For some reason this kit always makes me think of the movie “Enemy at the Gates”, in particular the scene of the German soldier crawling along spooling out a line for a field telephone. Which isn’t to say this kit was inspired by that scene but you never know. What I do know is that this is the only set I’ve seen that incorporates the telephone line spool that turns just another set of Germany Infantry into something a little more unusual, a signals unit.
The five figures contained in this kit come on two dark yellow sprues contained within the usual Masterbox open ended box, with the usual very attractive artwork. The detail is very good with very nice folds in the clothes, individual faces and separate parts for the tunic skirts which gives good definition. While the detail is good there are a few small areas that could use sharpening up and there is a small amount of cleanup required, with very small amounts of flash and some mould seams to remove plus the odd sinkhole on top of a helmet.
Interstingly the heads are moulded as complete heads and the helmets are moulded hollow, though the helmets have no liners and the heads have moulded on chin straps, but the basis is there to improve on that if you wanted bareheaded figures. The headgear you get are five uncovered helmets and two with covers. One figure wears the SS M1942 camo smock, so whether you take this to mean they are meant to be SS troops or just that he managed to liberate one is your choice.
The other equipment included is the telephone line backpack of course, as well as eight Kar 98K ammo pouches, two MP40 mag pouches, four canteens, three mess tins, five entrenching tools with bayonets, four gas mask containers, two breadbags, two rolled zeltbahns, a thi rolled zeltbahn with two attached Model 24 grenades ( stick grenades ), and a grenade bag.
Weaponswise you get four Kar 98K rifles and an MP40 sub-machine gun. You also get two Model 39 grenades ( egg grenades ) and one figure is also moulded holding a Model 24 grenade in his hand.
Assembly and painting instructions are provided on the reverse of the box giving the paint numbers for Vallejo, Tamiya, Lifecolour, Humbrol and Agama paints.
This is a great little action set, which these days seems to be the exception rather than the norm where the majority seem to go for the “standing around” look. The overall effect of a group of soldiers moving while under fire is captured well and these scrub up well into a very nice set of figures.
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