1:32 Battle of Malta

The theme

Malta lies exactly between Sicily and North Africa, and that is why during the Second World War it became one of the most important and at the same time most threatened points of the Mediterranean. The British base on the island threatened the supply routes leading to Africa, and so from 1940 onward the raids of the Regia Aeronautica and later also of the Luftwaffe were aimed at it. The defense rested on a small number of fighters and on the convoys that fought their way through to the island with heavy losses. The island thus became a symbol of persistent defense, and the theme of the fighting for Malta is among the rewarding subjects for figure scenes.

Scale and form

The set is in 1:32 scale, that is, in the larger of the modeling scales. For figures that is an advantage: the figures are roughly fifty-five millimeters tall, so that the shapes of the hands, the folds of the clothing and the expression of the face are visible on them and the painting can be taken to a fine level of detail. The scope of the package and the list of parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material left by production off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and carefully sand the remainder so that the relief of the surrounding surface is not damaged. Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent and let them dry; paint holds substantially better on a degreased surface. Lay the paint down in thin layers; one thick layer floods precisely those details that make a large scale worthwhile. With figures, the procedure that works well goes from a base tone through a darker shadow in the folds to a lighter tone on the raised places.

Who it is for

For modelers who build scenes on the theme of the wartime Mediterranean and work in 1:32 scale. Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.