Product Review: 32x Mortar Pits & Listening Post
Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:34 am
I recently recieved 3 new 32x sets from a small retailer. These were the US & German 8cm mortar sets and the US listening post set. While there is nothing overtly fancy about them, they are neat little "mini" diorama sets and look great!
The painting on the figures is decent, with eyes and mouth being painted. There is nothing too origional as far as the figure sculpts are concerned. Two of the US mortar crew are avaliable in the 32x "Okinawa" Playset (avaliable at Wal Mart) and two of the German mortar crew are the same figures that went with the 7.5cm IG 18 gun set. The Listening post has variations on the US Mortar crew figures, with the arms switched so that the kneeling figure holds the clipboard and radio. The new figures are the US & German figure standing with the mortar round.
The bases that come with each set are really cool! The German mortar pit is actually rather large, with the inside being detailed with retaining logs, a mud floor, ammo crates, and rifles. The outside has sculpted steps and a discarded ammo crate. The US mortar pit is smaller, consisting of a sandbag emplacement on a dirtpile. The dirt pile has sculpted rocks and wood stakes buried in it. Both bases have recessed footprints to hold the crews and mortars in place. The listening post is simply the old concrete wall with sandbags accessory, spiffed up and attached to a base. There is a wood flooring inside the emplacement and lots of moulded crates, rucksacks, and an oil drum placed around it.
All three sets would look great in a large diorama scene, but also make neat individual displays. They are well worth the purchase. I am eager to see what new "mini" diorama sets 21c will develop in the future!
The painting on the figures is decent, with eyes and mouth being painted. There is nothing too origional as far as the figure sculpts are concerned. Two of the US mortar crew are avaliable in the 32x "Okinawa" Playset (avaliable at Wal Mart) and two of the German mortar crew are the same figures that went with the 7.5cm IG 18 gun set. The Listening post has variations on the US Mortar crew figures, with the arms switched so that the kneeling figure holds the clipboard and radio. The new figures are the US & German figure standing with the mortar round.
The bases that come with each set are really cool! The German mortar pit is actually rather large, with the inside being detailed with retaining logs, a mud floor, ammo crates, and rifles. The outside has sculpted steps and a discarded ammo crate. The US mortar pit is smaller, consisting of a sandbag emplacement on a dirtpile. The dirt pile has sculpted rocks and wood stakes buried in it. Both bases have recessed footprints to hold the crews and mortars in place. The listening post is simply the old concrete wall with sandbags accessory, spiffed up and attached to a base. There is a wood flooring inside the emplacement and lots of moulded crates, rucksacks, and an oil drum placed around it.
All three sets would look great in a large diorama scene, but also make neat individual displays. They are well worth the purchase. I am eager to see what new "mini" diorama sets 21c will develop in the future!
Thanks again for sharing your impressions of these cool little sets.
