Kit Review: Miniart 1/35 scale Kit No. 35126; U. S. Tank Crew; 58 parts in = grey styrene; retail price US$23.00
Advantages: finally another American armor crew set in styrene!=20
Disadvantages: none noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all US WWII and Korea armor fans
I have personally been very frustrated for a number of years by DML and th= eir lack of breadth on figures. They have produced but one US tank crew fig= ure set out of over a hundred sets but literally dozens and dozens of Germa= n figures, a few Soviet sets, and a handful of Commonwealth ones. With the = popularity of American armored vehicles with modelers, this is a shame.=20
Thankfully Miniart has now started to step up with other than German tank = crews, and this nice new set of American tankers in European garb is greatl= y appreciated.=20
The set contains five figures: three seated figures (C, D and E), one stan= ding with his foot on a object inside the tank (B), and one leaning out of = a hatch (A). All are wearing the basic HBT combat uniform with shoes and le= ggings, and two of the figures (the two standing) are wearing tankers=92 ja= ckets. Four of the figures are provided with goggles, two with shoulder hol= sters and one with a sidearm holster.=20
Each figure consists of the usual six basic parts =96 head, torso, arms an= d legs (the =93leaner=94 has both of his arms together for only five) with = a four-piece tanker=92s helmet consisting of crown, neck flap and ear flaps= .=20
Artwork is by Miniart=92s resident artist, D. Karashik (I think). Painting= directions are of the =93stick here and use this color=94 type once used b= y DML, and color matches are provided for Testors Model Master, Tamiya, Hum= brol, Revell, Gunze Sangyo Mr. Color, Life Color, and also English and Russ= ian color titles.=20
Overall this is a great set which will offer a wider possibility to modele= rs using styrene figures. It=92s just a shame DML has ceded the field to ot= her companies.=20
Cookie Sewell