Wednesday, August 18

Preview: Another Eisernes Kreuz Figure Experience - DAK Panzer Pionier, 1942 in four scales...

We know this has been out for a while now, but we thought it was worth looking at Andrea Miniatures "D.A.K. Panzer Pionier, 1942" from the "Eisernes Kreuz" series. It is available in four scales, 1/16th, 1/35th, 1/48th & 1/72nd, & it is the subject of our preview today...

From Eisernes Kreuz Figure Experience

DAK Panzer Pionier, 1942 
From Andrea Miniatures
A scenic base is included.
Unassembled kit in white metal and resin - also available assembled & painted
Available in four scales: 1/72nd, 1/48th, 1/35th & 1/16th scales
During World War Two in the western desert, the Pioneers of the German Afrika Korps not only cleared the path for advances, and fixed machinery and transport routes, but blocked the way for advance and destroyed vital resources to stop them from getting into enemy hands. A noble task for a soldier one would think in one of the more chivalrous theatres of WWII if one could say such a thing.

Afrika Korps pioneer prepares an anti-tank mine for deployment somewhere in the western desert in WWII.
Released in June under their sub-brand "Eisernes Kreuz" Andrea Miniatures has released a new kit in resin and white metal. In 1/72, 1/48, 1/35th & 1/16th scales, this kit comes in two ways, either an unpainted and unassembled kit, or a painted version which is we suppose a commission, and a lot more expensive.

The regular version of the kit:
Made up of white metal and resin. The kit will need to be assembled and painted in this version, but it is a hell of a lot cheaper for the guy who actually wants to make it for him/herself. The kit comes with a base and the sign, and a fully laden  Pioneer from the period of the desert war in 1942.
The Painted edition:
The second edition of the kit you can buy is considerably more expensive - in this second version you receive a "high quality painted kit, finished by skilled Andrea painters including full lighting and shadowing processes." these are more like a commission build quality - and at a price to match. This may not be for everyone, but please don't bother us complaining about the price - they are for only a certain amount of modellers out there who can afford this...

Available in four scales and two variants - unassembled & assembled & painted:
1/72nd scale kit - EK72-F0071/72 - € 6.30 / Painted HQ€ 61.00
1/48th scale kit - EK48-F007 - € 8.40 / Painted HQ:€ 79.00
1/35th scale kit - EK35-F007 - € 21.00 / Painted HQ:€ 175.00
1/16th scale kit - EK16-F007 - € 66.50 / Painted HQ:€ 410.00
We like this kit - even though the painted editions are not cheap, the figure on itself in the four scales unassembled and unpainted is quite reasonable. The fact that he comes in four scales should make a few modellers out there happy. We think we will see some of these out in the model shows soon enough...

You can see more about this kit for yourself at the Andrea Miniatures Webstore.