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Volkssturm, Germany 1944-5 1:35


Mike

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Volkssturm, Germany 1944-5
1:35 Master Box


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As the war continued to go against Germany and the attrition of trained men of fighting age put more pressure on their military, many civilians and veterans of WWI were pressed into service. Men, boys and even women were trained to operate the basic weapons of defence, such as the Kar98 rifle, and the dreaded Panzerfaust that could turn a housewife into a tank destroyer, providing she could get close enough to fire it effectively. The Volkssturm, which means "people's storm" were hastily trained, often by those that had been invalided out of the service, or older soldiers that weren't fit for front-line service anymore.

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This set contains five figures in injection moulded styrene on one sprue that is held within a standard figure sized box. Included are the following:

  • A moustachioed old soldier with puttees, greatcoat and forage cap, loading a Kar98 rifle, which has the bolt back and a clip of ammo being pressed home.
  • A lady in a fur-trimmed ¾ coat with matching hat, toting a Panzerfaust on her right shoulder in the aiming position.
  • An older soldier in great coat, boots and forage cap explaining the finer points of firing a Panzerfaust.
  • An officer in great coat, boots and holding an instruction manual, with the option of either holding a cigarette in his right hand, or an alternative part that represents an empty sleeve, allowing him to be posed as a former soldier, recalled to duty.
  • A gentleman in a double-breasted rain coat, trilby and brogues, watching a demonstration intently with his hands clasped behind his back.

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As usual with Master Box, the sculpting is first rate, and all the figures are broken down sensibly to improve detail whilst minimising joint clean-up. All figures have separate legs up to their waists, with the coat tails as separate thin parts that shroud the upper legs realistically, so there are no solid areas when viewed from below. Heads, hats and caps are separate too, as are the arms, and the lady has been sculpted on a frame appropriately smaller than the men in the set, so that she looks distinctly female.

The colours, part numbers and construction notes are found on the back of the box, using Vallejo and Lifecolor paint codes as reference.


Conclusion
A superbly candid scene during the desperate final days of WWII is depicted, needing only a battle scarred backdrop to finish it off. Sympathetically painted, these figures will tell their own story.

Highly recommended.

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Review sample courtesy of
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