PREISER 1/72 - GERMAN PAK 40 CREW (Images & Set Review)

This is Prieser's Pak 40 crew mini-set, but I used these figures for handling a Pak43/41 from Ace. I also replaced the ammo, but with respect of the standard poses. The smocks and canvas were painted in Waffen SS blurred edge (spring/summer) pattern and the camouflage trousers in pea dot pattern. 

In addition to the figures, I also posted several images with them at a Pak43/41 for better seeing how they fit a gun.

I hope you will enjoy this set and any comments reffered to the review and images are more than welcome.

Cristian Florescu 

PREISER 1/72

GERMAN PAK 40 CREW

Review

The great amount of 1/72 German artillery guns definitely requires a large number of crews for handling them and unfortunately, in general, plenty of companies produce guns lacking crews or without adequate ones. Preiser took into account this sensitive and bizarre issue, of guns with no crews, and came on the market with a mini-set depicting, at least theoretically, the servants of a Pak40 gun. According to this company good custom, the poses of figures are inspired by authentic photos, thing that is excellent especially for those who want to build a diorama almost identical with the reference stuff.

Due to the material used for manufacturing them, namely hard plastic as well the way they are coming in the box, respectively in pieces, from the figures produced by this firm there can be obtained an infinite number of poses. The soldiers featured here are not necessary gun servants; they can be also disposed in combat or relaxing poses as infantry troopers or emplaced in/on various vehicles.   

In addition, the components of figures may be mixed releasing some extremely valuable new poses. As it is well known, as a general rule, the Preiser figures are coming without equipment, the modeler having the great opportunity to endow them as he wishes. It is not the case this time, taking into account that we are in the presence of a mini-set, the box is very small and the standard equipment and weapons sprues could not be included. On the other hand, these figures may be endowed with the accessories from other Preiser sets which abound in such things. Being made in hard plastic, the pieces excellent accepts any kind of adhesive used at kits, and it should be stressed out that all the components perfectly match.

Inside the box there is one sprue containing the sharp number of pieces necessary for finishing five figures, the only option being a Pak40 projectile. The uniform is specific to the last part of war, camouflage smocks, trousers, short boots and gaiters. All have the helmets covered with camouflage canvas while the gun commander is the only figure who has marching boots.

Furthermore, due to the thickness of uniform, the figures can be used in warm or cold seasons and at some figures the trousers may be painted not only as regular trousers, but also as camouflage over-trousers.  

The cloths are suitable for any period of WWII, especially after 1943, characterizing both Waffen SS and Wehrmacht troops, the specific camouflage patterns added by the owner representing the main difference.

At present, this is the only Preiser set with soldiers dressed in this way, but happily, more are going to come.

The figures are delivered in pieces, specifically body and arms and these can be mixed and in a multitude of variants, diverging from the provided instructions posted on the box. In one palm there is a Pak projectile, in other binoculars while the rest are holding nothing, aiming to fit various components of a gun. 

In contrast with Preiser regular offer, here it is not recommended fixing arms from other sets of the same producer, bearing in mind that it is the only set with figures dressed in camouflage smocks and the arms are a little thicker than the rest depicting other types of clothing. If it is desired, other heads, palms and accessories can be attached, equipping them light or heavy, the set being totally compatible with the rest of Preiser sets from this point of view. The soldiers wear just belts where the sculptor put only one equipment item for each figure, respectively a canteen, a mess tin, a gas mask and for the gun commander a pistol holster.

With reference to the poses, these are really more than suitable for artillery guns and the sculptor's intention was that from the standard poses, three to be fixed on the split legs of a Pak while another crew member is crouching and prepared to bring a new projectile. The commander is the only standing figure, ready to order to open fire. From the ones designated to be attached on the split legs, it should be emphasized the laying one which is really impressive. Nevertheless, and the other two are pleasant and more than useful in handling a gun. 

In case that figures are intended to be disposed at a gun, it is recommended before gluing or immediately after it, to fix the pose, disposing the arms and palms in relation to what it is intended to do. The palms are sculptured for perfectly hold the aiming components of a Pak. The usage is not necessary restricted only for Pak40, they may be emplaced at other types of guns, but the case requires special attention to the 75 mm projectile because it must be replaced with one fitting the caliber of the used gun.

The bodies are very well proportioned, with expressively faces, and Preiser is famous in this regard. Even if it does not abound in details, the uniforms are nicely reproduced and flash is insignificant and easy to be removed. The manufacturing material provides good support for any enamel, accepting it very well and also giving it a matt appearance.

The present reviewed soldiers are absolutely compatible from the point of view of body and gear size as well type of uniform with those enclosed in Pegasus Hobbies "Waffen SS - set 1", Caesar "German Infantry with Winter Gear", Italeri "German Elite Troops", Revell "German Infantry", Esci "Nebelwerfer 41", and with some from Pegasus Hobbies "Germans in Berlin 1945" and Revell "German Engineers".

Other sets with Pak crews are Esci "German Anti-tank Gun" and Airfix "Opel Blitz and Pak40". Taking into consideration the level of details, the figures from the just mentioned sets are inferior to Preser, being also dressed in the first part of war specific uniform. Another similitude between them is that all are manufactured of hard plastic.

Moreover, gun crews, other than Pak, may be found in various Hasegawa sets and in the excellent set from Revell "German Artillery" which is the result of a terrific collaboration with Preiser.

In spite of including just five figures, "German Pak Crew" is an extremely recommended set, not only due to its fitting to diverse artillery guns, but also because they can be transformed in first line infantry troopers and also very suitable for emplacing in/on various types of vehicles, tanks or assault guns.