Disclaimer: The images above were supplied by the manufacturer and painted by their artists.

Introduction

PT-024 – “Motorradfahrerkuriere, 1942-45”, or Motorcycle Courier, 1942-45 is a 1/35th scale resin figure sculpted by Yoshitaka Hirano. The figure is portrayed studying a map, dispatch, or perhaps orders. The box-art is painted by Luca Cardoselli.

The figure

The figure wears the feldgrau heavy twill cloth M1934 motorcyclists’ rubberised coat, with the skirt buttoned back around his legs and partially covering his Marschstiefel boots. As this represents the later issue of this coat, the large feldgrau cloth collar should be painted with feldgrau facings – as opposed to the bluish dark-green facings that were used up until May 1940. Something I noted was that this figure lacks any shoulder-boards or straps, which should be present with this coat. Further scrutiny yielded that the buttons and loops are sculpted, so the motorcyclist is presumably just, against regulation, not wearing them.

Protecting his hands the figure wears gauntlets, which can be represented as either leather or waterproof cotton. On his left hip he carries the M1935 dispatch-case. His M1938 gas mask canister has been slung on his chest, perhaps so as not to constrict a rear-passenger on his motorcycle.

The figure wears the standard issue Stahlhelm and dust goggles for that period, but adds a dash of panache with a civilian scarf wrapped around his neck.

The kit

PT-024, moulded in a light grey coloured resin, comes in a kit form consisting of six pieces. The figure comes packaged in a small box with the parts inside a small “bankie”.

The figure is supplied with torso and legs in a single casting. The other parts are the head, two arms, dispatch-case and gas mask canister.

The head, wearing the helmet and dust goggles, is well detailed and moulded. Some may find the face particularly expressionless, but personally I feel it suits the pose well – which I find to be one of studiousness. The mould block on the helmet is fairly thick, and will need to be carefully removed and sanded down. (You will note in the dry-fitted photograph that I have left this attached to the helmet until I have painted the figure’s face.)

The torso and legs are well moulded and detailed. The only bit of flash was between the two boots, and there was a thin seam line running down the back of each boot. All-in-all nothing a new blade on my hobby knife could not handle. Because of the nature of the greatcoat and the way it was buttoned back, there are plenty of folds in the buttoned back skirts; if you like painting folds, then this is the figure for you.

The two arms are very similar in nature. Both have a thin mould block running down from the triceps to the forearm, which is very easily removed with a sharp blade, and both revealed a pin-prick of an air pocket in the elbow. This is hardly noticeable, and can be filled with a speck of CA glue. The left arm has a microscopic seam line running down the outer bicep area, which needs to be carefully sanded down. Other than that, the arms are well formed, as are the gauntlets. The arms will need to be positioned so the hands line up so as to attach a map (not included), or document of some sort, between them.

The despatch-case and gas mask canister are nicely detailed, and like the rest of the kit, of excellent quality. The despatch-case yielded a small air pocket when cutting away the mould block, but again, this can be filled with a miniscule drop of CA glue.

Conclusion

This is a very nice figure. It is well detailed, well cast and good quality. This little figure will be great either as a stand-alone or as part of something bigger like a vignette or diorama. Granted the pose may not be the most dynamic, but there are not many figures of motorcycle despatch riders out there.

Highly recommended.