1:35 Luftdicter Patronenkasten

Airtight ammunition box in 1:35 scale (Luftdichter Patronenkasten)

A resin airtight ammunition box in 1:35 scale. On the real thing, containers like this were used for the long-term storage of ammunition: a sealed lid protected the rounds from damp, so they survived storage and transport in the field. On a model it is an accessory for dioramas, for the hull of a vehicle or for an armory store. A resin print holds the sharp edges of the sheet metal, the rivets and the frame of the lid.

The real subject

The German army of the Second World War distinguished several kinds of ammunition container. The ordinary metal boxes of the Patronenkasten family carried belts for the MG 34 and MG 42 machine guns and went back to the First World War, when the MG 08 machine gun used them. Alongside them there were closed containers with a sealed lid, intended for the long-term storage of rounds without access to air. These boxes brought a different shape to stores and to vehicles: more angular, with a more pronounced frame around the lid and with clamping fittings.

Building and painting tips

The box is a small part, so cut it off with a modeling scalpel over a cutting mat and hold it with tweezers. Level the mark left by the support with a sanding sponge, wet. Wash the print in warm soapy water before painting and let it dry, otherwise the primer will not hold. Sheet metal looks good with a dark base, dry-brushing on the edges and a dark wash in the seams of the lid. On the real thing the lettering was painted with a stencil, so you can manage it with a fine brush.

Who the set is for

• Builders of dioramas with an armory store or an ammunition scene
• Military vehicle modelers who add equipment to the hull
• More experienced modelers used to very small resin parts

This is an accessory for detailing a model, not a kit of a vehicle. The parts are supplied unpainted; the base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Check the exact contents on the box.