1/72 CAESAR - WWII German Army set 1 (Img and review)

This is the second set that I reviewed from the Caesar's pre-painted Parade series, next will be only figures dressed in camouflage smocks. (4 sets). I started with those dressed in greatcoats and these in tunics because they were easier to paint, the camouflage requires more time.

Hope you will enjoy both the review and the painting. Also the last three photos feature the factory paint.

Cristian Florescu

CAESAR 1/72

Parade Series

"WWII German Army set 1"

"(attack poses)"

Review  

For a long period, Braille scale was mostly visited by WWII Germans dressed in the early style uniforms composed by M36 tunics, trousers, marching boots and steel helmets while the late style was nearly inexistent. Fortunately, after 2000 a new current has registered, the largest part of manufacturers have started to reflect the late period and figures dressed in smocks or parkas, with ankle boots and gaiters as well as helmets covered by camouflage cloth become available for all interested in the topic. Furthermore, such figures could more accurate fit the late war armour, which is in general perceived as more attractive and popular than the early one.

Nevertheless, sometimes is necessary to appear a set depicting the early war, for maintaining a good balance between the two styles. Within the series Caesar has taken into consideration this fact, dedicating in the first six pre-painted sets four for figures dressed in camouflage and a single one for M36 tunics. Likewise, the sub-title of the set announces that at least another one is going to come, a detail also sustained by other clues such as the preview on the producer's website of several painted poses that did not appear in the first sets, as well as the announcement of a future set 2 in 2008 on the same source.

The set ending the initial list of the series, "WWII German Army set 1" contains, like almost all the others, only five figures, respecting quite appropriate the subtitle "Attack Poses" though two of them are advancing. The figures wear M36 tunics, regular trousers, marching boots and steel helmets while their equipment is composed by "Y" straps, gas mask containers, bread bags, canteens and folding combat shovels. In addition, several of them were endowed also with mess-tins and bayonets. The soldiers received as personal weapons two Kar98K and three MP40 as well as correct ammo pouches for their fire arms. Moreover, one of the figures with MP40, the advancing one, has at his waist another item, but due to the pose, it is hard to identify what it represents. This could be either the handle of a grenade or a pistol holster. Based on their garment these warriors are better fitting with warmer periods, but definitely they could be emplaced in snow as well, both the thickness of their uniforms and reference photos allowing such thing.

All of them stand, two firing off their weapons, two advancing and one throwing a StiHg-r 24. Those firing off the weapons look credible, especially the one shooting with MP40, his pose being quite attractive. Not the same thing could be said about the advancing poses, the soldier with MP40 looks natural, but the one with Kar98K seems to have some glass in his boots or walks on eggs, being afraid to step forward for not breaking them. Again, the most successful pose is the grenade-thrower who was caught in the moment of taking fullswing to throw as far as he can and holding in his left hand his firing weapon, a MP40. Nevertheless, all these poses are often encountered in sets of 1/72 Germans, but even so, the present soldiers are to a certain extent useful for attacking or advancing issues.

Per total, the uniforms are not really spectacularly sculptured, but on the other hand, these include some small details like creases or shoulder boards making them acceptable. The kar98Ks are not special, contrasting with the MP40s which are better done, but both sizes of the weapons match the area of similar items from other companies. Included in the small size of 1/72 scale, their anatomy is fine, as well as their facial expressions.  No differences in gear, weapons or body parts sizes between the poses is registered and they fit well with either the rest of figures from Parade series or various Preiser sets, Esci "German Soldiers"/Italeri „German Infantry", Revell „German Armoured Infantry" and Airfix  „German Infantry" (the 1/72 poses in that set).

All figures have flash which is uncomplicated to be taken away, harder is to get rid of the excess of plastic encountered at the two MP gunners holding their weapons close to the chest. In the contact area between body and weapon there is excess of plastic and for eliminating it, there are necessary many minutes. A good solution in this regard is to heat a pin and to make space for inserting a modelling knife. At the end, the frames of the new created gap should be filled off. Both because the paint used by the manufacturer allows well enamel and due to the fact that the factory paint was given in a thin layer, not ruining the details of the figures, it is not compulsory to remove it. The standard box of the series is used, a nice Plexiglas box permitting to view the content, wrapped by another cardboard box with one side opened. The figures are caught from their bases by a device and for taking them off it should be cut the front or back pin. Those who want to take out the bases will spend only several moments with this operation and will also discover that three of them can stand and without additional device.

Caesar's "WWII German Army set 1"  bulges the number of Germans dressed in early war style, adding several pretty common combat poses. Being pre-painted they specially address to wargamers and collectors, but all of these target groups as well the diorama builders which find these figures matching a scenario imagined by them can repaint them as they do in general with normal figures, the qualities of the paint used by the factory offering such a possibility.

FACTORY PAINT