introduction

Britain's colonial power was one of the casualties of World War Two, but no one quite knew it at the time. When the war broke out, The Empire stretched all the way to China, and British troops were stationed in a variety of hot climates. Always well-clad and disciplined, they maintained long pants even in the face of heat and humidity, as the new release from CMK attests to.

Titled "Officer from India," the figure should serve well in any hot diorama or vehicle build where an officer in short sleeve shirt and long trousers would be appropriate.

the set

Inside a blister-style hang box is a resin figure, two arms with hands, a head and a revolver, probably an Enfield .38 No 2 Mk I.

the review

The casting is very detailed, and the figure looks as though it will build up nicely. The clothes have good creasing, and he looks just frumpy enough to be in service someplace that's hot and steamy. The revolver is very detailed, far more so than any styrene version could be.

The clothes have a comfortably baggy look to them, and checking with Al McNeilly, seem to conform to the proper look for a woolen shirt and 1939-style officer trousers (it was believed wool would handle the heat better than cotton, since it "wicks" away perspiration, while cotton just gets clammy). Officers could assemble their kits on their own, and uniforms made their way to the ends of the Empire slowly, so there apparently was no standard kit.

That's actually a help: this figure could serve almost anywhere the weather is hot, including North Africa, the Middle East, India and even Burma and beyond. Given the exigencies of war, you might even be able to use this figure in a Summer dio for France 1940 or post-Normandy.

painting guide

Surprisingly for a figure of this simplicity there are call-outs for seven colors, including something aluminum he's holding in his left hand (likely a compass to go with the open compass pouch on his 37 Pattern belt). The CMK website shows him holding what could be a map under the other arm, or even an issue of The Times with the latest about Vera Lynn or plays opening in the West End.

conclusion

Allied figures are always welcome because there aren't enough of them. This one is particularly welcome because of the subject matter, which is so flexible.