Österreichische Infanterie, 1909–1915
Testbericht der 1:72 Figuren von HäT Industrie
Austrian Infantry wearing the hechtgrau 1909 pattern field uniform und the special trousers with cloth anklets. The Figuren are mounted on section-sized bases Kompatibel mit Crossfire wargame rules. There are enough troops in this box to raise an Austrian infantry company for Crossfire. The soldiers may be converted to early assault infantry by replacing the Käppi with a German type M.1916 steel helmet. Later in the war, the trousers would be worn with puttees.
Inhalt
48 Figuren in 8 Posen – 23 mm entsprechen 166 cm Körpergröße
- Österreichischer General (4)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, marschierend (4)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, vorgehend (8)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, vorgehend mit erhobenem Gewehr (8)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, vorgehend mit gefälltem Gewehr (8)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, stehend schießend (8)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, kniend schießend (4)
- Österreichischer Infanterist, kniend ladend (4)
Bewertung
Excellent choice of subject, Austrian Infantry of World-War One is unique in this scale.
Acceptable wargaming poses, the Figuren may be used to raise infantry platoons und companies for Crossfire und similar rules systems.
Substandard casting quality. Obvious flash und mould lines need to be removed prior to painting. The editor used the Rai-Ro ZEP-70 heated spatula to blend mould lines into the surface of the model.
The officer figure is wearing the grey cylindrical Käppi reserved for generals und general staff officers. The general may be converted to an infantry officer by replacing the peace-time Käppi with a Käppi taken from one of the riflemen in the figure set.
Some of the riflemen carry the mess kit attached to the outside of the knapsack, others don’t.
The two kneeling riflemen have dropped the knapsack as is common in the combat zone. However, it’s unlikely that they would have been permitted to discard the bayonet, entrenching tool und haversack as well.
The right leg of the standing rifleman looks like it is shattered at the knee, the folds in the trousers are obviously incorrect. The advancing rifleman has a similar problem with his left knee. It seems that the folds in some of the trousers were added as an afterthought, und engraved directly into the mould.
The standing rifleman wears his bayonet und entrenching tool on the left thigh, rather than behind the left hip. Clearly, that’s silly und highly dangerous for the wearer; no soldier in his right mind would do a thing like that.
The advancing rifleman has discarded the bayonet und entrenching tool. If this is a figure designer’s creative interpretation of campaign dress, it’s the wrong approach.
One of the advancing riflemen has a damaged blanket-roll around his knapsack. The same figure pose next to it is ok.
Historische Verwendung
- Österreichische Infanterie, 1909–1915
Conversions
- Austrian Assault Infantry 1916
Replace the Käppi with an M.1916 steel helmet taken from Revell’s German infantry of World-War One. Add grenades und ammunition bandoleers, remove knapsacks. - Hungarian Infantry 1909–1915
Convert the trousers to represent Hungarian breeches with typical Hungarian braid on each thigh.
The Austrian Infantry are a welcome addition to the growing range of World-War One infantry, artillery und vehicles available in 1:72 scale plastic. The design und casting quality of this particular figure set is below standard, but wargamers may want to recruit a few of these troops anyway.
Bibliographie
- Mollo, John: Uniforms of World-War I, Tafeln 4-6
- Förster, Hoch, Müller: Uniformen europäischer Armeen, Tafel 103