MINIART SCALE STREET DETAILS
Diorama modellers have splendid and fun features in MiniArt’s two new 1/35 street accessory packs, for different time periods. CHRIS CLIFFORD investigates.
MiniArt is a master at providing useful styrene diorama sets. Its latest 1/35 offerings have wide applications for civilian scenes, which can also have military interaction if desired.
Set 35639, Street Accessories with Lamps and Clocks, is suggested for use with MiniArt’s splendid 1/35 European tram cars, but could obviously be employed in various ways for World War Two or post-war scenarios. Nine grey styrene runners and six clear frames carry different components that build into streetlamps with single or triple light units, but the same poles for these can be fitted with large clocks instead (different faces come via decals). The clock can also be posed on an ornate wall bracket.
Circular and rectangular two-piece manhole covers are also supplied, as is a bench, and cast iron fencing with spaced posts. The transparent parts emulate the light bulbs and glass surrounds for the lamps, and glazing for the clocks. If employing the tram in the scene doesn’t appeal, you could always opt for a civilian car or two, military vehicles, or a mix of both.
Moving forward in time, item 35647 provides a superb selection of modern street/garden furniture, replicating plastic chairs and tables, a low wooden coffee table with turned legs, and a beautifully detailed game board with checkers on one side and backgammon on the other. Also present is a portable television, raised sunshade with weighted base, tea and coffee pots, mugs, cups and saucers, a ‘boom-box’ stereo and hookah water pipe. Due to the presence of the last item there’s a distinct Middle East 'sandbox' flavour to this package, say, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the like, but remove the pipe and the furniture could be used to enliven many a summer scene in general – again, either purely civilian or with a military presence.
The TV and sunshade are particularly pleasing. The instruction sheet has cut-out squares with different views for the TV screen, from cartoons and news coverage to test cards, while the sunshade benefits from fine styrene ‘spokes’ and a choice of three paper shade portions printed on the instructions. Both sets cost £17.99 and are available in the UK via: www.creativemodels.co.uk
For further details on these and other MiniArt products, visit: www.miniart-models.com
