Building upon my review of FiB's new German Para Platoon TMP link this is my review of FiB's new US Paras to provide guidance to gamers like myself who might not be able to see them in the flesh before they buy.
The figures arrive in a sturdy sealed plastic blister. No TOE is evident at all, so expect 40 assorted US Paras. There were two figure poses I didn't recieve and 4 poses not shown on the FiB promotional photo (all BARs).
Im disappointed by this. If the figures are going to be a random mix I want to know up front.
My blister contained 2 obvious leader types with SMG, 1 Para firing an SMG, 1 hunchback carrying a carbine, 6 BARs and 30 assorted riflemen.
Like their German counterparts, no cleaning of mould seams or flash of any kind was required. A few vent tabs on the end of rifles etc but a quick snip and the figures are ready for painting.
The US Paras are classic "Devils in Baggy Pants" – baggy trousers, ballooning pockets, scrimmed helmets with prominent first aid packs. Many of the helmets are tipped back from the face as you see in photos not over the eyebrows as you see in other makers products. Some even have loose chin straps.
Poses are largely ok with one or two exceptions. Weakest figures are the solitary carbine, the firing rifleman who looks like he started as a British Para and the BAR gunner mentioned below.
The rifles look a little short but nothing to worry about. The BARs on the other hand are by and large terrible. Only the advancing firing from the hip BAR gunner had a full weapon. All the rest were truncated with only half a barrel and looked like a fudged magazine fed Winchester shotgun. One BAR gunner pose is obviously using it to prune weeds or shoot mice. Same dolly was used for the hunchback carbine.
BARs weren't part of the US Para TOE prior to Market Garden, though the 82nd issued them for Normandy. However each rifle platoon had a 60mm mortar, Browning LMGs and Bazookas – none of these are included in the FiB box. So again, like the German Paras, it's not possible to create a basic parachute rifle platoon from Forged in Battle.
For me at the moment that's not a problem. These were a last minute purchase for a mini Normandy individual skirmish campaign involving rag-tag groups of misdropped Paras. But I am disappointed the mix of riflemen wasn't what it could have been.
The FiB US Paras have a certain 'lost and wandering around in France trying to find my unit' charm but I'll han likely end up topping up Bazooka's, SMGs, LMGs from Peter Pig.
The long and the short is, despite some nice figures and good characterisation, I'm left without any trust in purchasing any other of FiBs misleadingly titled rifle 'platoon' blisters.
If you want a jamboree bag of cheap US Paras to supplement your exsiting forces, this is it. If you want a Parachute Rifle Platoon, look elsewhere.
Cheers
Mark
has been watching some documentaries lately set in the Western Desert, and was inspired to create this...
