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Post by Forum Admin on May 13, 2019 21:05:19 GMT
Please feel free to add comments or suggestions:
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Post by minuteman on May 13, 2019 22:07:30 GMT
Poses look generally fine, but I'm not sure why the sculptor is choosing shirtsleeve order. My personal preference would be not to have these troops in shirtsleeve order, but I accept that for warmer climates ie: other than North West Europe, it is appropriate. However, it limits the use of therse figures to primarily Mediterranean or Pacific theatres of war.
A command/leader figure with a carbine or Thompson would be good.
I think the helmet is a little large on most of these. Not as bad as some 1/72 US troops I have seen, but not quite 'right'.
I'm working on an assumption also that the majority of these figures will be carrying an M1 Garrand plus the BAR figure...but the rough sculpts indicate a couple of these men armed with something else?? The grenadier should also have a rifle....
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Post by grumble on May 14, 2019 2:00:07 GMT
A command/leader figure with a carbine or Thompson would be good. The grenadier should also have a rifle.... Agree that the grenade-throwing figure should have a rifle. I have had to glue many slung rifles on figures that don't have one. It's tiresome finding extra rifles and making them look decent on a figure. Also second the need for a carbine-toting leader figure.
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Post by zirrian on May 14, 2019 5:44:10 GMT
Look good, and I hope this means they will be released soon.
I can only echo the comments to add a rifle to the grenade thrower, plus there's always space for a carbine NCO pose...or maybe a figure with a pointing hand, and the other as a separate piece with a carbine, Thompson or pistol in hand, that would be radical.
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Post by zirrian on May 14, 2019 6:50:29 GMT
Also, would you consider making a heavy weapons set to go with them too? Bazooka with loader, .30cal MMG, 60mm mortar, possibly a sniper...
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Post by mikem on May 14, 2019 8:19:37 GMT
The set is titled "rifle squad". No carbines or SMG's in US rifle squads, at least officially. Too many sets in the past ignore this, down to the point where you have to buy twice the number of packs to get enough riflemen. The "acrobatic" grenade-throwing pose is normally only seen on the grenade training range. Rifle squad should also be 12 men, possibly with a second BAR, as 6 extra BARs were held at Company level for issue as required. A Support Weapons set could provide .30" cal MG's, 60mm Mortars, Bazookas, Radiomen and leaders/ammo carriers with carbines.
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Post by waynew on May 14, 2019 14:10:17 GMT
The set is titled "rifle squad". No carbines or SMG's in US rifle squads, at least officially. Too many sets in the past ignore this, down to the point where you have to buy twice the number of packs to get enough riflemen. The "acrobatic" grenade-throwing pose is normally only seen on the grenade training range. Rifle squad should also be 12 men, possibly with a second BAR, as 6 extra BARs were held at Company level for issue as required. A Support Weapons set could provide .30" cal MG's, 60mm Mortars, Bazookas, Radiomen and leaders/ammo carriers with carbines. Good points; to do differently would probably require a name change to a more accurate if generic "WW2 US Infantry."
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Post by Tardos on May 14, 2019 16:34:08 GMT
Webbing in the front needs to continue down the back. Seems to disappear at the shoulder.
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vmc
Quaestor
Posts: 19
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Post by vmc on May 16, 2019 5:25:33 GMT
A command/leader figure with a carbine or Thompson would be good. No it would not. Nice to see historical integrity for once and what a US Army rifle squad really carried rather than some Hollywood fantasy. If you want carbines and Tommy guns, everybody and his uncle makes them and other sets are infested with them. Kudos to Hat for this one!
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vmc
Quaestor
Posts: 19
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Post by vmc on May 16, 2019 5:30:42 GMT
Webbing in the front needs to continue down the back. Seems to disappear at the shoulder. It needs to disappear altogether as those straps were a part of the M1928 pack, not detachable. Separate M1936 suspenders were issued to troops carrying the M36 Musette bag: officers, airborne, artillerymen and other such mounted troops
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Post by waynew on May 16, 2019 17:26:13 GMT
Webbing in the front needs to continue down the back. Seems to disappear at the shoulder. It needs to disappear altogether as those straps were a part of the M1928 pack, not detachable. Separate M1936 suspenders were issued to troops carrying the M36 Musette bag: officers, airborne, artillerymen and other such mounted troops I agree; the straps probably need to go as U.S. troops in action would be stripped down to minimal essential equipment. When contact was expected, field packs which would go with the straps would be grounded with the promise (sometimes not kept) they would return for them or the packs would be brought up to them. The pistol belt was separate from the shoulder straps on the WW2 gear - in era we had "web gear" - later LCE (Load Carrying Equipment) or LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) which had shoulder straps attached to the pistol belt, but that was much later. The only time U.S. combat troops would be fighting with their field packs on would be in situations such as an amphibious assault - even then those packs would be the first things to go once they got "safely" ashore - or in the case of unexpected contact with the enemy. Again, packs would drop at first opportunity. When the fat is flying and bullets are popping around your ear you don't need anything that would slow you down, interfere with your movement, or make you a bigger target - picture hugging "Mother Earth" as closely as possible to avoid rounds with you field pack making a nice target above the hollow in the ground you've found. Unless you want a D-Day scenario I suggest ditch the packs and the straps. I also agree the grenadier should have some sort of weapon - preferably M-1 Garand as there are too many carbines and Thompsons in the 1/72 toy soldier world already IMO. The pose on the figure is textbook from the manual as to the proper throwing of a grenade - even down to grounding or propping the weapon up somewhere to throw - however in reality in the heat of combat one's personal weapon is (or should be) an extension or even a part of one's body and therefore I can't see anyone setting it down where it couldn't be seen. I think if you wanted the man standing in the same position in lieu of re-doing the entire pose I'd have him holding his M-1 in his left hand as he prepares to throw. JMO.
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vmc
Quaestor
Posts: 19
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Post by vmc on May 18, 2019 18:21:31 GMT
BTW the M1 carbine was not issued as alternative to anyone who didn't fancy carrying a rifle! It was issued to replace the .45 pistol as a personal defense weapon for personnel other than riflemen - those not normally expected to engage the enemy in direct fire combat (e.g. officers, gun crew, ammunition carriers etc). Officers frequently exchanged them for a Garand because making yourself look different or important is very unhealthy in combat. Wargamers like to identify their command figures easily, but not as much as enemy snipers!
I think the rolled sleeves makes this set pretty unique and useful for a subject not covered before: Tunisia Sicily and the Italian campaign. Not only will they be at home in the hot Normandy summer of 1944, with the recent release of the Battlegroup Torch rule book these warm weather GI's will be more than welcome. Next stop Monte Cassino!
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Post by Arlin on May 19, 2019 16:32:41 GMT
I will be using them as Army in the Philippines 1944 - 1945 too.
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Post by waynew on May 19, 2019 19:33:59 GMT
According to the memoirs and histories of US paratroops (particularly the 82nd and 101st in Europe) M-1 carbines were made available to paratroopers as a smaller alternative to the Garand to make it easier to carry while jumping. The general consensus from my reading has been the paratroopers hated the carbine because if its lack of range and power. They preferred the M-1 Garand in spite of its size. James Gavin mentioned in his memoir how he ditched the carbine he was issued and carried an M-1 instead of a carbine for the rest of the war.
The carbine is a popular weapon for private use. My father-in-law had one and it was nice for plinking cans or keeping predators away from livestock; but the consensus I've gotten from my reading the guys who used them in combat was it wasn't well thought of by the troops - particularly paratroops. I know this set would be representing regular "straightleg" infantry, but I would imagine the opinion held true for them, too. I've never understood toy soldier makers' love for the weapon - look at Airfix's set.
I give all this trivia to support my opinion that this set looks to be a healthy offset to that obsession and the shortsleeves will also be welcome to me - I know some of the fiercest fighting in Europe at least occurred in the Winter 44-45, which was one of the fiercest winters in decades, but so much combat was in temperate to hot weather as well.
Kudos to this set.
Of course NOW, there is a desire for a Winter set?
It never ends...
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Mike Bunkermeister Creek
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Post by Mike Bunkermeister Creek on May 21, 2019 4:18:52 GMT
Yes, 12 men in a US Army rifle squad. Seven poses is a bit sparse for that. Should be all M1 rifles with one or two BAR and for each BAR you get a #2 assistant BAR gunner who carries extra magazines. The US Army also used a lot of M1906 Springfield rifles all during the war and not just for snipers. They were used to fire rifle grenades, and were issued to many service troops. Mike Bunkermeister Creek
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Post by Arlin on May 21, 2019 18:07:54 GMT
With this set I can make a pretty good squad (I guess my squad leader will be the guy top left), but as Mike states, a Springfield would be nice for a grenadier.
That last spot or two could be an opportunity to fill a gap in the, surprisingly sparse, choices of WWII Army infantry. I look at those ubiquitous photos of US troops moving off beaches or to the front and realize there are no marching GI's. And I really still want to get a nice Radio operator, or someone carrying ammo. Italeri came close, but their set was too out of scale for my other troops. Anyway, my 2 cents.
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gt
Quaestor
Posts: 2
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Post by gt on May 22, 2019 11:33:32 GMT
I can only echo that the short-sleeve order limits the figures usage to the Mediterranean or Pacific regions only, thus limiting the appeal of this set.
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Post by Magnification on May 22, 2019 14:42:54 GMT
Well, my two cents worth, Very pleased to see shirt sleeves order, plenty of other manufacturers cover temperate European uniform order. But, we do need some extra poses to make the pack 'moor-ish' So, please add an RTO, a Thompson armed NCO/Officer, kneeling rifle-grenade launcher and a running ammo carrier who could at a pinch double as a medic. Now, if you really wanted to make me happy - an M1917 air cooled Browning team and mortars - a 60 mm prone team and 81mm standing three man group, with the leader watching through binoculars. Maybe this is a second heavy weapons set.......... ?
Regards All,
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Post by Zaphod on May 23, 2019 11:10:42 GMT
For wargames use the grenade thrower is not a very useful figure. I would consider ditching it altogether unless it has an added rifle.
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Post by lateonparade on May 28, 2019 6:09:33 GMT
How did the previous ad for "paper writing service" and drugs from "Scoztrah" get past "Security"?
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Post by Ironsides on May 28, 2019 8:52:36 GMT
How did the previous ad for "paper writing service" and drugs from "Scoztrah" get past "Security"? If you see spam rather then post a comment please report it
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Post by Graeme on Jun 1, 2019 2:34:06 GMT
I have reported the two previous posts (post options button, top right of each post). The Russian one seems to encourage scale creep, we don't need that.
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Post by Moderator on Jun 1, 2019 15:13:15 GMT
Thanks Graeme, much appreciated.
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Post by waynew on Jun 1, 2019 15:44:35 GMT
I have reported the two previous posts (post options button, top right of each post). The Russian one seems to encourage scale creep, we don't need that.
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Boom Boom out go the lights
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Post by Boom Boom out go the lights on Jun 3, 2019 18:45:04 GMT
Short sleave order is fine for me. Agreed the man with grenade should have a rifle, too. The main problem is that 7 poses are far from enough for a WW2 theme.
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