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Headgear decides who is standing in a scene

Of all the parts of clothing, the smallest carries the most information. From the headgear a viewer can tell the rank, the unit and whether the figure is a soldier or a civilian. The twelve castings in the package therefore serve not only to replace a piece that did not come off well, but above all to stop two figures from the same mold looking the same.

Two different uses

The first is modifying figures. The original cap cut off and a new piece set on a little differently, to one side or on the back of the head, will change the character of a figure more than repainting the uniform. The second use stands alone: headgear set down on a table, hung on a peg, thrown over the back of a chair or forgotten on the fender of a vehicle. A detail like that says somebody was just here, even when there is no figure in the view.

What to watch out for

• shape the seating surface to fit the particular head, otherwise the piece will not sit
• match the shade to the uniform of the figure, not to the surroundings
• on a piece set down, suggest a sag; a rigid shape looks unnatural
• thin the edges of the brim, so that they do not look like sheet metal

The last tip concerns storage. Small castings are easily lost, so it pays to tip them straight into a dish and take out only the piece you are working on. A part lost at this size is only exceptionally found on the floor.

Do not expect stand-alone figures. This is accessory material which assumes you already have the figures or the setting and are looking for a way to tell them apart.