Here's the first of four tank rider sets from HäT.
First of all, these tank riders are not just for tanks. Seated figures are very useful to fill up and give life to half-tracks, jeeps, lorries, armoured cars, sitting on crates, barrels, waiting to move out and so on.
This set has two kneeling figures—an officer and section leader. The infantry has been painted as part of the 43rd wessex. You may notice a blue (square) with a yellow dab in the middle. The officer has been painted as an RAF link officer (cab control? can't recall what these guys were called) attached to armoured divisions whose job was to call in air strikes as needed. The head is a swap, the original figure wears a beret which RAF the RAF did not wear at this time.
Speaking of heads, one complaint is the sprue attaches to the crown of the helmet on some figures. If cut to short, the helmet will be sporting an odd cylinder rising from it while an over cut will lop off the top. It would have been better to have attachment at the bottom of the feet.
The riders are very nice with a lot of detail. With most British figures on the market, it seems the kit and webbing always suffers. In this case, the entrenching tool and canteen is nicely sculpted with it skeleton holder rather chunky (in a good way) to take paint easily.
I feel for the sculptor. Due to the poses, there is some excess plastic between the rifle butts and the hip, and in some cases, the canteen doesn't turn the corner and the space between the canteen and buttock fills in. These figures could probably benefit from separate packs like HäT's Napoleonic Prussians and some of the Zvezda sets.
On minor point, most of the men are sitting as if on chairs. This arrangement works better on the angular Cromwell than the slope found on Shermans. Gluing the figures on (or to each other) would be the best solution for stability but I prefer to freedom to position as will. Just don't bump the table.
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5 comments:
Excellent painting, although I can't say I like the figures. The funny thing is, there's nothing particularly wrong about them, except that to me there's something wrong with them... just can't tell what it is.
What I do know however is that quality-wise they can't compete with AB in the "natural nonchalance" department. Price-wise and it's a whole different ball game though.
Anyway, keep up the painting!
I saw these on the hat site recently...very good mate. Not really a common thing..brits tankriding but as you say they could be used for other vehicles. The set is an original idea. I can imagine some of them could be used as soldiers resting behind walls etc.
Cheers
Paul
Ecxellent models, painting and photography. I especially loved the traffic jam scene.
Nice models, beautifully painted mate!!!
I am a follower now!!!
T.
Very very nicely painted figures! Well done that man!
Cheers Sander
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