Tristar 1/35 German Africa Corps
(Deutschen Afrika-Korps) Figures
Kit no. 011
MSRP: $15.95
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History:
Volumes have been written about Fieldmarshal Erwin Rommel and the German
Afrika Korps. They fought bravely and no atrocities have ever been mentioned
committed by them. Both friend and foe admired Rommel, "The Desert Fox,"
for his capabilities. The African Theatre of battle has always been kind
of a favorite of modelers - at least for me it has been.
Tristar is a fairly new company, entering the military figure market
in 1/35th scale. Their figure kits, so far, have been rather good. This
new one is no exception. It contains six Afrika Korps figures.
What's in the box?
 The
kit comes in an end-opening type box. The box art shows the six figures
around a kubelwagen (not included). This is because one of the six figures
is posed as seated.
The back of the box has the assembly and painting instruction drawings.
There is also a paint chart that calls out the colors needed in either
Tamiya, Gunze Sangyo or Humbrol brands of hobby paints. These assembly
drawings are rather 'busy' and will take careful study to get things just
right.
There are six figures provided, with their gear, in this kit. These
are on four trees of medium gray colored parts. Each three has its own
cello bag and all these are further inserted into another cello. Nice
touch - and it keeps things from breaking off and getting scratched.
The largest parts tree holds four of the figures, three are divided
into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs. They are all in standing poses.
The fourth figure is posed as seated and his lower body and legs are one
piece. Also, on this tree, there are bayonets in scabbards, canteens,
ammo cases for both rifles and machine guns, separate soft peaked caps,
some bread bags and a pair of binoculars (47 parts)
The next smaller sized tree holds parts of the fifth and sixth figures.
One figure is divided like the three previously standing figures. The
other figure has his torso molded down to his knees with his lower legs
molded with knee high laced boots. There are some separate hands here
too. The tree also includes more soft peaked caps, bayonets in scabbards,
a map case, ammo pouches, bread bags and a pair of binoculars (27 parts)
Next tree down in size holds: four steel helmets, four gas mask canisters,
four mess kits, a pair of binoculars, three 98k rifles with separate bolt
mechanisms, three MP40 machine pistols and a P38 pistol. (26 parts)
The final, smallest tree, holds two MG34 machine-guns, two ammo cans
for them, one snail drum for it, a ground tripod, a spare barrel in its
carrying tube and separate breech mechanisms. (12 parts)
The poses of these figures are as follows: One figure is seated and
is the only figure wearing shorts and a short sleeved shirt. His soft
peaked cap has a pair of sand goggles molded to it. One of the standing
figures carries an MG34 over his shoulder and a ammo can for it in his
hand. A second figure (obviously the second man in the machine-gun team)
carries two more ammo cans. He also has a 98K slung over his chest. These
two figures wear their pants bloused over low shoes. The next figure is
just walking along. He differs from the previously two figures by having
putties around his ankles.
The next figure seems to be climbing some obstacle or maybe boarding
a vehicle, as he is posed with one leg up and his arm extended. The final
figure is apparently an officer. He carrys a map case, binoculars around
his neck and has knee high laced leather boots.l He is armed with one
of the MP40 machine pistols. Exept for the diver figure, the other figures
are dressed in long pants and tunic jackets. These look a little warm
to me for the hot Africa climate.
These figures are very well sculpted and flash free. I intend to use
the driver figure in my AFV Club kit of the Leichte Zugkraftwagen 3T (German
3 ton half-track) and perhaps one or two of these other figures too. Probably
the guy with his leg up like he is climbing aboard something.
Highly recommended to all military figure modelers and diorama builders.
I bought my kit at my local hobby shop.
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