MiniArt re-releases one of the figure sets with resin heads and titled 'German Tank Riders Set 1 with Resin Heads'.
Darren, good review; I’m not normally a WW2 German afficionado but these look great. Just one thing: you mention “putties” - normal Brit spelling tends to be puttees - and these are bandage-like wraps around the ankle (or even the whole lower leg in some instances). I’m assuming that what Miniart have provided is a rendition of the web anklet - or gaiter - as utilised also by the Brits. I hope so! The only German troops who wore puttees were their mountain troops and they tended to be the long variety.
Having looked at Miniart’s own website in an attempt to establish whether or not they are gaiters, the pics all showed the inside; hopefully there are buckles and straps on the outside which is as they should be.
Anyway, as I say a great review and I’m sure a welcome cargo for those rear Panther engine decks(!)
Thank you Gaiters is the word I could not think of its driven me mad.
Are you going to Bovington for the show over the weekend?
In the British Army (natch) in that curious, back-to-front listing beloved of quartermasters, they’re known as “Anklets, Web”, which is neither here nor there.
I’d forgotten about the Bovington show; probably unlikely not least as I went to Farnborough this last weekend, but thanks for the reminder.
I actually have this set (the old version without the resin heads) on the workbench in front of me assembled and waiting for painting. They went together well, although the instructions were a bit vague about equipment placement. Two of the figures, as Darren says, are wearing the smock and are depicted as wearing camo trousers cut from Italian camo cloth, commonly worn by “HJ”. I can confirm that they are wearing gaiters. The other two (without gaiters) are depicted wearing the curious one piece camouflage coverall, once again cut from Italian cloth, which seems to be peculiar to the “HJ” division. However I have seen photos of machine gunners wearing overalls of similar design in “oak leaf” style camo which appear to be the reversible tank crew overall - dismounted tank crews? Just to ring the changes, the accompanying Set 2 consists of four more figures, all wearing gaiters and the “pea pattern” M1944 camouflaged suit.