1:72 Aerial bases and roof sights - Britain

Firma49 1:72 aerial bases and roof sights, Britain

A set of small parts for models of British vehicles in 1:72 scale. It contains aerial bases and roof sighting elements, that is details that are fitted on top of the turret and superstructure and in a small scale tend to be only suggested in a kit. The set is one of three scale variants of the same subject made by Firma49. It is not a vehicle model: the package holds only these small parts.

What the set is for

Details on the turret roof are among the features a viewer notices first, because they stand out from the silhouette. Injection-molded plastic necessarily simplifies them in 1:72 scale: an aerial base becomes a bump and a sight a little rectangle. Replacement parts with sharper shapes and correct proportions lift the level of a model more than hours of weathering. The word Britain in the name specifies that the shapes match British subjects; check the fit on a particular vehicle type against your own references.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts from the casting sprue with a sharp scalpel over a tray with a raised edge, as at this scale they disappear instantly. Wash them in warm soapy water before painting so that no release agent stays on the surface. They are bonded with cyanoacrylate, ideally gel, which gives a few seconds to align them. Cut off the original suggested details on the model first and sand the area smooth, and only then glue the new part on. Paint in thin coats so that the shape is not flooded; a fine dark wash around the base helps to settle the part visually into the roof.

Who the set is for

• Builders of British subjects in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers who replace simplified plastic details with finer parts.
• Those who build for a display case and want a model with no simplification on the silhouette.
• More experienced modelers used to working with very small parts.

This is not a vehicle kit but an accessory set. Paints, glue and the base model are not included.