|
This new (July 2004) set is sort of a mixed bag. You get approximately 60 resin parts, all of which are very cleanly cast in Verlinden's usual grey-green resin. Casting is first rate, and none of the parts had noticable defects. Removing the parts from thier casting blocks can be done with a knife or sprue cutter.
Maybe I was hoping for too much, but in the end I find Verlinden's Figure Conversion Parts set disappointing. You get parts leftover from previous Verlinden sets (I figured that is what you would get) but many of the parts are not particularly useful, or even related to German tankers. The good parts (which I think are very good) are the seven assorted tanker heads, torso wearing Panzer tunic, and assortment of hands with and without gloves. The heads, in particular, are nice and include three wearing the early beret's, a well animated officer with visored cap, and a bare head. Likewise, the hands come with and without gloves, and include hands holding a coffee pot and pistol.
The rest of the set, however, includes pretty much worthless parts such as a bare chested torso and skinny bare arms, some hands-on-hips arms, and two shirt-sleeved arms. None of the arms really seem to be wearing tanker tunics, although you could use them with shirts or lighter jackets. No legs are provided, although you do get some pairs of shoes and boots. The bulk of the small parts are all infantry equipment pieces such as canteens, gas mask canisters, bread bags, MP-40s, SMG ammo clip pouches, etc. Some ear cups for headsets are provided, but no photo-etch for the connecting head bands. You also get some folded jackets (some might be infantry tunics not Panzer ones).
Most of the parts in this kit are also provided in Verlinden 1396 German Clothing WW II and 1312 German W W II Soldiers Equipment. If you have these sets already, then you will be disappointed to find the tank crew conversion parts are largely redundant.
Aside from being able to put a new head on a torso, or adding binoculars to a figure, there is not a lot of conversion potention here. I was expecting more arms, bodies, etc. and not all the small infantry stuff.
Only the very reasonable price makes the kit even remotely interesting, as you get more than $9 worth of parts, even if they are not very useful.
|
