The mailman dropped these off today with the Marine mortar crewmen from Sprue Bros. The set includes both the original stock on the SAW and the paraSAW stock on the weapon sprues! The goggles are on a clear sprue and the cammie patterns are decals like with the Marines. Unfortunately the decals in this kit are the old woodland and tri-color desert and not the ACU pattern. The M4's are the weapons from the PMC set. I haven't busted them open just yet, but they do look tasty!

I just ordered the Mortar Crew. Do they look as good as the pics do?

i look forward to reading your thoughts on the set, i saw a photo of them with the guardian afv and they looked good, but then i saw the pmc figures and had second thoughts.

Hi Folks,

I am in the progress of finishing the mortar team. Fitting of the parts is neat, the details of the MARPAT uniform a quite good. What I really don´t like are the helmets, which look strange. I will replace mine with some resin ones. Waht has really surprised me was the mortar ammo boxes and the mortar rounds and cardboard tubes. The kit contains everything to build a vignette. The only thing wondering me is how to attach the MARPAT decals to the figures, perhaps with one gal. of marksoftener per figure?
I can say that Trumpeter has made a remarkable step forward with their figures, although didn`t reached Gen 2 level yet.

Best Regards
Hans-Hermann from Gremany

We can always use more reviews here...

@Gino -- the mortar crew figures are pretty decent, and they included what look like side SAPI's on the sprue with the MOLLE pouches. They have also stopped trying to replicate the LBV, all the pouches go on the vest now. You get three wooden ammo crates and three of the metal ammo boxes as well. It's definitely worth the money.

The best parts of the Mortar Crew set are the rifles,personal gear, and mortar pieces. The figures as usual are still iffy, albeit, interesting poses, At first , the helmets included did look funny, but upon closer inspection, the shape is correct, if not a tad small. You do get four of them, two without covers which is a nice touch. The NVG mounts couldve been better represented though. Overall, the set is worth it if just for the earlier mentioned pieces other than the figures.

Ive just ordered the very same figures of ebay. Would they pass as US marines? Or are there any differences I should be aware of?

I was thinking of doing them with an LAV Command vehicle.

Des

Yes, as long as they are painted in 3-color DCUs, they would work fine as USMC armor crewmen and infantry. The newer MARPAT uniform is noticebly cut different though and would not look right. Also, sand the small helmet camo band off the MICH helmets for Marines, they don't wear them.

On that note, the Helmet sprue used in the Marine set are the same as the one in the Army AFV set. Cheap bastards...

What is the best way of using the transfer camo for the uniforms? Would it be better to put the transfers on each individual limb/body before assembly or do the assembly first?

Des

Just received the US Armour Crew & Infantry set. Looks pretty good, 4No weapons set with attached fittings looks fine. Details on some Heads a bit soft. The Armour Crew heads could be replaced with resin ones, detail is a bit blurred. Might pick out more detailed once painted.
No instructions on how to apply the uniform decal.
The posture of some of the boots on recent Trumpeter figures looks strange.
I haven't tried building any yet but I am finishing an M1127 and will use these figures with it.
I think they will provide decent figures considering the price.

Cookie

Have you had the chance to make any progress with your figures? Mine arrived recently and Ive made an attempt at the decal camo. It looks really pale to me!!! Whats your opinion?

Im thinking of painting the rest.

Des

The helmets are totally K-Mart! the weapons are kick-ass and the figures are short and dumpy! But I purchased 6 of each sets for the gear and weapons.
Rock On BATMAN!
Chilihead

Pictures? Anyone have pics?

Hi,

i became my Infantry and Crewman set Saturday. Like the other´s have said the details are not bad but it could done better. For the price they are very good. I love the weapons from Trumpeter. After waiting so long i became an Para SAW. What´s great tto you have two options to build the weapon. It has the folding stock in long or short position. So you could use the second SAW also as Para version with only chop the barrel. Or you modify the other stock a little bit and you have two short versions. If you change the heads with hornet ones you get really nice looking Figures. Also some other helmets (hobby fan´s are great). The body armor is the Interceptor body armor in my opinion. But i am no expert on this. You could leave away the groin protector if you want because it´s an seperate part on the sprue.

The decals are a liite strange for me. I think it will look great if you get it on the figures .
The only Problem is how. The japanese company SHINSENGUMI makes such decals before Here is the link: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/2455
On the homepage you see how to apply the decals. I will try it out but it´s tricky.

It´s a very nice set with great weapons sprue´s. I am still waiting for the KSK and ISTAF Figures. My hobby shop have listed them for the end of Februar 2010.

Greetings

Stefan