ARM: Review - AFV Club 1/35 scale Extra Thin Camouflage Net

Product Review: AFV Club 1/35 scale Item No. AC35019; Extra-Thin Camouflage Net - Desert Tan; one sheet of decal like material 181x255mm, a small test sample, and a cardboard drying frame; price not known

Advantages: scale modern camouflage net is nice for use on barrel camo or n ets over a concealed vehicle or artillery weapon

Disadvantages: only comes in rectangular shape

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all modern area modelers, based on area

Back in the 1970s most countries were still using camouflage nets made of ?scrim? (dyed burlap) and cotton twine nettting. But the US came out wi th a new standardized system of plastic material on nylon nets which revolu tionized the concept.

The US system came in sets, with allocation being based on how many sets w ere needed for a specific vehicle or structure such as a tent. Each set cam e with a large hexagonal net and a smaller triangular one that could be att ached to each other by a cord fitted with quick-disconnect clips. The nets could then be draped over variable height poles (each consisted of a number of three-foot sections with a three-bladed ?propelled? shaped fibergla ss spreader at the top) and using cord and stakes stabilized to the ground or tied off. The set went into two plasticized storage bags, one flat and o ne like a large golf bag.

The nets came with two sides - verdant green for summer and a brown color for winter on the opposite side. There were also two types - radar scatteri ng and radar transparent, based on what the vehicle and electronics under i t were to accomplish. (Alas, they looked identical!) Also all sets were sup posed to be infrared scattering as well.

The nets caught on and many other manufacturers and nations copied the ide a, with Barracuda of Sweden being the biggest company and most successful t hus far.

AFV Club has now come up with a novel method to replicate this style of ca mouflage and provides it in three colors - desert tank (AC35019, the sample ), jungle green (AC35020) and snow grey (AC35021). Each sheet is 181 x 255 mm or 6.335 x 8.925 meters in scale. The net is made of a tough resin type material but is provided on a waterslide decal sheet to prevent damage.

To use the screen, first you must assemble a cardboard former from parts i ncluded with the directions (note you have to cut them out). The entire she et is then immersed in water and left to soak for three minutes, after whic h you pry up all four corners to remove it from the backing. The former is then placed on top of the net, and then the sides are pulled up to embrace the former. Once the sides are over the former, the former is inverted and the backing sheet carefully rolled back to leave the net in place on the fo rmer. The net can then be stretched out to expose the individual sections o f the mesh. Once dry, the net is carefully cut away from the former and is ready for use.

As the borders on most nests are only a length of cord with interspersed c onnectors, this is a pretty fair way to replicate modern netting. The netti ng is also able to take paint, washes and filters, but ONLY acrylic ones.

Overall this is a truly neat and innovative idea and should prove popular, but I have no idea if you can connect several of them to match US practice !

Thanks to Tony Chin for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne
Loading thread data ...

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.