Profil 0,38 x 2,0 mm

A flat strip, not a bar

Just under four tenths of a millimeter by two millimeters gives a cross-section that the eye reads on a model as a thin strip. It comes into use on the frames of doors and hatches, on the inner paneling of cabs, on the longitudinal trim of cargo beds, on the bracing of fences and for suggesting the seams between panels, where an engraved line would look too inconspicuous. A width of two millimeters corresponds in 1:35 scale to roughly seven centimeters in reality, so the scale credibility can be counted on too. In smaller scales the same strip will serve as a wide stiffener or as a base under attached units.

Bending and shaping

A thickness of under half a millimeter will take a bend around a gentle curve without the edge whitening or cracking. With sharper radii a brief dip in hot water helps: the profile softens, can be laid against the shape and stays in it once cool. Before gluing, check that it is flat by laying it against a flat sheet of glass, because even a slightly twisted strip shows up along a long edge. Make the bend itself by pressing with your thumbs along the whole length, not over the edge of a table, where the material will crack.

Cutting and gluing

It is shortened with a knife against a hard surface, ideally with one decisive stroke; repeated scratching crushes the edge. Glue a longer run by first laying it in place dry and only then running a fine brush with thin cement along the joint; the liquid is drawn under the profile by itself. Avoid cyanoacrylate on long strips, as the joint tends to be brittle and cracks during sanding. Wipe off any cement that runs over immediately; a dried mark can be removed from a smooth area only with abrasive paper, which easily erases a fine strip.