Hobby Boss German Officers (84406) 1:35

[Mike]

German Officers (84406)

1:35 Hobby Boss via Creative Models

 

 

Officers and their meetings.  They happen a lot, and if there aren't any comfy seats you can even get them to stand up whilst discussing whatever it is they feel the urge to talk about.  This set was originally released by Tristar (no, I don't remember either) in 2001, it is now reboxed under the Hobby Boss brand, and arrives in a shrink-wrapped figure box with one sprue in sand coloured styrene and a tiny fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass.

 

 

 

 

To be honest time has been kind to the sprue, and there appears to be no damage or flash, good detail, even extending to coat tails, emblems and handles on document cases.  There are four figures on the sprue, all dressed differently and of different ranks and parts of the military, even down to a Lieutenant carrying a case and documents for the General to his side.  The tanker is in the SS as can be seen from his collar mounted death's head emblems (D'ya think we might be the baddies?), and while it's difficult to see, the gentleman in the great coat may well be a Major.  The PE parts are two pairs of glasses with round lenses of the type worn by the Lieutenant on the right of the boxtop photo.

 

The instructions are printed on the rear of the box, and at the bottom there is a small section detailing how to make maps for the officers to carry and/or examine.  Where are these maps?  If you check the first drawing of the four you'll find a map on each of the four side tabs that help close up the box lid.  You're told to cut them off, soak them in water and then peel off the top printed layer from the card and cut your map from that once it has dried.  Very clever!  Two of the maps show coloured terrain as well as roads and building, while the other two are black and white showing larger scale details.

 

Conclusion

A useful set of officers, including the pudgy General and with good detail that belies the set's age.  The addition of the PE spectacles and maps add extra value to what is already a well-priced figure set.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of