1:35 Parkové lavičky

A bench that gives a scene calm

Cast iron legs with wooden slats have held their place in parks, on squares and on station platforms since the nineteenth century practically unchanged. In a diorama they work as a counterweight to the hardware: beside an overturned vehicle, an undamaged bench looks considerably more dramatic than another heap of rubble.

Two materials in one package

The make-up is unusual and matches the real thing exactly. Twelve parts are cast in resin, and a further twelve are made of wood. A casting can reproduce the decorative profile and the curve of the supporting structure faithfully, while the wooden part brings real grain that no imitation can match, because once stained it comes out exactly where it should.

Finishing piece by piece

• Stain or glaze the wooden parts; a heavy covering coat floods the texture and the advantage of the material disappears
• The cast legs, by contrast, need a base coat, or the paint will come off the sharp edges at the first touch
• Glue wood with PVA glue; it holds better on a joint with wood than quick super glue
• Damp warps the wooden parts slightly, so do not leave a finished bench in the bathroom or by a window
• Even out the shade of the slats only after gluing; individual pieces of wood differ in absorbency

Benches under construction need a flat surface, otherwise the seat will twist. It works well to assemble them on glass or on a tile, where the joint can be seen from below and the glue will not stick to the surface.