1:72 German Infantry Platoon 1942-1944

The real subject

The set captures a German infantry platoon from the second half of the Second World War. A platoon of that period built its firepower on the light machine gun, around which the work of the whole squad revolved, while the rest of the men carried bolt-action rifles and submachine guns. The poses of the figures will usually serve modelers for putting together a combat scene, for manning a trench and for bringing a standing vehicle to life.

What the set contains

The figures are in injection-molded polystyrene and come on sprues, from which they are nipped off. In 1:72 scale a standing figure measures around twenty-five millimeters, so these are small parts that are best worked on over a mat, so that a detached arm or weapon does not get lost in the carpet.

Building and painting tips

Before painting, wash the figures in lukewarm soapy water so that the paint takes hold properly. It pays to spray a base color and only then to paint with a brush. With German infantry the base is the gray-green shade of the uniform, to which belong the darker leather of the belts and ammunition pouches and a lighter tone for the helmet.

• A dark wash will bring out the folds of the cloth and the grooves of the gear
• A dry brush one shade lighter will pick out the edges of the helmet and the shoulders
• In this scale the faces are enough as an area of skin with a suggested shadow; the eyes are not painted
• A matte clear coat at the end will even the surface out and protect the paint during handling

Who it is for

The set suits models of vehicles in 1:72 scale and dioramas, where the figures give the scene a sense of scale and a story. Paints, glue and a work mat are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.