Verlinden Productions
1663

This is a good companion to VP's "Cornered" (#2012) for portraying squad members in a tight situation.

A nice touch with the soldier in the prone position firing his Garand is the inclusion of a rain coat tucked through his web belt. Only VP and Nemrod have seen fit to include this basic piece of gear with their figures; paint it a mixture of dark green and rubber to give it the proper look. This GI also has a well rendered M1928 haversack on his back. The box art shows a musette bag hanging from his side, but there is no sling evident on his body so you can use or discard as you please (the bag is on the same carrier as the separate boot and leggings for the BAR gunner, so perhaps the musette is actually intended for that figure).

The other soldier is a BAR gunner, blowing out dust from a new magazine clip as he reloads (remember to remove the magazine that is molded to the weapon). He is equipped with special suspenders to support the heavier BAR ammo load, seen on previous Verlinden BAR gunners. However, this item doesn't show up in my references, so I don't know if it is accurate or post-war issue. If in doubt, cover it up with the musette bag.

Both GIs wear the 1941 khaki combat jacket, woolen trousers, and canvas leggings. As such, they can be used practically anywhere, from the Kasserine Pass to the Cologne. The unidentified sculptor has paid attention to the details and the uniforms are correct in appearance. There are surprisingly few of the usual assortment of VP gear-no entrenching tools, grenades, or pistols.

Casting is typical for Verlinden figures, with pour plugs on the undersides of the main body parts and the simple addition of arms and heads to the main bodies. The Garand is oversized, and replacing it with one from Tamiya or DML will be challenging because the hands are molded to the weapon. This should only be an issue, however, if you mix these figures with non-Verlinden soldiers.

All in all, this a good set for dioramists who want to create an action scene.

-tss-