Matho Models 1/35 Plants & Weeds A

Create finely detailed vegetation for your 1/35 modelling projects with Plants & Weeds A from Matho Models. This photo-etch set contains one 6.3 x 9.6 cm sheet, etched from ultra-thin 0.10 mm brass to give the leaves a realistic thickness.

The very fine etching includes leaf veins, adding extra definition to the finished plants. The plants can be used complete, or smaller branches can be cut from the main branches and used separately as ground cover or as foliage on your own tree armatures.

Painting the Photo-Etched Plants

For painting and weathering, leave the plants attached to the fret initially. Airbrush several layers of acrylic primer, allowing at least 24 hours to dry between coats. Once primed, continue with your chosen acrylic or enamel colours and weathering products.

Seal the painted plants with several coats of varnish and allow the varnish to dry for at least 24 hours. This gives the finish time to harden before you remove and shape the delicate plants. Handle the parts gently throughout the following stages to minimise scratching of the painted surfaces.

Cutting and Shaping the Plants

Place the fret on a hard surface such as wood or glass and cut the plants free using a fresh knife. Clean any remaining fret attachment points with a micro file. With a clean cut, little or no filing may be required along straight edges.

Use two pairs of tweezers to shape the plants into natural positions. Hold each plant with one pair while using the other to turn and position the leaves and branches. Carefully bend the individual leaves and branches to create a more natural appearance before gently glueing the finished plants into position.

After cutting and shaping, touch up any areas where handling has exposed the brass. Apply your main colour with a round brush with a very fine tip, concentrating on the exposed areas while retaining the fine etched detail. You can then use the plants as-is or split them into smaller branches for ground cover and foliage, giving you flexibility when arranging the finished 1/35 vegetation.