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In-Box Review
135
Cat Lover
Arab Tanker (3) Cat Lover
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by: Engin Kayral [ GRAYWOLF ]

Introduction

After the first two Arab Tanker figures released on 2016 posing for a selfie - MW3503 Say Cheese, Paracel Miniatures released new Arab tank crew figures that can be used as Iraqi, Syrian and other Mideast armies or rebel tankers.
MW3538 Cat Lover depicts a tanker sitting on the hatch and cuddling a cat.
Review

Inside company’s cardboard box labeled with a photo of the painted figure, it comes in a plastic zip-lock bag.
Sculpted by Giang Xuan Le in 1/35 scale as a one-piece figure and cast in resin, details are very sharp and clean. No need for a cleanwork other than vertical seamline on the right side.

  • Facial features like eyes, nose and lower lip, moustache and long beard are well defined giving him a Middle East apperance. He has a Russian Style Tanker Helmet with nicely sculpted long heavy cotton pads across the head, earphone covers ,rear neck flap, chin strap and buckle.

  • His uniform consists of a military jacket with two waist pockets and trousers with two side cargo pockets. As tankers in Mideast wars wear a variety of uniforms from United States, Russia or locally produced, his uniform can be painted in different colors or camouflage patterns. A Shemagh - traditional large scarf with tassels on edges wrapped around his neck. Over his uniform, he wears a tanker jacket with wide fur collar, shoulder boards, waist string, loaded side pockets and a small pocket on left arm. Cloth folds and wrinkles are well sculpted and figure’s butt is flattened to make a good fit for a sitting on the hatch pose. As for the footgear, he has military boots with front laces. Note that heels can be reshaped after removing from casting block.

  • Arms are posed to cuddle a cat on his left shoulder. Great sculpt on the details and pose of the cat.
    conclusion

    Once again, I appreciated Giang Xuan Le for sculpting such an interesting and very well posed figure. Besides sculpting and casting quality of the figure, it will be great to display this figure on a tank crew at rest on a Mideast diorama, especially when used together with MW3539 Book reader.
  • SUMMARY
    Highs: Very nice subject. No assembly as a one piece figure. Helmet and cat has great details.
    Lows: No lows on this one.
    Verdict: Unique figure for Mideast tankers at rest scenes.
      Scale: 1:35
      Mfg. ID: MW3538
      PUBLISHED: Dec 08, 2018
    NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
      THIS REVIEWER: 92.20%
      MAKER/PUBLISHER: 91.50%

    Our Thanks to Paracel Miniatures!
    This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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    About Engin Kayral (Graywolf)
    FROM: IZMIR, TURKEY / TüRKçE

    Born in 1962,married and having 2 sons. I started modelling about 8 years old building USS Fletcher with mom. It was a model dad brought from USA., I think in those days only a few people in Turkey had info on scale model kits. Grown as an AF officer son , I built many aircraft models in years. Som...

    Copyright ©2021 text by Engin Kayral [ GRAYWOLF ]. All rights reserved.



    Comments

    Whatever !
    DEC 07, 2018 - 11:12 PM
    This figure adds interest to a figure and will catch the eye of viewers due to its novelty. MiniArt are releasing a lot of Middle Eastern armour where this one should fit right in.
    DEC 08, 2018 - 02:27 AM
    He's not cuddling, he's checking out how fat it is.
    DEC 10, 2018 - 07:42 AM
    Yeah, you never know when rations might be cut!
    DEC 10, 2018 - 12:10 PM
    I like the figure, but let's face it -I could piss into Syria from my hooch, and often did, so I know how people treat cats in that part of the world. I asked my terps why this is and they just shrugged and said, "That's just how it is." I hope the sculptor based the figure on someone he saw, because I never saw kindness toward any animals there. I kept this guy in my hooch, but when I found him he was already so far gone he eventually died. I did what I could but unfortunately it wasn't enough: There was another one someone had burned the most of the hair off of, the tail was permanently singed, and the ears had been cut. I won't post that one even if I find it. Dogs didn't fare well either - they were stoned on a regular basis. But at least they had value - they could warn when the Americans were coming...
    DEC 10, 2018 - 12:41 PM
    Great addition to unique modern figures. For those who don’t like it....they can stick to the plethora of WWII pointing German tank commanders.
    DEC 10, 2018 - 12:42 PM
    Cats are haraam to eat, though, I was told, generally highly regarded by Arab Muslims as pets - very much so by Egyptians, even to this day! This figure is touching. It would look at its best, I think, as a Tank Commander whose vehicle stands alone in a scene of utter devastation. I'm sorry it's the wrong theatre and scale for me. I typed the above before seeing 18B's post; I am surprised, but then my experience of Arabs has been in the UK and in times of relative peace. And more of my friends and colleagues have been Egyptians and Lebanese than Syrians and Iraqis. The status of dogs is no surprise - they are considered haraam in every context. Jews didn't think much of them either - "As the dog returns to his vomit, so a fool to his folly" for one OT reference.
    DEC 10, 2018 - 12:43 PM
       
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