"Fallschirmjager Sniper" - Alpine Miniatures Review

[Guy]

16010
"Fallschirmjager Sniper"
1/16th scale resin - 15 parts
Sculpted by Taesung Hamms
Painted by Sang-Eon Lee

Alpine Miniatures newest release in the 1/16th scale range of figures is a beautifully sculpted and engineered kit of a German Fallschirmjager Sniper on the move in WWII. Cast in a light gray resin this kit consists of 15 resin parts.

[ continued in next posting ]

​

 

[Guy]

This kit arrived right after casting started and did not come in a box as all the Alpine figures do but was well cushioned by styro-foam chips and arrived in a large bag. Inside were the above 4 bags with the parts sealed to prevent loss during shipping. The above bottom photo shows the parts removed for inspection prior to starting the review process.

Optional Head 1






Optional Head 2

Above are the four sides of the 2 optional heads included within the kit.

Above are the four sides of the separately cast upper torso.

[ continued in next posting ]

​

 

[Guy]

Above is the four views of the lower legs and torso.

Above you see the upper and lower torso dry-fitted together with no clean-up needed. Perfect fit.

Above you have the front and back view of the arms and feet that are cast separately. The left hand comes attached to the Sniper rifle.

The above top 2 photos show the front and back of the separate cast accessories. The bottom photo shows the front and back of the left hand and Sniper rifle with a separate cast sling.

[ continued in next posting ]

​

 

[Guy]

Additional Box art photos.
Painted by
Sang-Eon Lee

Version 1 with optional head















Version 2 with 2nd optional head

Conclusion:
An excellent kit depicting a sniper on the move in WWII. Excellent casting with minimal clean-up needed. Dry-fitting was excellent. Highly recommended.

Alpine Miniatures
web-site click here

R455

​

 

[gothicgeek]

Just awesome!

Thanks for the great review Guy

Mark

 

[Michael Tse]

This one has the kind of posture that can be arguably recognised as Taesung's. So in that sense there is the element of what went before. BUt the sleeves up and that cracking face sculpt do help to make it feel fresh. One way or another, into my basket it shall fall.

 

[rheath]

Thanks for the review here Guy as always - I am going to be a dog in the manger here, don't actually like the pose, IMHO too open ended. Don't know if I'm making sense to the reader but these "action poses" have never drawn my attention. Whilst going through the thought process one could come up with a composition into which it could produce an effect that might catch the eye, quite honestly on it's own it is limited, that's just being honest, doesn't in anyway detract from Taesungs or Alpines efforts as they have tonnes of great stuff.

 

[tonydawe]

I agree with you Rob, although for slightly different reasons. The pose doesn't work for me because it doesn't fit with what I know about how snipers operate in combat.

Such an open, exposed stance is incongruous with a soldier who specialises in stealth, camoflague and concealement. For this reason, I also would argue against the rolled up sleeves.

Even when moving from one location to another, a sniper is trained to keep low to the ground, to avoid sudden movements and keep his shape and silouette to a minimum. He would probably add bits of vegetation to his uniform to help him blend into his surrounding and break up his shape. He does this, or he dies.

Standing up in this exposed manner is an invitation to be shot by an enemy sniper! I had a similar problem with Andrea's 90mm German sniper sticking the end of his rifle barrel out through a window frame. In real life, you'd be killed doing this.

At the end of the day, these are miniature figures and I shouldn't get too excited if a few small liberties have been taken to make the figures more commercially attractive to modellers.

I'm sure Taesung has done a great deal of research on the figure and can jutsify everything he's done, so having said my piece I'll shut up.

 

[dinovision79]

Nice figure!

The pose is open for interpretation, it's not a classic sniper-positure, but Fallschirjmagers often fought out of their role, were used in raids, IMO WWII had enough unusual, catotic, desperate battles, especially late in the war, where quickly changing situations in villages and cities made classic sniper tatics useless, lacking time, space and safe distance from the enemy, just hit and run.
I see this guy cautiously moving up on a bulding, unsure whether he hit the target or not, but ofcourse, it's up to every modeler

 

[rheath]

I agree with you Rob, although for slightly different reasons. The pose doesn't work for me because it doesn't fit with what I know about how snipers operate in combat.

Such an open, exposed stance is incongruous with a soldier who specialises in stealth, camoflague and concealement. For this reason, I also would argue against the rolled up sleeves.

Even when moving from one location to another, a sniper is trained to keep low to the ground, to avoid sudden movements and keep his shape and silouette to a minimum. He would probably add bits of vegetation to his uniform to help him blend into his surrounding and break up his shape. He does this, or he dies.

Standing up in this exposed manner is an invitation to be shot by an enemy sniper! I had a similar problem with Andrea's 90mm German sniper sticking the end of his rifle barrel out through a window frame. In real life, you'd be killed doing this.

At the end of the day, these are miniature figures and I shouldn't get too excited if a few small liberties have been taken to make the figures more commercially attractive to modellers.

I'm sure Taesung has done a great deal of research on the figure and can jutsify everything he's done, so having said my piece I'll shut up.

Thanks Tony, good debate here, I have looked and puzzled over suitable setting, along a narrow path or closest to a building would probably fit - but as a figure just doesn't draw the interest, it will appeal to a painter who may "latch onto" the scene he is looking for. Just my tuppennies worth.

 

[gothicgeek]

I gotta say I love the pose precisely because it avoids the cliché sniper pose

But I would envision him stood in open ground, perhaps about to take an opportunistic pop at a target...

Or about to bag some dinner

Mark

 

[T50]

about to bag some dinner

That was my idea!

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yep, this all comes down to opinion, but that doesn't mean that we can't advance our opinions with force and conviction! Once you place a uniformed figure in an action pose, you need a back story to justify it, and I'm not sure that the explanation that this sniper isn't sniping today is very convincing. I never was a sniper, but I have shot at folks from cover, and if I had left my face arms and hands uncamouflaged (we used blanco) as this young feller does, I wouldn't be here to bore you now.

 

[LAXMAN05]

Nice figure!

The pose is open for interpretation, it's not a classic sniper-positure, but Fallschirjmagers often fought out of their role, were used in raids, IMO WWII had enough unusual, catotic, desperate battles, especially late in the war, where quickly changing situations in villages and cities made classic sniper tatics useless, lacking time, space and safe distance from the enemy, just hit and run.
I see this guy cautiously moving up on a bulding, unsure whether he hit the target or not, but ofcourse, it's up to every modeler

I agree and it is open for interpertation, unless you were a Fallschirjmager during the war there is a opinion to as what that they have done and what they have experienced. As opposed to worrying about the specifics of a "typical sniper" think about what you would do in a certain situation, a split second to save your life. You guessed it.... i don't think there is a pre determination. It is amazing how you can sculpt a figure, but leave it open to so many representations... I will be excited to see this figure on a vignette. Congrats on a excellent figure!

 

[T50]

Gentlemen (and ladies?)

Let's please remember that we are NOT looking at someone's vignette.
We are in fact looking at a boxart and a review of single figure kit.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The kit doesn't come with a base either.

I specifically requested Sang-Eon Lee to remove all the obstacles from
the base when taking photographs. This was for boxart purpose, and I
needed to show the entire figure. The boxart and review are designed
to show you how the actual figure looks like and how it can be painted.
They are not to dictate how this sniper figure should be placed in a
vignette. You are free to do whatever you want with this figure. Place it
hiding behind a toilet. I don't care.
Now if you feel that a sniper figure should be place behind a cover (and
I agree, of course), then get this figure and make a such vignette. Simple!

And that's that!

 

[housecarl]

It's still a great figure. Hiding behind a toilet...........Now that's an idea.
Carl.