German Panzergrenadiers
Atlantic 1:72 Scale Figure Review
Atlantic German Panzergrenadiers were released in 1976, three years after Airfix set a new industry standard with their superb 2nd Edition Afrika Korps. Unfortunately, this qualitative leap appears to have gone unnoticed by Atlantic.
Contents
Figures in 8 Poses – 25 mm equal 180 cm Height
- Officer with Walther P.38
- NCO with MP 38/40, advancing
- NCO with MP 38/40, running
- Panzergrenadier with Karabiner 98 kurz, running
- Panzergrenadier with Kar. 98k, throwing Stick Grenade 24
- Panzergrenadier with Kar. 98k, standing, firing
- Panzergrenadier with Kar. 98k, squatting, firing
- Panzergrenadier with Kar. 98k, prone, throwing Stick Grenade 24
Evaluation
Good choice of subject, Atlantic Panzergrenadiers would have been of interest to collectors and wargamers at the time of their release in the late 1970s, if they really were Panzergrenadiers. In fact, with a height of 180 cm, these figures are far too tall to serve in armoured personnel carriers. However, we might deduce that they are Panzergrenadiers from the lack of a dismounted machine gunner.
Atlantic has armed every single soldier, from the lowest Panzergrenadier to the platoon leader or company commander on up, with a pistol, which is of course nonsense. The assault pack shown is incomplete and the way it is carried is not correct in any case. The submachine gunners only have one cartridge pouch for box magazines, which they carry in the middle of their back, out of reach. The sculptor even came up with six different ways to carry the gas mask canister, namely on the right or left hip, on the back horizontally (attached to the waistbelt), diagonally (on the carrying strap) or vertically, and sans gas mask canister, having left it in the battle taxi.
The prone Panzergrenadier is top-heavy, he cannot be deployed other than with his face in the nearest puddle. The squatting Panzergrenadier has adopted an extremely strenuous pose that is never taught in basic training. This must be an advanced yoga or Pilates exercise, especially with the full body weight on the right leg, as is suggested here.
These Atlantic German Panzergrenadiers are probably not worth the trouble of putting them in usable condition.