1/72 Caesar - German Infantry (Late War) (Review)

[pzgr]

This is Caesar set “German Infantry (Late War)”. The figurs are painted with Humbrol, shadowed with Ivory oils and weathered with Humbrol 29 (Dark Earth).
Flesh is also painted with Humbrol 61 and waashed with Burnt Sienna.
I like this set very much, as well as German Infantry with Winter Gear and the sets from Pegasus Hobbies. I think their figures brought a new breeze in the 1/72 soft plastic sets regarding the Wehrmacht. I can not say that I dislike the last Revell/Italeri “German Elite Troops”, though some of the poses are inspired from old Esci and Revell sets, but the weapons and the cloths are excellent.
In the last picture I play a little zooming the figures, but I like the result and I post it.

I wrote a short review about it and I am very interested to find out what do you think regarding it.
I enjoy writing reviews at 1/72 WWII sets but this is the first one that I write in English, till now I have written them just in Romanian. Of course, in general the review is together with the pictures, but this time I split them.
I attached the review in the first Reply, so please take a look at it.

Any comments or suggestions about the figures and the content of the review are more than welcome.

<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWF.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWB.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWSTGF.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWSTGB.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWCF.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWCB.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWCrouch.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWAns.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWAnsBlack.jpg">
<img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i267/Panzer_Grenadire/CaesarGILWBusturi2.jpg">

[pzgr]

CAESAR 1/72
German Infantry (Late War)
Set 1



Manufacturer: Caesar
Scale: 1/72
Set Code: 02502
Year: 2004
No. of Figures: 42
No. of Positions: 12
Aspect: Tall
Material: Soft Plastic
Optimal Period: 1943 -1945


Review

„German Infantry (Late War)” is the first Caesar set that portrait the Wehrmacht. It maybe appears a little odd, but not randomly this company granted attention before other subjects to the last part of WWII. Such figures, addressed to the second half, especially through uniforms, there were only a few at 1/72, figures in general wearing the M34 jacket which is specific to the first part of WWII or camouflage smocks, parkas and great coats.
It must be underlined the fact that this set is the only one at 1/72 where all the soldiers are dressed in M43 jacket. There are some other figures dressed in the same jacket in the sets from Revell, „German Infantry” and Italeri/Revell „German Elite Troops” (appeared after almost two years from Caesar’s set), but these are not too many.
The utility of „German Infantry (Late War)” rests in this fact, these figures together with the ones dressed in camouflage smocks fitting the best with the Tigers, Panthers, JagdPanzers, Pumas and other vehicles from the last years of the war. Such vehicles are very well represented on the market at 1/72 in contrast with the figures offer.
As it was mentioned before, all the figures are dressed in M43 tunic. This one is a little bit different than the M34 version, the difference being more visible at pockets at 1/72. In addition, the M43 tunic provides the advantage that it can be painted in Feldgrau as well as in camouflage, being a lot of pictures that show it in Wehrmacht or Waffen SS camouflage.
Most of the figures have the marching boots, but three of them have boots and gaiters. Taking into account that in the last part of the war the soldiers shod boots more than marching boots, it would be advisable that the proportion to be inverted. It is also true that the marching boots continued to be delivered to the troops till 1945. Furthermore, there are many pictures showing soldiers from the same German platoon having three different types of boots.
Except one soldier wearing an officer cap, the rest have helmets without camouflage covers. The figures are lightly equipped; all have the “Y” straps, the rest of equipment being composed from gas mask, bread bag and the canteen, except the officer with helmet that has not the bread bag and the one with cap that has only the pistol holster, officer leather case and binoculars. Furthermore, the soldier with the flame thrower has not the gas mask and just a figure has, except all the equipment before described, the shovel and another one has the mess-tin.
Regarding the ammo pouches, not only that all the figures have the right ones, according to the weapon that he uses, but also all are in the right number.
Weapons varies, the figures having two Kar 98K, two MP40, five StG44, a schwere Flammenwerfer 41, one Panzerfaust and two pistols, one in the holster and a sort of P-38 Walther.
The poses are very realistic, nine figures standing, two are crouched and one is in an intermediary position from crouching to standing.
Not only the poses are dynamic, but also almost all are interesting. From these, it can be mentioned the one of the soldier that fires with Faustpatron (even if such figures are in various soft plastic sets, the one from here is the only that fires from the right position, de sub brat, and not like with a rocket launcher as there are in the other sets), the one with the anti-tank grenade Hafthohlladung 3HL (HHL3), a very rare representation of this weapon in 1/72 scale, there is only another one reproduced in the set from Pegasus „Waffen SS – Set 2”, though starting with 1943 there were manufactured over 550,000 such grenades. In addition, this figure is the only one from the set that has a StiHg-r 24 grenade under the belt.
Special attention must be granted and to the soldier with schwere Flammenwerfer 41, weapon that is unique in the 1/72 soft plastic sets.
There is included a soldier that throws a StiHg-r 24 grenade and the pose is well done and believable, it is reproduced the soldier’s effort to throw it as far as he can. This fact is underlined and by his facial expression with a wide open mouth.
Different by the rest of soft plastic sets where in general there is only one officer, in „German Infantry (Late War)” there are included two. One looks like he is in combat, it has helmet, binoculars, canteen, gas mask and a pistol in the right hand. The pose is a little bit strange; it looks like he prepares to stand for leading the attack. A detail that misses on this figure is the pistol holster.
The other officer, even if he is in a classic position, is excellent realized. He has officer cap, pistol holster, officer leather case and holds his binoculars in the right hand. Surprising is the fact that both officers have the “Y” straps, right like the regular troops, but I think that it is a detail not quite impossible to be found on the battle fronts.
And the rest of the poses are fine, being appreciated the fact that many have StG44, a weapon not so common in the soft plastic sets.
Regarding the uniforms, these are well done and detailed, according to the reality, the set being a special one due to the M43 tunics worn by all the figures.
The bodies are well proportioned and the facial expressions are realistic and well sculptured.
There are no differences between the size of weapons and gear between different poses. On the other hand, StG44 and M40 are excellent.
Except the advantages mentioned inside the review, it must be underlined that the set impresses through quality and large number of details, this being a characteristic feature of Caesar’s sets regarding the Wehrmacht. A good example in this way can be the fact that the figures have even the holes in the „Y” straps.
Flash is quite rare and can be easily removed. An unwanted plastic is at the running soldier with MP40, in the contact area between the charger and the knee, but it is not impossible to be removed.
Taking into account the uniform, weapons and dimension of the figures, these are perfectly compatible with those from Caesar „German Infantry with Winter Gear”, Italeri „German Elite Troops”, Esci „Nebelwerfer 41”, Preiser „WW2 German Pak40 Crew”, Pegasus Hobbies „Waffen SS - Set 1 “ and ones form „Waffen SS – set 2” and „Germans in Berlin 1945”.
Even there can be very small differences between their size or gear or weapons size, all the figures form these sets can be gathered on the same diorama. Moreover, the M43 tunic can be painted in Feldgrau or in Wehrmacht or Waffen SS camouflage models.

Historical Accuarcy: 10
Anatomy: 10
Poses Quality: 9
Details Quality: 10
Mould Quality: 10
Sculpture: 10
Recommendation/Utility: 10
TOTAL: 10

[peglegrc]

Hi, Cristian.... I did just find this and its wonderfully done your English is Good!...I could understand every thing in fact, I was captivated and could not leave until I had finished reading your whole report...
I saw the pictures first and knew the different soldiers and Officers that you talk about having the pistol, but not the holster etc....A really nice and well spoken review of the models and their clothes they wore and the tunics ability to be worn in different ways.....Your a very talented person both, an artist, and a wonderful writer... You have the ability to translate your language into English and be able to translate as its suppose to be said in English.. Not the way of your country into my language and the words are mixed in English and sound like in a strong accent.. not yours you sound like it would be said here in English.. I hope you do understand what i'm meaning.. Its a Complument!....I'll bet when your speaking English it is wonderful... Its sad we are so far apart, it would be a pleasure to meet with you, and have coffee or a Beer... I think you would be a very interesting person to know.. only I'm working with 1:35th scale.. 1:72 is to small for my eyes anymore...ha,ha.....I could learn a lot from your talent ....
My Grandfather was from Dresden Germany, and My Grandmother from the Black forest....My Mother was born in Vancouver BC. Canada, My Sister and I are first born American's on our mothers side....I was Stationed in Zirndorf Germany from 1957 through August 1959, then came home and released from the Army on Sept 20th 1959.. I remember that because I turned 19 five days before I was released..
I joined the Army when I was 15 years old...Germany was a beautiful place, I sent my Mother a lot of pictures... She never got to see where her Dad was born and raised...
We were on maneuvers one time and as I was digging a foxhole, I found a German Helmut buried three feet down in my foxhole...No bones, just the Helmut....
Thank you for sharing your figures and story about them and their clothing and different uniforms of their soldiers and officers....I build mostly German Armor, Tanks and Scouting vehicles, etc, Now I'm moving on into American Armor, Viet Nam.. aI'm having fun with them all...Havent built anything from the Korean war, but will in time......
Okay Cristian... I will re-read this again a few more times.. It is very interesting to read and then look back at your Pictures of the models, I keep finding more & more detail to see every time I look at them.. There's so many, and as I look each time, I do see some of them that I didn't see the first or second time...Like going to see a movie two or three times and seeing it different every time.. Thanks again....I will be in here a lot rereading and re-looking too ha,ha.....
Talk to you soon..... "RC"....