Review

I attended Salisbury Model Show the other weekend and came across a 3D resin printing company called 3D-Gizmo who produce products in 1/72nd, 1/35th. 1/16th and 1/6th. The prices they charge are fantastic with 1/16th scale figures costing £21 and so I picked up a few for review. It is also worth noting that this company produce vehicles in these scales and for those with the ability to get to them they will scan your face and produce figures with your face.

The figures arrive free of the printing matrix but I have noted some further clean up being needed; if I am honest I appreciate that the worst of the work has been done for me as it reduces the risk of damage during the process. I purchased a set of helmets for the figures as I was going to cut the one on the figure off to ease the face painting, but to my surprise found that the helmet in place had been glued on and so making my job much easier.

The generic face detail is acceptable and a good painter will be able to really bring it to life, the ears are also well defined and so pleasing. The hand and finger detail is pleasing and I like the natural pose of the hands. The figure is very well posed for a marching trooper and I cannot fault the posture and body portions and I am very pleased thus far.

The uniform consists of the typical battle blouse and trousers of the period; anyone who has seen this uniform will know it itches like hell and I am sure it was designed that way to stop troops falling asleep. Examining the uniform detail reveals the correct pocket layout on the blouse and trousers. The belt is the correct pattern which is a heavy canvas and remember that the catch is brass. The ammunition pouches are also correct, but I cannot remember seeing them so well pronounced but then again I have not seen them filled with ammunition before. The uniform does need to seams put in where material is stitch together.

The backpack held a surprising amount of items for its size and from what I can see it is a perfect match for the real item. Every buckle, catch and strap is fantastically detailed. The water canteen is well detailed in all regards and pleasing. Missing from this figure is a bayonet and sheath, entrenchment tool and the gas mask bag, the gas mask case does not overly bother me but I do feel a bayonet should be present in my opinion.

Moving down to the ankles and the canvas puttees are another very well detailed aspect right down to the buckles. The boots are well detailed but are missing the toe cap seam line that I will put in place myself. Uniform insignia is not defined beyond basic shape and the correct locations, I like this aspect as it means I can easily locate decals rather than trying to paint features that are beyond me. Finally looking over the SMLE which is reasonably detailed so far as I can see but is missing the cocking handle which I will need to replicate.

Conclusion

All told I am very impressed with what this fairly new cottage industry has produced. The printing is of an especially high quality. I can see the layer lines but once sprayed with an undercoat the lines disappear. The detail is of a high standard with the lack of a bayonet and entrenchment tool being my only concerns and these are details that I expect will be present as the company continues its growth. A price of £21 also make these appeal to my bank balance when things are tight. For those looking to add details to the figures Gecko Models is a good place to start for missing items and I am hopeful for 3D-Gizmo as I expect such items will become available from their individual items on offer.