German Infantry Set Vol.1 (early)
1:35 kit No.35016
Review by Terry Ashley
The set is moulded in light beige plastic and provides three full standing
figures for a two man MG34 team and NCO plus a three quarter Tank Commander
figure posed to fit into the cupola of the Panzer IV or III.
The Infantry wear the typical 1939 pattern field grey tunic and grey wool trousers
with early war jackboots and steel helmets. The Tank Commander wears the early
war tankers jacket and large beret of the period.
The MG team are both standing in casual poses with the gunner holding the MG34 supported by the sling over his left shoulder while the loader holds his Kar98 at ease and both hold a 7.62mm ammo box. There is also an alternate head for the gunner with the “normal” head wearing a steel helmet and a second without helmet for a more relaxed feel.
The NCO is also standing at ease looking at his wrist watch and is armed with an MP40 plus there is also a full selection of personal equipment to add to the figures as you wish such as the gas mask case, meal tin, water bottle, bread bag and entrenching tool as well as map pouches and MG34/MP40 belt ammo pouches.
The figures are broken down in the traditional method with full bodies in one piece with separate arms, heads and boots with the separate equipment as mentioned above. The standard of moulding is quite good but there is fairly prominent mould seams to be removed from the parts and care should be taken to retain the fabric folds and other details such as ears when removing the seams.
Uniform details are mostly well defined but there are no fabric seams in the trousers or tunic arms except on figure Ds left leg with the fabric folds on the arms, trousers and boots nicely done. Some of the detail is a little ‘soft' but should come up okay with careful painting and the gas mask canister strap on the backs is overly done and could do with reducing.
Assembly:
The fit of the figure parts is very good overall but there were a couple of
minor areas where trimming was needed such as the left arm on figure A and
right arm on figure B that both needed some minor trimming for a good fit.
The necks also on Figure A and B required some minor trimming for a snug
fit but other than that any minor gaps were filled with normal plastic cement
during assembly.
There were indentations on the uniforms for some of the personal equipment but with others some minor trimming may be needed for a more snug and realistic ‘sit' with test fitting being the go to see if any adjustments are needed.
The sit of the MG34 and MP40 was quite good and adding the slings after gluing the weapons in place will make for a more taught fitting strap.
Personal Equipment:
The details on the personal equipment is mostly well defined with slide moulds
used to add the details on each end of the gas mask cases and meal tins and
nice details on the items that again will come up well with careful painting.
Weapons:
These were first introduced with set #35011 but
in beige plastic this time and are very nicely detailed with slide moulds
used to add additional details. The three Kar98s have separate bolts with one
depicted pulled back showing the inside breech details but the closed bolts
are designed to fit to the top of the rifle and not to show the internals during
stripping, a minor point.
There are three MP40s but only one separate shoulder stock that is moulded
quite thin but the end section is moulded solid and will need to be opened
up for a better appearance.
The standout are the two MG34s which have separate ammo feed covers and internal
breech detail included that will allow you to show the cover open if required
but the only ammo provided is a single drum magazine. There are also extended
and folded tripods supplied to use as required and the 7.62mm ammo boxes are
also well done using slide moulds to add the box end details and inner ammo
rounds with the separate lid having details on both sides.
Instructions:
The boxtop colour illustration and colour images of the assembled
figures on the rear of the box can be used as painting guides as well as simple
assembly instructions but overall assembly is quite straightforward and shouldn't
pose any problems other than outlined above.
Conclusion:
Overall another nice set of figures from Tristar for the early
war period with the detail being very good for traditional plastic
figures with the only minus being the lack of fabric seams on the uniforms
while the personal equipment and especially the weapons add nice detail touches
to the figures.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to C.K.Pat from Tristar Model (International) Ltd for the review kit.
Page created September 27, 2005