' Commonwealth AFV Crew ''
The figure here is definitely "Monty." He has the pointy nose, the mustache, the tanker's beret with the badges on it, and the Casual slacks and light jumper Monty was famous for wearing. The thing here is he can be used if you wish, or disguised quite easily if you didn't want a recognised figure amongst your crew. the choice is there but its a welcome choice!
The Bedouin Tribesman is very well sculpted in a pose where he is leaning forward talking to a Sikh soldier. The Bedouin's robes seem to flow very well and have an appropriate "weight " to them. His face has a mustache and his headdress looks convincing and its a dry-brusher's dream
The Sikh Soldier has is wearing a turban and has one of his arms up to hold the camel by the reigns. This is obviously the emphasis of calling this a "commonwealth" AFV crew. The only thing i find is odd is that the Sikh soldier is carrying a rifle and appears to be in his summer battledress, so maybe he is just a bonus figure and not part of the AFV crew. It is great however - and hats off to Masterbox who do this very well, to include a not ofter sculpted figure and incorporate them into the set. I think they understand as modellers we all want to include something different into our dioramas - and that what they deliver. Nice!
The three tankers are all depicted wearing tanker's Berets - two are attired in short sleeves and shorts and the other tanker is wearing longer pants and shirt. He is eating soup from a spoon and is resting on the turret of the tank in the scene as it is pictured by the pictures from Masterbox. In the scene one of the tankers is leaning over to feed the camel something (a sandwich? a cracker ?) while the others look on from on top of the turret, with the Sikh soldier holding the camel. This would be a typical enough scene in the western desert in World war Two , as the ? Allies and the Axis both tried to establish a good relationship with the native tribesman, they knew the desert - where the water was and the best routes to take, they could also give information on the enemy . The Bedouin in turn worked with both sides in the conflict (sometimes at the same time) and also against each other in a power struggle between tribes which the outside powers often fostered.
The African Camel is the one humped Dromedary, this one has the right amount of humps (the two humped camel is from Mongolia and the other Camel is a cigarette) It is rendered very well with suitable wrinkly knees big lips and mouth and nicely rendered mane (Fur ?) It has an Arabian camel saddle which in real life is a wooden frame that sat on canvass blankets, covered with woven cloth and a padded seat .
Er zit in de set;
- 5 Britse tank men.
- 1 Arabier.
- 1 Kameel.
Humbrol verf kleur nr.'s;
- 21 Gloss Black
- 26 Matt Dark Khaki
- 33 Matt Black
- 53 Metallic Gunmetal
- 61 Matt Flesh
- 63 Matt Sand
- 83 Matt Ocher
- 84 Matt Mid Stone
- 110 Matt Wood
