In Box Review of ERTL-ESCI 1/35th Scale
German Sturmtruppen “Sappers”
Kit no. 8573
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1983
Out of production.
THE KIT:
ERTL was a farm toys manufacturer, that was based in Dyersville, IA years ago. They went out of business. I used to drive 51 miles up north to their discount store and bought several model kits when they had plastic models. They were partnered to ESCI, based in Italy at that time. ESCI is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
The ERTL plant has been sold to another toy company now. This new company does not make model kits, only toys.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color illustration of 6 German Sturmtruppen, posed against a yellow background.
All six are dressed in camouflage-jackets and steel helmets and field-grey trousers, that are bloused into high black jack-boots.
Reading left to right:
The 1st man in front is laying on his back and cutting barbed-wire with a large set of bolt cutters. His MP40 submachine-gun is lying next to him.
The 2nd man to the right, in front, is kneeling on his right knee. He is armed with a flame-thrower.
The 3rd man to the right, in front, is laying on his back with a white bloody bandage on his forehead. His helmet, MP40 and gas mask canister are beside him.
The 4th man to the right, in front, is kneeling on his right knee and supporting the wounded guy’s head with his right hand. He holds a large sub machine-gun in his left hand.
The 5th man is on the left in the rear, behind the first four men. He is running and holding a pistol in his left hand.
The 6th man to the right in the rear, behind the first four men, is running. He has a grenade cluster in his right hand that has 7 stick grenades that are wrapped together. He has a large sub machine-gun in his left hand.
ERTL was a farm toys manufacturer, that was based in Dyersville, IA years ago. They went out of business. I used to drive 51 miles up north to their discount store and bought several model kits when they had plastic models. They were partnered to ESCI, based in Italy at that time. ESCI is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
The ERTL plant has been sold to another toy company now. This new company does not make model kits, only toys.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color illustration of 6 German Sturmtruppen, posed against a yellow background.
All six are dressed in camouflage-jackets and steel helmets and field-grey trousers, that are bloused into high black jack-boots.
Reading left to right:
The 1st man in front is laying on his back and cutting barbed-wire with a large set of bolt cutters. His MP40 submachine-gun is lying next to him.
The 2nd man to the right, in front, is kneeling on his right knee. He is armed with a flame-thrower.
The 3rd man to the right, in front, is laying on his back with a white bloody bandage on his forehead. His helmet, MP40 and gas mask canister are beside him.
The 4th man to the right, in front, is kneeling on his right knee and supporting the wounded guy’s head with his right hand. He holds a large sub machine-gun in his left hand.
The 5th man is on the left in the rear, behind the first four men. He is running and holding a pistol in his left hand.
The 6th man to the right in the rear, behind the first four men, is running. He has a grenade cluster in his right hand that has 7 stick grenades that are wrapped together. He has a large sub machine-gun in his left hand.
One side has a photo of the completed models in a diorama. The address of ERTL is on this side as well along with the part number for the kit.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 dark-grey parts trees in a single sealed clear cello bag.
Trees are not alphabetized.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 4 ¾” x 8 ½” page format.
Page 1 has a black and white illustration of the man with the flame-thrower and the man running and holding a pistol.
Page 2 to 4 shows the assembly steps for the other 4 men.
Page 6 has READ BEFORE STARTING instructions and a CAUTION to keep an open flame away from cement, paint and thinners.
The largest dark-grey tree holds: the parts of the 6 figures (4 are divided into separate torsos, lower bodies and arms. One is full-bodied , with a separate right arm. The last man is divided into separate torso, arms and legs. Also on the tree is the flame-thrower, 2 submachine guns, the cable cutters and 2 base plates to stand figures on. (32 parts)
This kit holds 2 dark-grey parts trees in a single sealed clear cello bag.
Trees are not alphabetized.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 4 ¾” x 8 ½” page format.
Page 1 has a black and white illustration of the man with the flame-thrower and the man running and holding a pistol.
Page 2 to 4 shows the assembly steps for the other 4 men.
Page 6 has READ BEFORE STARTING instructions and a CAUTION to keep an open flame away from cement, paint and thinners.
The largest dark-grey tree holds: the parts of the 6 figures (4 are divided into separate torsos, lower bodies and arms. One is full-bodied , with a separate right arm. The last man is divided into separate torso, arms and legs. Also on the tree is the flame-thrower, 2 submachine guns, the cable cutters and 2 base plates to stand figures on. (32 parts)
The medium-sized dark-grey tree holds: 6 uncovered steel helmets that are uncovered and 6 that have camouflage cloth on them, four cloth field caps with bills, a pair of binoculars, 5 spades in carrying cases, 4 canvas pouches, a pistol, ammo cases, 2 submachine-guns, 6 canteens, 4 rolled and tied canvas tarps, 2 potato masher type grenades, 4 mess kits, 4 Mauser 98K carbines, 4 gas mask canisters. (65 parts)
Detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.