ON THE SHELF
FIGURES116 View more reviews online:www.airfi xmodelworld.com http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 117MOON
WALKERS
FIGHTING
FOR LIBERTÉKEEPING
IN TOUCHHELLCAT DRIVER
German Command Vehicle Crew
(1939-1942)
By: ICM
Item no: 35644 Price: £8.99
Web: http://www.hannants.co.ukThis neat four-figure set is
intended to accompany ICM’s
Sd.Kfz.251/6 Ausf.A (and will
soon be available in a combo
set), but would be suitable for
any command half-track kit.
There is a driver, commander
and two radio operators,
although no equipment is
supplied in this package. Each
is a multi-piece ensemble,
with legs, arms, head and hat
separate from the torso – all
parts are moulded crisply
and feature well-defined
detail, notably on the tunics.
According to the painting/
assembly guide, three of the
figures are soldats/privates,
with a Feldwebel/Staff
Sergeant overseer.FAA Pilot WW2
By: elan13 Miniatures
Item no: EL87
Price: £20
Web: http://www.elan13.co.uk
This is the first of two figures from
elan13 to accompany Airfix’s newly
tooled 1/24 Hellcat, and depicts
a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm pilot
wearing a parachute and Mae West
life jacket while walking to/from
his assigned aircraft. The pilot is
wearing hot-climate clothing short-
sleeved shirt and trousers; the main
torso and legs are provided as a
single item. Notably, the sculpting
and casting are exquisite, especially
on the lifejacket ties and straps,
while the arms and head are
separate. One arm is positioned as if
holding onto the flying equipment,
but the other is carrying the pilot’s
gloves. The high quality extends
to the face, which features a
realistic expression, and the beard
is rendered convincingly, adding a
final touch to a splendid figure.1/35Free French Infantry
By: Italeri
Item no: 6189
Price: £9.99
Web: http://www.hobbyco.netItaleri’s Free French Infantry
figures are equally applicable
for wargamers and modellers
alike and comprise two runners
moulded in soft styrene,
offering 49 figures in various
poses complete with two
stretchers. There is a great
selection, with a mix of officers
and soldiers, and these are
depicted standing, kneeling,
crouching, or firing in the prone
position. ‘Specialised’ figures
include stretcher bearers,
casualties (for the stretchers),
bazooka and mortar operators.
A painting guide is provided
on the box rear, with colours
matched to Italeri Acrylic
Paint tones. The figures are
well moulded, with just slight
seams, although the large
attachment points will take a
degree of neatening.Astronauts
By: Airfix Item no: A00741V
Price: £4.99 Web: http://www.airfix.com
Airfix’s first release to
commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the first Apollo Moon landing
is one of its classic offerings – the
astronauts figure set. It’s still
moulded in the original-style hard
vinyl, rather than styrene and,
despite being almost as old as the
event itself, there is a refreshing lack
of flash. There are 15 figures in total,
a pair of which are intended to sit on
the two eight-piece moon buggies,
another duo is for a notional ‘moon
hopper’, with a further two on
rocket/jet platforms. The remaining
astronauts comprise two each who
are filming, surveying, walking or
carrying equipment, while the last
individual is planting a flag. This
set is ideal for modellers of all ages
and skill levels, and when combined
with Airfix’s Lunar Module would
make a great diorama.
1/76NAVAL AVIATORS
Crew F-14 Tomcat
By: PlusModel
Item no: AL4089 Price: €12.70
Web: http://www.plusmodel.czHere’s the perfect accompaniment
for any parked 1/48 Tomcat, in the
form of a pilot and radar intercept
officer. The former is a single-piece
item, with the latter having separate
arms, one of which is holding what
appears to be a mission pack. Both
are wearing full flight gear, including
G-trousers, lifejacket and combat
survival waistcoat, and based on the
accompanying artwork these depict
a crew deployed on operations in
the Middle East. The sculpting and
casting are of the highest quality,
notable on the faces, which have
convincing expressions.1/24 1/721 /4 8Delta Force Fighter (Mogadishu 1993)
By: ICM Item no: 16103 Price: £17.99
Web: http://www.hannants.co.ukICM Delta Force fighter is yet another
finely moulded creation. Supplied
on three styrene runners, plus two
more for the three-piece stand, the
parts breakdown is logical, with a
two-part torso and separate limbs,
hands and head. The figure is posed
as if directing other troops, with
his M4 carbine held high, while
pointing towards an objective/target.
Equipment appears accurate for
1993, with body armour, additional
magazines, combat radio and back-
up Ithaca shotgun. Note, the straps
for the carbine, shotgun and goggles,
plus radio leads, will need to be
scratch-built, but the boom mike,
leg straps (for the pistol holster and
ammunition pouch) are supplied. As
a bonus, there’s a 11½ x 8¼in (291 x
210mm) colour print, which doubles
as a handy painting guide.BLACKHAWK
DOWN1/16