British Infantry, 1944–1956

Revell 1:72 Scale Figure Review

British Indian Infantry, 1944–1956, 1:72 Conversions Revell 02523.

P.I.A.T. and light mortar teams converted to represent Indian Army troops serving in Northern Italy. The conversion is a simple head-swap using turbaned heads taken from the Atlantic Indian Brigade set. The converted miniatures mix well with other British and Commonwealth troops available in 1:72 scale. The spare Mk.3 “Turtle” helmets may be used to convert Matchbox Nato Paratroopers to British Infantry of the period 1958–1985. The spare bodies of the Indian Brigade figures may be put back into action using heads with British Mk.1 or Mk.2 helmets scrounged from other British infantry figure sets. These infantry figures, in turn, are converted to British Commandos using the spare beret heads taken off the Nato Paratroopers. This fourway swap creates a whole range of new poses with practically no figure attrition.

Contents

48 Figures in 12 Poses – 25 mm equal 180 cm Height

  • Officer with Sten submachine gun (2)
  • Section leader, kneeling, firing Sten submachine gun (4)
  • № 1 mortar man, prone with 2″ mortar (3)
  • № 2 mortar man, kneeling, with 2″ mortar round (3)
    • 2″ mortar position diorama base (3)
  • № 1 P.I.A.T. advancing with Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (4)
  • № 2 P.I.A.T. advancing with three-round ammunition carrier (4)
  • № 1 Bren with Bren LMG, prone, firing (4)
  • № 1 Bren with Bren LMG, running (4)
  • Rifleman advancing with fixed bayonet (5)
  • Rifleman advancing, firing (5)
  • Rifleman standing, firing (5)
  • Rifleman throwing grenade (5)

Evaluation

British Infantry, 1944–1956, 1:72 Miniatures Revell 02523.

Excellent choice of subject, this figure set features platoon support weapons and the Mk.3 “Turtle” helmet not previously available in 1:72 scale.

The Mk.3 “Turtle” helmet is outwardly similar to the Mk.4 “Turtle” helmet which remained in service until 1985, when it was replaced by the ballistic nylon helmet. Paratroops and other elite units serving in the Falkland War received Mk.6 ballistic nylon helmets in 1982.

British infantry continued to wear Battledress with the 1937 Pattern Webbing Set until the latter was replaced by the M.1958 webbing set which remains in service even today.

The Lee-Enfield Rifle № 4 Mk.I was replaced by the L1A1 SLR self-loading rifle in 1956 which was licensed from the Belgian Fabrique Nationale (FN). Troop trials of the L1A1 SLR began in 1954, and the SAS used it during the Malayan campaign.

Excellent casting quality, no flash and hardly any noticeable mould lines.

British Infantry, 1944–1956, 1:72 Miniatures Revell 02523.

Useful wargaming poses, the advancing P.I.A.T. team and the 2″ mortar team are complete and they fit the usual 38 × 38 mm wargame bases recommended for support weapons of this type. The four rifleman poses may be mixed with British infantry figures from other manufacturers, although purists may not want to mix two different helmet patterns in the same platoon.

More than half of the figures in this set are specialist types: command figures and platoon support weapons, and they are urgently needed to fill the ranks of your Airfix, ESCI and Atlantic units not previously equipped with all the hardware normally deployed at the platoon level.

The 2″ mortar teams included in this set will be very popular with wargamers who have had to scratchbuild their own light mortars until now.

The M.1937 webbing set, the “Turtle” helmet, and the Lee-Enfield Rifle № 4 Mk.1 remained in service until 1956.

The figures may be back-dated by replacing the Mk.3 “Turtle” helmet with the earlier British Mk.1 or Mk.2 helmet available from Airfix and ESCI.

The figures are wearing the larger utility pouches, rather than the basic pouches which were normally issued with the M.1937 webbing set. This error is most noticeable on the advancing rifleman who should be wearing the utility pouches above his basic pouches, rather than two identical sets of utility pouches. The utility pouches were connected by a neck yoke, they could be worn over one shoulder with one pouch on the chest and one at the back, or across the neck with both pouches on the chest of the wearer, or across the Small Pack with one pouch on either side. Utility pouches were larger, they held three Bren magazines each, compared to only two Bren magazines per Basic Pouch.

The entrenching tool on these figures looks quite big and uncomfortable to carry, which it was! The helve strapped to the outside of the Carrier, Entrenching Tool is 18.75″ long, or 6.6 mm in 1:72 scale. Revell made theirs 6.5 mm long, which has got to be the closest match to date. Valiant Miniatures made British Infantry with much shorter helves ranging from 4.6 to 6.1 mm, and many other manufacturers did not even issue their British Infantry an entrenching tool.

British Infantry, 1944–1956, 1:72 Miniatures Revell 02523.

The standing firing and advancing firing poses are best suited for a streetfighting scene. Wargamers who prefer a variety of advancing poses on a wargame base may want to mix these Revell figures with other British and Commonwealth troops available from Airfix, Caesar, ESCI, and HäT.

Possible Conversions

  • British and Commonwealth Infantry 1937–1944
    Replace the Mk.3 “Turtle” helmet with an earlier “Tin Hat” Mk.1 or Mk.2 helmet taken from Airfix and ESCI British Infantry.
  • British Infantry 1958–1985
    Using Matchbox Nato Paratroopers, replace the beret with a “Turtle” helmet scrounged from Revell’s British Infantry.

Revell’s British Infantry is a welcome addition to the large range of British and Commonwealth figures of World War Two. Use these troops to add variety to existing units. The 2″ mortar and the advancing P.I.A.T. team will be most welcome among wargamers who have had to scratchbuild or convert some of their platoon support weapons previously.

British Miniatures of World War Two