1:35 US WWII Tank Crew (4 figures)

1:35 US tank crew (Border Model)

A set of four resin figures in 1:35 scale representing an American tank crew of the Second World War. The figures are supplied as a kit: they need to be assembled and painted. A vehicle is not included in the package; the set is meant to complete a model of your own.

The real subject

The crew of an American medium tank numbered five men: the commander, the gunner, the loader, the driver and the assistant driver at the bow machine gun. In overalls and leather helmets the tank men looked different from the infantry, and that is exactly what tells a viewer on a model who they are seeing. Crew figures are usually placed in the turret and the hatches, so a well worked upper body, which is what is visible, is enough for them.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water so that the mold release agent disappears from the surface. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw and level the area, and protect your breathing when sanding resin. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue. Try the figures dry in the hatches of the model first, so that they do not sit in mid-air or, conversely, sink out of sight. Both the skin and the overalls come into their own after a primer coat and shading in thin layers, and the overalls will take a little dirt too, because a crew worked around its machine.

Who the set is for

• Builders of American Second World War equipment in 1:35
• Makers of dioramas and vignettes with crews
• Figure painters who want a sharp resin casting
• More experienced modelers used to working with resin