AIR/ARM: Review - Preiser 1/48 Scale USAAF Personnel

Kit Review: Prieser Military 1/48 Scale Kit No. 67003; Pilots, Ground
Crew, U. S. Army Air Force 1942-45; 30 parts in white styrene; price
estimated at US $13-15

Advantages: nice selection of poses and figures permits use in a wide
variety of situations and with a large number of vehicles; may also be
used in Korea

Disadvantages: 1/48 about the limit of good execution by Prieser

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all 1/48 scale armor and aircraft fans

I have liked Prieser's figures for many years, first finding them in
both 1/87 (HO scale) and 1/72 scale, and now they have blossomed out
to cover all major modeling scales from Z gauge (1/220) up to LGB
gauge (1/22.5). But their secret to this is simply coming with one
good master and them using a pantograph to enlarge or reduce the size
of the mold. But what makes a stunning figure in HO or 1/72 starts to
wane as it gets bigger. 1/48 (US O gauge, as European O Gauge is 1/43)
is about the limit of good resolution and detail in their figures
before it starts to look "soft" and descend toward loss of
definition.

That being said, this set of 12 figures in uniform is an excellent
addition to both aircraft and armor dioramas or vehicles in 1/48
scale. The set includes the following figures: three mechanics, one
with a tool chest; six pilots in various stages of dress and uniforms,
from khakis ("suntans"), dress uniforms ("pinks and greens"), bomber
jacket with garrison cap, garrison cap with vest and parachute, and
full up flight suit with helmet and all kit worn; one Military Police
solider with bloused pants, helmet and dress uniform; and two women,
one WAAF in dress uniform and a WASP pilot in flight gear.

Three extra heads are included, so with the ones given (either
garrison caps or service caps) and one in a pith helmet just about any
combination can be modeled. Since other than flight gear most WWII
uniforms were indistinguishable from each other, these figures can for
the most part be used as either USAAF or US Army personnel.

Also, most of the figures can be used for Korea and the early 1950s
as well, as the uniforms of the early USAF were cut to the same
patterns as the Army ones, and only the colors changed.

Overall this is a nice little set with a lot of flexibility and
promise, and should be popular with both aircraft and armor
modelers.

Cookie Sewell

.

Relevant Pages

  • [OT] Some cool stuff I saw at Hobby Lobby
    ... 1/72 scale Union and Confederate Civil War set: ... type kit containing a pretty good starter ser for an ACW army. ... boxes (didn't look at the price of those) for both ... I looked at some of the Car model kits also, sheesh, so when did the old ...
    (rec.games.miniatures.warhammer)
  • Re: [OT] Some cool stuff I saw at Hobby Lobby
    ... type kit containing a pretty good starter ser for an ACW army. ... boxes (didn't look at the price of those) for ... I looked at some of the Car model kits also, sheesh, so when did the ... and not to terribly expensive if you like painting larger scale ...
    (rec.games.miniatures.warhammer)
  • Re: Accelerating rocket/light beam question
    ... field of an infinite uniform sheet of charge. ... Taking the EP to the extreme, that is on a global scale, tests its ...
    (sci.physics.research)
  • Re: Real glider or RC model?
    ... $2500.00 to learn to fly real gliders, and my check ride should be any ... time now:) And I bet that 1/2 scale glider costs more than a Ka6. ... Big scale sailplanes are very social for one. ... tow pilots, ...
    (rec.aviation.soaring)
  • question for military pilots
    ... I have a freind who is in the process of modeling some scale pilots for ... 1/6th scale on down to perhaps 1/16 scale and he like to find some sources ... the modeling will be as accurate as possible. ... only a few of the pilots still in their gear. ...
    (rec.aviation.military)