Resicast provides a resin set designed to reproduce a British/Commonwealth Soldier in a seated position as a 1/35 scale figure. The figure comes in the standard Resicast plastic zip bag, with a good colour picture insert giving a guide to painting and building the figure. There are no instructions with the figure, but the basic assembly should be fairly straight forward.
Review
The figure is posed in the seated position with his left leg crossed over his right and the pose is very relaxed with his left arm outstretched behind him and his right hand resting on his knee. The expression on his face reflects the pose as he is smiling and happy looking. Both left and right arms come as separate items, so there is a little flexibility in how you finish the figure.
The figure is dressed in standard 37/40 Battle Dress Serge wearing Anklets and Ammo Boots with the tunic collar open at the throat. For equipment, he is wearing standard 37 pattern web gear with equipment in the form of ammo pouches, belt, and shoulder straps.
The head comes as a separate item, being well cast with clearly defined detail. The face to me gives the impression of someone who is cheerful and relaxed. On his head he is wearing the Mk III helmet with netting and the helmet is nicely tilted slightly towards the rear of the head, exposing the detail of the face and giving further credibility to the pose.
Cast in a light grayish resin, there are 3 small casting plugs to remove from his feet and both arms and head will need the plugs removed also. On the example I looked at, the cross straps on the back of his webbing will need a little clean up as the detail here had some small rough edges and was not as sharp as I would expect. On his left boot there is a small amount of resin that will also need cleaning up. Other than that I could see no air bubbles or faults in the casting of the figure, which to me looks very good, so minimal clean up should be required.
Conclusion
All in all I would say this is a very friendly figure, apart from the clean up issues I mentioned he should fit in well with those chaps waiting around or drinking tea! The picture depicts him with a bandaged left hand, but this is artistic licence, as no sign of a bandage is there but should you wish to add that detail it would be an easy addition to replicate. In the picture he is posed on top of an APC so no additional kit is provided. I would have liked to have seen a few items such as a rifle, mug, small pack, or even a bottle of wine or two to go with him, but again these items should be in most people's spares box so not really an issue. As always, the standard precautions when working with resin apply and this figure should be a welcome addition to any casual diorama or vignette.
SUMMARY
Highs: Well detailed and usable figure who should add to any suitable dio or fit onto a suitable vehicle. The face and expressions in particular are very well done. Lows: Cost of resin figures is always an issue to be considered. A few additional bits of kit are always good to have but are missing from this figure. Verdict: Another very good and usable 1/35 Scale British/Commonwealth Infantryman from Resicast. Recommended.
About Alan McNeilly (AlanL) FROM: ENGLAND - EAST ANGLIA, UNITED KINGDOM
Greying slightly, but young at heart. I've been teaching adults off and on for most of my life. Left the services in 85 and first started modelling in about 87 for a few years. Then I had a long spell when I didn't build anything (too busy) and really just got started again during the summer of ...
Its always good to see a Commonwealth type figure. I like the expression on the face and the general pose. The legs however, I'm not sure about. They don't seem right. It might just be me.
OK, I'll be the ugly American and say his pose is "a bit gay." The tightly crossed legs, the arms' positions, the big grin ... and (gawd) Alan put him in the back of a lorrie ... inviting friends?
Sorry ... no offense intended, it's just a first impression and I realize things were different back in WWII, when "gay" meant "happy," "queer" meant "strange" and sitting like that may have been normal. I'm probably just being homophobic ... pay no attention to me as I fade back into the lurking crowd ...
[quote]OK, I'll be the ugly American and say his pose is "a bit gay." The tightly crossed legs, the arms' positions, the big grin ... and (gawd) Alan put him in the back of a lorrie ... inviting friends?
Sorry ... no offense intended, it's just a first impression and I realize things were different back in WWII, when "gay" meant "happy," "queer" meant "strange" and sitting like that may have been normal. I'm probably just being homophobic ... pay no attention to me as I fade back into the lurking crowd ... [/quote
Hi Bob,
Not really sure what to make of you're comments? Like any figure it depends on the situation you wish to protray whether the fugure works or doesn't work well. Here's a chap sitting in the back of a parked lorry, quite relaxed and happy looking and you say "and (gawd) Alan put him in the back of a lorrie ... inviting friends?"
Well I can only say what utter crap!! If it was meant as a funny then I missed the joke - I've seen folks in all manner of sitting positions and in the setting he's going into as far as I can see he will be just fine. In fact I bought him specifically for that purpose.
Don't people cross their legs in America? The mind boggles at the stupidy of your comments.
Look though any set of wartime photos and the collection of shapes and sizes, postures and poses is unlimited. Of course any item is a matter of perception and we all percieve things in a diffferent way!
Al
Hey Alan, aren't those Resicast figures great. I used that figure on the Kangaroo in my Dutch liberation dio and he was perfect. I haven't used very many resin figures but the Ultracast and Resicast ones almost paint themselves, they're so detailed. How the heck can somebody sculpt something that small with such a realistic expression?
Ted
Hi Ted,
I'd agree there, I've got a good few of the Resicast figures, the only issue I've had is the odd boot heal with an air bubble, but your right they almost paint themselves and the detail is always very sharp. I like the Ultracast chappies too, some great tankers and I have the two infantry chaps but haven't built them yet.
Al
Lighten up, Alan. If you didn't see the joke, I'm sorry. It wasn't meant as an attack on you or anyone else. I think it's a cool figure I might want to buy some day. I'd change the head -- a bit more serious face might change the whole attitude of the figure.
Not often like that if they are male and heterosexual. As I attempted to state, things my were different in the 1940s, and these days body language and language in general have changed.
The word you were searching for is "stupidity." I am not stupid, nor am I dumb. Please don't hurl insults. I have enjoyed your work for many years now and my opinion of this figure will not change that.
I'm sure he would appear more menacing with a slung rifle and a cigarette (sans holder, of course )
I can see both points of view, but in the end I would say this is a good sign of sculptors willing to try differing poses. The better they are received (assuming, of course they are well thought out poses) the more we all benefit.
Brad
Hi Bob,
Wasn't trying to imply that you were dumb or stupid, just couldn't see the sense of you comments mate. Should have just ignore the post and got on with life. No offence intended. Enough said.
Al
Comments