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Fan
HF565
It
has been generally believed among historians, including 101st Airborne
historian Mark Bando, that BARs were not used by paratroopers during
D-Day. There was no practical way to break down and case this weapon
for jumping into Normandy; it was too long and bulky. However, in
early 2005 information emerged on Bando's Trigger Time website that
there were at least one or two instances of paratroopers armed with
BARs. So it still appears unlikelybut not impossiblethat
you'd see a paratrooper with a BAR in the early days of the invasion,
unless he appropriated it from an unfortunate infantryman or gliderman
who no longer needed its services.
Both
figures wear the M1942 jump uniform seen on D-Day. They have trench
knives strapped to their legs, and the casting replicates the laces
securing the bottoms of the knives to their ankles. The only extra
gear provided are canteens and first aid pouches. The BAR gunner
does have suspenders, so you could add a musette bag to his back
if you'd like, but the lead soldier has none. In a nice touch, the
Tommy gunner wears binoculars around his neck, but they are partially
tucked into the front of his jacket.
The
sculpting is crisp, and the unidentified sculptor has done a great
job with the folds of the uniform and capturing how the fabric strains
against their bodies. The casting is virtually flawless, with just
one thin speck of seam on the back of one of the figures. The weapons
are equally well done, particularly the BAR, which is very delicate.
You can see daylight between the barrel and the gas cylinder. But
you'll need to be careful cutting off the casting plug from the
underside of the helmets.
The
faces are also well done, but are a little too similar, with mouths
open. If painting doesn't bring out differences, you could swap
a head with another paratrooper from Sol or Warriors. The distinctive
airborne helmet straps and chin cups are molded onto the heads.
The
base resembles a German trench, as might have been seen at Brecort
Manor. It's also well executed, though there are no indentations
in the earth where the feet are positioned, so if you use the base
you'll want to make sure the soles of the boots are not hovering
above ground.
I like
this set a lot. If you don't feel up to replacing the BAR, just
pretend that your action scene takes place long enough after D-Day
that the soldier may have picked up the BAR from some unlucky dogface
from the 29th Infantry or the Big Red One.
-tss-
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