Bolt Action US Infantry 2019 American GIs

This kit has been around for a while, but I think it makes sense to team it up with the Campaign supplement for Operation Overlord. Warlord Games gave the US Infantry, one of the oldest kits for Bolt Action along with the Brits, an overhaul. And that box is todays topic, the new US Infantry, WWII American GIs.

The kit is meant to be used for mid to late war period armies and covers the regular troops of the Americans, from the battles in the Mediterranean until the end of the war in Europa. As usual we have 30 miniatures spread across five sprues, along with multiple weapon options and of course round bases. You'll find a construction leaflet with multiple sample poses on it, along with a detail list of which part is which and a sheet of waterslide decals. The price for the 28mm hard plastic miniatures in heroic scale is 27 GBP.

The US Americans have a lot of heroic movies on their troops, so you might be undecided if you want to go with the US Airborne, maybe Rangers or the regular doughboy, that became the GI in world war II. The miniatures are dressed in the M1941 Field Jacket, and two choices of backpacks, the early war version with the entrenching tool and the later version with seperate tool. Other than that, you might want to take a look into your theatre selector, to check what weapon choices you give them to match your time line / range accordingly.

The bases are 25mm round bases, that have a small lip for better grip of base details on the edges. The decal sheet covers insignia of the Big Red One, the 1st Infantry Division, who saw action in Operation Torch, Operation Husky and the landing in the Normandy (as well as further campaigns in NW Europe). By that, these give you quite a broad use for mid and late war scenarios.

The sprues are properly casted and filled with quite a lot of poses. We don't have a soldier lay down this time, which is probably due to the fact that this kit doesn't include any LMGs but BAR rifles. There for all of the base are the regular, mentioned above 25mm round bases, no cavalry or round bases. Each sprue covers 6 soldier, 10 different heads, multiple rifles and carbines, and quite the broad selection of weaponry beyond that with a BAR, a Thompson and Grease Gun SMG, Bazooka and even a shotgun.

Let's start with the bodies. As written above, we have 6 different poses. Five Standing / running and one kneeling. Mould lines are quickly removed and they have a proper stand on the bases. I prepared two sets of them, to set up a whole squad of GIs.

Next step is grouping them up and handing out weapons. Depending on if you want to use them as regular Infantry, Veterans or even Rangers, the availability and usage of these may vary. The NCO and two further soldiers will receive SMGS, there are two Thompson with straight ammo clip and a Grease Gun included. You could give the NCO a .45 colt if you wanted to.

Two special weapon soldiers, one with a Browning Automatic Rifle and with a combat shotgun. The later is a special choice, as by standard only the Marines can equip them, but if I remember right, one of the campaign supplements added the shotgun as an option for the regular infantry, but I may be wrong.

Now for the Bazooka team, one handling the bazooka itself, the other one carrying the equipment. Those weren't part of the regular squads, but a special weapon team.

And the remaining squad receives the regular rifles and carbines. Some of them carry their rifle in one hand, to throw a grenade or to orientate themself.

Next up the heads, there is a total of 10 different heads, one of them without a helmet but the fitting off-hand holding one. The faces are much better done than in the old kit. Shouting, smoking, grim looking, good variation and along with the heads from the other kits, a very broad selection to choose from.

In the last step, the soldiers receive their backpacks and further gear. We're talking bandoliers, backpacks with and without entrenchment tools, canteens and ammo pouches.

Now let's look at the small assembled squad.

A brief scale comparison of the new GI, next to one from the old kit, a ranger and a HQ miniature made from pewter. The newer sculpts are a bit "beefier", better proportioned and the ready sculpted weapon and not open hands with true-scale weaponry, works just so much better.

The miniatures split into two squads of 6 and shown from the back and front.

Conclusion
The infantry plastic kits are set at 27 GBP now, they have become slightly more expensive over the years (but we're talking a pound or two increase, so very reasonable). That is still less than a quid per soldier, so quite cheap. A box will easily get you three squads, if you go for smaller ones you even have spares for a small command group. So that would be enough for the minimal requirements of a platoon, even covering the bazooka team. Just due to that, the box gives a proper value to the player. If you add 3 more sprues, and / or 2-3 blisters on top of that, and maybe a Sherman, you already have a proper army to bring into battle.

I like the new sculpts and the update was about time, as the regular Infantry just couldn't keep up with the US Airborne. Much more dynamic poses and especially the change from open hands with individual weapons to the new standard is a huge improvement. I am not sure, if they are going to update the hybrid kits, that are based upon the US Infantry sprue, like the Rangers, Nisei and Buffalo warriors. Especially the rangers bits will be interesting for you, to build an army for Overlord and the ongoing campaign in north-western Europe. Actually the miniatures can be used, to play French post-D-Day or Brazilians in italy (Uncle Sam supplied a lot of nations with gear...).

I for myself, am really looking for building maybe the 87th Infantry Division, Golden Acorn Company, with a box of these and 3 additional sprues, metal bits from the rangers, along with 3 sprues from the US Airborne, to have a round army of regular GIs, Rangers, Engineers, Paratroopers and Pathfinders. Supported by some Shermans and a Pershing, and that's a round project.

If you want to look up some ressources, I'd suggest these two Osprey books on the US Infantryman in World War II, part 2 and part 3.

Bolt Action is a brand of Warlord Games.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer.