Verlinden Productions
1180
This
set features two GIs that appear to be posed in some sort of confrontation,
likely of a vehicular nature.
The
most interesting one is wearing the M1943 synthetic rubber-coated
enlisted man's raincoat, with the distinctive round stitching for
the internally hung pockets (quite similar to the German's rubberized
raincoat, actually). The raincoat is a grayish-green color, as least
as seen in Windrow and Hawkins' "The World War II GI: U.S.
Army Uniforms 1941-45 in Color Photographs," perhaps lighter
than on the box art. He wears a bandolier over his chest and equipment
webbing, and has the M1923 cartridge belt. On his belt are a canteen,
first aid pouch, and a bayonet in its scabbard. He stands with his
right hand down at his side, and his left arm outstretched, palm
and fingers extended forward, as if guiding traffic, though he's
not marked as an MP.
The
second figure wears the light tan winter combat jacket under his
web gear, a scarf or kerchief tucked around his throat. From his
belt hang the first aid pouch and the two-clip .45 ammo pouch. The
gun is provided as a separate piece. This figure stands with his
hands somewhat outstretched and palms up and his mouth is open,
as if imploring the raincoated figure to let his vehicle get pass
through a convoy.
Both
figures wear the gaiter boots. Accessories include a pair of shovels,
a pair of 1/32 scale M1 Garand rifles, some grenades, and a panzerfaust
that is not seen on the box art (mistakenly inserted into the package
perhaps?). There is an additional pouch on the carrier with the
pistol that could possibly hold a clip or two for the Garand of
the soldier without the cartridge belt.
The
buyer should be aware that the legs and torso of the figure in the
winter jacket are identical to parts of the two figures in VP's
#1609 "U.S. Tank Commanders WWII." Personally, this sort
of cannibalization bothers me since there are so few US figures
to begin with. VP might feel the need to cut corners in order to
get more Allied figures out to market, but it's going to defeat
the purpose if they start looking all the same, a practice that
VP has also indulged in with putting the same heads of U.S. soldiers
in several different kits. I've never seen this done with the company's
German figures, and I wish they'd have the same respect for those
of us who build U.S. figures.
-tss-
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