1:35 German SPG Crew Vol.2

1:35 German SPG Crew Vol.2 - Hobby Boss

Plastic figures in 1:35 scale on the theme of the crew of a German self-propelled gun in the Second World War. The abbreviation SPG in the name means self-propelled gun, so the set is aimed at assault guns and self-propelled artillery rather than at infantry in general. It is not a vehicle model; it is an accessory that gives a finished vehicle its crew and a scene its action. The designation Vol.2 shows that the series has more parts and that an older set on the same theme exists as well.

The real subject

The crews of German assault guns and self-propelled guns belonged organizationally to the artillery, not to the tank units, and they differed from tank crews in the cut and the color of their uniform too. Working at a self-propelled gun meant a low silhouette, a cramped fighting compartment and frequent loading of ammunition from outside, so the members of the crew moved around the vehicle far more than a tank crew did. That is exactly why crew figures look natural away from the vehicle as well, resting, replenishing ammunition or talking with the commander.

Building and painting tips

Remove the parting lines on the sleeves and trouser legs with a scalpel and fine abrasive before gluing, as they are harder to reach on a finished figure. Build the uniform up over a base tone, put a darker wash into the folds and pick the edges out drybrushed with a lighter tone. If you are seating the figures in hatches, try them dry first and adjust the base so that the figure sits naturally and does not float above the rim.

Who the set is for

• Builders of German self-propelled and assault guns in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want to add a crew to a finished vehicle
• Makers of dioramas and vignettes of the Second World War
• Those who collect figures to extend a collection of vehicles already built