Description
Included in the box are 47 x 20mm miniatures:
- 4 x HQ
- 3 x NCOs
- 18 x riflemen
- 3 x walking LMG teams (3 minis per team)
- 3 x prone LMG teams (3 minis per team)
- 1 x walking 2” mortar team (2 minis)
- 1 x prone 2” mortar team (2 minis)
These miniatures are manufactured under licence from Adler Miniatures. Cover artwork © David Rowlands.
Please note: Our new Ultracast ranges are proving so popular that we are currently casting to order, so please allow 7-10 days for your Ultracast order to despatch.
Tiffy –
The first Allied set in PSC’s new 20mm Ultracast series, this Eighth Army Platoon makes yet another splendid addition to the similar sets available in 1/76 and 1/72 scales.
Beautifully sculpted with splendid detail in the same slightly chunky style as the Waffen-SS sets in the series, these figures are fairly sturdy chaps in their shorts and rolled up shirt sleeves, but at the same time this chunkiness actually gives them a slightly ‘chameleon’ effect, in that they fit fairly well alongside both the slightly larger 1/72 Esci and Revell figures without appearing too small, whilst also not looking too large beside the venerable old 1/76 Matchbox 8th Army set.
As well as blending with these others better than many might suppose they would at first glance, these PSC Ultracast Eighth Army men also bring plenty of new features to the British and Commonwealth forces in the small scale Mediterranean Theatre: the set includes six Bren LMG teams and two 2″ Mortar teams. Of the former there are three prone teams, and three advancing — each team comprising No.1 with the Bren, and a rifle-armed No.2 carrying magazine pouches and a spare barrel and tool wallet for the LMG, though the prone teams’ No.2s do not have the wallet. Of the 2″ Mortar teams, one is prone and in action, whilst the other team is advancing, with No.1 carrying the mortar over his shoulder and No.2 hurrying alongside with cases of ammunition.
The rest of the men are predominantly riflemen, mostly in advancing poses, with a few kneeling and standing to fire, and there are also two NCO poses and an officer (of which there are two in my set). The NCOs are armed with the Thompson SMG, and each even has the leather wristlet which would have his rank insignia on it, their badges of rank being worn on the forearm when wearing long-sleeved uniform jackets — a wonderful detail touch! — whilst the officer is armed with a revolver, most probably the Webley Mk.IV .38 weapon on general issue to officers during WWII, and wears the basic pistol equipment to go with it. He also wears a helmet like his men, which is the most likely headgear for him during battle, and is reaching to the small pouch on his belt, either to reload his revolver, or to consult his compass — the pouches for revolver ammunition and compasses being outwardly identical, one can having to whichever one wishes.
The uniform worn by the figures in this set is all quite accurate enough, period photographs showing quite a lot of variety in use at the time; the only feature obviously missing being the short puttees, or canvas gaiters, worn with the short ankle boots, every figure wearing the Chukka boots favoured by soldiers whenever they could get them. Originally these boots were private purchase items, generally worn by officers, therefore; but whilst their practicality ensured their popularity spread widely, it is unlikely that a whole platoon would be thus shod, for most men would have the general issue ammunition boots with the puttees or gaiters. That, however, is simply a nit-picking point I noticed, and it is of no great moment, and certainly does not detract from what is a jolly good set.
Upon viewing these figures, it is immediately apparent that the set lends itself most particularly to offensive operations, comprising as it does men advancing with several LMG teams and a 2″ mortar in active support, giving the set a good dynamic focus, and making it perfect to bolster other Eighth Army sets for the attack.
Eighth Army sets are one of the most produced, and most popular, subjects, surely making the production of new ones quite a challenge. With this 20mm Ultracast set, PSC have risen well to this challenge, giving gamers — and diorama builders, too, I am sure — a lovely fresh set of British desert troops which I find look really good alongside all the old die-hards, the Matchbox, Esci, Airfix, and Revell sets, all at once without leaping out to the eye as too different, despite their distinctive style.
In short, this set is a real winner and really helps to broaden the possibilities with small scale Eighth Army modelling and gaming, as well as looking jolly nice on its own.