Hauler always makes great sets with a lot of thought put into the subjects. From AFV sets to diorama details, it is fun just waiting for a new release. With this release, they have produced four coffins with lids in two different styles. Thinking about it, I don’t remember seeing these from anyone before and with all the war subject’s modelers build and the dioramas, this set is a natural add on and will help tell a sad but not uncommon story.

The set consists of four coffins; two are rectangular and two are, well, coffin shaped. Each coffin has a separate lid also. The coffins have casting blocks on the bottom which will need to be sanded smooth and the lids have casting blocks on one side. The parts are cast in a tan colored resin and are free of bubbles and pin holes. This set is 1/35 scale (other scales are available) and has a nice wood grain cast into the parts.

Clean up is simple. Sand the casting block from the coffin bottom. Go slowly so you don’t eat into the part. Cut the casting block off the correct lid and wash both parts in warm and soapy water. Looking carefully at the parts, there were a couple tiny pinholes near some of the wood grain. This was filled and lightly sanded and the issue was gone. Once dry, prime the parts and then the real fun begins. FYI- Don’t forget the coffin lids have two sides!

I coated the parts with Tamiya Desert Yellow and then sealed with gloss. After that, I alternated oil washes and acrylic dry brushes. The oil washes were dark to highlight the grain. The dry brushes were the main Tamiya color with white/buff added. Once dry, give several nice coats of flat.

These are great additions to your diorama arsenal. They could be used for many things from a dead soldier’s homecoming to a battlefield scenario and with the coffins being wood, they could go towards older subjects. Prep work and painting was simple and casting was great so they are recommended.

My thanks to Hauler for making these great pieces and to IPMS/USA for the chance to review them.