1/72 ARMOURFAST-WWII German Mortar Team (Set Review)

This is Armourfast's mortar team soldiers that I painted in various Waffen SS camouflage patterns respectively oak leaf (autumn/winter), blurred edge (spring/summer), plane tree (spring/summer), palm/forest tree (spring/summer; autumn/winter).

Even if I know that it is hard to be recognised, I have also tried to add minor details like Waffen SS ranks on the colars.

Hope you enjoy them and any comments regarding the review or picture are more than welcome.

Cristian Florescu

ARMOURFAST 1/72

WWII German Mortar Team

Review

According to its own good custom, Armourfast/Hat makes again an effort to treat an uncommon met topic at 1/72 figures depicting German Soldiers in WWII and in this regard, the present set addresses to Granatwerfer 34, the excellent German medium mortar of 81 mm, as well its servants. Pretty rare in the field, the special designated to certain types of weapons sets not only have a particular charm, but also fill the gaps or improve the German Army endowment with extremely useful items.

Except this set, another one dedicated to the same weapon has almost an identical name and it is the marvelous Pegasus Hobbies' "German Mortar Teams", but in spite of the name similitude, there are huge differences between them.

In addition, Preiser has just launched on the 1/72 market another set dedicated to this important German weapon and its crew of five, also dressed in camouflage smocks. Nevertheless, bearing in mind the size of the PAK40 crew from the same manufacturer as well the test shots pictures, it is assessed that are much bigger those from here and does not perfectly match with them.  

Furthermore, other several German mortars are encountered in a number of Esci/Italeri sets, but these are ridiculous realized, an exception representing the mortar from Italeri/Revell "German Elite Troops", which even inspired by Esci's mortars, is a lot more upgraded.

It has to be underlined since the beginning that the present analyzed figures, along with the ones found inside the MG team set, actually differentiate than the rest of Armourfast/Hat offer featuring the German Army in WWII, their sculpture and level of details being far superior. On the other hand, the issue may be emphasized and by the fact that the just mentioned two sets are the only one released only under the Armourfast label.

Inside the box there are four similar sprues and each incorporates various mortar pieces, five figures, one Kar 98K, two mortar projectiles and an ammo box for Granatwerfer 34.

Although manufactured in soft plastic, it is pretty easy to link the diverse enclosed components using super glue, which makes a strong bond on the plastic used by Armourfast.

The mortar is fair illustrated, composed from three pieces that have to be put together, namely barrel, bipod and base plate. Even if it is less detailed than its homologue from Pegasus, it is good to know that both mortars have exactly the same size.

The projectiles are in scale, but the head has a too round shape, in stead of being a little sharper,  while the ammo box looks like being opened on the top when this type of box was opened from one side, as it was in reality. Nevertheless, taking into account the extremely small dimensions of these parts, such little alterations are almost unseen and may be ignored.

Unluckily, the included figures are a little bit smaller than almost all the rest of other soldiers produced by various companies, but definitely they are not at 1/76. Based on the size of bodies, weapons and gear, as well comparing them with some figures from other firms, it should be stressed that the soldiers incorporated this set may be assessed as being at 1/72 with small aspect.

These mortar servants wear the uniform specific to the last part of WWII and comprise from cammo smock M 38, regular trousers, gaiters and ankle boots. Another nice detail is the camouflage canvas that is covering the helmets. The gaiters, an item introduced after 1943, as well other uniform components, straightly lead to the conclusion that they are appropriate for the last period of WWII. These soldiers can be enrolled both in Waffen SS or Wehrmacht, the distinction consisting in the specific camouflage patterns. Another advantage provided by camouflage smocks is represented by the opportunity to paint them in spring/summer or autumn/winter colors, bringing in this way more diversity.

Given the thickness of the uniform, they are more suitable for warm periods, but still may be used in colder seasons.

All wear the "Y" straps and possess Zeltbahn or gas mask container (the level of details of these items allows both representations), canteen, shovel and other two accessories of mortar servants. Several have the bayonet, too and even one nicely props his hand on the handle.  

As personal fire weapons, one figure has MP40 and another has an empty hand where it can be attached the 98K or a mortar projectile, both of them being found on the same sprue.  The soldier with MP40 has not the ammo pouches designated for his weapon, differing from the rest of the figures that have the correct ammo pouches for Kar 98K. On the other hand, due to its pose, the figure with MP40 may be assessed as having the appropriate ammo pouches, but these are hidden by his arm. Regarding the fire weapons, not only the MP40 but also the 98K are outstanding detailed and in scale, immense differing from the similar types of weapons met in other Hat sets related to the German Army.  

All the poses are crouching, accurate realized and perfectly matched with the mortar, succeeding to create a tremendously realistic ensemble.

Between the five figures, one holds binoculars in his hand; most likely he is an NCO and does not distinct through other details from the rest of figures.

A little stranger was the inclusion inside a set aiming the servants of a mortar, of a soldier firing with MP40, but this fact could surely happen in reality and does not taint the quality or naturalness of the set. Probably it was wanted to portray a soldier providing close fire coverage for its comrades while they prepare to handle the mortar. 

In addition, two poses have projectiles in their hands and if it desired, as it was stressed above, another one can receive a projectile or a Kar 98K, otherwise it may be left with bare hands and emplaced as if he is adjusting the aiming system of the mortar.

The uniforms are nicely detailed, with plenty of visible details like creases and gaiters latchets while the bodies are well proportioned, in spite of having a small appearance. Great sculpture is met at facial expressions and there are no differences between the size of gear or bodies between the poses.

Moreover, flash is insignificant, easy to remove and excess of plastic is not present at all. There are not any problems with the material used to manufacture the set which accepts very well the enamel, giving it a matt appearance.

As a result of the fact that they have a small aspect and are dressed in camouflage smocks, these soldiers perfectly match with the Pegasus Hobbies' "Waffen SS - Set 2" as well with those from Armourfast's "German Machine Gun Team". All these three sets so exceptional complete each other that represent a "must have" for all that owners of at least one of them who want to depict a scene including more than 10 figures.

Additionally to the just mentioned sets, figures dress in the same style can be found through other sets in Caesar "German Infantry with Winter Gear",  Italeri "German Elite Troops", Pegasus Hobbies "Waffen SS - set 1", and "Germans in Berlin 1945", Esci "Nebelwerfer 41", Preiser "PAK40 Crew" as well Revell "German Infantry" and "German Engineers".

Like it was already mentioned, another set targeting the Granatwerfer 34 and its servants, is the one from Pegasus Hobbies entitled "German Mortar Teams". There are huge differences between these sets, not only the by the size of figures, but also the uniform being different, these Pegasus figures being much taller and dressed in M34 tunic, specific to the first part of WWII. Joining the two sets on the same diorama is really difficult and it is recommended only if there are mixed figures from a lot of other manufacturers.

In general, taking into account their look, the figures related to the German Army in WWII from Hat are more addressed to wargamers, but not the same thing it can be said regarding the present set as well about "WWII German Machine Gun Team". These figures seem to be designated and for diorama fans, the level of sculpture and details being far superior to the rest of sets produced by Armourfast/Hat.

"German Mortar Team" really represents an extremely useful team, not only its poses and high level of sculpture, but also its specific destination corroborated with the fact that it greatly matches soldiers from other representative sets through uniforms and size, highly recommending it.