Review
MiniArt has released a German elite gun crew, which are the same figures as provided in the previously released Pak 40. These 4 figures are provided in an end opening cardboard box, of the type I would like to see changed. Inside is a single plastic bag, which contains 4 sprues holding the figures and 2 further sprues providing equipment and weaponry. An examination of the contents reveals no major moulding issues, other than the sprue gates a nipple connectors are a little on the large side in some areas.
The 4 figures being described as a German elite gun crew would indicate that they are an SS gun crew. The camouflage using the Pea dot design would appear to further indicate this. The 4 figures represent a figure laying the gun, a person giving commands to the crew, and the last 2 figures handling the ammunition for the gun. The uniform detail is very good in my humble opinion, and I like that this being a late war crew, that they are wearing ankle boots and gaiters. Crease detail in the uniform is very natural in its appearance, and well defined.
Cloth helmet covers are in place on all 4 figures, however, there are clean helmets provided on the equipment sprues if preferred. There is some flash starting to appear in areas of the figure moulding, but that should not deter most modellers. The ammunition for the 2 loaders is provided on the sprue of the relevant figures. The hand detail is very well done, despite the need of the clean up with regards to flash and the facial detail is fair for injection moulded figures. The figures are all wearing webbing, and I always considered that gun crews worked clean in order to avoid getting caught up on any aspect of the weapons system. However, I will thank members on the site that certainly in the case of the German military - the crews were only clean when manning pre-arranged gun locations and the equipment was worn when performing shoot and scoot roles.
The two equipment sprues provided with this release consists of:
Bayonets in scabbards
2 styles of entrenchment tools
water canteens
mess tins
helmets with interior detail
gas mask cases
bread bags
a water canteen with a separate cup element
a mess tin with the lid removed
Weapons wise we have:
MP40 machine guns with separate stock detail
KAR rifles
P38 automatic
Lugers (one in and one out of the holster)
binoculars, flare pistol
ammunitions pouches to match the weapons provided.
Conclusion
I like these figures offered by MiniArt, as the crew has a distinct look of a team going into action. My problem is that the supporting sprues for the figures are more attuned to infantry soldiers rather than a gun crew, as you only have 2 rounds of ammunition for the main gun and it would have helped if extra ammunition and ammunition storage cases had been provided for a Pak 40. So, I cannot fault what is included in this offering, but I do feel that there are items missing that should be present.