1:72 RPG-7

The RPG-7 launcher in 1:72 scale

The set brings the RPG-7 hand-held antitank launcher in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit — it is a small weapon accessory to be put into a figure's hands, hung on its gear or propped up in a scene. In figure kits in this scale the weapon is usually only roughly suggested, so a separate casting sharpens a scene markedly, especially as the RPG-7 is often the only element by which a viewer places a scene in time and space.

The real subject

The RPG-7 is a Soviet reusable launcher introduced at the beginning of the 1960s as the successor to the older RPG-2. Its basis is a launch tube with wooden or plastic shields against burns and with a widening at the rear; the round is fitted from the front and exceeds the diameter of the tube, which gives the weapon its characteristic silhouette. The equipment included an optical sight mounted on the left-hand side. The weapon spread to dozens of countries and is still in use today, so it suits scenes from the 1960s to the present day, with infantry as well as as a weapon loaded on vehicles.

Building and painting tips

Cut the casting off with a scalpel and level the faces, proceeding carefully with the thin tube and the sight. Wash the part before painting and lay down a base coat. Set the wooden shields apart in a brown shade from the dark metal of the tube, otherwise the weapon merges into one color and loses its legibility. A dark wash in the recesses and a fine dry brush on the edges will give the part depth. When putting it into a figure's hands, check the holding angle before the glue sets, and glue with cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin.

Who the set is for

• Builders of dioramas with modern infantry in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who add weapons to figures
• Collectors of small accessories in a small scale
• Those who build scenes from the 1960s to the present day

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.