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Airfix

Set 1716

US Marines

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All figures are supplied unpainted    (Numbers of each pose in brackets)
Stats
Date Released 1963
Contents 44 figures
Poses 24 poses
Material Plastic (Medium Consistency)
Colours Green
Average Height 22 mm (= 1.58 m)

Review

As the above scans show, Airfix certainly used to provide a great many poses in their sets. It certainly contrasts with some of their last sets when they managed just seven different figures. Still it is far from clear what some of the poses are doing, and many are of little real worth to anyone. Several are without weapons such as the last figure on the third and fourth rows above, and it is difficult to see what the sculptor was trying to achieve. The second figure in the second row is more of a Napoleonic stance than a 20th century one. Several poses are familiar favourites of Airfix at this time. For example, the man holding his rifle high in the air appears in many sets, though once again this seems like an unlikely pose given the subject. Still, some are useful, and at least the bazooka in this set has someone loading the weapon.

The addition of an LCR(S) (Landing Craft, Rubber (Small)) in the set is a nice touch, and suggests something of the landings on many Pacific islands that the Marines undertook from 1942. Of course such a small craft could not be used to ferry serious numbers ashore, and in fact this model is rather smaller than even the smallest of these items, which originally measured a little under 4 metres in length and could hold seven men. It is also rounded at both ends, whereas in reality they had a definite point at the bow to aid control.

Though children of the day may not have noticed, the definition on these figures is very poor. Faces and hands are featureless blobs and equipment and rifles are almost without any detail at all. Whether this is due to contemporary technical limitations or the perceived target market, it is nowhere near today's minimum. Of course Airfix realised this and completely retooled it to create the type 2 set, leaving this one to rest in retirement.

Ratings

Historical Accuracy 5
Pose Quality 4
Pose Number 10
Sculpting 2
Mould 3

Further Reading
Books
"American Web Equipment 1910-1967" - Crowood (Europa Militaria Series No.33) - Martin J Brayley - 9781861268327
"Infantry Weapons of World War II" - David & Charles - Jan Suermont - 9780715319253
"The Marines in World War II" - Greenhill Books (GI Series No.21) - Christopher Anderson - 9781853674266
"The US Marine Corps" - Greenhill (GI Series No.9) - Charles H Cureton - 9781853672897
"US Marine Corps 1941-45" - Osprey (Elite Series No.59) - Gordon Rottman - 9781855324978
"US Marine Corps Raider 1942-43" - Osprey (Warrior Series No.109) - Ed Gilbert - 9781841769813
"US Marine Rifleman 1939-45" - Osprey (Warrior Series No.112) - Gordon Rottman - 9781841769721
"US Marines in World War Two" - Arms and Armour (Uniforms Illustrated Series No.11) - Robert Stern - 9780853687504

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