1:35 Barn ruin

Barn ruin 1:35

A barn with a breached wall and roof, intended as a feature of a tableau in 1:35. It belongs to the group of goods that help build the setting around a model: on its own it is neither equipment nor a figure, but the place where a scene is set.

Why barns appear so often

Farm buildings had one property that armies noticed quickly: they were big enough for a vehicle to drive into. Guns, half-tracks and light tanks hid in them, and once discovered they became a target. A breached roof with its structure thrown up and hay scattered about was therefore a common sight at the front. In period shots, often only the outer walls and a bare roof truss framing remain of a barn.

The procedure that proves itself

After the base coat, go over the surfaces that represent wood with a dry brush, so that the grain of the boards stands out; gray weathered wood looks more believable than brown. Darken the inside, or the barn will come across as empty. Complete the broken roofing with small fragments, spread dry blades around the walls and leave a few of them caught in the beams. Lay the cracked roofing out irregularly, as symmetry does harm here.

It will be chosen by

• creators of tableaux from the European countryside
• those who want to hide a vehicle inside a structure
• lovers of scenes lit from within
• modelers practicing the imitation of wood

The goods do not contain shades or loose materials: the hay, the dust and the patina will arise only during your own work on the scene.