Carter & Crowley 1/35 German Tank Riders Set, 1939-1943

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

This latest release from Carter & Crowley continues the high quality of casting that this company is known for. This set contains five figures, posed in sitting, crouching, or leaning positions. These will allow you to place them atop a tank in various places, resulting in a nice beginning to a diorama. All of the figures are cast in tan resin, and the detailing is quite nice, being varied throughout the whole set.

In no particular order, the first figure is a soldier in a crouch, back straight. This figure has separate arms and head, and is not wearing a helmet. Separate accessories for this soldier include a folding shovel, canteen, knife, rifle, and a pistol holster. Next up is a sitting figure. This soldier is resting his elbows on his legs and is leaning slightly forward. The arms are molded with the main body, but the head is separate. Accessories for this figure include a pistol-grip weapon, a knife, a folding shovel, and a gas mask canister.

Figure number three is a leaning soldier. This figure has separate arms and head, with one arm providing support for the body. Like the others, this soldier comes with a separate shovel, rifle, knife, canteen, and gas mask canister. Next up is a sitting figure, with one leg raised up. Again, arms are separate, with one in a supporting pose. The usual extra accessories are included. The final figure is a sitting soldier, with one leg outstretched. The arms are separate, and the only exception to the accessories for this figure is that there is no rifle or gun provided.

Like any other resin figure set, there is some cleanup that will be needed, but the high quality of casting throughout will result in a very nice finished set of figures. Either together or one by one, these figures will be excellent additions to a diorama. My thanks to Squadron for the review sample.