NATO Paratroopers

Matchbox 1:76 Scale Figure Review

NATO Paratroopers, 1:76 Matchbox 5009.

Matchbox 1:76 scale NATO paratroopers wearing the British Royal Marines “RM arctic windproof smock” with “1958 pattern web equipment”, which was introduced into the British Army in the 1950s, and was replaced by the Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE 90) in the late 1980s. Similar load-carrying systems, with the characteristic padded yoke between the shoulder straps, are in use by virtually all armies worldwide, although the type and manner of carrying holsters, magazine pouches, entrenching tools, canteens, and other equipment on the waistbelt can vary from soldier to soldier. The depicted British L1A1 assault rifle is a variant of the “Kalashnikov of the West”, the FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) of the Belgian company FN, which is widespread in over 90 countries. The same applies to the L7A1 GPMG universal machine gun, a licensed version of the FN MAG (Mitrailleuse d‘Appui Général) used in more than 70 countries, which is why these Matchbox figures are so versatile.

Contents

42 Figures in 19 Poses – 22 mm equal 167 cm Height

  • Officer with Pistol (1)
  • NCO with Sterling SMG, kneeling, signaling (2)
  • NCO with Sterling SMG, running (5)
  • RTO with L1A1 SLR (2)
  • Machine Gunner No. 1 with L7A2 GPMG »Gimpy« (2)
  • Machine Gunner No. 2 with Ammunition Belts (2)
  • Machine Gunner No. 1 with L4A4 (Bren LMG) (5)
  • Paratrooper with L14A1 Carl Gustaf »Charlie G« (2)
  • Paratrooper with 81 mm Mortar Shell (2)
  • Paratrooper with L1A1 SLR Assault Rifle, advancing (5)
  • Paratrooper with L1A1 SLR Assault Rifle, standing, firing (5)
  • Paratrooper with L1A1 SLR Assault Rifle, kneeling, firing (5)
  • Paratrooper with L1A1 SLR Assault Rifle, crouching (4)
  • L16 81 mm Mortar (2)

Evaluation

Excellent choice of subject, these Matchbox NATO paratroopers are very versatile. With the L7A2 GPMG and L4A4 LMG machine guns, the Carl Gustaf anti-tank rifle, and the 81 mm mortar, Matchbox provides the most important support weapons for the British infantry. Missing MILAN or LAW 80 anti-tank weapons may be scrounged from Revell Bundeswehr Panzergrenadiers, the Marder 1A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, or their Modern British Infantry. On October 2, 1985, the British Army received the new Enfield L85 A1 IW assault rifle and the Enfield L86 LSW light machine gun of the SA80 series. However, due to significant technical problems and a particular susceptibility to jamming caused by desert sand, combat units of the British Army continued to use their already obsolete SLR assault rifles, GPMGs, and L4A4 machine guns even during the Second Gulf War.

Due to a manufacturing process, the gap between the bipods of the machine guns is completely filled with plastic. This mistake may be fixed by removing the excess material with a scalpel. On our review sample, the bipods were incompletely cast and had to be replaced with simple replicas made from 0.2 mm sheet metal.

Historical Employment

  • British infantry, paratroopers and Royal Marines in the Falklands War of 1982

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

  1. Humbrol 73 »Wine«: Beret
  2. Humbrol 80 »Grass Green«: DPM Splotches
  3. Humbrol 21 »Black«: Boots, Small Arms, DPM Splotches
  4. Humbrol 86 »Light Olive«: Trousers, Knit Sleeves, 1958 pattern web equipment
  5. Humbrol 9 »Tan«: DPM Splotches
  6. Humbrol 63 »Sand«: DPM Splotches

The painting guide is incomplete. The Late ‘68 Pattern DPM consists of the three colors mentioned above, some of which are bordered by black lines.

Possible Conversion

  • Argentine Infantry
  • Barbados Defence Force
  • Belgian Para-Commandos
  • British Infantry, 1954–1994
  • British Paratroops, 1954–1994
  • British Royal Marines, 1954–1994
  • Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF)
  • Commonwealth Troops (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.)
  • German Bundeswehr with G1 (FN FAL), 1956–1959
  • Gambian National Army (GNA)
  • Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
  • Indian Army
  • Jamaica Defence Force (JDF)
  • Kuwaiti Army
  • Malaysian Army
  • Netherlands Marines
  • Royal Omani Army
  • Rhodesian Army, 1965–1980
  • Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
  • Singapore Armed Forces

Many of these interesting conversions only require a head-swap, using a head with the ubiquitous US M1 steel helmet, and shortening the muzzle brake on the L1A1 assault rifle to make it look more like an FN FAL. Experienced modelers could transform the padded collar of the “RM arctic windproof smock” into the hood of a German Bundeswehr parka using some modeling putty. Wargamers and hobbyists will find much enjoyment in the Matchbox NATO paratroopers.

Cold War Miniatures