MiniArt Chandler’s Family Refugees (38089) 1:35

[Mike]

Chandler’s Family Refugees (38089)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

During WWII there were millions of displaced populations created by the advances of the Nazis across Europe, escaping from combat or persecution, resulting in huge streams of humanity making their way to a perceived safer part of their own or a neighbouring country.  People took only what they could carry, unless they were lucky enough to possess a motor car or some kind of transport such as a cart, whether hand-pulled or horse-drawn.  People would take their truly important belongings, loading up with their most valuable goods, whether monetarily or otherwise, often comprising items that might be of use in their profession or as currency to trade when they arrived at their destination.

 

 

The Kit

This set supplies two figures, plus the possessions that they are carrying, and a trolley with more of their personal effects onboard. The set arrives in an end-opening figure-sized box, and inside are six sprues in grey styrene, plus a sheet of instructions, and a small decal sheet containing labels for various items.

 

 

The parts for each figure are found on separate sprues for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up.  The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from MiniArt’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model.  Both figures are wearing overcoats, the lady wearing a full-length fur coat that goes down to her knees, her legs formed by separate parts that plug into the underside of her coat.  The gentleman’s jacket is full length, and the tails are moulded as part of the rear panels in two sections, hanging down past where the legs join at the waist for realism.  He is wearing a soft cap with a minimal peak, while the lady has a headscarf covering her hair and a gramophone in her hands, both of them tramping toward hopeful safety, the gentleman pushing the cart with the rest of their remaining possessions in front of him.

 

 

 

 

 

The accessories are contained on four sprues, and include parts for the one-wheeled barrow cart on one sprue, a sprue of sacks with contents pressing against the material from within, a sprue of suitcases and a hat box, and the final sprue providing parts for a five-bulb standard lamp, a gramophone with horn, some of which aren’t documented in the instructions, but are simple to put together.

 

 

Markings

Whilst there aren’t any specific colours you must paint the figures and their possessions to make them accurate, there are some helpful suggestions included on the guide on the rear of the box, with a chart that shows colour swatches for Vallejo, Mr.Color, AK Real Color, Mission Models, AMMO, Tamiya and colour names to assist you, using a letter code in blue boxes to correspond to the suggested colours.  There is a small sheet of decals in the box, which gives you badges, stickers and logos for their belongings.

 

 

Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

Conclusion

The figures are expertly sculpted, and they have a care-worn look to them that would be typical of anyone that has been displaced by war, their profession is semi-implied by their luggage, and their downtrodden demeanour that contrasts with the luxury possessions worn and carried by the lady gives a clue to their past.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of