introduction

YS Masterpieces is a Greek company established in 2000 by Yiannis Sagiadinos producing high quality ship models in 1/350 and 1/700 scale, some Fantasy figures, 1/72 resin accessories and 1/48 kits. They also makes the castings of Pegaso Models resin bases and large scale resin busts. They recently produced two 1/48 resin figures representing German Paratroopers in Battle of Crete.

about the figure

The German invasion of Crete in May 1941 stands as a landmark in the history of airborne warfare. Up until that point, airborne operations had been used mainly in a tactical and operational context to seize key objectives in advance of the ground forces.

The German invasion of Crete, codenamed Operation Mercury, has been the only strategic airborne operation aimed at attacking and occupying such an important target. The operation was the brainchild of Generalmajor Kurt Student, the commander, and fanatical proponent of the airborne arm (the Fallschirmjäger) who believed that the paratroopers could operate in their own right and not merely be used to support the Wehrmacht.

The figure YS 4802 represents a German Paratrooper – Fallschirmjager wearing Splinter B pattern camouflage jumpsmock in battle of Crete.

box

The figure comes in a 95 x 65 x 30 mm. white color good quality cardboard box. The cover of the box shows a photo of the figure painted by George Hatzopoulos. The sides of the box gives information about the product and company.

Inside the box, there is a small piece of polyfoam to protect the parts and a small paper sheet including contact details of YS Castings.

Parts are well secured in a plastic bag and small parts are given attached to resin casting blocks.

parts

The figure is sculpted by Greek sculptor George Hatzopoulos and made up of 4 resin parts. Despite the small scale, all parts are cast clean and crisp in very good details. No cleaning process will be needed but the tiny parts need attention when seperating from casting blocks.

The main part is Full body without arms. Almost all equipment is cast on the figure. He wears a Fallschirmschützenbluse M1938 - Knochensack jumpsmock in Splinter B camouflage pattern over his Luftwaffe uniform. He wears a side cap Fliegermütze - Schiffchen on his head. The details of the cap, hair and facial details are well represented on this scale. Cloth folds, Y-straps - Trageriemen, strap of gasmask and personal fieldgear are also very well defined. He carries gasmask case Gasmaskbeutel on its cloth cover, bread bag- Brotbeutel and water bottle - Feldflasche on the backside. The holster of P-38 Walther pistol is cast on the left side and MP-40 ammo pouch is cast on the right side of waist. A stick grenade - Stielgranate 24 is inserted under his belt.

Other parts are ;

Right arm : Posed to carry the MP-40 Schmeisser submachine gun holding the strap. The details of the gun are well defined.

Left arm : Posed to hold a branch. I believe the pose of the arm could be better.

Helmet : A M38 Fallschirmjager helmet is provided as a seperate part to assembly on the left side of the waist.

reference books

Osprey Publishing – Men At Arms – 139 : German Airborne Troops 1939-45

Osprey Publishing – Warrior - 038 : Fallschirmjager German Paratrooper 1935-45

Squadron-Signal Publications – Combat Troops in Action – Fallschrimjagers

conclusion

A nice figure sculpted and cast in very good details. Ease to assembly with less parts and very good fit. It can be painted in a color/camo variety of jumpsmock options to display as a single figure or as a part of a WW II vignette or dio.

Highly Recommended