introduction

Aurora Model is releasing 1/35 scale figures that give the modelers a good chance to build interesting and life-like World War II German vignettes. The latest figure of the company, ML-034 sculpted in 1:35 scale, cast in metal and represents a German Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft Auxillarie praying next to her killed or wounded friend – ML-030.

about the figure

During the World War II, women served in many branches of German Army-Wehrmacht, Air Force-Luftwaffe , Navy-Kreigsmarine and SS. Most of the Luftwaffe auxillaries were usually attached to non-combat units like air raid warning, aircraft reporting, air signals but some of them were employed to Anti Aircraft- Flak units. At first,their primary function was to crew searchlights, barrage balloons and fire control equipment. In the closing months of the war, they were authorized as actual gun crews.

Unlike the auxillaries in other services; Flakhelferinen wore standard uniforms and the auxillaries who had not yet been issued with a uniform could wear civilian clothes with an armband in white bearing the same insignia as the right sleeve patch of Flakhelferinen but printed in black or embroidered in black thread.

uniforms

The women serving in the Flakartillerie of the German Air Defence sysytem wore more functional uniforms for the outdoor work than the normal female auxillary’s service dress. As the headgear; they had the same peaked field cap as the male personnel; M43 Luftwaffe Einheitsfeldmütze. But the auxillary field caps had a obvious difference as there was no tri-color national cockade below the national emblem. They wore hip or three-quarter length jackets with a national emblem is on the right breast . The jacket has an integral cloth waist belt and large patch skirt pockets. The Flakhelferinen insignia is worn on the right sleeve, the 5 mm. and 10 mm. braid chevrons indicating the rank are on the left sleeve and trade qualification badges are above the rank badges. Rather than a skirt of other auxillaries; they wore long, loose ski trousers bloused at the ankle or tucked into rolled socks over male issue ankle boots.

Packing

The figure comes in 12x7 cm transparent zip-lock bag with a company label stapled on the top of the bag. Inside the bag; there are 2 small paper sheets ; one with the information about the figure in Japanese and English, the other with a painted photo which can be used as a painting guide. It is noted on the information sheet that the metal of the figures contains lead.

Figure parts are secured in another plastic bag.

Parts

The figure is sculpted by Kiyushi Tsuda aka SOLO and cast in 3 white metal parts. The cast is quite good, there are only a few slightly visible seamlines to clean. A quick sanding will be enough to make it ready for priming.

Upper body with head : Facial details, hair and uniform details are quite good.

Lower body : Posed to sit on knees . Cloth folds of the trousers and ankle boots are well defined.

Arms : Both arms with folded hands in praying pose is given as a single piece. It makes a good fit to the shoulders.

References

The following books can be useful when painting this figure.

Osprey Publishing – Men at Arms 393 - World War II German Women’s Auxiliary Services

Flakhelferinen Video-Youtube

Conclusion

Another nice figure to display next to a wounded or killed soldier near an abandoned Flak. The figure can be used together with ML-030 to make a very nice vignette.

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