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Figures / Military - 50mm to 120mm
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Displaying Reviews: 1 - 1
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Average Reviewer Rating:
 
Number of Reviews:
1
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You Even Need to Build the Boots!
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Reviewer
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Reviewed by Antar Howarth (info@totalmodel.com) July 24, 2004
This is indeed a very odd little offering! I still can't quite fathom why Tamiya released it. The figures are packaged in the traditional thin, square box. Instead of the usual glossy artwork, however, the box is a plain white affair with a simple colour label stuck on the front. What'smore instead of the standard 4 figures, this box contains only 2! The first is a Panzer Commander, dressed in the standard wide-lapel, two-piece panzer uniform and a 'soft' cap. The second figure depicts an early war Infantryman marching with an MG42 slung across one shoulder.
There are three sprues included in the box - one for each figure and a separate equipment sprue. This contains the usual assortment of German kit including bread bags, gas mask canisters and entrenching tools. Weapons include the MG42, 2 MP43s and 2 rifles. There's even a Panzerfaust and 3 stick grenades.
The actual figures are a bit more of a mystery! Most people will be familiar with the pattern of Tamiya's standard WWII figures. Typically, each figure is constructed from a small number of component parts. These include the torso, the legs, one or two arms and - lately - perhaps even a head. In this set, however, it goes much further.
NB: click the thumbnail at the top of this review to view the two figure sprues.
The infantryman is perhaps the most interesting. The main body is composed of a torso with one leg - which ends abruptly below the knee. The second leg joins the body at the hip and is also truncated. This is because Tamiya have supplied separate Jack boots. The only catch is they too require a little construction! Each boot is split down the front and the opposing halves must be glued together before they can be attached to the legs.
Once the lower limbs are in place, it's time to assemble the bottom half of the tunic. The flaps directly below the belt at the front of the tunic are formed by gluing two additional pieces on to the torso. This conveniently covers the join where the spare leg connects to the rest of the body. Then it's simply a matter of attaching the arms and the head. Job done?
No, not quite.
The tunic's collar is yet another additional component. This works in much the same way as the flaps described above by hiding a visible join - this time where the neck connects to the body. Once this is in place, the only task that remains is to attach the two tiny "waffenfarbe" boards on to the tops of the shoulders. Job done.
The Panzer Commander is much simpler. One long body, 2 arms, two feet and a head. Perhaps the most interesting break from the norm is the cap. This is formed from separate top and bottom halves.
I really don't know why Tamiya chose to release these figures. They're certainly a very odd couple. Perhaps it was an experiment. Perhaps Tamiya want to see if model makers are interested in building more complex figures? Who knows? The fact is that most of their original WWII range is now well over 20 years old now - so there's room for lots of improvement. Is this the way to go? I'm not so sure.
The figures are very good, yes. The components go together very nicely. The individual pieces are detailed and well-tooled throughout. Indeed, the entire kit is very neat - but perhaps that's the problem. One of the criticisms I've always had of Tamiya WWII figures is that many of their soldiers look like they've just stepped off the parade ground. They look too neat. Open a book about the Eastern front and study the uniforms on show. Most of the Germans look like they've been dragged through a hedge backwards. With tunics unbuttoned to the waist and sleeves hiked-up to the elbows, some of them look more like scarecrows than fighting men.
If Tamiya aim to take their figures forward, perhaps this is the image they should try to capture. Even so, this set is a very interesting addition to the line and well worth a look.
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9
out of
9
people found this review helpful
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