Italien Alpini Mountain Troops
ESCI 1:72 Scale Figure Review
ESCI 1:72 scale Italian Alpini (mountain troops) wearing the grey-green M.1935 uniform, which was also issued in a similar cut, but made of lighter material, as the sand-coloured tropical uniform. The dark green plastic of these figures is ideal for speed painting.
Contents
46 Figures in 13 Poses – 24 mm equal 173 cm Height
- Officer with Beretta M1934 Pistol, crouching (2)
- Machine Gunner No. 1 with Breda 30 LMG, advancing (3)
- Machine Gunner No. 1 with Breda 30 LMG, prone, firing (3)
- Alpino with MAB 38 Submachine Gun, kneeling, firing (5)
- Alpino with MAB 38 Submachine Gun, firing from the Hip, advancing (5)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle in Greatcoat, marching (3)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle, standing, firing (5)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle, advancing (5)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle, running (3)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle, crawling (3)
- Alpino with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle, throwing SCRM 35 Hand Grenade (5)
- Alpino with Carcanogewehr M.91/41, skiing (2)
- Ski (4)
- Conducento di Muli Pack Animal Handler with Carcano M.91/41 Rifle (2)
- Stubborn Mule (2)
- Ammunition Box (2)
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, the Alpini are very useful for dioramas and wargames recreating the European and African Campaigns of the Italian Army in World War Two.
Nicely sculpted miniatures with light equipment, which may be painted with grey-green or sand-coloured uniforms.
The figures are armed with a 16.3 mm long rifle, which in terms of dimensions corresponds to the 1285 mm long Italian Carcano Fucile Mod. 91 infantry service rifle. Mountain troops, engineers, and artillerymen, however, were armed with the more compact Moschetto per Truppe Speciali (Modello 91/38 T.S.) carbine, which at this scale should measure only 12.7 mm. The 13.2 mm long submachine gun corresponds exactly to the Moschetto Automatico Beretta M1938, but the joy over this lucky break is short-lived, as the next weapon model, the light machine gun Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 30, at 19.2 mm (equivalent to 1382 mm), is again longer than the 1230 mm of its real-life counterpart. The officer‘s service pistol, a Beretta M1934, is 4.1 mm long (equivalent to 295 mm), almost twice the length of the original, which is only 152 mm long. Apart from the one outlier, the MAB 38, ESCI remains true to its penchant for heroic handguns and support weapons in this set as well.
Uniforms, weapons, and equipment are exceptionally detailed and easy to paint.
The Alpini figures can be transformed into Italian line infantry by removing the black feather from their steel helmets.
The pack saddle of the two mules is designed to carry two ammunition boxes each, but the set only includes two ammunition boxes in total. The missing ammunition boxes can be scratchbuilt from polystyrene sheets.
The mountain infantryman on skis is very well suited for dioramas, but there are not enough mountaineering miniatures in this set to populate an interesting scene. Airfix German Mountain Troops are much better suited for this purpose.
Noticeable mould lines need to be removed prior to painting.
Historical Employment
- Italian Alpini Mountain Troops, 1940–1945
Possible Conversions
- Italian Line Infantry, 1940–1945
Painting Italian Alpini Miniatures
The original painting instructions for ESCI Alpini Mountain Troops recommended enamel paints which are not really suitable for soft plastic miniatures, c.f. Plastic Corrosion of Collectible Miniatures.
- Humbrol 61 »Flesh«: Face, Hands
- Humbrol 31 »Slate Grey«: Uniform Coat, Trousers, Puttees
- Humbrol MC28 »Green Leather«: Ammunition Pouches, Canteen, Greatcoat
- Humbrol HM7 »Khaki Drab«: Pack, Haversack, 3-colour Camo Tarp
- Humbrol HD5 »Interior Green«: 3-colour Camo Tarp
- Humbrol MC22 »Chestnut Brown«: Rifle Stock, 3-colour Camo Tarp
- Humbrol 53 »Gun Metal«: Metal on Weapons
- Humbrol MC14 »Black«: Boots
Vallejo recommends 70.888 »Grey Olive RAL 6006« as the base colour of the grey-green temperate uniform, 70.977 »Desert Yellow« for the sand-coloured tropical uniform, and 70.881 »Yellow Green« for packs, haversacks and other webbing.
ESCI Italian Alpini mountain troops are very well suited for simulation games and dioramas.