1/72 CMK - German Soldiers for FAMO (Img and review)

Obviously, after a long review on tens of figures inside a single set, it was the turn of a short one having just several soldiers. It is a quite uncommon set on the internet, but very useful for vehicles as well as for other purposes. I really like the figures, especially their faces and I hope you will also like what I succeeded to obtain.

Any comment or sugestion regarding on the review or the painting is highly welcome.

Cristian Florescu

CZECH MASTER'S KITS (CMK) 1/72

"German Soldiers for FAMO"

Review 

Czech Master's Kits (CMK) is definitely one of the most well-known 1/72 resin manufacturer, recognized for its large collection of figures as well as for their high quality. Related to the German Army, inside their sets there can be discovered not only soldiers in the next proximity of the battle field, but also figures addressed more to diorama builders, like crews either for tanks and vehicles, or for submarines and airplanes.

As the title mentions, the major intention was to design the present set for a famous WWII German vehicle, the 18 tone Sd.Kfz 9 halftrack, better recognized as FAMO, after the name of the factory that produced a large part of the 2727 such vehicles, also manufactured by Vomag and Tatra. Especially during the last period, FAMO benefited by an enhanced attention granted by famous 1/72 manufacturers like Revell and Trumpeter.

Furthermore, this set it completes with another one of the same company, including also three figures, entitled "German driver and personnel for FAMO". Gathered in one place, both sets fill most of the seats of such a halftrack.  Nevertheless, the Famo personnel can be deployed to serve and other types of cars, trucks or halftracks from the long list of vehicles used by Germans during the period.

It is familiar the serious need of crews and personnel for vehicles, especially taking into consideration the fact that most of the representative producers in the field launch their kits without humans. The present set represents a valuable solution to solve the issue, at least for one vehicle.

Figures come in the CMK specific small box with an artwork providing some information on how the figures are going to appear on the seats of a FAMO. The drawn soldiers are not exactly in the same poses with those incorporated by the box, but they are still pretty close. Another difference between the drawing and content is that on the box a figure wears drill tunic while in the set, all figures are dressed in M36 tunic, regular trousers, boots and M34 overseas caps. Except belts, they completely miss gear and weapons, showing in this respect the sculptor's intention of depicting figures in a calm and safety area.

Nevertheless, most of the reference images illustrate the German FAMO personnel equipped in this way, so the historical accuracy is fully reached.

Their poses educe a relaxed atmosphere with unworried soldiers, having a little chitchat while traveling. All figures are seated in various positions. Perhaps, the most attractive is a figure with legs across, holding one with his right hand in an extremely natural manner, another, with rolled up sleeves, supports his left arm on the back seat while the last holds his knees with his palms. Indeed, all these are very successful poses for their meaning and will please diorama builders or vehicles with personnel fans.

Uniforms appear pretty accurate, the tunics displaying shoulder boards, buttons and other small details. A special remark goes for the buttons, which are represented in a quite uncommon manner, as a hole in the tunic and not embossed as usually are done by other manufacturers. Anatomy is more than impressive, main points of attraction being represented by some of the most expressively faces and very good sculptured fingers. There are not disproportions between the sizes of bodies of figures, flash is almost reduced to zero and the resin was cast without bubbles. The material greatly accepts the paint, and there is no need for using primer.

Considering their role, it is obvious that the soldiers come without bases, as well as the large majority of resin sets does, no matter the subject. Due to their high price, such figures have as target groups the collectors and diorama builders, but for sure, also the wargamers would be pleased by such a set.

Every figure is given on a separate sprue including also the head, which is in fact the single piece requiring assembly and super glue gel is recommended for a strong bond. As all resin sets, enhanced attention should be paid when detaching the soldiers from the sprues and due to their fragility, they can brake quite easy.

As it was pointed out above, there is a great need of crew and personnel for the large number of WWII German means of transportation present in 1/72 scale. Except CMK, with this set and its completion "German driver and personnel for FAMO",  several other companies took into account the lack and tried to fill the gap through related sets comprising more or less figures. Such offers, with 1/72 soldiers in poses suitable for entering the seats of vehicles could be found in Preiser's "WWII German Motorised Infantry", "WWII German Infantry Resting", "German Air and Ground Crew", "German Tank Crew", Warriors' "German Tank Riders Set 1 and Set 2", Miniatures Alemany's "German Panzer Grenadiers" etc.

On the other hand, some solutions are provided by manufacturers that launch on the market vehicles with crews, though these examples are counted on the fingers of one hand. Hasegawa, together with Esci/Italeri released several such kits, a proper example in the field being "SdKfz.7 Half Track 8-ton" of the first just named companies. Moreover, in general, the figures from such kits are quite poor, but due to the fact that are made of hard plastic, they may be improved with Presier body parts, gear and weapons.

For better comparing these figures from the point of view of size, it should be said that it is the one registered in the last period, the figures having almost the same size of heads, palms and bodies with soldiers met in sets like Caesar's "German Infantry Late War", Revell's "German Navy", Italeri's "German Elite Troops" and Pegasus Hobbies "German Mortar Teams".

CMK's "German Soldiers for FAMO" can bring life to any vehicle, but also may be used for other purposes, as soldiers carrying out activities connected to leisure.  For instance, being in sat poses, these figures can be emplaced around a table eating or talking, Preiser chairs or ammo boxes offering good solutions in this respect. In addition, they can embody artillery crews sitting on their gun or signal troops during the brake.

In spite of its simplicity, both the multi-purpose adaptability and the high quality recommend this just reviewed set as a valuable one.