Introduction

This is the 5th review of the new 25 pdr gun crew figure releases from Resicast.
The other three reviews can be found here:

Officer in Greatcoat

Gun Crew Sergeant

Gun Crew Layer

Gun Crew Loader No 1

There are 6 figures that make up the crew: The Officer (in Greatcoat), The Gun Crew Sergeant, Gun Crew Layer, the Gun Crew Loader No, Gun Crew Loader No 2 being reviewed here and Gun Crew Rammer.

Each of the figures is available individually and I thought I’d follow on the review of the series by looking at the Gun Crew Loader No 2. The figure was Mastered by G Detroeye and painted by Christophe Nachtergael.

Gun Crew Loader No 2

The figure comes packed in the standard Resicast format of a zip plastic bag containing a colour card insert of the painted figure and the manufactures details. The figure itself is contained in a smaller zip bag and consists of 3 parts.

Cast in a light cream resin, the figure was free from any damage or air bubbles. The body comes case as a whole with separate head and hands holding the shell casing. The left and right arms are moulded onto the torso.

The figure is dressed in Battle Dress and wearing a leather jerkin, with anklets and ammo boots. The stance of the figure is of a kneeling gunner holding a charge ready to load the gun. The uniform is nicely done with all elements being present and correct to my eye. The jerkin has the join lines of being made from several pieces of material, and I believe this to be correct particularly as the war progressed and materials became short in supply.

Both the charge and the hands are well sculpted. The head, also a separate item, is also another well detailed one. The head shows the face of a somewhat worried looking gunner, wearing a Mk I/II helmet with the chin strap under the chin. The detail looks excellent and the head also has a fine crop of hair on display where appropriate.

The uniform has nice natural folds and creases. The figure has good body proportions, and looks a very acceptable size. The picture shows the soldier looking down but I would be inclined to have the head raised more focused on the task in hand.

Normal precautions apply when working with resin.

Conclusion

A simple figure that will require minimal clean up. The figure should paint up very nicely indeed. This one should be of interest to both figure painters and those looking for a RA Gun Loader, or perhaps with new hands someone carrying/lifting equipment. Digging in was an option that came to mind!

Although designed for NWE the order of dress could be used in Italy and probably the latter part of the N. African campaign. A simple change of helmet would take the figure to the latter part of the war in Europe.