Esci MODERN U.S. SOLDIERS Italeri Review In-Depth 1/72 Miniatures Soldiers Figures

Today we review another modern set, in this case we make another Esci review;

Box; The first Esci box, not too bad, but not very good either. The uniform seems small, not as bulky as the modern uniform is. Esci managed much better artworks in other sets. Then comes the Italeri one, with this new style showing us 5 full size soldiers, which makes it kind of look like a 1/35 figure box. The drawings are nicely done, looking much more modern and proper. And it really depicts the poses you get, unlike the Esci (curiously, Italeri labels this set "1990s US Soldiers" when this set was made in 1987!). 

As a final curious note, Mars has copied these figures, without any modification, and not reusing the mould (which strangely they haven't been sued by Italeri) and has released them, giving less figures. There are two versions, in one of them you get 45 figures, in the other 30. The figures are the same, just worse quality and harder plastic. As the image suggests, they try to make you think you are buying modern forces for Irak or Afghanistan, with modern gear on the helmets, and really you get exactly the same figures.

THE FIGURES - 8.0 out of 10 - (50 figures, 15 poses)

x6

x3

x1

Detail; It is a Esci set, so it has a very nice level of detail. Note that the Italeri's reissue has lost quite a lot of sharpness. It is slightly blurred (in the Italeri reissue there are some minor problems like a missing gun point). Everything is well defined and easy to paint.


Poses; I must say they could be better, but all the same, they are much better than some modern sets. You get 15 poses, and the main criticism is that some poses are too similar. Three of the unique soldiers are nearly doing the same, and there are two crouching machine gunners very similar. I miss a prone man a bit; it seems that Esci considers that in modern warfare this isn't common, or maybe just it took too much space in the sprue.


Anatomical proportions; Perfect. I usually consider Esci proportions as the absolute 1/72, the most lifelike soldiers ever made, and this is a very good example of it.


Execution; (how the company has made the figures) In the original, flash was absolutely non-existant - in the reissue you can find a little bit, but nothing to worry about. 


Plastic used; As always Esci used an elastic plastic that when bent, will lose the paint. But Esci used different plastics, brown and tan, the brown above pictured is very shiny and slippery, while the tan grips the paint much better. The Italeri is a semi-rigid plastic, very good to paint and glue.



HISTORICAL ACCURACY - 10.0

With such a modern theme (1990s seems today to me) accuracy surely doesn't represent any problem, and thank God Esci didn't make any error with these subject.

ARMY REPRESENTATION - 9.5
"The army representation score is the potential of the soldiers to be used for other purposes different to the one originally intended"

One of the problems of the collector of soldiers in modern times (post WW2), is that modern armies have lost their ancient characterization and diversity. One wonders how, if in a neighbouring war in many countries, a soldier will be able to distinguish friend from foe if not close enough to look at the small national flag some modern soldiers carry on their shoulders. 

If for example two South American countries started a war, I wouldn't want to be a sniper having to decide if a enemy is indeed an enemy.

Anyway, these soldiers could easily pass once painted as a myriad of South American, European and Asian armed forces, as many of them use US weapons and a very similar if not copied helmet. 



FUNNESS - 7.0

"I feel that many reviews are oblivious to this point - there are fantastic figures, which you can´t say anything against, but they are just too "correct", maybe too static, and so just boring. So I feel that this is an important point when deciding if you buy a set"


Not bad, it has good and active poses, and plenty of commanders and officers. There could be something better though, like a general or some medical troop.

WARGAMING VALUE - 6.0

 Not good really, maybe in modern armies there are not many different troops to represent, and everything is very standarized. But in this set there are really too many machine gunners. A proper general, a medic, maybe a wounded, a sniper, a grenade-thrower, other sorts of heavy weapons are missing here, and I sense I am even forgetting some other type of soldier.

PRICE-VALUE RATIO - 7.5

"The price value ratio of this soldiers will vary between every shop you go, and the best I can do is judge by their average price on eBay and online stores"

Again, average. Lately all soldiers are moving around 10 €, and here there are 50 soldiers, so the price is quite good, although you could say "hey, that set has been on the go for 27 years, couldn't it be cheaper?".


OVERALL VALORATION - 7.5

lt has a nice 80s touch, a sort of life which is not to be found in other sets, specially some men like the "Rambo" style machine gunner. But the serious gaps of prone men or grenade throwers makes the 50 figures a bit repetitive.

Conclusion; Still the king on the subject, but with room for improvement. 

Would I recommend buying them over other alternative sets? ; Yes, the Revell soldiers are awkward in many aspects, with very strange choices for poses, even though you do have machine gunners and grenade throwers.

Scroll down to see the painted figures;


If you have enjoyed this review and want to say thanks, the best way is to click in one of the advertisings in the blog. Every little help will be appreciated. 








PAINTED EXAMPLES

If you have painted these figures I would love to include them in this blog. Send a email to tam_cob@hotmail.com.

Soldiers painted by myself in three camouflages; Woodland, Desert pre-Operation Desert Storm, and Desert camo post Iraqi War.

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next battle!

Italeri/Esci M6 ANTI TANK GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE 37 MM Model Kit Scale Vehicle Dodge Portee

Today we'll review the M6 Anti Tank Vehicle by Italeri, originally released by Esci.

The original kit by Esci was made back in 1976; we'll comment one by one to avoid confusion with so many boxes;

#1; the original. Nice and correct, but a bit plain and dull.

#2; Ahh, much better with background and fire effect. It is the same illustration, but with slightly different  tones and with a background that is much better.

#3; Here Humbrol uses the mould, and sells something other than paints! Here the model is built to regular standard, in a weird background. Not very good. Although you see what you are getting,  it is always more poetic and compelling to buy the 2nd one.

#4 We arrive to the Esci design of the late 80s, the one that plagued the model shops for years. Really, I still prefer box #2.

 #5 And for once, the new thing is the best, in my opinion. Not only is it dynamic,it is very realistic,and it gives a sensation of intense combat. This was the one I bought. If I had seen the Humbrol box maybe I wouldn't have bought it. 

THE KIT - 6.0 >>

There are some problems with the kit. One of those that Esci made sometimes, which made you break your head trying to figure out what was going on. In this case, the suspension is way too high (well, it could always have been adjusted by the crew, but normally it wasn't like that). If you compare the pics of the model, with the ones on the back of the box, you'll see that the wheels behind the cannon are nearly touching the chassis, and in the model there is a big gap. It can be solved, but if you want a fast and easy, and good looking  build , you won't get it.

See here a excellent review on how to solve the suspension problem;

http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/ESCI/AlMagnus_Esci_M6_8040.htm

The detail is good, a bit blunt here and there (it is quite an old kit) and the figures could be a bit better (they are really too fat and nearly all  including the driver have difficulties entering inside). 

Also the proportions don't seem right. They seem a bit too stubby to me. There is clearly more than one inaccuracy here.

EXTRAS - 7.5 >>

Three drivers are quite good, Esci knew how things had to be done!

POSSIBILITIES - 2.0 >>

What you see on the back of the box is what there is. Boring green or sandy lines over green. Maybe there was a sandy one, but I haven't been able to find it. 

You could also make the version in which they took out the gun, as many were reconverted to transport (the 37mm gun was not powerful enough to fight in the later stages of the war), but I don't see it as very exciting.

PRICE/VALUE RATIO - 3.5 (eBay) 6.5 (Retail) >>

To my astonishment, it is very hard to find on eBay, some people asking 17 $ for it! for a model with flaws from 1976! and only in USA, if you live in Europe I don't know.

I bought mine at retail shop for roughly 8 €. Italeri has good distribution everywhere, so in theory you could be able to find it easily in a retail store.

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HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE - 5.5 >>

"The historical importance score is determined by how many were built, and how much operational service they had, and how much influence they had on the conflicts they were involved in"

5,380 were built, a number that would deserve a 10 of historical importance practically, but they saw very limited operational use. The low caliber (37 mm) and low protection made it not very suitable.

You can find out more here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M6_Gun_Motor_Carriage

WARGAMING - 6.0 >>

It is approved with the "Alzo Zero" label as suitable for wargaming, but this only means that Italeri has decided to reissue it, as no modification has been made to the original model. Tricky suspension, too many details, the cannon does not have good rotating movement, the only good thing is that you are given men (you will have to cut the driver's feet if you want to fit him in).

OVERALL - 6.5 >> 

A nice way of having a Dodge truck making it more exciting than the regular version, but the kit is quite disappointing, it just doesn't feel right. If you are a expert modeller it will take you some modifying, but can look nice, and if you are a wargamer it will take some of your best skills to have a decent outcome. 

In one phrase; Get it cheap, or don't bother.

IMAGES OF FINISHED JOBS  (click on the pics to see them bigger)

Model kit made by myself.

Thanks to José Manuel Chasco, I can show you another great way of building this model (pics taken from this review; http://www.1-72depot.com/miniatures/1-72/scale-models/italeri-172-7025-m6-anti-tank-vehicle/);

Thanks to Al Magnus, that has built a excellent representation of a 1944 Guadalcanal M6. (see his site here; http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/ESCI/AlMagnus_Esci_M6_8040.htm)

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