Introduction

Friendship Models have, over the last few years, acquired well over 300 ‘out of production’ figures. These range across the board in terms of subject matter and scale. A recent conversation with Ian unearthed the existence of 4 WWI British Tank Crew figures in 1/35 scale.

These are white metal figures and were originally sculpted by Pete Morton (I believe) and released by LSA. As there is such a shortage of WWI British 1/35 scale subjects these may well be of interest to those building any of the currently available range of WWI British tanks.

This is a brief look at WF35054 WWI British Tank Crew Standing No 2.

The figure

The figure comes packed in the standard Wee Friends format, with the parts contained within a zip bag stapled to a glossy cover sheet depicting the contents of the bag and the manufacturers details.

The figure is cast in white metal and is of a simple 3 part construction. The body and head come as a whole with only the arms needing to be affixed. The tanker is dressed in standard WWI garb; jacket with trousers, long putties and ammo boots. The uniform has nice folds and creases and the pose is that of a tanker standing with his left leg raised resting on something, holding a bottle of wine in his right hand with the left arm resting across the raised left leg.

Around the tankers neck is a canvas/chain mail face mask worn by the tank crews of that period. The head shows the face of a mature man sporting a fine moustache.

There are a few small seams to sand down on the legs and arms but nothing of concern. Measuring in at 50/51mm heel to top of head the figure has a nice full build and should be appropriate for any 1/35 scale scene.

Conclusion

I’m not really a fan of metal figures, but providing they don’t have to sit on your model they are perfectly useable and this chap would look good beside a Mk IV or Whippet tank without any problem.

The figure is well sculpted, just missing one of the buttons on the RHS breast pocket of the tunic and should be of interest to both figure painters and diorama builders alike.

It was good to come across these chaps, there being such a severe short of British WWI figures and I’m sure I’ll find a home for him.

Ian from Friendship Models has saved many figures from oblivion and I take my hat off to him. He will have many years of work ahead in recycling them back into the market place. I believe at some point in the future he will rework these figures and cast them in resin as he has done with other figures so that will be an extra plus for modellers of this genre. The figures are not currently shown on the Friendship Models web site, so contact Ian directly if you are interested in the figures.