Introduction:

Every now and then, a figure set comes along that demands more than a place on my ever-growing wishlist. Ever since Paracel Miniatures announced their new Desert Storm figures, I’ve been making plans for a diorama, aiming to recreate a compelling moment from the Gulf War.

The figures are actually combined in three separate sets and this review deals with US Humvee Crews, Gulf War 1991 (BDE3504), while the other sets are reviewed here and here.

Review:

The set is packed in a hard cardboard box. The box art image displays the figures included in the set and provides all the necessary details. The figures are designed for Humvee kit from Academy (#13405), but the manufacturer claims they can be used with other brands and other vehicles as well.

The box contains three 3D printed figures, each packed in a separate zip lock bag.  

Each figure is printed as a single piece, with the most of printing supports already removed. Cleaning the remaining supports should not present a major issue, but I would strongly suggest not to force these off, especially in the delicate areas. A sharp side cutter and fine grit sandpaper should do the trick. 

The cleaned figures look really good and there is no evidence of any printing imperfections. The coat of primer reveals a ton of details on these figures, but also shows marks of the printing supports that were not cleaned properly, and I found several areas which need to be filled and sanded again. The entire procedure demands extra time, but the effort is well worth it.

The figures wear the Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU), Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) vest and helmet, and combat boots, along with the All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) load-carrying system. Comparing the figures to the references shows Paracel Miniatures did their homework well, with all the uniform and equipment details realistically sculpted and authentic to the Desert Storm timeframe. 

While the first two figures depict the driver and vehicle commander, the third is a roof mount gunner manning a .50 cal. The poses look good and the figures should be a welcomed addition to any Desert Storm era vehicle. Although originally designed to fit the Humvee kit from Academy (#13405), these figures would probably fit many other models with some modifications. I’ll be using the Cargo/Troop Carrier Humvee kit from ICM (which needs to be backdated to 1991 standard) and report the work needed to fit the figures properly inside the driver’s compartment.

Conclusion:

US Humvee Crews, Gulf War 1991 (BDE3504) from Paracel Miniatures features 3 figures depicting US vehicle crew from the Desert Storm era. The set offers excellent figures in convincing poses, with an impressive level of detail as well as historically accurate uniforms and equipment. Although cleaning and surface preparation process can be somewhat tedious, this is a relatively minor drawback considering the quality of the finished figures.

Recommended for anyone looking to add a human element to a Gulf War vehicle.