Australian Infantry
Airfix 1:76 Scale Figure Review
Airfix Australian Infantry is among the most popular figure sets in this scale even today. Airfix chose to provide their Australian infantry with a variant of the tropical uniform worn in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), with long US-made gaiters (leggings, canvas, dismounted, M.1938) introduced in 1943. Matchbox Australian Infantry, on the other hand, are wearing the short British gaiters that were already in use in North Africa and Crete in 1941.
Contents
48 Figures in 14 Poses – 22 mm equal 167 cm Height
- Officer with Webley .38/200 Service Revolver and Machete (1)
- NCO with Thompson Machine Carbine, standing, firing (4)
- NCO with Thompson MC, throwing Hand Grenade (4)
- Signaller with No.18 Wireless Set (2)
- № 1 Bren with Bren LMG, kneeling (4)
- № 1 Bren with Bren LMG, prone, firing (3)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE, marching (4)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE and Bayonet, running (4)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE and Bayonet, fencing (3)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE, standing, firing (4)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE, in Melee (4)
- Australian Soldier with SMLE, Stealth Patrol (4)
- Australian Soldier with Ammunition Box (4)
- Australian Soldier, wounded, with Leg Splint (3)
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject. Airfix Australian Infantry is a perfect supplement for the British 8th Army and Gurkhas. The figures of all three sets are wearing the Khaki Drill tropical Dress which was re-dyed jungle green for jungle fighting.
The figures are wearing “aertex” tropical shirts, khaki drill trousers, long US-made gaiters M.1938, ammunition boots, 1937 pattern web equipment, and the iconic Australian slouch hat. Fitted with steel helmets, these Australians may be used as British and Commonwealth infantry.
Excellent poses. Airfix Australian Infantry include an officer and enough NCOs, light machine gunners, and riflemen to raise an infantry platoon. The missing 2″ mortar may be scratch-built or recruited from Revell British Infantry.
Airfix Australian Infantry provides seven Bren light machine guns, including four kneeling machine gunners who are ideal for wargames.
Airfix Australian Infantry is highly compatible with Matchbox Australian Infantry, as can be seen here. The six Airfix riflemen are a nice selection of this key figure pose. The marching rifleman makes a convincing platoon sergeant of infantry.
Rifles and bayonets are well done. However, on the modern battlefield, man-to-man combat with cold steel is extremely rare, because a decision is usually reached by firepower alone, long before opposing soldiers come into melee contact.
Painting Guide
The original painting instructions for Matchbox Australian Infantry recommended enamel paints which are not really suitable for soft plastic miniatures. Cf. Plastic Corrosion
- Humbrol 26 »Khaki«: Bush Hat
- Humbrol 29 »Dark Earth«: Water Bottle, Machete Sheath
- Humbrol 53 »Gun Metal«: Gun Metal
- Humbrol 56 »Aluminium«: Machete, Bayonet, Muzzle Flash Hider
- Humbrol 61 »Flesh«: Face, Hands
- Humbrol 62 »Leather«: Boots (from 1944; black before)
- Humbrol 72 »Khaki Drill«: Puggaree
- Humbrol 78 »Cockpit Green (RAF)«: Tropical Shirt, Trousers (optional)
- Humbrol 83 »Ochre«: ‘37 Pattern Webbing, Gaiters
- Humbrol 105 »Marine Green«: Tropical Shirt (optional)
- Humbrol 106 »Ocean Grey«: Trousers (optional)
- Humbrol 186 »Brown«: Rifle Stock, Pistol Case
The painting guide only covers the jungle green re-dyed Khaki Drill tropical Dress with long US gaiters that was worn in Southeast Asia.
Historical Employment
- Australian Infantry, 1943–1945
Possible Conversion
- British and Commonwealth Infantry in Steel Helmets, 1943–1945
Airfix Australian Infantry is a must-have for collectors and wargamers.