WWII German Infantry Set
1:48 Scale - Kit No.32512
First Look by Terry Ashley

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The set consists of ten early wear infantry figures with five assault troops and five machine gun crew figures with these figures being the same poses as some of the figures in the early Tamiya 1:35 sets German Assault Troops (Set#35030) and German Machine Gun Troops (Set #35038) while the five Tank Crew figures appear to be new for this set with four full figures and one three quarter figure.

As well as the figures there is a good selection of weapons and personal equipment to add to the figures of use elsewhere as you see fit with the details on the weapons and equipment being very good for this smaller scale.

While the ten infantry figures are derived from the larger 1:35th sets the details on the uniforms and anatomical features is as good if not better than the larger figures so it’s clear the moulds are new but have just used the previous figures as a design basis to save time.

The breakdown of the figures depends on the pose with simple standing figures moulded all in one including the heads while others have separate arms, heads and in some cases separate upper and lower body parts.

As mentioned the details on the early to mid war uniforms is well done with fairly crisp details on things such as lapels, belts, pockets etc and for this smaller scale are quite nicely done as are the fabric folds and creases for convincing looking figures.

The infantry figures have flat cut-off heads to take the separate steel helmets or field caps included while the tank crew all wear berets or Officer caps moulded in place with a couple having separate heads which you can swap around for a bit of variety.

The variety of poses are mostly action with the infantry either crouching or moving forward while the machine gun troops are in firing poses with two sets of figures designed to be posed together as a team.

The tank crew figures include four Commander figures designed to be standing in open cupolas with a couple having their arms designed to be resting on the open hatch and you could use these on any PzIII/IV or later V/VIs with one non-commissioned Officer standing hands on hips outside of the vehicle. All but one of the figures is complete so they could also be posed outside of the vehicle with minor modification if you wished but the one three quarter figure has to be in the cupola.

The large selection of weapons and equipment is especially noteworthy as they are well detailed with good crisp details and give you a selection of personal equipment such as bread bags, two types of water bottles, entrenching tools, canteens, backpack bedrolls, gas mask canisters and a map case. There is also a selection of head gear with basic steel helmets as well as helmets with cloth cam covers and a couple of field caps and some binoculars.

The selection of weapons is equally impressive with leather holsters for Lugers or Walther 38s plus MP40s, MP44s with ammo pouches, Kar98 and G-43 rifles plus MG-34s and MG-42s with folded or extended tripods as well as open or closed MG ammo boxes, drum magazines and spare barrel cases plus a length of ammo belt with quite well defined rounds and a couple of Panzerfaust 60s .

Additional items include bayonets, stick grenades and a set of separate head phones for the tank crew. The only thing noticeably not included is the ammo pouches for the Kar98s usually worn on the belt but some of the figures have these included on the body moulding so these guys obviously get the Kar98s while you can arm the others any way you please.

The box top sides have colour illustrations of most of the equipment items that can be used as a painting guide and the instruction sheet shows the assembly of the figures with the parts called out by number as well as Tamiya paint numbers given as a further painting guide. There are also a couple of diagrams showing the typical placement of the personal equipment on the uniforms that will come in handy when fitting out the figures.

Conclusion:
A very nicely detailed and comprehensive set of figures and equipment for the ever expanding 1:48 range that will prove to very useful and the inclusion of infantry and tank crew in the one set making the appeal much wider and the extensive array of personal equipment and weapons will see this as an indispensable set for 1:48 modellers.

Highly recommended.

Kit courtesy of my Credit Card and the excellent service from Rainbow Ten.

Page created 7 April 2005