Tamiya 1/35 WW1 British Infantry
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Tamiya has released a set of five WW1 British Infantry figures to accompany their Mark IV Male Tank. They are included with the initial export version of the Mark IV as well as being available separately as Set No. 35339 as seen here. The set offers 1 Officer and 4 soldiers in 1902 uniform with 1908 webbing. This is an action type set of figures, an Officer with a pistol and swagger stick, a charging Infantryman with rifle and bayonet, a kneeling soldier firing a rifle, a prone Lewis Gunner and a soldier kneeling with the rifle in his right hand.
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The figures come in the standard Tamiya end opening figure box. The top has the usual artist’s rendering of the figures included in the kit. On the back are the assembly and painting instructions in colour picture format.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Back.jpg
On the box sides are pictures and text identifying the various bits of equipment and weapons provided.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Side2.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Side1.jpg
If you open the bottom flap there are 6 small signs for use in a diorama whilst the top end opens to display rank insignia for the Officer’s tunic.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Flap2.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Flap1.jpg
Inside The Box
Opening the box, there are two poly bags containing the grey plastic sprues. One large sprue (Z) contains the parts for the figures broken down into separate body parts – heads, hands, arms, legs, etc.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueZf.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueZb.jpg
The detail on the uniform is quite well done although fainter than would be seen on a good resin figure. A little bit of work with a sharp No. 11 blade and a scribing tool will help emphasis some of the details. Parts for each figure are grouped with an alpha-numeric identifier (a-1, a-2, etc.) as is the Tamiya style.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Officer.jpg
Two identical smaller sprues (Y) contain the equipment and weapons. There are alternative helmets, with and without canvas covers and second style of trench cap. Weapons, tools and packs are plentiful – eight SMLE rifles per sprue – four with bayonets fixed, two holstered revolvers and two Lewis guns. Slings will need to be added to the rifles, an “idiot string” for the Officer’s revolver and webbing for the gas mask haversacks should you be using them.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueY.jpg
Conclusion
All in all, this is a very nice set of figures for the burgeoning WWI modelling world. The general appearance of the figures is good, with the exception of the Officer who seems a bit too stiff. A little applied modelling skill to adjust an arm or head could improve his pose.
There is a good choice of weapons and equipment to mix and match with leftovers for the spares box. Some of the equipment could also be used for early WW2 BEF and MTO troops.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Frt.jpg
Tamiya has released a set of five WW1 British Infantry figures to accompany their Mark IV Male Tank. They are included with the initial export version of the Mark IV as well as being available separately as Set No. 35339 as seen here. The set offers 1 Officer and 4 soldiers in 1902 uniform with 1908 webbing. This is an action type set of figures, an Officer with a pistol and swagger stick, a charging Infantryman with rifle and bayonet, a kneeling soldier firing a rifle, a prone Lewis Gunner and a soldier kneeling with the rifle in his right hand.
------------------------------------
The figures come in the standard Tamiya end opening figure box. The top has the usual artist’s rendering of the figures included in the kit. On the back are the assembly and painting instructions in colour picture format.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Back.jpg
On the box sides are pictures and text identifying the various bits of equipment and weapons provided.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Side2.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Side1.jpg
If you open the bottom flap there are 6 small signs for use in a diorama whilst the top end opens to display rank insignia for the Officer’s tunic.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Flap2.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Flap1.jpg
Inside The Box
Opening the box, there are two poly bags containing the grey plastic sprues. One large sprue (Z) contains the parts for the figures broken down into separate body parts – heads, hands, arms, legs, etc.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueZf.jpg
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueZb.jpg
The detail on the uniform is quite well done although fainter than would be seen on a good resin figure. A little bit of work with a sharp No. 11 blade and a scribing tool will help emphasis some of the details. Parts for each figure are grouped with an alpha-numeric identifier (a-1, a-2, etc.) as is the Tamiya style.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/Officer.jpg
Two identical smaller sprues (Y) contain the equipment and weapons. There are alternative helmets, with and without canvas covers and second style of trench cap. Weapons, tools and packs are plentiful – eight SMLE rifles per sprue – four with bayonets fixed, two holstered revolvers and two Lewis guns. Slings will need to be added to the rifles, an “idiot string” for the Officer’s revolver and webbing for the gas mask haversacks should you be using them.
/gallery/albums/userpics/13971/SprueY.jpg
Conclusion
All in all, this is a very nice set of figures for the burgeoning WWI modelling world. The general appearance of the figures is good, with the exception of the Officer who seems a bit too stiff. A little applied modelling skill to adjust an arm or head could improve his pose.
There is a good choice of weapons and equipment to mix and match with leftovers for the spares box. Some of the equipment could also be used for early WW2 BEF and MTO troops.