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Alpine Miniatures
SS Grenadier LAH Kharkov
1:35th Figure Set No. 35064
Review by Terry Ashley

Alpine MiniaturesAlpine Miniatures
Figures painted by Calvin Tan
This figure represents an SS Grenadier of Kurt Meyer's unit during the Battles of Kharkov in early 1943 and can be used in conjunction with the previous figures Kurt Meyer LAH Kharkov (set #35063) as well as LAH Officers Kharkov Set (set #35059) for a larger Kharkov diorama.

The figure is standing in an action pose pointing and wears a fur lined reversible winter parka with woolen gloves and reversible winter trousers and is armed with an MP40 plus the two alternate heads, one wearing an 1942 steel helmet with under scarf and the other a forage cap with wrap around scarf.

The full body is cast as one piece that includes the MP40 ammo pouches and a pair of binoculars and separate map case with the two heads and arms also separate as well as the left hand cast with the MP40 for a natural sit. There is a bare minimum of cleanup required with just fine casting seams between the legs which are easily removed with a #11 blade.

Detail on the uniform has well defined fabric seams and excellent texturing of the fur lining with other items such as the pockets, collars all well done and the facial features with natural expressions.

Assembly of the figures was very straightforward without any trimming or other alterations required, most notably with the arms that fit very snugly into the shoulders for quick and easy assembly. There are small indentations in the body for a natural fit of the separate equipment items.

The MP40 assembly posed a few moments with the expended stock that comes in three very fine parts that need careful handling as well as being quite fiddly to assemble. I had to trim a little off the rear of the gun for the arms to sit evenly and the assembled gun is quite fragile, I also added a small wire pin to the wrist for easy fitting to the arm.

As with previous figures I added a small “wire” pin to the neck to go into a hole drilled into the body to make fitting and swapping the heads easier but the head fit if you just want to glue the chosen head in place. This also allows the heads to be painted separate and easily attached later. A small tip if you do add the pin is to always drill the hole for the pin at right angles to the neck cut-off on both the torso and head as this will ensure the head sits correctly as intended when fitted together.

Conclusion:
This figures continues the high standards from Alpine Miniatures with excellent uniform details and fur texturing and will come up very well with careful painting for a perfect companion figure to the previous Kharkov figure as mentioned above.

Highly recommended 9/10

Also see set #35063 Kurt Meyer LAH Kharkov and combined set #35065 LAH Officers Kharkov Set #2

The resin parts
Alpine Miniatures
MP40 with wire pin in hand for easy fitting to arm
Alpine Miniatures
Views of the assembled figure
note alternate heads with wire pins added

Alpine Miniatures

See the Alpine Miniatures web site for ordering details and thanks to Taesung from Alpine Miniatures for the review sample.




Page created June 5, 2008