U.S. Infantry ETO WWII
Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII


Verlinden Productions
1180

This set features two GIs that appear to be posed in some sort of confrontation, likely of a vehicular nature.

The most interesting one is wearing the M1943 synthetic rubber-coated enlisted man's raincoat, with the distinctive round stitching for the internally hung pockets (quite similar to the German's rubberized raincoat, actually). The raincoat is a grayish-green color, as least as seen in Windrow and Hawkins' "The World War II GI: U.S. Army Uniforms 1941-45 in Color Photographs," perhaps lighter than on the box art. He wears a bandolier over his chest and equipment webbing, and has the M1923 cartridge belt. On his belt are a canteen, first aid pouch, and a bayonet in its scabbard. He stands with his right hand down at his side, and his left arm outstretched, palm and fingers extended forward, as if guiding traffic, though he's not marked as an MP.

The second figure wears the light tan winter combat jacket under his web gear, a scarf or kerchief tucked around his throat. From his belt hang the first aid pouch and the two-clip .45 ammo pouch. The gun is provided as a separate piece. This figure stands with his hands somewhat outstretched and palms up and his mouth is open, as if imploring the raincoated figure to let his vehicle get pass through a convoy.

Both figures wear the gaiter boots. Accessories include a pair of shovels, a pair of 1/32 scale M1 Garand rifles, some grenades, and a panzerfaust that is not seen on the box art (mistakenly inserted into the package perhaps?). There is an additional pouch on the carrier with the pistol that could possibly hold a clip or two for the Garand of the soldier without the cartridge belt.

The buyer should be aware that the legs and torso of the figure in the winter jacket are identical to parts of the two figures in VP's #1609 "U.S. Tank Commanders WWII." Personally, this sort of cannibalization bothers me since there are so few US figures to begin with. VP might feel the need to cut corners in order to get more Allied figures out to market, but it's going to defeat the purpose if they start looking all the same, a practice that VP has also indulged in with putting the same heads of U.S. soldiers in several different kits. I've never seen this done with the company's German figures, and I wish they'd have the same respect for those of us who build U.S. figures.

-tss-

 

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