1/72 WARRIORS - German Grenadiers Winter Dress Set 2 (Img and Review)

Even if I was late with almost 12 hours, this set ends the topic that I proposed for the reviews I did in March, namely sets depicting marching soldiers. I hope you enjoyed the subject, it was a great occasion for reviewing some of the best sets I have. For next month I also propose a topic reviewing sets with "fighting poses dressed in M36 tunics". This provides the opportunity of a short incursion in the history of sets with 1/72 WWII Germans.

Returning to the present review set, I enjoy a lot painting it, being top quality. Through the 2 soldiers wearing pea dot camouflage I tried to depict a MG team, while the others wear spring/summer oak leaf and autumn/fall oak leaf type A.  

My regret at the photos I took is that I could not succeed to catch all the faces I painted, the visor of the helmets casting a shadow over the eyes. Lucky me that at least one facial expression is clear, and I like it a lot. Being set near a comrade to which the shadow of the helmet covers the eyes, like a dark wash, I think this figure is a good ambassador for painting facial details on 1/72 figures.  

The penultimate photos feature the figures from both sets, the first four being those from set 1 followed by their colleagues from set 2.

Hope you enjoy the review and the images and any remark is highly welcome.  

Cristian Florescu

WARRIORS 1/72

German Grenadiers Winter Dress Set # 2

Review 

Developing the topic of walking soldiers initiated through "German Grenadiers Winter Dress Set # 1", Warriors brings us its continuation, "Set # 2" which on the one hand, includes pieces of same quality as those from the previous set, and on the other hand, comes with figures greatly completing the poses from the first set. Being dressed in the same way, in parkas and having exactly the same size, the soldiers from both sets looks like belonging to a single set split in two parts. Furthermore, the fine artist, Bill Chilstrom, worked on both sets, sculpturing several jewels in the scale.

The content comes in the standard small transparent box used by Warriors for their 1/72 sets, and features as artwork the same diorama used for presenting the figures from Set 1. For showing the soldiers from set 2, there were simply replaced those of the previous set and put in almost the same place the army-men from the following set. Various components require assembly, but no instructions or numbered parts are given. The artwork of the box could be used either as directions for assembly or painting, but the photo was shot from a quite long distance and for this reason, the figures are shown quite small. In order to respect the will of the manufacturer regarding assembly, the artwork must be studied very well. However, the operation of putting together is not complicated at all, the arm with MG matching only to the figure with pistol holster, while those with Kar98k fit at both remaining figures to which is necessary to add arms. The left hands are not so important how will be combined by the modeller, all fitting to any figure, even the one holding the MG ammo container can be glued to the soldier with MG. Due to the fact that resin is extremely fragile and very easy breakable, a lot of attention should be granted when removing the parts from sprues, especially to the thin ones like entrenching tools. Further care has to be given when there are extracted the sprues from the box, some delicate parts might crack during transport and it would be regrettable and disappointing to loose the MG barrel for instance. The content is cast in a white high quality resin, accepting extremely good super glue gel that makes a truly strong bond between the pieces. Apart from a figure that was cast with both arms, for the other three are given separate arms on individual sprues, all right ones having a weapon while only one left hand holds a MG ammo case, the other two having nothing. All heads are located on a single sprue, and each can be allocated to any soldier, no matter which, through the pin and hole system. Diverging from Set 1 where individual sprues were provided for each shovel, the entrenching tools of Set 2 are all located on a unique sprue. For the reason that the Warriors figures are in principal dedicated to diorama builders, these are offered without bases. Those who desperate need bases, can scratch-built them from a large range of materials or use others like coins, One Cent conferring enough space for accommodate a trooper of this company. 

All poses portray again marching soldiers, not rushed or frighten by an enemy bullet, a very necessary and important subject in the scale, especially because the way they are dressed, poses of figures wearing parkas and doing the same thing being extremely rare encountered in the offer of other manufacturers. The two sets are closely linked, the first set containing a figure carrying a MG ammunition container, but no related weapon, while set 2 incorporates a trooper with a MG34. Moreover, set 2 was created, like its predecessor, also with four figures, but both sets shares two quite similar poses. It should be underlined that the poses in case are not identical and it is normal, bearing in mind the topic, that plenty of similarities to be encountered at walking figures. Nevertheless, distinction may be brought to these two soldiers through the optional arms. In order to be more precise, the combination implies four arms, respectively two left hands carrying MG ammo containers, two left arms holding nothing, two right hands with Kar98K and two arms with Kar98K on the shoulders.  If somebody possesses both sets and in the first one the chosen combination was Kar98K in right hand / MG container in left hand, and Kar98K on the right shoulder / free left hand, than it is recommended the grouping to be switched for attaining clearly four dissimilar poses. The problem does not interfere for the other two poses of both sets, obviously unlike. The two new poses proposed by Set 2 are one carrying a MG34 and another one holding the Kar98K on the left shoulder. If the one with MG may be assessed as pretty close to the pose with MP40 form the first set, the one with Kar98K on left shoulder is bright new and does not have a correspondent in the other set. In addition, this figure is the single one in the series not requiring arms assembly, being cast with them. The pose is really good-looking and valuable, and due to the position of his legs may depict either a marching soldier or one staying still, such as an infantryman guarding a vehicle or the entrance of a building.

The soldiers are dressed in the same way, with M42 parkas, regular trousers and marching boots. On the heads, they wear steel helmets, which according to their size, can be represented not only simple, but also as having camouflage canvas. All helmets come without straps on the faces, providing more solutions for a modeller who can simply paint straps or scratch build and glue them in various positions. As in previous set, smocks are not buttoned up till the last button and we can see around the neck the collars of the tunics or the toques wrapping the neck, each of us having the liberty to select what item to portray.  The winter hoods are very nice depicted and because those were detachable, may be painted either in the same colour of the parka, or in another colour or camouflage scheme, different than the jacket. Parka was a piece of garment for cold period, and based on this fact, figures are mainly addressed to such periods. From various causes, not all troopers returned parkas at the end of the season, on 15 April, and kept wearing them along the whole year, so the present figures may be used as well in warmer environments. In supporting this estimation is that the present figures do not have smocks buttoned up, if outside it had been really cold, then the soldier would not have worn them like that. The first parkas appeared in 1942 were issued in mouse gray on one side and white on the other, being reversible. After 1943 the mouse gray colour was replaced with camouflage, Waffen SS or Wehrmacht or even Italian camouflage patterns being common on this piece of clothing. Taking into consideration the fact, a lot of alternatives are at owner's hand for bringing diversity to these figures, and even the manufacturer suggesting the aspect inside the artwork, where three received mouse gray parkas and one Wehrmacht camouflage pattern.  The equipment consists for all in mess tins, canteens, bread bags, and with a single exception, all received gas mask containers. On a single sprue there are given four entrenching tools, a different model than the one from the previous set, also missing the bayonets. The "Y" straps are not very visible and there is the possibility to be covered by hoods or creases of the parkas.  Due to gear positioning on soldiers, it is better to paint the "Y" straps, especially in the front side. The single figure where the accessory is not compulsory is the one missing the gas mask container, namely the MG gunner whose equipment could be sustained only by the belt. The figures with Kar 98K have the appropriate ammo pouches, genuine beauties in the scale. Three figures in the set received Kar98K while one has MG34, pistol holster and StiHg-r24 under the belt. Not only the fact the MG gunner is endowed, as specialised trooper, with a pistol, but also the way he holds the MG, turns this figure into a very eye-catching one. The modality of keeping like this the MG34 appears in many reference photos, but in the scale, figures doing so, are completely missing within mass production sets. Nevertheless, the gunner has not the necessary strap for his weapon, and two alternatives are available, the easy one being simply painting the strap and assessing that some parts are hidden by his arm, or the other one, the harder, scratch-building it.  

Right from the first glance it is impossible not to perceive that these soldiers are greatly detailed and no representative element of uniforms or gear is missing from its place, even the smallest ones like straps or buttons being reproduced. In addition, here we can find some of the best creases on uniforms, exceptional sculptured parkas, brilliant proportioned bodies with distinct fingers and tremendous facial expressions. The top class resin admirable accepts enamel, not only maintaining the proprieties of the paint and not adding any glossy appearance, but also sustaining it very good, being capable to resist even at heavy handling of the figures. Moreover, this resin outstanding allows superglue gel, facilitating conversions achieved through either resin components taken various Warriors sets, but also Preiser parts, superglue gel offering great satisfaction at strongly joining hard plastic or resin, too. In contrast with Set 1, where some casting problems interfered, the second set has less air bubbles, in fact only a few which may be hidden simply with enamel. Flash is really small and a fine film covers several parts. Getting rid of both flash and fine film implies an uncomplicated and fast surgery.  Excess of resin does not register at all, especially thanks to the method that seems to be applied by the producer, all gear and helmets being done as separate parts and then fixed in their positions, looking like Preiser equipment added on figures, but without being necessary for us to pass this time consuming and patience requiring process.  

Some other sets including figures in parkas are Revell "WWII German Infantry", Italeri/Revell "German Elite Troops", Italeri "PAK 40 AT Gun with servants", HaT "WWII German Bicyclists" and "WWII German Mounted Infantry" while Caesar "German Infantry with Winter Gear" and Esci "Nebelwerfer 41" crew are sets where all the fighters are dressed in parkas. From the size point of view, Warriors' infantrymen match the best with Esci's crew which are made in hard plastic and thanks to this, may be seriously upgraded through using Preiser heads, weapons or gear. In addition, figures also dressed in parkas could be found in resin or white metal sets, Miniaturas Alemany's "German Panzer Grenadiers" being a great example in this regard, incorporating 12 poses, almost all wearing parkas. Furthermore, their size is quite close to the one featured in the present reviewed set. On the other hand, compatibility is best achieved with the brother set "German Grenadiers Winter Dress Set # 1" as well as with the figures enclosed in the other series of two sets related to WWII German Infantry from Warriors, "German Tank Riders in Winter Dress". The content of both series maintains exactly the same proportions of gear, bodies and weapons, being manufactured by the same company and sculptured by the same artist.

"German Grenadiers Winter Dress Set # 2" not only comes with a necessary continuation for the first set, but also enriches the scale with other four astonishing figures. Both sets is a must have for any modeller which want to depict a Middle or Late War diorama requiring the presence of some German soldiers walking. Gathering them and even increasing their number with several interesting and easy reachable conversions of the same sets, it can be recreated a WWII German squad in full accordance with the KStN. The most recommended environment for them is the cold one, but in some extent, these figures will not look odd as well in warmer periods. Awesome, remarkable, gorgeous, astonishing, amazing, eye-catching are words often encountered along the reviews of the series, but absolutely sure, these figures totally deserve them. 

FIGURE FROM BOTH SETS OF THE SERIES

SIZE COMPARATION