Tristar 002 German Self Propelled Gun Crew
James Blackwell
The second figure set release from this
new Chinese company is also up to the same high standard set with
their first. This time 4 full figures are supplied in summer dress
from an SPG unit posed loading shells and on radio watch. Sculptor is
the gifted Yoshitaka Hirano again. Moulding is very sharp and the
sculpting first rate, even down to fingers moulded separated or with
cigarettes in them all free of flash. Again facial detail is very good
indeed and well defined. Parts are again logically broken down with
clever attachment points. Posing too is also very natural with
clothing folds and uniform detail well captured.
A nice touch in this set too is the
inclusion of a small photo-etched fret of 3 headphone bands and the 6
U-shaped tiny wire guides they slide under on the earphone pad. Oddly
though only one figure is moulded wearing headphones and no extra pads
are supplied to make up two more to drape on the vehicle somewhere
which would have been a logical and nice touch? So you either get two
nicely done bands for another project, or will need to slice up some
tube and stick a bolthead to it to make some more pads yourself to use
the extra bands for. Also no shell is provided for the 2 ammo loaders,
but considering the range of calibre options open for vehicles that
this set could potentially crew up, and the variety of kit provided or
after market ammo options, this shouldn't pose a problem for most
modellers.
This time on the 4 box lid flaps at each
end, 3 maps and 22 black and green range table data
charts/plates commonly seen on all artillery pieces and inside the
shields somewhere on most SPGs are supplied which is a great touch. So
always check your Tristar boxes after use and before binning them
every time for these printed extras to keep for the current project or
the parts box and avoid throwing them out.
Again all up another very nicely done
set of high quality figures, and thoroughly recommended to anyone
wishing to crew up their AFVs/SPGs with decent injection-moulded
figures at an affordable price.
Tristar http://www.tristarmodel.com
Australian Distributor at www.modelmania.com |