1:48 Tow Cable Ends – M82A2 Hercules

What tow cable ends are for

On a real machine the tow cable tends to be stowed along the sides or at the rear, clamped in brackets, and its end eyes are a conspicuous piece of ironwork with a shape and a surface of their own. In a kit the cable is often dealt with in a simplified way or as one immovable part, so on the model it looks like a rod glued on. Replacement ends are joined to wire rope or cord, the cable can be made to sag, threaded through the brackets and stowed exactly as it lay on the real subject.

How to work with the parts

• The parts are not polystyrene; they are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a small amount.
• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and carefully sand the remainder down.
• Wash and degrease the pieces before painting, otherwise neither the paint nor the glue will hold.
• Offer the ends up dry and compare them with the model before gluing.
• Choose the diameter of the wire rope so that it matches the eye of the end fitting; wire rope that is too thick will open the eye and the joint will not hold.
• The particular procedure for this set is stated by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Painting

The ironwork and the cable differ in painting, and that is exactly what the accessory gains from. A steel eye takes a metallic shade subdued with a dark wash, while the cable itself tends to be flatter and dirtier, because it rubs against the side of the machine and against the ground. Suggest the wear on the edges with a dry brush rather than by polishing the whole area. Finally, unify the whole with a light touch of dust, so that the cable settles into the rest of the machine.

Who the set is for

For modelers in 1:48 scale who want the tow cable to be a working piece of equipment rather than a dummy part. The work is fine, so tweezers, a sharp blade and good light pay off. Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.