Warriors
35257
This
is the "second generation" paratrooper figure sculpted
by veteran Brian Stewart in the mid 1990s for Warriors. The torso
unit serves for both "U.S. Surrendering to German" (35235)
and "U.S. Paratrooper with M.G." (35484). While this particular
chap has perhaps met with a rough landing as evidenced by the bloody
gash on his left leg, the sculptor has mended the poor fellow's
wound and given him new arms and heads for the other versions. This
continues to be a moneysaving trick by the manufacturers, but an
annoyance to modelers (well, me at least). When the machine gunner
version of this figure was released in 2003, I'd hoped that it would
be sufficiently different from this figure as to present the opportunity
to have present a pair of troopers (heh, heh) trudging down the
road to Ste. Mère-Eglise, but the lockstep similarity of
the poses quashed that idea.
On
his own terms, however, this fine figure is up to the high standard
of quality we've come to enjoy from Brian Stewart. The soldier wears
the distinctive M1942 airborne uniform with the generous pockets
and slash flaps, and the much-prized Corcoran jump boots. He's equipped
with an M1 Thompson submachine gun and ammo pouch slung over his
shoulder, Colt pistol, canteen, and trench knife. He has no suspenders
or musette bag. His pose, with his gun shouldered, is fairly casual.
The
only parts to attach to the body are the two arms, head, and Tommy
gun, to which you'll need to add a sling. The molding is crisp and
clean, and the face has a good expression. The figure is a decent
size, scaling under 6'.
If
you have to clone your own products to come up with new offerings,
this is a pretty good start. But you're really not creating new
opportunities for modelers to combine your products.
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