1:35 GERMAN SOLDIERS IN CAFE

The set

The set brings figures of German soldiers in a cafe scene, that is in a civilian setting away from combat. Figures like these are often the most valuable element of a diorama: they give the scene a story and a sense of scale that vehicles or a building alone can never create. The 1:35 scale is the most widespread one for figures and matches the usual military vehicle kits.

The workmanship

The figures are molded in polystyrene and are supplied unassembled and unpainted, with the parts on sprues. Each figure is built up from several parts, usually the torso, head, arms and legs, so the pose can be adjusted slightly during assembly. The rendering of the cloth, footwear and small accessories is fine enough at this scale that it pays to paint the figures separately and glue them together only at the end.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts from the sprue with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remaining stub smooth. Run fine sandpaper over the mold seam on the arms and legs, because it shows clearly on the smooth surface of a uniform. Wash and degrease the figures before painting, then lay down a thin coat of primer. Build the faces and hands up from the base coat toward the highlights and use a darker glaze in the folds of the cloth. Attach the assembly to its base only once the painting is finished.

Who it is for

The set suits diorama builders and modelers who want to add a human figure to vehicles in 1:35 scale. The package contains the figures; paints, glue, a base and scenery accessories are not included, unless stated otherwise.