US Fallschirmjäger

Testbericht der 1:72 Figuren von Revell

US Paratroopers Fallschirmjäger, 1:72 Figuren Revell 02517

This set duplicates a subject already covered years ago by ESCI. Accordingly, wargamers und modellers, given a choice in the matter, would have asked for poses und equipment not previously available in the ESCI paratrooper set: radio operator, bazooka team, 60 mm mortar team, scout, sniper, anti-tank gunners und leaders. Unfortunately, the opportunity was missed. With the exception of the officer und NCO this set offers nothing new und exciting. The sculpting style is noticeably different, the Figuren are smaller und much less detailed than the ESCI paras.

Inhalt

44 Figuren in 12 Posen – 23 mm entsprechen 166 cm Körpergröße

Offizier (2)
Unteroffizier mit MP (5)
MG-Schütze Nr. 1 mit .30 cal MMG
MG-Schütze Nr. 2 mit Munitionskästen
Fallschirmjäger beim Einklappen des Fallschirms (1)
Fallschirmjäger mit Materialbehälter (2)
Fallschirmjäger mit BAR (5)
Fallschirmjäger mit M1 Karabiner (4)
Fallschirmjäger mit MP, im Laufschritt (5)
Fallschirmjäger, Handgranate werfend (5)
Fallschirmjäger mit M1 Garand, stehend schießend (5)
Fallschirmjäger mit M1 Karabiner, knieend schießend (6)

Bewertung

The NCO is probably the best und most useful figure in the set.
There are enough attacking und firing poses for a small diorama.
The .30 calibre MMG may be used to equip jeeps und other vehicles.

Poor choice of subject. The US Paras had already been done in better quality.
Less value for money: only 44 Figuren in 12 poses, compared to 50 Figuren in 13 poses offered by ESCI.
The Figuren are not nearly as detailed as the US Paratroopers produced by ESCI.
Detail und casting quality is sub-standard.
Noticeable flash und mould lines need to be removed prior to painting.
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) is modelled with the bipod und the carrying handle in place, despite the fact that experienced troops - paratroopers in particular - usually removed these items. The handle may be sliced off the weapon easily, but removing the bipod will require more care.
The assistant gunner for the .30 calibre MMG is caught in an unfortunate pose: forever trying to place an ammo box on the ground before him. To be of any use to the gunner, the loader might as well begin opening one of the boxes.
The officer carries an unusually long pistol, too long to fit into the holster.
The kneeling, firing paratrooper has his legs parted in a rather uncomfortable way, practically ruining the pose.
Several of the men are without entrenching tool, und not one of them carries a grenade on his body.
The bareheaded para seems to have lost or discarded his helmet. The ESCI set features a similar pose, bareheaded to show off the Mohawk hairstyle, except that this man has attached his helmet to the back of his belt.

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

This box of US Paratroopers is a disappointment compared to the excellent ESCI set covering the same subject. An opportunity to fill in the gaps in the ESCI set has been missed. Incompatible miniatures are likely to fail as miserably as incompatible software. One wonders why the design und development effort was not better spent on an entirely new subject, something with more probability of success in the market. Readers of Military Miniatures Magazine have put forward a good number of interesting new product ideas in our annual Wishlist section, manufacturers need only adopt some of them.

Muster von Revell

Fragen und Antworten

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Figuren der US Fallschirmjäger, 1943–1945