MiniArt creates an airfield in a small box using 48th scale Marston matting and oil drums.

Marston Mat &

From MiniArt

Kit No #49019Models

1/48th scale

Injection moulded kit

This Kit contains two flat base parts made of hard, moulded plastic accompanied by 12 oil augurs We look at the real thing & the kit contents in our preview…

MiniArt add 48th scale oil drums & Marston matting to create an airfield diorama in a box…

Marston Mat &

From MiniArt

Kit No #49019

1/48th scale

Injection moulded kit

This kit contains two flat base parts in hard, moulded plastic & 12 oil drums & augurs plus decals.

The Subject: Marston Mat

Pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP), is standardized, perforated steel matting material developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips (also misspelled as Marsden matting which is what I always thought it was called). It was named after Marston in North Carolina which is near Camp Mackall, where it was used for the first time. The holes formed rows with U-shaped channels in between. Slots and hooks were made along each long edge to allow mats adjacent to be joined. To achieve interlocking along the length, mats were laid in a staggered pattern. The mats are laid out in a staggered fashion to achieve interlocking along the length. They were bent at the edges to stiffen the surrounding area. Some mats had T-shaped stakes driven through holes at regular intervals to hold the assembled assembly on the ground. Sometimes the sheets were welded together.

Assembling Marston matting in Alaska

Used for large add-hoc bases and taxiways / runways right up until after WWII, Marston matting can be found in many different paces all around the world. Many places have a few still in use and unrusted matting.

The oil drums: Great to complement a lot of other MiniArt scenery like cables, plastic & metal barrels, & oil drums.

There are three sprues of barrels which make twelve 200L fuel-filled oil-drums plus the augers that go with them.

DecalsThere are decals for the drums so you can replicate different “ingredients” if you wish.

The oil drums:

Great to compliment a lot of other MiniArt scenery like cables, plastic & metal barrels, & oil drums.
There are three sprues of barrels which make twelve 200L oil drums plus the augers that go with them to extract the fuel.

are provided for the drums to replicate different “ingredients” if you like, 100 octane, waste oil and petrol are three choices on the decal sheet.

This is how the drums could look under paint with decals provided.

The Marston matting:

MiniArt’s new method of making solid (not vac-formed) bases for their dioramas continues with these two parts in the one kit. The dimensions of each are 315mm by 227mm. You can either use the two parts separately or in combination. Deep enough to make them look realistic.

The two parts together showing the joining surfaces.