Tuesday, September 23

Mantis Miniatures 1/35th scale Afrika Korps Crew review

Mantis Miniatures latest two figures to match the Kubelwagen accessories to make a hot “Afrika” scene are the subject of today’s build review. We will look at them together and with their new “pimped” ride as well…
Review:
Kubelwagen Driver
35064
1/35th scale
Grey resin 3 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box-art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 12€

D.A.K. Officer
35065
1/35th scale
Grey resin 3 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box-art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 12€

D.A.K. Kubelwagen crew
35066
1/35th scale
Grey resin 9 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 23€

Available from Mantis Miniatures Distributors worldwide.
We are adding to our review of the Kubelwagen accessory set review we did yesterday with these two figures designed to fit directly into this upgraded VW.
The Mantis Miniatures figures usually match a scene and the accessories from that scene be it parts for a vehicle the troops are in or a setting with animals to match the terrain and sometimes both. As I said in the Kubelwagen review the owner Artur Miniszewski thinks about something he wants to model – creates it and then sells it. This is a good way of thinking as modellers are diverse but we all want similar things (to a point).
The figures here in review are sold separately or as a set together. The set we are looking at are shipped in the same box in a zip loc bag for each figure. If you were to get one of the figures it will come just one in a box of course.
These figures are both cast in light grey resin and are sculpted by the ever talented Krisztian Bodi. He has made two figures without bubbles on the surface, there is a little extra resin flash there which is an easy removal and all of the parts can be removed easily from their casting/ pouring blocks without any stress on the modeller’s part. The joints are in smart places that do not harm the figure when removed.

Both of the figures have the one head choice only – well sculpted they do look like Krisztian’s other figures a lot. Artists have a style and these are like his other work. If you like them as I do then you will be happy.

Ok let’s have a look at them both now and put them together to see how they fit. Then ultimately put them into the Kubelwagen to see if they fit in the car as well. First of all the driver…

Kubelwagen Driver
35064
1/35th scale
Grey resin 3 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box-art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 12€
The driver is seen hunched over like he is doing a No#2 - but he is actually sitting in the Kubelwagen. He could be sitting in any car I suppose but he is holding a steering wheel in his hand. More on this later, but it seems like a good idea to me. The box contains three pieces of grey resin. The parts consist of: a torso and a head as well as a hand with a steering wheel attached.

The driver has one head choice as we were saying – he is wearing an M41 Army Tropical Field Cap with German eagle and round cockade in the centre quite visible as is the ribbing that goes around the hat. The face has longer than regulation hair which is pretty normal for the far from home desert. The eyes are slightly squinting and the little ears all pop out in an impish way.
This limo driver in seen in almost “civvie” street clothing – over his light desert weight army tunic he wears a thin woollen jumper what is wrinkled thickly and it has some deep seams like woollen jumpers do when they are made well! His jumper bilges as he sits slightly forward in his seat in the VW.
The standard pants go down to blouse into the galoshes that he wars over his short desert boots. These pants wrinkle as they fold into the galoshes.
The steering wheel is meant to be a direct replacement for the Tamiya wheel you have in the kit. In a smart move they have made the hand that holds the wheel moulded on already. This saves you the trouble and eventually glorious defeat you would have had placing the hand on the wheel. There was a fair bit of light scraping to do to get rid of the thin flash like extra resin but it didn’t take too long. OK Let’s have a look to see how it all fits…
Here he is made up – forgive the sloppy use of superglue that was my fault. He does fit together quite easily. His head fits straight into the socket as he looks sideways in the direction of the open door of the Kubelwagen.
Ok Let’s have a look at the officer now…

D.A.K. Officer
35065
1/35th scale
Grey resin 3 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box-art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 12€
This German officer of the Afrika Korps is seen standing up with his left arm resting on the steering wheel and his right in “teapot” style resting on his hip. The box contains four pieces of grey resin. The parts consist of: two arms, torso and a head.

He has one head choice. The head is similar to the driver’s in that his nose and ears stick out a little. The M40 peaked cap sits atop his ruffled slightly too-long hair which tucks as well over his ears. This man has slightly a pointier nose and looks a little older than his Kamerad. It is an effective and nicely sculpted head which looks easy to paint because of the texture afforded to it.
The torso is dominated by the German Army tropical field blouse which looks almost a little too big for him. It definitely is a thick looking tunic and the fat pockets also make it look bulkier. There is a Walther pistol holster attached to his rear waist and the two pronged officer’s belt is around his waist. To see the far open spaces he has a pair of field glasses around his neck resting on his chest.
The lower part of his torso is German Army Tropical Shorts were made of the same artificial cotton as the cap, trousers and field blouse. They sit widely on the soldier’s waist and his sun-bleached legs which are exposed under his shorts. Notice a slight seam on the legs - it only takes a few scrapes to remove.
He wears socks inside the early type high-boots, the socks are folded over the top of the boots here. These boots were worn by the Afrika Korps and German troops stationed in the Mediterranean Theatre. These proved to be hot and took too long to lace up, so some were cut down until the low boot appeared later in the War.

The two arms of the coat and hands are well sculpted, the fingers are clearly defined in this scale which is a great feat.
Well here he is altogether. He does look like he is “tea-potting” a little as he leans on the wheel but he does look pretty good to me.

D.A.K. Kubelwagen crew
35066
1/35th scale
Grey resin 9 pieces
Sculpted by Krisztian Bodi / Box art by Artur Miniszewski
Price: 23€
This pair were designed to fit into the Tamiya Kubelwagen and can be used with or without the accessory set we looked at yesterday made by Mantis to go with this set.
The driver needs a little adjustment for the steering wheel to fit. I nipped .3 of a centimetre from the length of the steering column which actually seemed too long to me anyway. It for well after that.
When alone without the car they may look a little odd but they do suit the car – they fit inside well and they look suitable DAK ’41 enough to me!

I found this picture of a very similar scenario that I think must have been used as inspiration for these figures - if not its a good diorama guide!
A nice pair of figures – they really only fit an open topped vehicle as they are – although mantis show us that the officer can be used outside the car they certainly look good in the enhanced Kubelwagen!

This is a nice little set and after a little bit of steering wheel adjustment these are a great set.

Adam Norenberg

These are available from Mantis Miniatures directly and the best worldwide model shops. You can also place an order directly from Mantis by email: mantisminiatures@yahoo.pl
You can see the lead up work by their excellent painter Artur Miniszewski as well –This is what we can achieve if you put your mind to it!