German Afrika Korps
Airfix 1:76 Scale Figure Review
Airfix German Africa Korps in 1:76 scale. This excellent 1973 new release replaced the old 1st edition Afrika Korps, published by Airfix in 1962, and has enjoyed great popularity among collectors and wargamers ever since. At least five of the 15 poses are true icons of the miniatures hobby, unmatched even today.
Contents
48 Figures in 15 Poses – 22 mm equal 167 cm Height
- Officer with Binoculars, service dress cap, signaling (1)
- NCO with MP 40, field cap, advancing (3)
- NCO with MP 40 and Shovel, steel helmet (3)
- Machine Gunner No. 1 with MG 34, steel helmet, running (3)
- Machine Gunner No. 1 with MG 34, field cap, prone, firing (4)
- Grenadier with Kar. 98k, field cap, throwing Stick Grenade 24 (4)
- Rifleman with Karabiner 98 kurz, steel helmet, walking (3)
- Rifleman with Kar. 98k, field cap, running (3)
- Rifleman with Kar. 98k, steel helmet, fencing with bayonet (3)
- Rifleman with Kar. 98k, steel helmet, stabbing with bayonet (3)
- Rifleman with Karabiner 98k, field cap, standing, firing (4)
- Rifleman with Karabiner 98k, field cap, kneeling, firing (3)
- Rifleman with Kar. 98k, steel helmet, stealth patrol (4)
- Rifleman with Kar. 98k, field cap, prone, firing (4)
- Infantryman, steel helmet, surrendering (3)
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, German troops in tropical uniform, consisting of M40 tropical shorts worn with the tropical shirt, or M40 tropical trousers worn with the tropical blouse, are suitable for campaigns in North Africa, Italy and Greece.
The soldiers‘ assault pack is surprisingly well done. The bread bag and mess tin are missing, presumably because they have been left in an attendant vehicle, and the M.1911 cartridge pouches are each designed for 4 instead of 6 loading strips. With two exceptions, all soldiers carry the field flask correctly on the right and the entrenching tool, with the sidearm strapped to it, on the left hip. However, the gas mask canister on most of the figures appears to be mistakenly attached to the waistbelt.
The light machine gunner has got to be the most convincing sculpture of a prone infantryman ever made. Although machine gunner No. 2 is missing here, the soldier has stocked up on enough belted ammunition so that he can probably manage for a while. Unfortunately, prone figures are less suitable for wargames, because they occupy too much ground space, are difficult to pick up and move around, hinder the deployment of their unit, and draw unwanted attention to themselves. It is, therefore, an advantage that Airfix decided to include a second machine gunner in this set, who fits on a standard figure base for infantry.
The set offers many useful poses for dioramas and wargames. As an example, the NCO with the shovel may be in the process of recovering his bogged vehicle.
Excess plastic on the right cheek of the prone rifleman needs to be removed prior to painting. Some artistic skill is required to recreate the right side of his face and the missing ear.
The two bayonet fencers are perfectly sculpted, but unrealistic. 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.
Compatible with Fujimi, Matchbox, Milicast, Cromwell Models, Ostmodels, MMS, and Vac-U-Cast.
Possible Conversions
- The number of poses may be nearly doubled by swapping heads with steel helmets and field caps.
This Airfix Afrika Korps, well over 50 years old now, is still one of the premier figure sets in this scale. It is a must-have for collectors and wargamers.