Quick build block models

I noticed these 1/72 military blocks models on eBay for a while now, but it wasn't until I saw an M1070 being marked down with free shipping that I decided to buy a couple of these models for examination.

The two kits I bought were the Oshkosh M1070 HET, and a Taian HTF5980 TEL. There are also various aircraft and helicopter models, but the proportions looked a bit off, so I decided not to buy any of those.

The HTF5980 (DF-41) is branded Xuja while the M1070 model is branded Sebunas, but I've seen the exact same model with Xuja branding and catalog number. I assume both companies OEM their models from the same source.

The M1070 box contains five bags of various parts, which I will not bother doing a count or breakdown of. Most of the parts are of plastic, but I think the tires are some sort of vinyl material of mediocre quality.

A sand colored version of this model also exists, but people seem to be selling it for insane prices.

I assume the block model name comes from the particular type of layout in the following image, but the majority of parts use more of a peg and hole assembly configuration that does not seem particularly uniform.

There were also a handful of spare parts left over after assembly.

Assembly is pretty straight forward, but the images in the instructions are tiny, so the orientation for some pieces wasn't always obvious to me. For step 4 and I think step 5, the order of assembly for some of the parts is important, so double check before snapping them into place too tightly.

Step 1 completed.

Steps 2 + 3 completed.

Orientation of parts for step 5.

Step 6 completed.

Step 7 completed.

The completed model looks pretty good, but it is obviously better suited for gamers as opposed to hardcore model builders. The wheels actually don't roll particularly smoothly, but that may likely be due to my not bothering to smooth out the ejector pin marks on the axle parts.

The HTF5980 box is huge, and contains nine bags of various parts. Again, the parts are all plastic, with vinyl tires.

Steps 1 + 2 completed.

If you want to pivot these rods, make sure the pins are set all the way to the top, or the plastic may break when you try to move them.

For the telescoping support in step 8, make sure the edges of the parts are free of nubs before putting them together. They are tapered cylinders, so make sure the orientation is correct and that they fit loosely and move smoothly in fully collapsed form before extending the support.

Telescoping support without hinged caps.

Only attach the lower cap with hinge to the telescoping support for step 8. Later, during step 11, attach the upper cap with hinge (by itself) to the frame. Attach the telescoping support as shown in step 12, then connect the support to the upper cap.

I'm not sure how accurate the DF-41 ICBM looks, and the fit of the parts are not great compared to the rest of the model. It kind of reminded me of a cannon round, so I took a picture of it with a 20mm Oerlikon cartridge case.

The model goes together even more quickly than the M1070, and it looks decent (outside of the ICBM). Again, the wheels also don't move particularly well for the same reasons as the M1070.

I am unable to verify if these are truly 1/72 scale models, so buyer beware. I'm pretty sure that I have both the Takom HTF5980 and M1070 buried somewhere in my stash, so one of these days I'll need to dig them out and do an actual comparison.

Of Witches, Wizards, and Saints

Here is a post covering the latest arrivals from Dark Alliance.

The first set is of Witches, consisting of 44 figures in 11 poses.

About half of the figures wear the stereotypical witches hat that later became part of pop culture through the design of Adrian for the MGM film The Wizard of Oz.

Some media outlets entertain the dubious theory that these hats were derived from headgear worn by alewives, but this is sensationalist tripe propagated by the likes of the "History" Channel, VICE, and BBC, where lazy writers who don't do proper research, churn out authoritative sounding slop that would make AI cringe in embarrassment.

Christina Wade does not mention it in her braciatrix post, but the alewife theory was postulated by Alan Eames, self-styled anthropologist and historian who might be better described as bar owner, beer retailer/importer, marketing consultant, and all-around beer evangelist.

Anyway, back to the miniatures. These six figures are all doing stereotypical witch things, like carrying a familiar, examining a potion, stirring a cauldron, or holding/riding a broomstick.

In the second image, the first three figures follow the traditional archetype of witch as old crone popularized by Shakespeare in Macbeth. I'm not sure if the poses are based on existing artwork. The next two figures however, are obvious Disney characters — Queen Grimhilde in crone form, and Maleficent in her escoffion à cornes.

Crone Grimhilde was cast with a huge block of plastic obscuring the right side of her face, and will probably require a bit of reconstructive surgery skill to correct the issue.

I wonder if Dark Alliance will put out a set of modern witches like they have done for Krampus and Amazon figures. In any event, witches in an older post can be found here.

The second set is of Wizards, consisting of 48 figures 12 in poses.

The first image is of wizards with staves. I can't say that I really recognize these sculpts as representing anything other than generic wizards.

The second image is of more wizards with staves. The first figure is an obvious Saruman. The second figure holding a book is reminescent of John Dee, but that's just my impression.

The final image is of a wizard girded with sword, a wizard searching for reagents in his bag, a wizard holding a potion, and a gesticulating wizard.

This set is probably the most useful of the lot as candidates for player characters. More wizards from an older post can be found here.

The last box is Modern Krampus Set 1, consisting of 44 figures 11 in poses. I go over the background of the Krampus in a previous post.

In the first image, the first figure is St. Nicholas, based on the 4th century saint, Nicholas the Wonderworker. The next two figures are of Krampusse with bags of coal, followed by a Krampus with a basket on its back, and ending with two Krampusse with ruten.

The second image consists of three Krampusse being menacing, and two Krampusse carrying some sort of Krampus Staff.

I can't find much information on these staves other than they seem to be set ablaze in Austria. For the more tame North American Krampuslauf, they seem to use the Krampus Light Up Staff (illuminated with LEDs).

The final image is the reverse of some of the Krampus figures showing bag and basket. All of them have what I assume are two round bells on their belts. The kneeling Krampus distributing coal has a cowbell on his belt as well.

I prefer Set 1 over Set 2 because the figures are more in line with traditional Krampusse.

Krampus

The Krampus is a dark companion figure who accompanies Saint Nicholas during his midwinter rounds in Alpine regions and countries that were part of the former Habsburg Empire.

Krampus, 2015

There are a number of alternative names for Krampus, including Klaubauf, Bartl, Pelzebock, Gumphinckel, Schmutzli, Tuifl, and Ganggerl among numerous local variations. The feminine form of Krampus is said to be Krampa.

On Krampusnacht (December 5), Krampus visits each household to punish bad children by lashing them with a whip or rute, while for the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6), Saint Nicholas rewards good children with treats.

Krampus also carries a sack or basket to carry off disobedient children to administer more serious consequences.

Greetings from Krampus!

Various theories on the roots of the Krampus myth propose a pagan origin. Some stories claim he is the son of Hel (a modern confabulation?), while others hypothesize he is derived from Cernunnos, Vidadus, or Silvanus.

Stephen Winick in a post at the Library of Congress Blog, dismisses these claims of pagan origin, and suggests Krampus legends come from medieval morality or miracle plays.

British Library Add MS 47682

Rituals involving the Krampus are said to have developed from pagan winter rites like Klaubaufgehen or Rauhnächten which centered around masked figures dressed in furs boisterously making a clammor with bells and chains to disperse evil spirits or usher out winter and the previous year.

These evolved into celebrations where figures costumed as St. Nicholas and one or more Krampusse parade through town to visit homes and businesses. A good article on this tradition can be found at earthstoriez.

In modern days, people engage in Krampuslauf and Krampus Balls. The former involves a procession of Krampusse running through the streets in Krampus costumes while the later appears to be some sort of modern Krampusnacht celebration.

From what I understand,these celebrations can get quite rowdy in Europe, with onlookers being swatted with whips and ruten. I imagine that the Krampuslauf in the U.S. is commercialized and much more tame, but I couldn't say for sure.

Regardless, Dark Alliance has released Modern Krampus sets in 1/72 scale, and I was able to order Set 2.

The set consists of four sprues of figures in ten poses. They appear as the type of Krampus one might find at a Krampuslauf, but are armed with ill-kept medieval-style weapons.

Unlike the traditional Krampus that serves as a deterrent to bad behavior, these Krampusse appear to be on a crusade to eliminate anyone who commits apostasy against the spirit of Christmas.

The figures are actually rather reminescent of the old Heritage Lord of the Rings orcs, or maybe could be used as bugbears for those who don't have a use for an army of Krampusse.

A Modern Krampus Set 1 that includes a figure of Saint Nicholas is also supposed to exist, but I have yet to see it being sold anywhere.

It would have been nice if there was a figure that looked like the Krampus from the 2015 film.