Verlinden
Productions
2113
This
can be a useful set to figure builders who want to personalize their
projects with a little variety from the out-of-the-box GIs.
There
are a pair of torsos and legs; each pair is on a casting plug and
they can be built into figures that resemble their original counterparts,
one walking (wearing the M1943 jacket, ammo pouches, and bandolier)
and one standing still (wearing a tanker jacket and suspenders).
If you mix and match with other VP figures, be mindful of the length
of the jackets and how they sit on the lower leg portions.
There
are six arms, three right and four left. Three of the left arms
are carrying a box of .30 ammo, a Tommy gun, and a couple bottles
of wine. One right arm is about to throw a grenade and another holds
a piece of bread. There are separate right hands carrying an M1
Garand, a BAR (no ammo magazine is present, however), and a rolled
blanket. A left hand clutches a SCR-536 handie-talkie. There are
also hands that hold a spoon, a cup, and a Colt .45 (left hand).
Four other hands are empty.
A note
on the using the arms: you'll need to make sure that the sleeve
cuffs are appropriate to the rest of the jacket you're attaching
the part to, or make necessary changes with putty or your X-Acto
knife. Also be aware that you'll probably need to make some adjustments
where the arms join at the shoulders.
For
footwear, you get two pair of service shoes and canvas leggings,
a pair of service shoes without leggings, and another pair of shoes
that are not really regulation service shoes (they don't extend
above the ankle) but you could putty some extended trouser legs
over them. The shoes without the leggings are rather short. There
is also a pair of rubber overshoes for a winter climate.
Finally,
you get five heads: three with bare helmets, one with a netted helmet,
and a final noggin in a wool cap.
Much
of the equipment is found in nearly every Verlinden set: the large
one-piece M1943 pack, based on the camouflaged M1942 jungle pack,
that was seen in Europe for a time in 1944 before being replaced
by the two piece M1944 field packs; the M1936 field bag, or "musette
bag"; the M1 ammunition bag. You get several entrenching tools,
canteens, holstered pistols, ammo pouches, grenades, a dispatch
pouch and a binocular case. Three M1 carbines are also included.
It
would be nice to have more torso and leg portions included and less
emphasis on the ubiquitous gear, the amount of which is more than
really necessary if you have other VP accessory sets. The most tantalizing
part of this set is the appearance of the hand carrying the blanket
and left arm toting the .30 ammo box. These came from one of a very
early pair of GI figures on march, the other figure shouldering
a Browning .30. I wish VP would re-release this complete one-of-a-kind
set.
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