Resicast
35585

This the first of several Resicast resting paratrooper figures outfitted for the Normandy airdrop. He has a rather unique pose, one leg up as if his foot is resting on a rock, his arm extended outward as if leaning on a wall. He wears the M1941 uniform, including the gas detection brassard on his right shoulder, an uncommon detail in most scale American paratrooper figures. Most of these brassards tended to disappear in the first few days after June 6 as the fear eased of gas retaliation from the Germans. So if you're thinking of this and the other Resicast figures for a Carentan scene, ala Band of Brothers, you'll want to carefully scrape the brassard off.

The uncredited sculptor has done a superb job with these first three paratroopers. The figure is very nicely molded in four parts: torso/legs, two arms, and a head with mesh on the helmet. Detail is sharp and complete down to the laces on the Corcoran boots and felt shoulder pads to take the edge off the M1936 musette bag. There is no flash barely a trace of mold seams on the figure. The M1A1 carbine is molded to the trooper's gloved hand (another nice touch), though the delicate gun barrel was warped. This carbine had the metal folding stock, which is a separate and extremely delicate piece.

The figure comes with several carriers of equipment, including various ammo bags and dispatch case. There are no straps molded onto the figure for these pieces, so you'll need to create you own from paper, foil, or a photoetch product. Other equipment includes a pistol holster, M1910 entrenching tool, two M3 trench knives with different sheaths, grenades, binocular case, canteen, and compass pouch (another rarely seen item), as well as numerous first aid pouches.

There are two different gas mask bags; the rubberized M7 bag most commonly, if not exclusively, used on D-Day is marked "B" on the carrier. The M6 bag was seen later.

A bayonet is also part of the mix, but I don't think you'll want to use that as the WWII carbine did not have an attachment lug.

The figure's head is reminiscent in size and quality of Hornet heads. The soldier himself stands only 5'8" tall. That will make him seem rather dwarfish next to the larger Verlinden hunks. In fact, most all of the standard gear, including the musette bag, is smaller than found in Verlinden, Warriors, or Nemrod sets. If you're a stickler for scale accuracy, this may pose some problems mixing in these Resicast figures with others. But you can get around this to some extent by how you position figures and proximity to one another.

Apart from that challenge, these first three figures from Resicast suggest a fine little vignette for themselves, taking a break as they move cross country to link up with their unit and begin their long march to Germany.

-tss-