Profil „L“ 1,5 mm

An L-profile with legs of 1.5 millimeters each

The profile in the shape of the letter L has both legs the same length, each one and a half millimeters. That gives a precise right angle along the whole length, the kind that would take ages to glue up from two flat strips and would never come out perfectly straight. Precision of shape is the main reason it pays to reach for a ready-made L-profile instead of assembling the section from pieces.

Where the modeler will appreciate it

L-profiles form the basis of lattice structures, crane jibs, steel columns, gate frames, body edging, scaffolding and bridge girders. Inside a model one serves as the corner that a glued bulkhead leans against, so the wall stays square even without a jig. On a diorama it can suggest railings, guide rails or the buckled load-bearing structure of a damaged hall, where a bent leg looks considerably more convincing than a bent flat strip.

The material and handling

White polystyrene bonds with a solvent cement and, once cured, forms a single whole with the other plastic parts. When cutting, it helps to support the profile so that it lies on one leg, otherwise it twists under the pressure of the blade and the cut comes out inaccurate. A short burst of warm air will bend it into a gentle curve, but you have to go carefully, because the thin material deforms quickly and cannot be straightened again. One piece is 35 centimeters long and the profiles are bought by the piece, not in packs of several. Ordering a spare length is worth it, as the first attempts at a precise notch in a corner usually end up shortening the part.