Two large trench rats — fused into one small ground prop, the unwelcome companions of every Western Front sector. Period: World War I, 1914-1918.
Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) infested trench systems on every front: drawn by ration scraps, latrines and the dead in no-man's-land. Soldiers' diaries describe them as cat-sized and unafraid. Two-rat groupings appear constantly in sketches and field photographs. This piece sculpts a pair on a small ground patch — drop into any trench bay, dugout floor, or duckboard corner for atmosphere.
Painting tips
- Body: warm brown with a darker dorsal stripe and lighter belly.
- Tails: dirty pink-grey.
- Eyes: tiny black dot.
- Ground: muddy brown wash so they sit into the diorama.
Historical sources & further reading
- WW1 trench diaries (Sassoon, Graves, Barbusse)
- Period field photography
⚠ Small parts. Not suitable for children under 14.





