BRONCO MODELS [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
135
God’s Blessing
God’s Blessing
  • move

by: Darren Baker [ CMOT ]

Introduction

Armies in the field have held religious services in the field for hundreds of years. In the British Army this is called a Drum Head service due to the practice of stacking drums with a flag or such laid over the top in order to create a makeshift altar. Moving into the 1900’s drums were no longer used to provide orders to the troops, but services are still referred to as a drum head service. Bronco Models has now released a figure set depicting a religious service in the field titled ‘God’s Blessing’. This set consists of six figures, one of which is a priest.

Contents

This figure set is packaged in one of Bronco Models end opening boxes. Inside the box there are two sealed plastic bags and a Ziploc bag. The contents break down as follows;
2 grey sprues
A decal sheet

Review

The infantry soldiers depicted in this set are I believe American Forces, I believe this as the rifles shown on the box top look to be the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine, and the general look of the Uniforms and the gaiters specifically further enforce this belief. The mouldings are as I have come to expect from Bronco Models, free of flash and moulding issues generally. The gates between the sprues and the moulded parts are of a reasonable size and are not excessive in quantity. The only downside in the moulding as fair as I am concerned is that some of the gates could be in better locations, for me this is gates on the elbows of arms rather than the mating surfaces.

The poses of all five of the praying figures are variations of kneeling, what did we expect? The uniform detail does have me a little bothered and that concern relates the jackets/shirts, my checks seem to indicate that US infantry shirts/jackets, with the exception of a short leather jacket had breast pockets. The figures in this set have waist pockets with the exception of one that does have breast pockets, US Army tank crew uniform is an exception to this and could be the answer to what is bothering me; however I am aware that the uniform detail may be perfectly correct and it is my knowledge that is adrift. The only other negative observation is that there is no sole detail on the kneeling figures boots and that is a shame when they are so clearly exposed.

Moving onto the positive aspects of the figures set. The crease detail on the clothing is very good and so should look good when painted and shaded. The facial details are very good for injection moulded plastic and one aspect that many companies struggle with is hair, Bronco Models has down a pretty good job of this aspect with this offering. the hands for the most part are not the easiest parts to inspect, 3 of the figures have clasped hands and the other two are clasping what I presume are Bibles; I cannot decide on the clasped hands, but those holding the Bible do have fair detail. Regarding the praying figures I do find myself wishing that Bronco Models took the set a little further and replicated all of the detail on the box artwork; no I do not mean supplying a Jeep, but I did expect to find the water bottles and personal weapons in the set and perhaps if Bronco Models was feeling generous photo etched rifle slings and decals to represent the cloth shown over the bonnet of the Jeep. That said Bronco Models has supplied ammunition pouches for the figures.

The priest, padre or name of your choice is the star of this figure set. The robes have been approached in a way that has allowed undercuts to be replicated and so giving the material a thin natural look. The detail around the bottom of the frock is nice and subtle, but still allows for modellers to pick out this detail as needed. The cross details for the outfit have been supplied as decals; while on the subject of decals Bronco Models has also supplied a series of ranks badges and a red cross for the medic armband. The facial detail for this figure is very good as is the hand detail. Included with this set is the Chaplains field kit, this consists of a carrying case, 2 candles, a chalice, a cup and a crucifix.

Conclusion

I am a big fan of the figure sets that Bronco Models release and this one is no exception. This offering is unique on the market to my knowledge and will I am sure attract attention due to that uniqueness. I would have liked to see Bronco Models take this offering a little further in terms of content, but weapons and equipment can be added from the spares bin as desired by most modellers.
SUMMARY
Highs: The unique nature of this figure set has to be its best feature.
Lows: I would have liked to see personal weapons and also PE slings and a decals for the altar cloth included with this set.
Verdict: This is a set of figures that are well worth considering; the five kneeling figures may also appeal to the scratch builders amongst us.
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: CB35206
  PUBLISHED: Apr 15, 2015
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 87.97%

Our Thanks to Bronco Models!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Darren Baker (CMOT)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...

Copyright ©2021 text by Darren Baker [ CMOT ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Interesting set of figures indeed! Reminds me of this photo from WWII: LINK Thank you for the review.
APR 15, 2015 - 09:30 AM
Hello, about the uniforms, four figures wear the 1941 jackets and 1937 trousers, the other one wear 1937 shirt an trousers. Correct for a 1941-1944 setting
APR 15, 2015 - 10:34 AM
two are wearing 1942 HBT trousers, so valid for a post Normandy setting. If you remove the side pouches they can look as 1937 model..
APR 15, 2015 - 10:36 AM
Thanks for the review! I just ordered the set. Are there any chaplain Jeep markings anywhere in 1/35?
DEC 20, 2015 - 09:21 PM
Hi Darren, thanks for the review. An interesting theme for a mini dio. you are right to suggest that the shrine and candles could have been included. as could have the text on the Willy's windscreen. Be honest, after so many mini crosses...... But I guess we are getting too spoiled.
DEC 20, 2015 - 10:11 PM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT