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British Commonwealth 
Tank Crew Figures and Heads

 

 

Ultracast

 

(see more images in body text below)

 

 

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number and Price: 35025 - British Heads WWII with Amoured Corps Helmets @ US$9.95
35027 - Canadian/Commonwealth Tank Crew, Normandy 1944 @ US$18.95
35028 - British Heads WWII (Tank Crew #3) @US$9.95
35029 - Canadian/British Tank Commander, Normandy 1944 @$9.95
Scale: 1/35
Contents and Media: Mulitple parts in cream coloured resin
Review Type: In-box
Advantages: Perfect casting; excellent detail; simple casting block removal and cleanup; natural poses (figures); variety of expressions (heads); expands an underpopulated field (ie Allied figures)
Disadvantages:  
Recommendation: Highly recommended to all Commonwelath figure and armour modellers

 

Reviewed by Brett Green

 

F i r s t   L o o k


Ultracast continue their commitment to Commonwealth Armour Figures with four of their latest releases. The quality of these sets maintains the remarkable standards set by their earlier releases. Casting is flawless, and Kevin McLaughlin's sculpting is attractive and realistic.

In common with their earlier releases, casting blocks are kept to an absolute minimum.

 

Canadian / Commonwealth Tank Crew

 

This is Ultracast's third Commonwelath Tank Crew set. It is hardly surprising to see this version released from Ultracast. Combined with their earlier Pixie-suited and desert-garbed tank crews, modellers can now depict almost any British or Commonwealth crew from early-war to the end of hostilities. 

This new set includes a first for Ultracast's tank crew sets - one full figure is included. This figure includes separate arms and head. The remaining crew comprise two identical torsoes and  five different heads. One of the heads wears a set of headphones.

A colour photograph of the Commander will help with painting the figures.

Normandy 1944 will is a popular period for modelling subjects. This attractive set can dress up Cromwells, Churchills, Shermans and Stuarts, but it has been specifically designed for Dragon's Firefly kit.

This set should also prove quite adaptable to eras other than Normandy 1944. This standard uniform was commonly worn earlier in the war, and will be equally applicable for post-war Commonwealth subjects.

 

British Heads (Tank Crew #3)

 

This head set comprises the same five heads included in the Tank Crew reviewed above. Modellers wanting some variety for the earlier tank crew sets will find these heads useful.

These heads will also offer lots of scope for improvement and variation to Tamiya's crew figures included in their kits.

 

British Heads WWII with Amoured Corps Helmet

 

A brand-new set of heads with Armoured Corps helmets. These may be applied to either the new Tank Crew set, the "Late 1944/45 Tank Crew" set; or kit figures.

 

Canadian/British Tank Commander, Normandy 1944

 

This single figure is also dressed for the Normandy invasion. His head and arms are separate, and both hands and a set of binoculars are cast as a single part to ensure perfect alignment.

Once again a colour photo is included to assist painting and finishing.

See the title image for a view of this excellent figure.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Ultracast have made a welcome contribution to correcting this situation over the last several years with their Commonwealth figures and head sets. These two releases are versatile additions to Ultracast's ever-growing range. They will be of great value to any modellers of WWII British Commonwealth figures or armoured vehicles.

Highly recommended.

You may view these and other products including photos at Ultracast's Web Site.

Thanks to Kevin at Ultracast for the review samples.

Review Copyright © 2000 by Brett Green
Images Courtesy Ultracast Website
Page Created 25 July, 2000
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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