I play W.W.II, mostly with plastic figures in HO scale. Let's see what some of the figures are that are available We start with the Germans in Europe. Airfix used to make German, Afrika Korp and mountain troops, but the only ones I have seen recently are the mountain troops. These are in bloused pants, mountain boot, parka and with the mountain cap. Many are in work positions with tools and ropes. Several are on skis. You will need couple of boxes to come up with a battalion in combat poses. I used most of mine for engineers and artillery crew. Two useful items are the pack mules and the bicycle troops. Where else can you find German bicycle recon troops.
Esci, Germans. Jack boots, coal scuttle helmet and summer uniform. Very good selection of troop types, with two mortars, two tripod mounted machine guns, and three prone MG. There are two flame throwers, three figures with mines in hand for engineers, two officers, and a radiomen. There are three Pzshreck, but there are also eight prone riflemen. Finally a total of 22 other usable infantry.
Matchbox Germans. Another useful box, but slightly smaller in figure size. Only one mortar, and one prone MG team, but no other prone figures. There are four officers, two forward observers and two flame throwers as well as two Pzshreck . There are 35 usable infantrymen.
Revell has two infantry sets, Panzergrenadier in summer uniform, with jack boots, and Infantry, mostly in winter gear with short boots, but some in jackboots. The Panzer grenadier pack has three machine guns in fin position, and three being carried forward. The firing position is using the # two man for a tripod. No mortar one officer, one FO. and a field marshal with periscope binoculars. There are also 34 usable infantry figures, and one I would call a recon figure as he is squatting down. The only down side to these is the lack of mortar. The Infantry box has two MG in firing position, again the # two being the tripod, no mortars, but also no prone figures. There are two squatting officers, and five figures with bundle grenades, as well as two panzerschreck, and four carrying panzerfaust. Three are flame-throwers. There are five with grenades and SMG that could be converted to company level officers. In all there are 27 usable infantry, 31 counting the figure carrying the panzerfaust.
I haven't purchased any Matchbox or Revell Afrika Korp, but I do have the ESCI. The Airfix (if still available) had (to the best of my memory) 2 prone MG, a pair of officers, and a 20/28 taperbore A/T gun, plus about 35 infantry.
ESCI Afrika Corp: Afrika Green plastic, and very active in style. There are three prone MG with kneeling men, two mortars, two officers, two officer/ FO with binoculars, two flame throwers, and two engineers (with shovel). There are twenty eight additional infantry, and three NCO/officer figures with SMG. There are also three prone riflemen. Some of the figures are in long pants and desert boot, some in shorts, most with rolled sleeves. There is an easy battalion in the box.
Revell Artillery Set: Even if you have all the German 105mm howitzers you will ever need, get this set. Included are two howitzers, one in tow position, one in firing position, a limber, six horses, and seven crew to ride the limber and the team, as well as a mounted officer. To go with the firing gun there are seven crew, an boxes of shells. Even if you never use it as a set, it is useful as artillery crew and draft horses, or even mour recon. or German cavalry.
I will go on to U.S.A. the British and Russian figures in another article.
Related
Back to MWAN #84 Table of Contents
Back to MWAN List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com