PMMS
Tristar
German the 6 Army "Mamaev Hill"
Tristar 1:35 Figure Set No.35024
Review by Terry Ashley

During the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, Mamaev Kurgan (Mamaev Hill), known simple as ‘Hill 103’ by the Russians rose to a height of 102 meters above sea level and situated just to the north of the city centre was called the most important hill in Russia. From September 1942 right up to just a few days before the end of the battle 140 days later the Germans tried everything to capture the hill with bitter fighting day and night that never ceased.

This new set of figures from Tristar depicts a four man squad moving up during the battle with two walking and two prone wearing typical earlier war field grey tunics and trousers with black leather jackboots and steel helmets. Two are armed with MP40s while one has a Kar98k rifle and the other carries an MG42.

The figures are cleanly moulded in beige plastic with just quite fine moulding seams to be removed and some minor flash on one leg. Each figure is broken down with two separate legs with boots included, the upper torso, two arms and the head with separate helmet, this simple breakdown and the minor cleanup required makes for very easy assembly.

Each figure has full array of typical personal equipment of the time with a bread bag, meal tin and canteen, the trench tool plus bedroll and gas mask canister with appropriate ammo pouches and the detail on the equipment is again very good with minimum cleanup required.

The Kar98k and MP40 are also nicely moulded although the MG42 is best described as adequate by today’s standards but will still look okay with careful painting and the addition of a sling and the open bipod provided.

While the figures have traditional breakdown the detail included is superb with realistic fabric folds and creases plus well defined uniform details of pockets, lapels, collars and equipment harness. Of note is the fabric seams included on both the arms and legs with mould seams not compromising this detail after cleanup and boots including nicely defined hobnails which can be seen on all four figures due to the poses. Care is needed when removing the sprue attachment from the boots so as not to damage the hobnail detail and a little undercut trimming will make some of the lower tunic overhang a little better but that is basically all that is needed before assembly.

I have fitted two of the figures together to test the fit, one standing and one prone and on both the fit of the legs, arms and torso was excellent not requiring and trimming of filler, what very minor gaps may arise can be filled with normal tube cement, not requiring actual filler.

The hands are particularly well formed with those holding weapons having the space between the fingers and hand cleanly formed with just very minor flash from inside the closed hand holding the Kar98k. Some minor trimming of the equipment might be in order to get a better sit on the body but trial fitting will determine in any is required. The facial features are very well done with clear expressions and good sit of the steel helmet which can be added after painting.

All that is needed to finish of the figures are weapons slings and they are ready to paint.

Conclusion:
This is a simple yet very nicely detailed set of figures that can be used in any earlier war setting with the excellent detail belying the conventional breakdown of the figures and easy assembly. The well defined uniform detail plus the nice fabric seams and folds will come up well with painting and make for an impressive figure set if used together or separately with other figures.

Highly recommended.
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Assembled Figure A
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Assembled Figure D
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Thanks to C.K.Pat from Tristar Model (International) Ltd for the review kit.



Page created September 5, 2006

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