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WWII RAF Mechanic in India & Elephant with Mahout(F48345) 1:48 CMK by Special Hobby The mighty elephant is used as heavy plant even today in India, and it has been a beast of burden there for probably thousands of years. During WWII, they were used extensively in the war effort, which is why we have this set here. As usual with Special Hobby's larger resin sets, they arrive in the familiar long clamshell box, with the resin parts safely cocooned inside along with a few pachy-peanuts to keep it still, and the instructions sandwiched between the two halves, doubling as the header card. The set contains three figures, one of which is large and grey – in fact, they're all grey at this stage, and all a bit wrinkly too, but I digress. The elephant is moulded as a single large casting, with the remnants of the casting block left along its spine, which will need a little tidying up with a sander. There are a couple of bubbles on the high points of the head, but as these are usually pretty humpy, a little rod super glued into the hole and sanded back will solve that and it's a simple tusk, so they're Irrelephant. The rider, known as a Mahout or handler is sat astride the back of the beast, with separate arms and a narrow stick for guiding the elephant's movements. The British Mechanic looks a little like king George VI, and is standing with his hands in his pocket (a common pose for a mechanic), and a thin sheet of flash between his spindly, shorts clad legs. The two human figures also have a line of flash running from their chins, which can be quickly scraped off so isn't a mammoth job, and is there to prevent bubbles lodging in the lower halves of the faces, thereby ruining them. As usual with resin, take the precaution of wearing a mask when cutting or sanding resin, as the tiny particles are harmful to your health if breathed in. Washing ivory one of the parts in warm water will also improve the adhesion of paint, as there may still be some moulding release agent on the parts when you receive them. Don't be a dumbo – take precautions! Conclusion A 1:48 elephant isn't something you see every day, and will make an interesting addition to any diorama, so get thinking and join the herd. You could even use it humorously to trumpet your feelings about any military procurement, simply by painting it white and posing it next to the object of your ire. Makes a change from those boring grey….J... Err…. Pachyderms. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of