1:32 British WWII Commonwealth Infantry

Commonwealth infantry in 1:32 scale

A plastic figure set from the Ukrainian manufacturer MARS Model aimed at British and allied infantrymen of the Second World War. The 1:32 scale matches vehicle models of the same size, so the set can be worked into a larger display case without difficulty. The castings are supplied in raw plastic, without any coat of paint at all.

One uniform, many countries

Under the banner of the Commonwealth, formations from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa fought alongside the British units. What linked them was a shared system of kit: the practical battledress of coarse wool cloth, light-colored canvas webbing and a helmet of a shallow dished shape. The differences showed mainly in the headgear and in the badges, so even from a single set several different national contingents can be built up by painting. British infantry moreover moved from North Africa through Italy all the way to northwest Europe, which gives a wide choice of scenes.

Painting khaki and webbing

The wool cloth of the battledress is matte and soaks light up, while the webbing tends to be markedly lighter - and that contrast is the key to the overall impression. Add a dark wash in the folds to a khaki base and lighten the shoulders and thighs slightly. Wash the castings first and clean the mold parting seams up. Before you start gluing, try the joint on a piece of sprue; cyanoacrylate glue tends to be the surest thing with these castings.

The set will appeal to

• collectors of the British army and of the Commonwealth countries
• builders of scenes from North Africa, Italy and Normandy
• modelers who want to distinguish several nationalities by painting
• owners of vehicles in 1:32 scale

The soldiers come without paint. The coat of paint and any gluing are up to the builder.