Review
This release from MiniArt arrives in one of their end opening card cartons - packaging that I am not a fan of due to the little protection this offers for the contents. Inside you are provided with 5 figures in 1/35th scale and this release is again a re-release, but this time with resin heads. An examination of the mouldings reveals that the moulds are holding up quite well, but flash is starting to show. I have found that a fibreglass pen is very good for cleaning up flash lines. Ideally though this should be done in soapy water to prevent any bristles that break off from potentially hitting you in the eye - but it is a clean up method worth trying.
The figures provided consist of an Officer, an NCO, and 3 low ranking crew members. The officer is wearing a leather jacket that comes down to the start of the legs, which has been tailored and looking at it I can’t help but think of the film Ministry of Ungentlemanly warfare - “I must get me one of those coats”. He is equipped with, holstered side arm, binoculars, a Sam Brown style webbing and a cloth style cap which is not something I would want to be wearing inside a tank. The NCO also is wearing a jacket, but a much less well tailored offering which comes down to the knees. He is wearing the correct style Italian tank helmet, with the cloth/leather neck guard. Again he is provided with a sidearm and a bandolier style webbing with the 2 ammunition pouches on it. Underneath the jacket he is wearing the sand coloured overalls which may or may not be specific to North African service.
Two other members of the crew are wearing the same style helmet as the NCO and the one-piece sand coloured coveralls again with the bandolier style webbing and sidearm. Both of these figures are in a seated stance. The final figure is wearing the blue coveralls which I believe is more akin to European service. A nice touch are the gloves present in the thigh pockets, the bandolier style webbing is again present and this figure has reverted to the cloth cap. Italian tank crew figures are a bit like Italian tank models, which are few and far between and so are well worth picking up if you think there is an Italian vehicle in your future. Hand and facial features are reasonable for the scale and I like that a mix of facial hair has been replicated. However, this kit has been released due to the inclusion of resin heads and if I am honest I am not sure that it really adds anything to the release other than the need to use CA glue being resin rather that standard plastic cement. However, your opinion may vary and as they say “Each to their own”.
