_GOTOBOTTOM
Figures
Military figures of all shapes and sizes.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
REVIEW
MiniArt US Tank Crew, NW Europe
c5flies
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Armorama: 2,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 05:02 AM UTC
Darren Baker takes a look at one of MiniArt's latest releases, the much awaited US Tank Crew NW Europe five figure set.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Plasticbattle
#003
Visit this Community
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 05:19 AM UTC
Thanks for the review Darren. The box art really wets the lips ... the figures, details and poses look fantastic, but looking at the molded details, I dont think there will be many who will be able to match the box art level. The details appear quite soft in comparison. Will be interesting to see these built up.
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 05:25 AM UTC
Thank you for the very quick reply Frank. I did look at the detail and was going to accuse it of being soft, I then considered that the majority of the detail was clothe and that where it wasn't the detail was there. As I said in the review not as good as their other new products but still worthy of consideration for a Sherman crew.
Spuds
Visit this Community
Georgia, United States
Joined: August 31, 2002
KitMaker: 393 posts
Armorama: 287 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 05:27 AM UTC
Good review Darren. Frank, I have to agree with you. It's gonna take a lot of work to get these figures really sharpe. However, it can be done. Will probably take a lot more time in preparation than it will to assemble and paint. But I'll get a set anyway.
exer
Visit this Community
Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 05:56 AM UTC
Hi Darren I have this set and agree it's not as good as Miniart's other figure sets.

The cloth helmet you couldn't identify is the Winter Combat Helmet
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 07:16 AM UTC
Thank you for that Pat, I suspected it was a winter head covering but I could not find supporting reference, so at the risk of looking an idiot I left it out. I really wanted to be positive about this product but at the same time I was obligated to be accurate in my review, and this product I would say is a step back of about 2 years or so by MiniArt. It is still however a product that could be used for an area of the hobby that is lacking.
exer
Visit this Community
Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 09:25 AM UTC
The thing I really dislike about this set is that on the four figures wearing the winter tanker jacket the jacket stops exactly at the waist. This makes thing easier for the mould maker but in real life the jacket was often worn lower
Dangeroo
#023
Visit this Community
Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 09:39 PM UTC
That really IS a lot of flash for a 2011 release... On the other hand, removing the mold line with or without flash really doesn't make that much of a difference. What worries me more are the fine lines left from the molding process. They make small depressions which have to be smothed out before painting.

Nevertheless, it's always good to have new US tank crews, there certainly has been a need for those.

Cheers!
Stefan
nolifoto
Visit this Community
Luzon, Philippines
Joined: September 19, 2006
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 136 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2011 - 10:20 AM UTC
Thanks for this review. I have always cried out for tank crews to man my armor and I supposed mine and many others who want this has been heard. I would have wanted to see a small sheet of decals with armoured division pathes and ranks though.
Fritzfix
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: April 12, 2007
KitMaker: 15 posts
Armorama: 13 posts
Posted: Monday, October 28, 2013 - 10:33 AM UTC
One snafu that has yet to be mentioned is that the corporal stripes, while accurately depicted in the box art, are positioned upside down per US regulations. They will need to be shaved off and replaced with the points up.
jrutman
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 01:50 AM UTC
Nice to see an allied addition to counter the bizillion German releases.
Detail may be a bit soft but nothing a bit of undercutting won't cure!
J
Shermania
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: January 30, 2013
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 531 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 03:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice to see an allied addition to counter the bizillion German releases.
Detail may be a bit soft but nothing a bit of undercutting won't cure!
J


Jerry,

I couldn't agree more. It's kinda sad that a even a fairly bad set like this sold out from my LHS twice before I had a chance to pick one up. So great is the void of available allied figures that you'd think the Germans fought the war all by themselves against themselves.

Ridiculous, I know there is a demand for allied stuff out there. I've seen it first hand at the local hobby stores. The last couple of places that stock plastic around here can't keep allied subjects like Shermans and crews on the shelves. In the meantime, shelves are overflowing with German subjects that just languish there. All sorts of nonsense that didn't even exist and I can't imagine why any one would build it unless they are possessed by delusions of neo nazi revision to history.
jrutman
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 05:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Nice to see an allied addition to counter the bizillion German releases.
Detail may be a bit soft but nothing a bit of undercutting won't cure!
J


Jerry,

I couldn't agree more. It's kinda sad that a even a fairly bad set like this sold out from my LHS twice before I had a chance to pick one up. So great is the void of available allied figures that you'd think the Germans fought the war all by themselves against themselves.

Ridiculous, I know there is a demand for allied stuff out there. I've seen it first hand at the local hobby stores. The last couple of places that stock plastic around here can't keep allied subjects like Shermans and crews on the shelves. In the meantime, shelves are overflowing with German subjects that just languish there. All sorts of nonsense that didn't even exist and I can't imagine why any one would build it unless they are possessed by delusions of neo nazi revision to history.


Well,the kit makers make the German stuff because it still sells the best,maybe not in your LHS but around the world. Look at most builds here in these forums to catch my drift. That being said,I just finished a USA GI vigntte in the figures forum and plan to do one of the Miniart figs of some GIs in the near future. Miniart have been releasing some very useful stuff!
J
 _GOTOTOP