introduction

After B6-35063 USMC Tank Crew Vietnam and B6-35067 US Tankers-Too Darn Hot depicting tank crew at rest,BRAVO-6 released a new tank crew set for Army tanks.
B6-35074 U.S.Army Tankers-Close Combat is a two figure in action poses kit that can be used for Vietnam era Army tanks and also for other armored vehicles.

packing &casting

Figures come in standard light brown cardboard box.Front part shows a photo of painted figures and backside is labeled with a drawing of how to assembly PE mics.
Figure bodies, small parts like heads and arms, .50 caliber parts and PE parts are inserted into seperate zip-lock bags.
Parts are cast in gray resin in crisp details and represented with easy to remove casting blocks. There is no casting mistakes on the figures but a few slightly visible seamlines especially on the arms need a short cleanwork.

figures

Kit includes one full and one half figure in 1/35 scale.

FIGURE -A , COMMANDER is the Army version of USMC Tank crew kit sculpted with a different flak vest. Posed to sit on the open hatch firing .50 caliber machine gun, he wears tropical combat uniform and leather/canvas combined boots. Over the uniform, he has M1952 Flak vest, over his uniform. This vest was developed during the Korean War and was used during Vietnam War. The vest contained semiflexible layers of ballistic nylon cloth and sponge rubber over the ribs and shoulders which served as a shock absorbing layer to reduce contusions and fractures from the impact of missiles. The vest is closed with a full length zipper and could be adjusted by laced closures at both sides. It had shoulder straps, two chest pockets and two rows of web hangers over pockets for grenades etc. Cloth folds, details of the uniform and flakvest are very well defined. He carries a M1911A1 Colt in M3 Shoulder holster. I liked the pressure of holster strap over flakvest pockets. Vladi simulated this effect very well.

Head is supplied seperately, shows nice facial details and a stressful expression of close combat. He wears CVC Helmet - Combat Vehicle Crewmen helmet which was a lightly padded crash helmet for wear inside all US armored fighting vehicles during the Vietnam era providing head protection for the bumps and jars. It was composed of plastic-resin coated ballistic nylon and gave almost equivalent protection as the M1 helmet. The details on the helmet like Exterior draw string which allows the wearer to snug up the earphone cup allowing a better fit and Send/Receive switch box are well defined.

Arms with upfolded sleeves and a watch on the right wrist are posed fire .50 caliber. Grips of machine gun are sculpted on his hands.

A M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun cast in fine details also comes inside the kit. Another sprue carries an ammo belt, retracting slide handle, short turret pedestal , M23 Equilibrator Cradle and a spare in M1916 holster.

FIGURE-B LOADER comes as an half figure and wears M52 flakvest over his bare chest. Folds of vest, front flap closure, pockets, side laces and shoulder straps are well defined. Two small resin residues on the backside need a short cleanwork.

Head comes with CVC helmet and right hand is cast on the helmet holding it.

Left arm is posed to put on the tank hull and right arm is posed to hold the helmet. A wrist watch is sculpted on the left side.

Four boom-type microphones –two for two different types - are given as PE parts.

conclusion

A very nice kit to build Vietnam War U.S. Armor in action. Besides nice sculpt, cast and PE parts, poses of figures will bring action to the scene. Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the kit is better than many plastic ones given with the armor kits, worths to replace and saves to pay extra for a detailing set.