World War II German Army Waffen-SS platoon

Built in 1/72 scale

Italeri 6068 German Elite Troops

Zvezda 6111 German 81mm Mortar

Zvezda 6106 German MG-34 

Italeri 6096 Pak 40 AT gun

Italeri I7514 x2 Panzer IV Ausf F1 

 Deployable Platoon

Loadout options:

• HQ Waffen-SS officer and infantry
• Three full-sized squads of SS-Waffen ,with assault rifle, SMG, rifle, panzerfaust and LMG.
• Panzerschreck team (Waffen-SS)
• Sniper team (Waffen-SS)
• 81 medium mortar (Heer infantry)
• MG34 medium MMG team (Heer infantry)
• Pak 40 heavy anti-tank gun with 4 Heer infantry crew (Zeltbahn uniform)
• Panzer IV Ausf J (medium tank, medium anti-tank gun)

Creation Process

First attempt at modelling WW2 era infantry units, and second attempt to model infantry in the 1/72 scale. First batch of soldiers were painted with overly-approximated uniforms, and some of the colour schemes aren't 100% representative of the historical references.

After a pause, I came back and modelled the second part of the platoon's infantry, using some new painting references and guides. This time the results were closer to the desired appearance, I have attempted to recreate specific variations of the historical camouflage designs: oak leaf spring, oak leaf autumn, and pea-dot camo styles. Focusing on specific styles I believe helped produce some better figures.

This is a non-realistic squad loadout, but it is just to highlight the improved figures. All are uniformed in camo oak leaf or pea dot, or some plain late war Wehrmacht uniform. Note the head-swapped NCO/leader figure in the foreground, given an officers peaked cap, and the also scratch-built loader figure. Secondly, the bases were decorated with some home-made grass flock, which pleases the eye better than the first batch of infantry figures.

The team weapon units sniper and Panzerschreck were modelled using the Italeri troops, whilst the MMG and mortar teams are modelled with Zvezda Art of War mini-sets (2-man models). Two heavy weapon loader figures will be represented by spare Pak 40 crewmen, whilst suitable third-crewmates for the MMG and mortar will be modelled from the second sets included in the Zvezda sets (to be modelled).

Lastly a look at the heavy weapons. The tank is an Italeri "quick-build" model designed for wargames. Construction was easy, and detail is fair. Turret's however become fixed to the hull - this has advantages and negatives. I think the camo paintjob should have had a heavier wash, the highlight the recesses, the model looks a little "flat". After, there is the Italeri Pak40 model, also a x2 model pack, which has been painted in late war dunkelgelb, designed with the western Europe theatre of war in mind.

Lastly, a sneak peak of the first assembled wargame layout, and a last look at the SS platoon. For my wargaming of 1944 Normandy, I will test infantry squads specialized into suppressive fire (LMG and rifle), and squads specialized into assault (assault rifle and SMG). Also, I would like to simulate realistic conditions for the games, highlighting the well-known man-supply issue with Germany in the late-war, and will probably field undersized, but well-armed infantry squads.