Introduction

It was not that long ago that World War 2 British Paratroopers in injection moulded plastic were few and far between, and then bring on Bronco Models who have really got their teeth into this very specific area of the hobby. Bronco Models has released a huge number of jeeps with Airborne crews, artillery guns with Airborne crews and not forgetting the two Horsa aircraft that Bronco Models has released. We now get two new dedicated paratroopers figure sets in action to join the previous two figure sets that were released. This review looks at set A

Contents

This offering from Bronco Models is packaged in an end opening card box. I have to be honest and say that I am not a fan of the artwork on this offering and I know that Bronco Models can do better, that aside here is a breakdown of the contents;
5 grey sprues
3 green sprues
A decal sheet
Instruction sheet

Review

Looking at the contents of this offering from Bronco Models I can say that these are not figure sets from someone else in a Bronco Models box, something that was suggested when the kits were announced. An examination of the sprues reveals clean mouldings for each of the figures and a surprising number of parts for each figure. The weapons sprues provided are from earlier kit offerings, but the mouldings are holding up to use and still look clean. I will say I would have liked to see some new weapons offered as options.

Each of the figures is on its very own sprue and so may be released is different sets in the future. The figures are as displayed in the artwork, but thankfully far better detailed than the artwork indicates. The figures all breakdown in a similar fashion;
Head with beret
Head with separate camouflaged helmet
Upper torso
Lower jacket halves
Legs supplied individually
Helmet chin straps
Drinking bottle
Ammunition pouches
2 arms with separate hands in some cases
Backpacks
Entrenching tool in sheath
The equipment appears to be the British 1937 pattern web gear and it does look good to my eye, but neither the bayonet nor dagger is present on the uniform or equipment. Some information I came about on the British 1st Airborne Division living history website provides some great information on how troops should be equipped, the information is below and a link to the website can be found at the end of this review.

Rifleman
1 No. 4 Enfield rifle
1 Respirator
2 Basic Pouches with 2 Bren magazines each
1 Bayonet and frog
2 Grenades in Denison Smock pockets
1 Toggle Rope
1 FS Dagger
1 Haversack, 1 water bottle
1 Entrenching Tool with carrier
1 General Service shovel or pick

Bren LMG No. 1
1 Bren LMG
1 Kit bag for LMG
1 Respirator
2 Basic Pouches with 2 Bren magazines each
1 FS Dagger
1 Revolver or pistol with ammo pouch
2 Grenades
1 Toggle Rope
1 Haversack, 1 water bottle
1 Entrenching Tool with carrier

Corporal, Section Leader
1 Sten Mk. V
1 Respirator
1 Magazine Pouch with 7 Sten magazines
2 Grenades
1 FS Dagger
1 Toggle Rope
1 Haversack, 1 water bottle
1 Entrenching Tool with carrier
1 General Service shovel or pick

Contents of Haversack
1 Pair grey wool socks
1 White hand towel
1 Water bottle (spare)
1 Mess tin
1 Ground sheet
2 Packs of 24-hour rations
1 Emergency ration tin
1 Collapsible stove
1 Tin of fuel blocks
1 Tin of water purification tablets

The uniform detail is of a good standard; the crease detail replicated on the uniforms looks natural and will give the figure painters among us lots of scope. The Dennison smocks have the nice baggy look about them and with the hems of the smocks being separate you get nice undercut detail and quite thin detail; a close look also reveals that the para flap is present. The trousers with the exception of the creases are featureless, other that is apart from being baggy. The boots and gaiters look to be accurate to me.

Each of the figures is supplied with two heads, one with the famous maroon beret and the other is a flat top head that sits inside a recess on a camouflaged steel helmet. Now which head you use is up to you, but if I was in combat I would want the steel helmet; another plus is that Bronco Models has taken the time to provide slightly different camouflage rather than duplicating each helmet with each figure. Bronco Models has also supplied the helmet straps as separate parts rather than moulding them as part of the head, yes I do consider that a plus. One other big plus in my book is the very varied stances that the figures are supplied in and what I believe will be the ability to mix torsos and legs to get further figures.

The weapons could offer a wider choice, but they are what they are and you could of course easily find alternatives if desired. The weapons offered break down as below:
3 Bren guns
3 Sten guns Mk V
3 SMLE rifles
3 Webley revolvers
3 holstered Webley revolvers

Conclusion

These Paratroopers from Bronco Models are good in my opinion and provide the modeller with a great selection of figures to use with the previous paratrooper offerings. I would have liked to see Bronco Models invest in a wider selection of weapons, things such as a sniper rifle, but as I said before there are a lot of weapons sets available. The figures should look great once painted and add some nice action to the scene of your choice, but I do hope the price is lower this time around as I heard a lot of complaints over the cost of the last two sets offered.

http://www.1stairborne.com/