HaT 1/72 WWI Russian Infantry Heavy Weapons
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History
By 1916, the Russian Empire was no longer controlling territories of
Poland, but they still had a great army, which was just beginning to be
pretty well equipped. In early Summer, General Brusilov launched a main
offensive on the central and southern sections of the front. This offensive
was very much different than earlier Russian ones: Russian infantry was
supported with the various artillery and trench heavy weapons more than
ever before. Heavy and well-prepared artillery fire devastated Austro-Hungarian
and German field fortifications, allowed the infantry to break the enemy
lines on the 80 km wide front, and to advance about 70 km to the West.
Some types of the trench heavy weapons used in that offensive can be found
in this set.
Figures
 HaT's
set of Russian WWI Infantry Heavy Weapons contains four identical light
grey sprues, each with 25 elements including 20 figures of soldiers and
officers and five parts of the three heavy weapons: Maxim HMG and two
different trench minethrowers: 47mm "Lihonin" and 58mm. The plastic used
is much harder than the usual "soft" one - it is said that this kind accepts
paint much better than the "normal" one. Casting quality is very good
and there is no flash visible.
 Although
this set is designed as a "supplement" for the earlier "WWI Russian Infantry"
it was apparently designed by a different sculptor. The level of detail
on the soldiers is good, but slightly worse than in the "Infantry" set:
figures in the "Heavy Weapons" box are a bit "softer". On the other hand,
figures are in very good, realistic poses, and are excellently useful
for both wargamers and for diorama builders - can be used even as the
crews for weapons other than those provided in the set, for example for
the cannons, which are available on the market most often without the
crews. Weapons are rather accurate, but not extremely detailed - it seems
that this set was more oriented on the wargamers, not the serious diorama
builders. Choice of the weapons is very good and interesting: besides
obvious Maxim HMG we've got two cool minethrowers, very good looking and
so typical for the WWI trench warfare.
Conclusion
  This
is a very interesting addition to the HaT's WWI Russian Infantry set,
figures may also be used on various dioramas (including aviation ones,
as there are some officers and a telephonists in this set) Moulding is
good, soft plastic better than usual, uniforms and equipment are accurate
and only the level of detail is not very high, especially on the weapons.
If you want the best 1/72 Maxim on the market, you should still look for
that old Esci WWII Soviet set, but these minethrowers are good and nobody
else is producing them.
Thanks to HaT for the review sample!
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