U.S. Soldiers Seated in a Vehicle #1
Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII


MK35
F118

This is the first of two excellent pairs of seated GI in winter garb from MK35. As shown in the product photo, they’re seated in a camouflaged German Steyr staff car. This is a somewhat unusual setting, but the arms of some of the figures are positioned over a seat or the side of the car, which means using them in a more common GI vehicle (jeep or one of the Dodge trucks) may require some alterations.

One figure is seated in the front passenger position. He wears the melton greatcoat, canvas leggings, and holds a Garand in one hand. The second, seated in the rear-facing back seat, wears the M1943 coat and leggings, and likewise is pictured with a Garand in hand. However, no Garands are included in the set, but they’re easily available from Tamiya or DML. Or, they could be set without their weapons. Neither figure is wearing any web gear or cartridge pouches on their belts. You could easily make them forward observers, recon or field artillery figures by adding M1 carbines and the two-clip pouches common to those assignments.

The figures are nicely sculpted but have some seams that need to be cleaned up. Thumbs often have extensions on them to draw the resin into the mold, and those will need to be carefully severed. The figures are more towards the 6’ stature, similar to Warriors or Jaguar.

Manufacturers are finally heeding the call for more seated GIs, and these in particular will help populate vehicles in a winter environment. While none of the seated MK35 figures is a vehicle driver, you could pick up one in a greatcoat from either Wolf (WAW31) or Nemrod (N35033), or Verlinden and Warriors have drivers in the M1941 jacket which was still seen during the winter months in the Ardennes.

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Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII © 2002—2007 Timothy S. Streeter