introduction

Neucraft Models from China is a small company mainly producing 28 mm. tanks, artillery and AFVs for wargaming and they lately started to add 1/35 scale figures to their product range.

The second figure of company 35002 - WW II German Officer A - France 1940 depicts an officer standing and holding his hands behind back. Though the figure can be used in many scenes with this pose, the company offers him as an officer examining an abandoned enemy tank on the battefield to be used together with 35003- WW II German Infantry NCO Officer.

packing

The kit comes well packed in a white cardboard box labeled with a photo of the figure painted by Han Dong and basic info about the content. Figure is double secured in a zip-lock bag inside a bubble wrap bag.

figure

Sculpted by Qing Yi in 1/35 scale, figure is cast in grey resin as a single piece/ full figure. Resin quality is good, details are clean and crisp. Casting is flawless with no air bubbles, flash resin or visible seamlines. You will not need a cleanwork and also assembly as the figure comes without casting blocks to remove.

Figure is posed on a standing pose, holding his hands behind back. Head is nicely sculpted in well defined facial details. Headgear is a Schirmmützen - short visor/peaked cap. Details like eagle, cockade, chincord and piping are all well represented.
As for the uniform; he wears M36 feldbluse - officer’s tunic in field gray with four front patch pockets with scalloped flaps and pleats secured with metal buttons, dark green collar and shoulder straps. It has 5 buttons in front and the tailoring was more form-fitting due to Germany's adoption of mechanized warfare: soldiers now spent much time in the confined space of a vehicle and a shorter jacket was less likely to pick up dirt from the seats. He has M36 Stiefelhose - breeches in stone gray color with rear pocket , wrist pocket, two slash side pockets and waist adjusters. Trotters are tucked inside Marschstiefel - marching boots. Officers’ boots were knee-high and more form-fitting than standard calf-high jackboots. Cloth folds of the uniform, details like breast eagle, collar tabs, epaulets and buttons, baggy look of the trousers are well defined.

Personal gear is cast on the figure too. He carries a Zeiss Dienstglas 6x30 Binoculars on his neck with a leather strap. This binoculars with 6 power magnification with a 30mm diameter objective lens was one of the standard issue field optics utilized by all branches of service. It was generally encountered in a black painted finish and was typically constructed from zinc and aluminium alloy metal. Binoculars is sculpted with lens cover on the figure. He has a M34 Officers’ Belt with open claw buckle. On the right side, M35 Map case is attached to the belt. This case has two internal compartments for maps/documents, 7 pencil holders, flat pocket for ruler, pocket for other items such as pencil eraser, front flap with buckle fastening and adjustable belt loops on reverse. On the left side, he carries a P38 Walther Hardshell Leather Holster.

conclusion

35002- German Officer is a high quality figure with his sculpt and cast. As a single piece figure, no assembly will be needed and so clean that no time loss will be for removing casting blocks or cleaning. Maybe a short sanding can be needed. Planned as a German Officer examining an abandoned tank but he can be used in many different scenes for different purposes.