.

Building and painting tips

Wash the casting in lukewarm soapy water, so that no mold release agent is left on the surface. Cut the casting remains off with a sharp scalpel — at this scale the part really is small, so hold it with tweezers and work over a surface so that it does not fly away. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). You can manage the painting with a primer, one covering tone and a dot of a lighter color on the back; use a fine wash sparingly, or the shape will be lost.

Who it is for

• Builders of dioramas in 1:72 scale
• Modelers of aircraft and vehicles who build up the surroundings of a model
• Those looking for a simple detail with a big effect
• Collectors of small accessories for scenes

The figure is supplied unpainted. The paints, glue and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.