Profil čtvrtkruh 2,0 mm

The quarter round in the 2.0 mm size

A section in the shape of a quarter circle has two sides at right angles and one curved. It therefore fits exactly into an internal corner, where it turns a sharp gap into a soft fillet, and set on from the outside it turns an edge into a rounded strip. It is used for floor baseboard trim, keel fillets and the edging of openings. White polystyrene, 35 cm per rod, sold by the piece.

A reduced world is lighter

The air between the viewer and the real subject thins the shade: the further away a wall is, the paler and less saturated it becomes. On a model that distance is ridiculously short, so this effect drops out and a surface painted exactly to the chart looks darkened and heavy. Experienced modelers therefore lighten the shade, usually by a tenth to a fifth part of white or very light gray.

The degree of lightening grows with how small the real subject is and how large an area the shade covers. A small part in a fine scale takes more, a large continuous wall less, otherwise it looks faded. On the curved side of a quarter round the fact that the rounding itself forms the transition from light to shadow also comes into play.

• Always mix the base tone with a margin; it can be thinned later.
• Test on an offcut of the same rod, not directly on the part.
• Compare in daylight, not under a yellow lamp.
• Keep the lightening uniform across the whole scene.

It is best to cut a quarter round with a saw and with support, because the tip of the sharp corner breaks off easily under a knife.

Set the profile into a corner only after both walls have been painted. Glue runs easily under a finished coat and the resulting stain can only be removed by repainting the whole surface.