KOREAN WAR
North Korean K.P.A. troops
The relatively simple summer uniform of the KPA has been correctly represented here, with the two breast pockets that were only replaced with a single-pocket version late in the war. The shirt was usually tucked into the trousers, as is the case with most of the figures here. The distinctive North Korean cap tops off an authentic look (helmets were issued but rarely worn in the field). The officer wears a Sam Browne belt over his tunic, but this tunic has two external breast pockets whereas it seems these were actually concealed, so only the flap should be showing. This man has also been given a trim round the tunic for which we could find no evidence.
Most of the armed men carry the SKS45 carbine, a weapon developed in the Soviet Union. However, although the Soviets supplied the KPA, the evidence suggests they used the enormous stocks of vintage World War II weapons for the purpose, so these figures should be carrying rifles from that conflict, including many captured Japanese examples. Two poses have a similar-looking weapon to the SKS but with a curved ammunition clip protruding from the bottom. We have not been able to positively identify this, but it would seem to be either the SKS with a 30-round clip (a post-Korean War development that never entered military service anyway), a Chinese Type 63 carbine or even an AK47, all of which date from well after this war. Just one pose is carrying the famous PPSh M1941 submachine gun with the usual round magazine (which we felt was a little too large and thin), which leaves one man carrying a machine gun with folded bipod and of course the mortar. Mortars were a favoured weapon of the Soviets, and this one, with a barrel length of 14mm (approx 1 metre) looks like it is the 120mm model, which is a good choice if so. So, the rifles are all wrong but the rest of the weapons are fine.
The general level of sculpting is identical to the other Korean War sets from this manufacturer, with good if sometimes shallow detail. Generally flash free, although some small tabs need trimming on a few figures. A few of the poses come in two parts (separate head for the crawling man and separate arms for the mortar crew and observer), but the resulting pose is much better as a result. Those that do not like to assemble figures may be unhappy, but the plastic glues easily and permanently and the figures are definitely better for it.
Deze set bevat:
- 53 K.P.A. Infantristen in 15 standen
Afmeting:
Humbrol verf nr.'s; 21 / 32 / 94 / 97 / 109 / 186.
