Sunday, November 13

Preview: New U.S. Infantry set & singles from Alpine Miniatures in 1/35th scale

Alpine Miniatures latest release for November, 2022 is a set of two figures, sold as a pair or as singles in1/35th scale. We always want more Allied WWII soldiers, and these two US GI's look to fit that bill nicely. See them both in our preview...

Two new US infantrymen from World War Two are the subjects of Alpine Miniatures releases this month. Sold as a pair or a set, these GIs look very detailed in the shots we have so far. We look at them both in our preview...

The US GI in Europe, World War Two:
Already battle hardened by their experiences in North Africa and Italy by the time the northern European conflict started in the D-Day invasion of France in 1944. The equipment of the GI had developed to some of the best available by the time these soldiers are depicted. These two look like they are depicted in winter weight clothing, their gloves and layers of clothing a dead give away.

WW2 US Infantry NCO
From Alpine Miniatures
Figure No #35303 
The figure comes with two different head choices.
Sculpture by Taesung Harmms 
Box Art by Calvin Tan
This NCO is seen looking off to his right, with his right arm cradling his M1 carbine with a wooden butt stock and ammunition pouch. He is seen cradling it as he twists to motion down the road. Sculpted by the master,  Taesung Harmms and arriving to the modeller in a few parts in light grey resin. This figure has two head choices in the pack to choose from.
This sergeant in the US Army wears the standard issue M-1 helmet was developed as a replacement for the M-1917 helmet that had seen use since WW1. The liner and suspension were developed after a modified Riddell Football helmet. The M-1 helmet was approved for production in June 1941. This helmet is offered “bare” without any camo covering, and also with the mesh netted covering, which could hold foliage in it for camouflage.
As his body turns to the right to point, you can see the twist in his OD pants and his The M-1941 jacket, is also known as the "Parson’s Jacket" after the designer Maj. General J.K. Parsons. This field jacket was standard issue to all corps, with the exception of the Navy. It is a light weight short jacket that would not keep someone warm due to the light weight material used. Also, due to the cotton used, it was thought to produce a sheen which lead to the jackets being worn inside out as the wool is duller in appearance.
The NCO carries the M1 carbine with a spare ammo pouch attached to the gut of the gun. The soldier on the left below carries the standard Airborne's almost trademark M1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight, easy to use.30 calibre (7.62 mm) semi-automatic carbine that was a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War, and even in some instances well into the Vietnam War. The M1 carbine was produced in several variants and was widely used by not only the U.S. military but it its lightweight structure and hitting power made it a favourite of the paratroops. 
This figure has spare M1 pouches on the front of his canvas ribbed belt. As usual, he carries some equipment on his belt in the form of an entrenching tool in its canvas pouch and a canteen on the other hip along with a combat knife it its sheath.


WW2 US Infantry
From Alpine Miniatures
Figure No #35304 
The figure comes with two different head choices.
Sculpture by Taesung Harmms
Box Art by Calvin
Looking on into the distance, this US Soldier is seen in a winter weight uniform and undergarment clothing. The tightly wrapped scarf around his neck and gloved hands give this away pretty readily.
Again, like his comrade, he is supplied with two headgear choices, both bare and netted M1 helmet. Again, this figure is supplied in light grey resin parts and sculpted by Taesung Harmms.
The longer M43 jacket is a feature of this man's torso, with spare M1 Garand ammunition pouches in canvas and a spare grenade on his chest with even more spare ammo pouches for good measure. 
His pants are of the same material as his field jacket, these are tucked in to the US Army double buckle boots, seen clearly here with the twin straps to tuck the trousers into. Below are a pair of the boots from apparently a real pair on sale on Ebay. 
Seen here from a few angles, his neutral body language and slightly raised right hand is gloved in woollen standard issue gloves. The creases in the legs of the trousers stand out especially from the front, with the same creases in his jacket under his pouch and rifle straps. He carries also a pair of medical pouches on his belt.
The M1 Garand he carries comes with a grenade launcher extension. These looked longer at the barrel muzzle, and while I can only see one grenade on his chest, he carries a larger pouch on his rear.
That large pouch is an M1 ammunition pouch, and the rectangle shape of it and depth shows how many of those grenades (and whatever else) the soldier could carry are able to fit in there.


WW2 Infantry Set
The figure set of two figures comes with two different head choices each.
From Alpine Miniatures
Figure set No #35305 
Sculpture by Taesung Harmms
Box Art by Calvin Tan
Seen together standing as a pair, these two figures work well in a set. The NCO pointing at something of interest in the distance, his soldiers comrade looking on, listening intently. Their look could be fixed to afar, or to closer to them.  Painted up here by Calvin Tan, he shows how effective a good paint job is on these excellent sculpts.
These two figures are sold as a set or as individuals, and they are available after November 21st.

You can see more of Alpine's figures on the Alpine Miniatures website. 
FYI Postage within the US from their site is free!