US Fallschirmjäger

Testbericht der 1:72 Figuren von ESCI

US Fallschirmjäger, 1:72 Figuren ESCI P-209 US Paratroopers only seconds into the painting process. Humbrol No. 31 (slate gray) has been drybrushed lightly onto the dark green plastic Figuren. It is very fortunate that ESCI decided to cast these Figuren in a much darker shade of the uniform colour. No undercoating is required. The highlight colour can be brushed on directly, allowing the dark plastic to remain visible in the folds of the uniform, und around equipment items. The actual coat of drybrushed paint is very thin, it does not chip und flake off. This painting technique falls into the realm of speedpainting, it is simple und very effective.

Inhalt

48 Figuren in 14 Posen – 24 mm entsprechen 173 cm Körpergröße

US Fallschirmjäger (MG-Schütze Nr. 1) mit .30 Browning M1919A4 m.MG (2)
US Fallschirmjäger (MG-Schütze Nr. 2) mit Karabiner M1 und Munitionskasten (2)
US Fallschirmjäger beim Besteigen des Flugzeugs (2)
US Fallschirmjäger beim Zusammenklappen des Fallschirms nach der Landung (2)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Browning Automatic Rifle (3)
US Fallschirmjäger (Irokesenschnitt) mit Gewehr M1 Garand, vorgehend (5)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Gewehr M1, stehend schießend (5)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Gewehr M1, liegend schießend (3)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Karabiner M1 und gefälltem Bajonett, vorgehend (5)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Karabiner M1, vorgehend (3)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Karabiner M1, Handgranate werfend (3)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Karabiner M1, knieend schießend (5)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Thompson MP, vorgehend (5)
US Fallschirmjäger mit Thompson MP und Handgranate, vorgehend (3)

Bewertung

Exceptionally well sculpted Figuren with crisp detail und striking faces.
The troops are shown in fighting order, without packs. Ammunition pouches, canteens, fighting knives und entrenching tools are carried correctly, und consistently. This alone makes the set unique.
The BAR is modelled correctly, without bipod or carrying handle. The automatic rifleman is a superb figure.
Personal weapons are modelled very accurately, und they may be used for conversion projects.
Cast in a dark green semi-gloss plastic, these Figuren lend themselves well to speedpainting, a simple technique which uses the colour of the plastic as the base coat.

There are no squad leaders or officers immediately in evidence, although some poses could be easily converted to fill that role.
The man advancing with a grenade in his right hand is posed strangely, he has both arms raised as if he wanted to surrender. The figure itself looks great, und the pose may be saved by attaching more suitable arms taken from another figure.
The Garand rifle of the prone para seems to be too long.
Mortars, bazookas und radios are not included in the set.

Historische Verwendung

US 82nd & 101st Airborne Division
- Sicily, July 1943
- Normandy, June 1944
- Arnheim, September 1944
- Ardennes, December 1944
- Germany, March 1945

Interessante Umbauten

French Foreign Legion Paratroops, Dien Bien Phu, 1954

These US Paratroopers define the standard against which other figure sets must be judged. Crisp detail, realistic folds in clothing und accurate equipment make these miniatures a joy to paint und collect. This is a much better set of US Paratroopers than the one produced by Revell which was released years later.

ESCI Figuren

Fragen und Antworten

Bitte nehmen Sie Kontakt mit der Redaktion der Military Miniatures Zeitschrift auf, wenn Sie weiterführende Information zum Thema wünschen.

Figuren der US Fallschirmjäger, 1943–1945