1:48 Airfield technical drawer, a sand box

What the accessory is

A pair of items that belong to the back end of an airfield apron: an airfield technician's storage drawer and a sand box. Neither of them is conspicuous, and that is exactly why they help a scene. An aircraft model on its own reads as an exhibit, whereas a drawer left at the edge of the apron suggests that work is going on here and that somebody will be coming back.

Where to place them in the scene

The drawer suits a spot where work is being done on the machine, so by an open engine cowling, by the landing gear or next to a stepladder. The sand box belongs rather at the edge of the apron or against a wall, where it does not block the way through. Both can also serve as a link between the figures and the model, so that the scene does not fall apart into separate islands.

Building and painting tips

Wash and degrease the parts before painting. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts; on a smooth, non-absorbent surface cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) holds more reliably than polystyrene cement. Equipment of this kind tends to be scuffed and dusty, so it pays to go further with the wear than on the aircraft itself: sanded edges, dented lids and a layer of dust on the lower part. The sand inside the box can be suggested with fine modeling grit sprinkled into a layer of glue, if the part itself does not have it molded. At the end, look at the scene against the light to see whether the paint has flooded any fine edges.

Terms of supply

The package contains the accessories listed. The model, figures, a base, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.