Favourite Airfix Figures

[Zenbadger]

Looking back through PSR I have come to the conclusion that the 1/72nd WW2 Italians are one of the best figures ever committed to bendy plastic.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

The Russian Maxim came in parts so was guaranteed never to say together. Couple with the infantry being on super slender bases and so guaranteed to fall over. Like with many sets their 1/32 box was much superior

IIRC, the Maxim gunner also came in two parts.

[goat major]

oh yes so he did. How annoying!

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Given the available technology at the time, I think it was the only way to produce a realistic looking gunner - and once securely glued together, it looked quite good, IMO.

[goat major]

"securely glued together" which was of course virtually impossible

[grizzlymc]

The trick was to prep them with ammonia and to use a contact adhesive like Tarzans Grip. Mind you, my original airfix wellingtonics, civil war with sprue shakos and paper coat tails were all done with polystyrene cement and they were still holding together 30 years later when I chucked them out.

Why were there no mortars in any of the boxes, except the paras who had no BRENs?

[Vintage Wargaming]

Mortars in British WW1 and Russian WW2 for sure

[Etranger]

There was also a High Chapparel set as well.

Had that one too. the character figures were miniatures works of art.

[Etranger]

...
Lamest 1/72: anything in the 1st edition WWII Brit infantry box. Pitiful emaciated figures doing aerobics in skintight gear, armed with rifles which are mere wisps of featureless placcy.
(EXCEPT: the Bren gunner walking casually with his gun on his shoulder. Lovely sculpt.)

The officer was particularly effete, even his revolver had a droop.

There was an even earlier 1960's British infantry set which was (ahem) not very good..

[Vintage Wargaming]

Earlier set = the Infantry Combat Group, which was sort of the counterpart to the first series German WW2 set.

Some of the sets done by John Braithwaite - I’m thinking particularly German WWI infantry - were very fine, within the constraints of the set format and until the moulds got shot.