Expeditionary Force WWII Japanese Set One, Scott of Expeditionary has released photos of their next set. It is the WWII Japanese Rifle section. Also, Scott gives some other news.
Expeditionary Force WWII Japanese Set One
Greetings from Singapore!
Very pleased to inform you of the launching of a new range “54mm WW2 Pacific War” with the coming release of a new set as follows:-
54 PWJ 01 Infantry – Rifle Section
All models are supplied unpainted.
The set will be available for shipment by next week Friday, 18 September 2020.
An infantry rifle section or squad of the period is often divided into two groups: one with the firepower centers around the light machine-gun, and the other forms the rifle assault group. Although the section is commanded by either a sergeant or a corporal, we have decided to include an officer as a more attractive combination. A sergeant will be included in a later set.
The Imperial Japanese Army adopted the Samurai tradition to build up the martial spirit of the new army. Every officer and senior NCO is issued with a sword, the status symbol of a samurai, while other ranks are issued with a sword bayonet.
The Japanese soldier has at least two types of battle dress: the regulation tunic as presented in this set; and a tropical jungle battle dress which we will be producing in a later set. It has always been our intent to keep the models of a box-set within the same tactical context and thus all the models of this set wear the plain steel helmet for uniformity. The later sets will have netted helmets and fatigue caps. The Special Naval Landing Force will have the fabric covered helmet.
Expeditionary Force WWII Japanese Set OneSize of the Figures
Customers’ feedback indicates that the size of the model is of great importance to some of them for compatibility reasons. We thus include the above photos for those interested. Note that the thickness of the model base is around 2 mm. We have deliberately sized these Japanese models to be slightly smaller to reflect the observed small stature of the average Japanese soldier of the period.
Hope that you and your customers will find something of interest in these models. These are all new sculpted.
Next Release
Looking forward to your kind support.
Stay safe.
Cheers,
Scott
Sneak Peak
Another great set of figures from Expo Force. Absolutely love the monk hope he comes with extra arms with sword also wooden staff and a mace. He will go lovely with the Vikings. Would love to see a set of peasants working on the land.
The Japanese look nice. Especially the poses of them charging. I will order two sets of the Japanese and a set of the monks too.
The IJA soldiers look suitably stocky, as well as a bit shorter. I like these, and agree that multiple sets would be a good plan.
The monk could have many uses such Robin Hood ,crusades,early conquest of America,viking attacks,inquisition and many more .
regarding Japanese Expeditionary Force
I don’t know but the EXF WW2 germans are with base 68 to 70mm not 60 mm at all ,that was the BIG issue when EXF release then first and many were disappointed at it ,the guys were huge and thick ,so these japanese should be around 60 mm i’m guessing ,also the pose depicted has leg spread and not standing straight ,so the photo compare is misleading .The problems also goes with these elevated 2 to 4 mm bases that made then looks bigger also .
Regardless many poses are repeated (all charging and firing with rifle and LMG plus the grenade launcher kneeling ) of already made by other makers such (TSSD,Austin,Airfix,Britain ,MARX,MPC ,LIDO ,Halmark ,MARS, 21 century ,Atlantic,PH and BMC )with few exception as i mentioned before in mortar and machine gun team plus flamethrower .The officer with a sword and pistol pose had been over made by Britain ,MPC,Marx ,LIDO and Jecsan but not in exact same pose of course .
This officer in standar same poses issue happen also with German sets making officer firing a pistol in full officer staff uniform AKA -Airfix style .
It seem to me that they don’t want be too much creative i guess.
The Type 89 Grenade Discharger kneeling pose again been overdone by 21 century,Airfix, Mars and BMC .So not much impress with these in my personal like and i will skip it as no need repeated poses .Still i bet many love then .
Scale is not issue x me as i collect all 4 ranges 45,54,60 and 70/75 mm and between and there plenty to match blend outhere from new to recast and vintage .
My thoughts
There MUST have been at least 1 German Officer who wore a helmet in combat in WW2!!
ESCI did one in 1:32.
But was he 1/35? I liked most of their 1/72 poses but was disappointed when I bought their larger Napoleonics and they were 1/35th scale, they were small even with the Airfix figures so I didn’t bother with their other offerings.
Wayne ,no ;The US paras and German by ESCI are the only 2 sets made in 1/32 or larger,standing German officer with pistol measure from base to top eyes 57mm ,about same in US paras as they stand taller than AIRFIX US paras.
Ironicle the box was shown as 1/35 outside .
Expecting same error made for rest i too was surprised with rest sets made but it was the ESCI idea to made then in 1/35 not 1/32.
ESCI always list their figures as 1/35 ,not 1/32 and was correct with the scale made for their rest versus Airfix
The Soviets and Napoleonic plus all 4 sets modern post WW2 made were more corect made as described in box 1/35 .
The artist who work on ESCI did work for ITALERI resent true 1/32 sets.included the German Elite set and others .
https://www.plasticmodels.co.nz/products/figurines/wwii-soldiers-and-infantry/italeri-132-ww2-german-elite-troops/
Unfortunately ITALERI stop making this 1/32 lione for lack sales versus cost while continue with HO sets as most makers .
Best
I have seen some really cool photos, with german officers in helmets, i really like how the Germans deck their chest out in crosses, conte did some figures a few years back with a helmet German, and a iron cross around his neck……i bought them aftermarket, for a really hefty price because i have a think for ww2………
Esci did one and at least Revell added up an officer wearing helmet to the Africa Korps and in the Atlantic set you find the chance with the loose added headgear to give the poor officer some brain protection. Taking a look at Starlux and crossing the thin line from nco to officer you can also ad some poses with helmet. Elastolin at least protected the 70mm commanding officer as did Airfix in its paratrooper set.
Otherwise mostly the poor guys had to risk their head for Fuehrer and Vaterland unprotected.
A fate their British fellow officers mostly shared for king and country in many sets.
Yes with helmet definitely had been done in past. Lido and Marx did one each also.But the Airfix style pose officers had been repeated too often in old brands and also few makers today includes EXF .
I like the Monk. Looks like he is ready to convert the Celtic Druid that Ex Force put out earlier this year😀
They look great: love the Japanese: looking forward to the eighteenth century range when their time comes.
Expeditionary force figures are so interesting, I actually looked at them in person, and thought they go with most 60mm figures despite contrarian opinion, I would much rather buy these at 30 dollar a set compared to a 50 dollar set any day despite detail…..i refuse to pay 50 bucks for 5 figures……