MiniArt Close Combat US Tank Crew (35311) 1:35

[Mike]

Close Combat US Tank Crew (35311)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models

 

 

Sometimes tank crews have to vacate the relative safety of their vehicle to fight, such as when their ride is disabled or knocked out by enemy action, the occasional mechanical breakdown, or getting caught napping outside by the enemy.  They’re specifically equipped with more compact weapons to fit the confines of their vehicles, and in WWII US tank crews typically carried the M3 Grease Gun or an M1911 pistol for self-defence, the latter sometimes on a close-fitting three-point body holster keeping the holstered weapon close to their torso to avoid snagging themselves on the tank when inside.

 

This figure set contains five tankers dressed in typical US tanker overalls, hard helmets and M1 steel helmets.  Inside the shrink-wrapped box are seven sprues, two containing the figures, two their helmets, weapons and accessories, while the remaining three have parts for an M2 Browning .50cal machine gun, some ammo cans and sundry other weapons and bags, with a tiny Photo-Etch (PE) sheet protected in an over-large card envelope. 

 

 

 

 

Two of the crew are kneeling either on or near the tank in a fairly tense fashion, looking out for danger, one with a Grease Gun, the other a pistol.  The two standing figures are also wielding Grease Guns, one firing, the other looking cautiously round a corner.  The final figure is standing on the deck of the tank firing the turret-mounted .50cal while bracing himself in an almost seated position, such that if the gun suddenly disappeared, he’d end up on his butt.  They’re all wearing tanker overalls except the guy with the pistol, and three of them are wearing the short bomber jackets typical of tankers of the day.  Think Telly Savalas in Kelly's Heroes.

 

 

The instruction sheet covers the building of the .50cal, its mount, a choice of open or closed ammo can, a short length of link for the open option, and the four-part tanker helmet that everyone but the .50cal gunner is wearing.  The short perforated cooling jacket for the .50cal is supplied as a PE part, with the barrel handle and collar also made of PE parts.  You will need to roll the collar and jacket into a tube before fitting it, but there is another barrel included in the set that has a moulded-in jacket and collar in case you don’t have any luck with the rolling.

 

As usual with MiniArt figures their sculpting is exceptional with crisp detail and sensible parts breakdown plus loads of extras to add some detail to their vicinity if you use them in a diorama.  The Grease Gun has a separate stock as shown on the rear of the box, while additional guns, a satchel, pistols and holsters, plus plenty of other spare weapons can be found on the sprues.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of