A Painted Review of Recent Airfix WW2 British set

I know quite a few blokes have done reviews of the recent Airfix WW2 British Infantry set, but this is a "painted up" version- not intended to replicate what has already been done on PSR.
Firstly, I don't think this is the best set Airfix have ever done, however I do think it is a useful set for those collecting a 20mm British force for NW Europe. The figures are a little on the undernourished side but have some quite nice detail. Some of the figures I would not use as they are because the poses are a bit out of place, for example:

This picture comes from Plastic Soldier Review, who recently reviewed this set. This chap has very spindly legs and carries a gas mask, which I understood to be a piece of equipment issued to the BEF and early war troops. I decided I couldn't rescue this pose, so I lopped the heads off to use on other figures.
I also made changes to these poses:

I cut off the carrying handle on the Bren gun, just because I didn't like the look of it (yes, I know they had them), and PSR called it "grossly exaggerated". The bloke in the middle appears to be carrying the rolls of white tape used for marking off mine fields or where mines were on the verges of roads, (although PSR suggest it is for field telephone cable, could be)- an interesting choice of pose but not one I would want several of in a box, so I cut off the tape roll:

The bloke with the PIAT, although interesting, didn't seem right. The PIAT looks too spindly and the likelihood of him firing it one handed would be pretty slim. I converted this figure by cutting off the PIAT arm and replacing it with a sten. This figure was then put with a slightly converted Revell 2inch mortar figure- I gave him an Airfix head from one of those figures I mentioned earlier:

I think I've taken those too close up.

Here are some of the painted up figures from an earlier photo session; I think they came up quite well in the end:

This next lot of photos are from the most recent photo session:

Bloke on left has an enamel mug hanging from his pack.

I think PSR has made some pretty valid comments about this set, but until they are actually painted up one cannot fully appreciate them. With some alterations I have been happy to include them with my British forces for the Dorsets from 43rd Wessex Division. Another bonus was the low cost of this set, as Airfix stuff seems to be cheaper here in Australia than even the UK- same can't be said for most of the other manufacturers though.

I hope you blokes have found this painted review useful, stay tuned for a painted review of the excellent Caesar Miniatures WW2 British infantry set in a future post.

Cheers,

Jacksarge.