The Modelling News: Mantis' Miniature Marines all the way today - as we review their latest set of figures in 35th scale...

Two USMC soldiers pick their way carefully around a small excavator as they scan the horizon for any trouble – single and as a set from Mantis Miniatures these two are up for a little mini build and review in today's news to you...

35060 USMC #1

Price: 12€

(Kit contains 1 figure. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

35061 USMC #2

Price: 12€

(Kit contains 1 figure. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

35062 USMC Patrol

Price: 22€/

(Kit contains 2 figures. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

Today we have two new figures from the Polish miniature company Mantis. Their head sculptor and painter Artur usually puts together something nice so we do like to look at their work here on TMN. Today we have a pair of USMC soldiers on a patrol sculpted by Brian Chang for examination and building to show you their fit.

First of all nothing comes without inspiration - and we have tracked down two of the exact pieces of inspiration for these two resin Marines. Here you can see a picture from the US Government defence site that served as a guide or inspiration of these two figures in the set.

"U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporals Daniel Garner, kneeling, and Chris Ducharme investigate a possible improvised explosive device while on a patrol in Marjah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2010. Garner and Ducharme are assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. The Marines determined the suspected IED was nothing of concern. U.S. Marine Crops photo by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde"

Both soldiers are wearing the "frog 2 with armour" combat gear that you can see demonstrated quite well in this picture below - again this is one of the references the sculptors used in making these two marines.

These two figures are in the exact pose and gear that is seen in these two pictures so the research reference has been well done here - how about the resin and sculpting?

The Resin:

The resin for these two figures will come one in a box if you are getting the single soldier or two in a box if you are after the pair. Both come in Zip Loc bags of course to keep them separated and safe. Both of these soldiers parts are attached to resin pouring blocks - i must say in pretty sensible places like the elbows and under the necks of the soldiers. I didn't need to sweat when removing these blocks. The light grey resin was bubble free and needing a trim here and there.

There is a slight resin seam here and there like on the lower leg and the SAW machine gun ammo case - but the clean up is pretty minimal and it does not keep you from getting these ready to paint fairly quickly.

One very good thing here present on both of these figures was the well placed and thankfully quite useful notches on the arm joints to the torso on both of these soldiers. They both sit in there perfectly at the joint and the seam is on the clothing line. Any small gap is hidden by the natural line there.

O.K. that is the commonality between both - let's look at them each individually then as a pair and put 'em together.

35060 USMC #1

Price: 12€

(Kit contains 1 figure. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

Painted by: Young Won

This “Leatherneck” is seen with his M4 carbine picking his way around the side of an obstacle (it is a small digger in the cover art on the box but it could be anything chest height). He is seen here with in five parts of grey resin with full high armour plated flak jacket on protecting his neck, torso and shoulders.

His head is covered by the modern US style helmet and some dust protective goggles on them, the slot for his night vision goggles is there as well

His torso is covered with his frog pants and tunic as well as the high (and low) protective body armour which is sculpted very nicely in a way that pretty much catches the front squares that will look great under some paint and shading. The pants are baggy and floppy especially toward the feet. The knee pads are nicely hanging around the ankles - just like the photo earlier shows they had slipped down there.

You can see his water pack on his backpack. The spare ammo and general pouches around his waist are full of stuff but thick looking in material at the same time. Latches an straps sit very nicely and off the body and the pockets in his pants are almost like a fishes gill in the thin overlapping style of cloth pockets on these pants in real life.

The arms here fit straight into the body with the very nice lugs and holes we looked at earlier. the baggy material sculpting is topped off with pockets on the shoulders and pad seams on the elbows along with the advanced aviation gloves these soldiers now all seem to sport.

This marine is armed with an updated M4 carbine with a barrel grip and an M68 Close Combat Optic. I think the sculptor has matched the look of the M4 pretty well. The barrel bent a little as you can see here but some careful bending back will fix this right up.

And here he is all together - he looks almost a little trepidacious as he points at something which catches his eye in the distance..

35061 USMC #2

Price: 12€

(Kit contains 1 figure. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

Painted by: Young Won

Again this soldier has the modern style US helmet on but this time he is seen with protective glasses on instead of goggles on his helmet. This Marine has the features of an African-American man which is nice to see as the army is built from more than white blokes with pointed chins and nordic features. The helmet covering cloth is baggy and the straps around the helmet pinch the material.

This Marine – again sculpted in 35^th scale by Brian Chang is seen in very much the same Frog 2 fireproof gear and armoured flak vest as is his comrade. Padded knees, shoulder patches and heaps of gear hanging off his torso is just the start of this figure – he also has a light backpack on suggesting he is on a light patrol.

Again the pockets flap, the squares on the body armour are well sculpted and the pants are baggy. This soldier carries an extra square packet for more SAW mags on his left hip and you can see the tread on his upturned right boot.

The arms on this Marine are a right full arm with a hole to place the joint right into and this fits well although i am a bit vague on the fit of the left hand which i have placed in the collar but i can't say I'm so sure of the position. It isn't holding anything though so anywhere you want to put it that fits is fine.

The fingers and hands are not in gloves this time and you can see them all ok - the sleeves have pockets on them and the cuff and buttons visible as well.

There is nothing light about his Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), M249 Light Machine Gun – he carries this large area suppression weapon as a support gunner. The tripod mount and carry handle are separately cast to add as well.

OK - so here he is all put together as well - He crouches and looks across the street as his comrade is doing – and I guess these two figures would make a great set wouldn’t they?

35062 USMC Patrol

Price: 22€/

(Kit contains 2 figures. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

Painted by: Young Won

The set comes with just the two figures (the excellent base is something you will have to source yourself) in 35^th scale in one package. They suit each other very well and there is enough different but the same to make them convincing as two individuals.

They fit together well - they are well researched from all that i have found out about them and they are a quick assembly. Most importantly they are a good quality modern USMC set. With all the modern warfare scenarios coming to us with new vehicles these will be popular with modellers.

Adam Norenberg

Thanks to Mantis for sending these two for review - These marines are now available in the best worldwide model shops - and you can also place an order directly from Mantis by emailing: mantisminiatures@yahoo.pl

Just to show you what these figures look like once build we thought we'd show you more of them painted up - Young Won has done an impressive job on the painting as well I must mention – his blog is here if you would like to see his other great work!

35060 USMC #1

Price: 12€

(Kit contains 1 figure. Base not included)

Sculpted by: Brian Chang

Painted by: Young Won