Actually the doctor told me I was absolutly normal- he shortened it to abnormal though, lazy guy. I'd come visit you if it wasn't so far to drive to Hawaii 

I was wondering too about the Soviet style helmets in the photos as compared to the solid ones. Guess they're the newer style. Anyway you use them it's not like many people are experts on PLA uniforms to point errors out. Like my friend Terry that builds mostly Second World War French aircraft, he took one to a show and was laughing about over-hearing the judges 'Darned if I know if it's right or not- it's French...' 

Gamera,

I stumbled on your post when I tried to Google a kit review for this set.  Funny, it seems like we have similar tastes in models.  You'd better have yourself checked out by a doctor! 

BTW, i noticed on your original post that the fellows in your photos have soft headgear which looks like, but is definitely different from the Soviet stuff.  Too bad Hornet doesn't make them as well as the style that Trumpeter did.

Hey thanks G! Believe it or not I actually saw these a few weeks ago but haven't ordered them yet. Big BIG thank you for the review and photos of the sprues. Weird that they molded the same body over and over but I can make do since I want them sticking out of the hatches instead of standing around. And gee whiz, I'd completely forgotten I even posted this way way back then!

Nutty as it sounds I'm currently trying to resculpt a Vietnam civilian figure into a Japanese geisha for a dio... 

Gamera,

Necro thread!!! 

Five years later after the last post, Trumpeter releases a dedicated tank crew set.  No more trying to modify the goose-stepping ladies from the Bronco "Goose-Stepping Ladies" set into tankers!

https://flic.kr/p/GEkWqY][/url]PLA Crew-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/H2xnPw][/url]PLA Crew-02 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/GEkSjw][/url]PLA Crew-03 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The good news is you can build SIX figures from the box.  The bad news is that the tooling is kind of like a 1970s Tamiya kit.  The six bodies are all identical, so the saluting guy option looks odd, since his shoulder is not rotated up.  The tanker helmets have poor earphone definition, so looks like M. Brindo's tips on detailing older figures is timely.  Two machine guns are included, as well as two sheets of camouflage print decals and one set of uniform insignia.  That last bit is often overlooked by kit makers, so they are definitely welcome.

https://flic.kr/p/GEkQhA][/url]PLA Crew-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Ga6qCr][/url]PLA Crew-06b by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/GYsque][/url]PLA Crew-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/Ga1uBE][/url]PLA Crew-13 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/H2xgCJ][/url]PLA Crew-12 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Until better plastic or resin PLA tankers appear, these will have to do.

Rob & Kaysee: I think I have everything I need to kit-bash the figures but I'll certainly keep those Trumpeter kits in mind. Wouldn't mind buying one of those just to build it, funny I've never built any Cold War Soviet tanks other than a T-72 and T-80 (way back in the last years of the Cold War somewhere around '89-'91) and the Chinese version would be cool and different.   

Thanks again guys!!!

.

Kaysee: Thanks! I'd read on an another site that some of the older stuff did come with figures but they didn't list which ones! I'm going to try to kitbash some but if all else fails I'll definably give some of those figures a look.

Waikong: Thanks, that photo you posted is the best I've seen yet! I think I can take some other head sets and a little putty and make some helmets like that. Love the digital camo.  And I'll give the translation a try too, I'd never even thought of that!

Thanks again to both of you! I didn't expect anyone would know, this was a bit of a last ditch effort!

If I can ever do anything for either of you don't hesitate to ask!

How about this?  One trick you can do is go to translate.google.com, put in "PLA tank crew' and translate to Chinese (simplified). Then click on the images link in search results. You'll hit all the Chinese sites with pictures.  Not too many PLA pictures in English sites.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-10/27/122203918_11n.jpg

Gamera

Did my web search with several variations on 'PLA tank crew uniforms' and 'Chinese tank crew uniforms' - anyone have a better idea?

Cliff

i just saved you some headache. How you going to thank me, Cliff??

Buy this Trumpeter kit (#314).....it has 3 crew figures inside. OOH LA LA LA LA !!!!!