1:35 Photo-etched set liana monstera

The set

A photo-etched set of scenic accessories in 1:35 scale carries two motifs of tropical greenery: a liana and monstera leaves. The monstera has leaves with pronounced notches and holes, so how finely the motif is executed shows on it at once. A shape like that is exactly what is hard to imitate from solid material.

What the set contains

This is a photo-etched set with a liana and monstera motif in 1:35 scale. Check the extent against the illustration on the box and the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Separate the leaves with a sharp blade on a hard surface and sand the remainder of the tab down with a fine file. Gluing them on flat looks unnatural, so bend each leaf slightly along the midrib and wave the edges. Lead the liana over a branch or a piece of rubble so that it touches the surface somewhere.

• before painting, wash the surface and degrease it, or the paint will hold badly
• lead the base coat from both sides, or the bare surface shows through
• shade the leaves from a darker center to a lighter edge
• attach the liana at only a few points, not along its whole length at once
• fix the finished leaves with a matte varnish, as gloss spoils the impression of a plant

Who it is for

The set is aimed at dioramas from the tropics and subtropics in 1:35 scale, that is at scenes where greenery is to surround a vehicle, a ruin or figures. The work is fine, but anyone who has already worked with photo-etch will manage it. The model, figures, a base, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.