1:35 Turrett basket Tiger I (tamiya)

The real subject

The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of the Second World War. On the rear of the turret it carried a bin for the crew's equipment, into which went whatever there was no room for inside the machine. On a model this place is clearly visible, because it lies in the outline against the sky and the viewer looks at it from the same height as at the turret.

What etched metal can do

Photo-etched parts are made of thin metal sheet, so the walls of the basket come out in a thickness that cannot be achieved in an injection mold. The difference shows mainly on the edges and on the small grab handles: a plastic part is necessarily thickened, whereas metal keeps a thin wall. According to the name the set is cut for the Tamiya kit, so the parts seat into the places prepared for them without major modification. The extent of the set is given by the manufacturer's instructions.

How etched metal is worked with

The parts are held to the carrier fret by thin tabs. Separate them with a sharp blade on a hard surface rather than by twisting, and sand the remains of the tab level. Make the bends over a straight edge or in a bending tool, so that they are not rounded; on a basket the whole part gives itself away by the regularity of the bends. Metal is glued with cyanoacrylate or two-part glue; cement for polystyrene does not hold on it, because it has nothing to melt. The plastic that the new part replaces usually has to be cut off first and the area leveled. Degrease the parts before painting and go over them with a primer, otherwise the paint will rub off smooth metal during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Tiger I in 1:35 scale and want the rear of the turret drawn out in detail. The work is fine; tweezers and a steady hand come in useful. The kit, paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.