For years I bemoaned the fact that there were too few US figures available, but in the last year there has been an answer to all that. This is the second figure set from Yanks which I have reviewed, and while somewhat different from the previous figure (#9624, US Tanker Drinking) this set of two figures is also very handy.

The set includes two figures doing what the British call "bombing up" or reloading the main gun rounds in a Sherman tank. While the figures could be used with any US tank, they come with 75mm rounds and a nice colour photo of the two figures posed with a Sherman. Both figures are wearing the light green fatigues of the mid to late war period, and the standing figure on the ground also has on a tanker's jacket and the knit cap cold weather helmet liner. The other figure is squatting on the balls of his feet on the engine deck of the tank. Animation and definition are very good, and the set comes in handy when combined with earlier figures like the tanker with his coffee to make an instant diorama of a Sherman.

The set comes with three complete and four two-part ammo rounds. The idea appears to be that three rounds can be used for loading with some empty casings on the tank, or the rounds can be assembled to provide seven complete shells for the tank. This is nice, as it saves having to go out and get a set of shells from someplace else to give the figures something to do.

The moulding is crisp and clean, and there are no air bubbles anywhere, period. Steve Zaloga recently (BORESIGHT, July 1997) commented that he liked Warriors figures a bit better than Yanks as their soft details were better. While I can agree that Warriors is probably a hair better, keep in mind that the relationship here is roughly giving Warriors a 9 out of 10 on their figures with Yanks being an 8 and Verlinden a 5 or 6. Also, and a critical "plus" with me, Yanks only makes "good guys" (US, UK, USSR, and French thus far) so you don't have to wait as long for US figures to come up in their rotation, as with other companies who have prioritised on German figures. You can't go wrong with these figures, and assembly and cleanup are easy and fast.

This kit features nice poses and a good uniform choice, however it is a resin figure at resin prices, ($18.95 US summer 1997). Recommended for all WWII US Armour fans and especially "Shermaholics".

Thanks to Dave Bighia of Yanks for the review sample.