If you like to display your 1/48 models in a diorama, you probably know that finding accessories in quarter scale is very difficult. However, with the help of internet, it is possible to find a lot of interesting stuff from small resin manufacturers. One of them is Minimali from Czech Republic. They mainly produce diorama accessories in 1/35 scale but they also have some nice references in 1/48 scale. Here is a review of some of them.

Camouflage Netting - ref.011 - 4,00€

This reference is composed of two pieces of olive green gauze packed in a small plastic bag. The material looks like medical gauze only that it is not white. I placed one piece on the wing of a Bf 109 model to give you an idea of the size of the mesh.
This netting can be used in many ways: hanging over an aircraft, hanging between tree trunks, put directly on the aircraft to hide the markings, over vehicles, supplies, fuel barrels etc... perfectly suitable for a field aerodrome diorama.

Wooden Boxes - ref.015 - 5,25€

This is a rather simple set which is composed of eight crates of which four are closed and four opened. You can put them anywhere in a diorama. They could have carried ammunition, replacement parts, food, tools etc...
The crates are made of resin and while the closed ones are solid, the open ones are of course hollowed. This will give you the possibility to store something in them. The wood surface of the crates is nicely rendered.

Wooden Latrine - ref.020 - 6,50€

I must say this is my favorite reference! After all, even a plastic or resin figure has the right to... well you know what I mean!
Jokes aside, the kit (yes it's a kit), is composed of 7 resin pieces and a small construction guide. Once finished and place into a diorama it will surely make some people smile, especially if you add one or two scratchbuild details. Unfortunately a toilet paper roll isn't provided in the kit, but soldiers probably used newspapers during WW2 anyway.

Food supplies - ref.022 - 7,50€

This set is composed of quite a big number of parts which represent a true feast! Too bad these are only resin pieces! There is one keg (let's say it's beer or wine), one wicker basket, one potato bag, five vegetable racks, one food wafer (bread, cheese and sausage), salamis and bottles.
With all that if your small figures aren't satisfied, then I don't know what you could do to please them... well, yes I know what, but this wouldn't be in conformity with basic military rules!

Stove and Brazier - ref.027 - 10,50€

The last set in this review is also very original and is composed of ten resin parts: four barrels transformed into braziers (small and big), one stove (with chimney flue), two wood heaps, a tree trunk and a small axe. To sum up, everything a small plastic figure needs not to catch cold!
In the winter months, braziers were also often used to somewhat heat the engines of aircraft.

Conclusion

These 1/48 scale resin diorama accessories are nice and very original. It is very difficult to find such items and scratchbuilding them is always time consuming, so I'm thankful that manufacturers like Minimali are producing such confidential niche market items. They may appear a little pricey (4 to 10 €) but they will open a lot of diorama possibilities. Now where is my 1/48 scale Luftwaffe Einheitsbaracke from fliegerhorst?

These Minimali references are available from MODELIMEX

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AeroScale.