Latest edit: Added Plastic Platoon German Winter Infantry Mortar Team
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Plastic Platoon is a relatively recent entrant into the 1/32 Plastic Toy Soldier world. Founded by Mikhail Glikin, a fellow toy soldier collector and enthusiast, they are based out of St Petersburg in Russia. Their first sets came out around late 2017/early 2018, and were focused on the Vietnam War. In 2019, to my good fortune, they expanded their range to cover WWII and since then they have added other topics and periods, such as pirates, US revolutionary war (American &British), US Cavalry, Indians, and I am sure there will be more to come. From the beginning they came out swinging, setting a new standard for realism and creativity in their sculpting. When I first saw their figures I experienced the same level of excitement and enthusiasm as when I first held my first Conte soldiers, and more recently my first Publius figures. They are truly detailed and historically accurate. The only thing not to like about their figures is that they are pricey, around $60 to $75 a set. Apparently that's because their molds can only produce 25 sets before they have to be replaced in order to maintain the level of detail and quality, which is also why they only release limited runs of about 300 sets. I just wish my budget would allow me to get more of them, or that they could get their molds to last longer so that they could lower the price point. Even so, I am very happy that they have joined the hobby and I truly look forward to all the amazing sets that they have yet to conceive of and produce. Without further ado, let's take a look at what they have produced so far regarding WWII!
Plastic Platoon German Paratroops Set 1
Plastic Platoon brings sculpting and action poses to a new level. Their German Paras are supposed to represent the early war troops which were dropped on Crete, and are for sure my favorite German Paras. You can tell that they were just dropped on the island because most of them are still wearing their knee pads, and at least one of them is still wearing his harness. Can't say enough about the level of realism of these figures.
Plastic Platoon German Paratroops Set 2
Here are another six poses released as part of a second set, also representing the Paras involved in Operation Mercury, the invasion of Crete. What's most interesting for me is that several of them are wearing same life jacket worn by the Luftwaffe pilots. It took me a bit of research to figure out what I was looking at, but you can actually find photographs depicting men in this outfit. It makes sense when you think about the fact that they were flown to jump into an island, so if the plane was shot down or, if they were blown out to see during the landing, a Schwimmweste would have come in handy.
Plastic Platoon German Paratroops Set 3
This third set was a bit unusual. We got two more Paratroopers, three drop containers, and one Greek Partisan. I suppose this is useful and original, but if you ask me, I would have preferred if it had come with more German figures and the containers were extras or could be purchased separately. Also, I am not a big fan of figures that are so coupled together that you can't deploy one of them in a separate situation. What's interesting about this set is that one of the figures can grasp the handle of one of the containers so that it looks like he is pulling it. Also the level of detail, even on the containers is very nice. Each container is labeled with a different letter or symbol, and the contents are rich and diverse.
Plastic Platoon British Infantry
This set is meant to represent the British defenders of Crete who fought against the German Paras. Again, characteristically well made, with lots of action and intensity. You can tell that these guys were involved in close quarters fighting. Worth highlighting is who I think might the the Sarge, holding a pistol on one hand, and brass knuckles on the other. A feisty bunch to come up against, although as we know, they were eventually subdued, although at no small cost, which is one of the reasons why German Fallschirmjaegger were no longer used in drops after that.
Plastic Platoon Greek Infantry
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with this set. It was great that they chose to make Greek troops, which until now, had not been paid attention to in the hobby. But it would have been good if they had made at least eight poses or so. Instead, PP chose to release three other figures representing Greek Partisans to round up the set. That essentially gave us too little of both. As far as the three Greek infantry figures go, they are well made and I do like that one of them conveys the emotion that must have overcome them as an army of Paratroopers suddenly dropped on them.
Plastic Platoon Greek Partisans
This is the second half of the set. Plus the partisan figure of set 3 of the German Paras. I just put him next to his comrades in the picture so that you can see how it fits with them. What's nice about these figures is to see the men in their local garb. I don't know if that's what they would have worn going to battle, but it certainly makes them look more authentic. There's also a partisan woman. She is dressed in more 'modern' clothes of that time. Interesting to see that these guys seem more determined to fight than the Greek infantry figures, although it stands to reason that these guys lived on the island and the Greek troops were most likely sent there from other parts of Greece to defend it. That would certainly influence their level of resolve.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry - Defense of Leningrad, 1941
Another superb set from Plastic Platoon. The details on the figures is exquisite. Worthy of note is the carriage for the Maxim machine gun that one of the men is transporting on his back. It is simply amazing. Note also how the man is also carrying the front shield for the gun on his left hand. And the gun itself, carried by the officer is also quite nice. The other figures are also very well done. One of them carrying a capture German submg. The only thing not to like about them is that the plastic is very soft and the bayonete of the man on the right is simply impossible to straighten, even with the tried and tested hot/cold water technique.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Naval Infantry - Defense of Leningrad, 1941
A great set depicting the intensity of close quarter combat happening in an urban theater. These naval infantry figures would be equally at home in Stalingrad or Sevastopol, and they will be a great complement to Publius' and Pegasus' naval infantry troops. Again, the plastic is a bit soft, and that makes the tips of the weapons point in odd directions, but other than that, the sculpting -level of detail and action- on these figures is exceptional. I can't wait to see how realistic they look with some paint on them!
Plastic Platoon German Infantry - Battle for Leningrad, Winter 1941
These guys look like they are going through a rough winter, but at least they have coats. The officer is definitely not freezing. The details like the scarf wrapped around the head, and the helmets wrapped in white sheets give these figures a very authentic winter fighting look. Particularly nice in this set is the two man team operating what appears to be an MG 34. Very well done. Probably the best German winter troops that have been made.
Plastic Platoon German Paratroopers - Battle for Leningrad, Winter 1941
These guys not only get points for being well done, but they also deserve extra credit for uniqueness. I don't think anybody had made German Paras in a winter setting. I am glad that we got some poses in this set that are better suited for close quarter combat, as the other Leningrad Soviets needed some opponents to fight in the rubble of those buildings. The desperation and urgency displayed by the guy who is using his helmet to balance the fight is palpable.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Assault Troops - Stalingrad, 1942
Another beautiful set from Plastic Platoon. I love how well you can see the dents on the body armor of these guys. Of course, a good range of fighting poses, and weaponry represented, including a flamethrower, a grenade launcher, a Degtyerev DP light MG, and of course, the popular PPSh-41 subMG. All of them sculpted with extreme detail. The poses are also versatile enough to be used in a variety of urban warfare actions.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry - Stalingrad, 1942
As is customary, Plastic Platoon has treated us to another beautiful set. And while German Infantry is a set that has been made many times before, I love to have them in a set of this level of quality and detail, and in fact, I wish there were more poses to go with them. You can tell that these guys are still in the early stages of the Stalingrad campaign, at the end of summer when it still made sense to roll up your sleeves while fighting. As far as the type of poses, other than the wounded guy who is having to defend himself, the other guys do not seem to be under much pressure. Another clue that this was still early in the campaign, before things got bad for them. The highlight of this set is probably the mortar team.
Plastic Platoon German 'Hunters and Prey' - Stalingrad, 1942
Here's another nice set from Plastic Platoon depicting German snipers as well as some of the German men who would be likely targets of the opposing Soviet snipers. The poses are highly reminiscent of the characters in the movie Enemy at the Gates, where you see Vasily Zaitsev and his fellow snipers take out German soldiers doing things like laying down phone cable, going on a food run, or the officer taking a shower... The set also contains a military policeman, which is might be a first in my collection. The sculpting and detail on the figures is exquisite, as usual. The equipment on the back of the soldiers is quite elaborate, and I also like how the officer has been sculpted a bit overweight, hinting at the inequities in the distribution of supplies, particularly at this time of the Stalingrad siege. The wrapping on the seated sniper's rifle is also very well done. All in all a great set to complement the ones that came before.
Plastic Platoon Soviet 'Hunters and Prey' - Stalingrad, 1942
This set is the complement to the German Hunters and Prey figures that are so reminiscent of the characters in the movie Enemy at the Gates, where you see Vasily Zaitsev and his fellow snipers take out German soldiers, as Vasily dukes it our against German sniper ace Major König. Note how they have accurately included both a male and a female sniper. The other figures, like the officer or the phone operator, I suppose represent the targets for the German snipers. It is also noteworthy that optionally, the wounded man and the fighting medic on the right can be placed side by side, with bases that have been specifically designed to fit with each other. As always with Plastic Platoon, the level of detail is top-notch. A great set to display in the ruins of Stalingrad.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Scouts
If you are looking for a tough and daring raiding party look no more. Plastic Platoon's Soviet Scouts are full of grit and intensity. Are they engaged in a fighting retreat or are they springing up an ambush on an unsuspecting enemy? Whatever the case may be, these guys seem ready for it! These guys' outfits are relatively simple by Plastic Platoon's standards. All of them are wearing the typical Soviet cammo smock/suit, which should make them look quite interesting if you chose to paint them. In terms of weaponry, they are packing a good amount of heat. With the exception of the officer, they are all firing automatic weapons. From a German Maschinenpistole to the more ubiquitous PPSh-41 with its different ammo magazines, and then there's the guy firing off the hip what appears to be a 'conscripted' German MG34. Of this set, my favorite pose is the man throwing the hand grenade. Not only is his stance just right -which is not always the case for grenade throwers- but what about that mustache? I think that gives him bonus points. All in all a really nice set, representing a branch of service rarely depicted.
Plastic Platoon Japanese Infantry
This is Plastic Platoon's first set outside of the Eastern Front, and even though we already have a nice range of Japanese Infantry released by previous manufacturers, it is definitely a welcome set, given the exquisite level of detail and sculpting typically delivered by their figures. Take for instance, the writing on the flag attached to one of the rifles. I can't read Japanese, but it feels like it's real! But even beyond the little details and the action-packed sculpting, these poses are also nicely diverse, covering a good range of weapons, headgear, and equipment. The only thing that I noticed which seemed a bit odd to me is that the flag that we just mentioned would be 'floating' upwards. As fast as that man is running, I have a hard time imagining that the flag would defy gravity that much. But let's not get picky. It is still an amazing set that should be charging at the US forces trying to take their island!
Plastic Platoon US Marines
The perfect complement to PP's Japanese Infantry set. These guys remind me a bit of Austin Miniatures' marines in the shape of the bodies and heads, slim and tall figures, but with nicer sculpting and detailing. The six poses are good fighting poses, and they cover a nice range of headgear (covered helmet, with netting, plain), clothing styles (tucked vs loose pant bottoms, rolled up sleeves, shirtless, ripped pants, etc.), weapons (Thompson sub mgs, BAR, rifle/bayonet, shotgun w/bayonet(!) and my favorite, the flamethrower) and equipment (backpack, pouches, bandoliers, etc.) I also enjoyed the facial expressions. I am not surprised anymore by the fury and intensity displayed by a couple of them. This time I was more impressed by how the BAR gunner seems so concentrated. Is he aiming at something in the distance, or is he simply laying down covering fire with determination? You'll need to figure that one out yourself when you setup your scene...
Plastic Platoon Japanese Naval Infantry
Until recently, the great majority of Japanese plastic troops available have been regular Japanese Infantry, so it is nice and refreshing to see a different service branch being depicted. The challenge now is to find enough other poses to form a substantial fighting unit. But that's a good problem to have. As usual with Plastic Platoon, the sculpting is superb. The poses are good action poses and the detail is crisp and rich. For instance, you can clearly see the insignia showing that these guys are marines, and a few of them also wear Japanese flags on their head/helmet. Another feature that is unique about them is that they all carry a gas mask on their back. I wonder why this has only been depicted with these naval infantry guys. And then you also have a man wearing a bullet-scarred breast plate, similar to those worn by the Soviet scouts. Speaking of that guy, I do think that he could have been sculpted with a wider stance. If you throw a grenade with your legs so close to each other, you are relying primarily on arm strength for the throw... then again, maybe he thinks that the can get pretty close to the objective given the extra protection that he is wearing? :-)
Plastic Platoon Japanese Fukuryu Diver
This guy was meant to be part of the Japanese naval infantry set, or at least he was released at the same time as them. I just got him separately. He is definitely a 'character' figure. Not one of which we will be trying to build a whole unit. The challenge is also to find the right setting to pose him. The best scene would be to place him under water approaching the hull of a ship in a harbor. But that's a tricky scene to setup. And also when you think about it, I doubt they really had that many opportunities to perform such operations. Anyhow, the amount of equipment and detail on this diver is really intricate. Lots of hoses and straps, which make him a figure worth studying and taking a look at every now and then just to enjoy the detail.
Plastic Platoon US Paramarines
These guys are a nice complement to the first set of Marines. Initially I thought that other than the fact that there's a 7th man with them who clearly is a pilot -maybe he crashed or had to bail out on the same mission that dropped the Paramarines- there wasn't much to indicate that these guys were paratroopers, but then it hit me that they are clearly wearing jump boots. I wonder if after the jump that was still a good type of footwear for tropical islands. Maybe it was better at keeping the sand out, but if it did get in, I would have hated having to undo the shoe laces every so often to empty the sand. Anyhow, great poses as usual, with good variety of weaponry. The machete guy is a nice touch. And in terms of detail, look at the ding on the helmet of the second guy from the left. Looks like he literally dodged a bullet! The pilot is one guy that I probably won't have a lot of use for. I might have preferred another Paramarine, but I won't complain. Another great set.
Plastic Platoon Waffen SS / Elite Troops
By now it should be clear to anyone reading this post that I love Plastic Platoon's figures. They've set a new standard in the Plastic Toy Soldier world with their amazing level of detail and the energy and high level of action in their poses. That's mostly true with this set as well, except that in this set the faces have gone off the rails. They definitely over did them. I don't know if the intention was to depict these men as evil, but their expressions resemble that of possessed zombies or something along those lines. Other than that, this set is just as exciting as any of their prior ones. Just look at the man firing the machine gun a-la-Rambo. Or the man on the right with the Stg 44. Really well posed and detailed. The sniper is also very nicely done, although with that big rock underneath him, it limits the places where he could be posed. Still a great set and looking forward to the set 2 of PP's Waffen SS figures.
Plastic Platoon Waffen SS Heavy Weapons
PP's second set of Waffen SS Troops has not disappointed. It's only five figures, but they are all very well done. The faces are not as extreme as in the previous set, although still a bit in that sharp style, particularly the machine gunner. The machine gun is probably the crown piece in this set, and I am pretty sure that's why there are only five figures in this set. The machine gun by itself with its elaborate base was probably more work to make than a figure. That's how detailed it is. The man firing the gun, is actually cast separately and placed on the base by hooking up his hands to the machine gun's handle. The ammo holder is a separate figure, and the base of the gun has a notch that fits perfectly with the ammo box so that you don't have to guess where to place him. The panzerschreck team is also very well posed and detailed and it's definitely good to have a loader with it. The fifth man is interesting because he seems to be firing a captured Bren gun. In terms of gear you can tell that these guys were late war guys. They are wearing a mix of cammo smocks and regular uniforms, helmets with and without covers, most of them wear puttees and shoes, although the panzerschreck loader is wearing leather boots. And the ammo loaded on the MG team is carrying an StG 44 assault rifle, which as the model name suggests, came out in the last phase of the war. This set is now very hard to get, so I was very happy to be able to get my hands on one.
Plastic Platoon US Marines Heavy Weapons
This is a very nice set. It contains a crew for a Browning Heavy MG, a bazooka team, a BAR man, and an officer coordinating the action through a radio. The center piece of this set is the heavy machine gun itself, and not just the gun, but the base. I know that some folks prefer plain/neutral bases so that they can be placed in a variety of settings, but in the case of these marines, I do think that the heavily detailed base adds to the set. The other figures are nicely sculpted, as usual, with a high degree of action in them. A couple of them show bullet dents in the helmet, which is a nice bit of detail. The other creative touch is the trophy sword tucked away in the backpack of the BAR man. Lastly, the expression on the officer captures very well the intensity of battle without overdoing it as was the case with some of the prior German sets. Overall a great addition to the WWII range, and a great support unit for the other Marines.
Plastic Platoon Japanese Infantry Heavy Weapons - Part I
This is an exciting set for a couple reasons. The first one is simply that there are not that many Japanese artillery crews or artillery pieces out there. The Deetail recoilless rifle comes to mind, but that's it as far as I remember. And then there's the fact that the figures and the gun are so well sculpted and detailed. I believe this gun is a Type 92, 70 mm howitzer. The gun comes in several pieces which can be easily attached together. Glue seems to be optional. In terms of the figures, my favorite one is the man operating the sight and elevation lever. The fact that he is straddling the gun gives it a nice touch. The officer and the loader complement the crew very nicely.
Plastic Platoon Japanese Infantry Heavy Weapons - Part II
This MG crew is part of the same heavy weapons set. The MG is a separate sculpture itself and the man firing it can be seated on the base separately. The ammo feeder lines up just right to be able to feed the belt into the MG. This is thanks to a notch in the bases. As you can see, the whole set is rich in detail. From the bullet holes in the sandbags to the Japanese writing on the side of the ammo box. or the hobnails on the boots. The facial features on the men are also extremely well done. The only thing that is less than ideal on this set is the amount of flash on the figures. It is quite a bit and it is also hard to remove. You can still see some left on the leg of the ammo handler. Other than that. this set is a great addition to my Japanese troops.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry Goliath Crew - Summer Uniform
This set represents a Goliath and its crew. The Goliath was essentially a tracked, mobile mine that could be operated remotely. Plastic Platoon came up with a set that contains two such crews. This is the one with summer/non-winter uniforms. As far as I recall, only Revell had produced a Goliath with one operator as part of its set of combat engineers. The figures are nicely done as usual and the officer is done in such a way that he could easily be deployed in other missions without the Goliath.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry Goliath Crew - Winter Uniform
This is the second half of the set. The main difference is that the crew is wearing long coats. Similarly to the summer crew, the officer, who seems to be intensely engaged, could be easily deployed to coordinate other missions. The Goliath itself comes in four pieces that can be snapped together relatively easily. I suppose that if you want you can glue them together, but in my case that was not necessary. All in all this set scores high both on uniqueness and sculpting detail.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry MG Crew - Summer Uniform
These guys are half of the MG set. Similarly to the Goliath set, one crew is wearing summer uniforms and the other one is dressed up for the winter. Besides that, the MGs are also a bit different, at least the bases. For instance, this base contains some urban rubble, including a metal beam, which makes it well suited for a setting such as Stalingrad. Some will like this level of detail, but others will likely think that this constrains the set unnecessarily to a specific setting. In my case, I do have a few buildings like that, so they will fit just fine once they are painted. As usual, the figures are very nicely detailed, so this is a MG team that is worth incorporating into my army.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry MG Crew - Winter Uniform
The other MG team is bundled up for winter operations. In addition to the long coats, you can tell that they are wearing other layers underneath. A nice detail is the cloth cover (typically white) on the man firing the gun. Another nice detail is the fact that you can see his corporal insignia on the sleeve of his coat. Lastly, another detail that sets Plastic Platoon's sculpting apart is how he also has the collar of his coat turned up for a bit of extra protection against the wind. A great addition to my unit of German winter troops!
Plastic Platoon German Winter Infantry Kharkov - Set 1
And speaking of German winter troops, Plastic Platoon has recently come up with this really nice set! The level of detail on these figures is exquisite. You can even see the fleece lining on the hood of the coats, and you can make out the helmets' insignia. The uniforms are all very authentic, the thickness of the figures is consistent with all the layers of clothing they are wearing, and the captured subMG is a nice touch. The most interesting pieces in this set are the two guys making up the MG team. The reason for that is that the MG itself, along with the hands of the man firing have been sculpted attached to the man where the MG is resting. This means that when you assemble them together, you really need to make sure they line up perfectly. Luckily they do. The other implication is that you can never deploy them separately, unless you took the time to perform some delicate conversions. Another great set from Plastic Platoon!
Plastic Platoon German Winter Infantry Kharkov - Set 2
These guys are a good follow up complement to the previous set. The winter gear is just right. I really like the details like the sheepskin on the inside of some of the coats, or the cloth wrapped around their heads. Another interesting detail is the guy wearing the cap with the ear flaps. Initially I couldn't tell if that was a German or a Soviet cap, but upon closer inspection I realized that it has a German eagle insignia on the front. In terms of poses, I usually prefer fighting poses over wounded guys, but in this case, since these are part of the second set, I am OK with this wounded pose, particularly because it goes well with the medic moving towards him with the bag. Interestingly enough, the medic is holding a pistol just in case. The pose I like the most is the man exchanging the magazine. We don't get many of these, so it is a nice touch. The two other guys, are just good, solid firing poses. Overall a nice set.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry Kharkov
These guys are a nice counterpart to the German winter troops. Their outfits display a good variety of styles, from the padded suits, to the long coats, the man wearing the balaclava, and the guy with the winter smock which I will likely paint white. One thing I really like about this set is that all the figures are in an attacking mode. Most of them are firing on the move. The only one who is standing, although still firing, is the commander. The squad is also handling a decent variety of weapons. The most interesting one is the grenade launcher. And the Molotov cocktail can always come in handy against German armor. Can't wait for these guys to face off against the winter Germans on the eastern front!
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry PTRS-41 Anti-Tank Rifle Team, Winter Dress - Part I
These guys will be a nice extension to the Soviet winter troops above. The set comes as several parts that need to be assembled: the base, the assistant, the shooter, and the shooter's rifle/arm. The assistant is wearing a one piece winter smock, while the shooter is wearing a two piece suit. The PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle looks big and powerful. The only thing that is not ideal is that it gets bent a bit easily. I will try to give it the hot/cold water treatment and see if I can straighten it out.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry PTRS-41 Anti-Tank Rifle Team, Winter Dress - Part II
Here's the look from behind, which makes it easier to appreciate the differences in the uniforms. One thing to be aware of is that the base bends a bit upwards so the manufacturer has glued a couple of bits of plastic under the back side. This keeps the base from rocking back and forth, but it will permanently lift up the back side. Which is why I pushed some snow close to the base. That hid it well.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry PTRS-41 Anti-Tank Rifle Team, Summer Dress - Part I
Here's the equivalent team dressed for the non-winter months - yes, why restrict them to summer! As was the case with the winter guys, the man firing the rifle requires minor assembly to attach the rifle and arms to the body. And the rifle itself may require some straightening. Other than the summer dress, what's different in this set is that you can actually see the assistant handing over the next round to fire.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry PTRS-41 Anti-Tank Rifle Team, Summer Dress - Part II
From this angle you can appreciate better how he is getting the next round ready. Another thing that you can appreciate is that the loader has a helmet in front of him, which makes you wonder if it's his and why he wouldn't be wearing it. Something you can't see because of how I cropped the picture is that the back of the base also bends upwards a bit, and has similar bits of plastic attached on the bottom to stabilize it. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker as you can simply place some rubble around it.
Plastic Platoon Soviet and German Tankers, Battle of Kursk
One set with 3 tank crew members from each side. But that's not where the symmetry ends. Each side has what looks like an officer firing a pistol, a crew man firing a sub machine gun, and another crew man firing a light machine gun from the waist - a la Rambo. The poses are all in Plastic Platoon's usual high action style. One detail that I like from this set is how they made the Soviet commander bald. The Soviet tank helmets and the reinforced knees on the uniforms are also a nice touch. I also like from this set is how they made the man firing the machine gun step over a piece of tank track. You can tell that this panzer crew is definitely having a challenging time evacuating its disabled tank! These guys will go well with the Mars and Hanomak tanker sets.
Plastic Platoon German Infantry, Battle of Kursk
In retrospective, if these guys represent the units from the Kursk offensive, I should have probably placed them among countryside scenery when I took the pictures, but then again, these guys could fit in any other battle scenario. Note that this is a seven piece set, which is nice. My favorite pose is probably the prone grenade thrower. It resembles a picture I've seen multiple times, taken at ground level and looking slightly upwards towards the face/chest of the man throwing the grenade. If you know which one I am referring to, leave a comment. My least favorite pose has to be the man who just got shot. The way that he is falling feels a bit stiff to me. The other poses are all good action poses, and the man with the wounded/bandaged head adds a nice bit of realism.
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry, Battle of Kursk
Another seven piece set to fend off the German's summer offensive of '43 at Kursk. Six of them equipped with submachine guns and only one rifle man. The most interesting pose is the man carrying the flag, although I have to admit that I wonder how often they may have gone into battle carrying their colors. In any case, the flag is well-made, with several bullet holes piercing its fabric. I wonder how I am going to paint those holes, as the plastic is actually solid... The pose that I find a bit intriguing is the man kneeling who is also handing over an ammo drum. Not sure who he is handing it to. My best guess is that guy that I placed next to him, but I am not sure, as he is not really looking at his hand and he is moving too fast to be able to pick it up on the run. Perhaps I am over analyzing this. But I like the pose, and I am sure I can find some other guy who is a better candidate to be getting extra ammo.
Plastic Platoon German Volkssturm
Definitely a hodgepodge of uniforms and gear for this crew. Some of them are still wearing some civilian items. The most interesting character in that respect is probably the man with the brim hat about to throw a grenade. Others are wearing military issued gear, but definitely nothing standard. In terms of weapons, it is interesting to see how they have what looks like an old MG. Maybe left over from WW1 or captured and reissued? Another interesting bit is the female in the unit. She is handing over a canteen. I wonder if most were in such supporting roles, of if some of them actually picked up weapons. Lastly, the guy on the left with the glasses and the coat looks a little bit like he could have been a professor or an accountant before taking up arms...
Plastic Platoon German Infantry, Battle of Berlin
These guys will go well with the Volkssturm as they make a last effort to prevent the inevitable fall of Berlin. The first interesting bit is the presence of an Indian soldier, likely from the Indian Legion recruited from British POWs. This guy had to fight to the end or face tough consequences if captured. Another thing that they did well is the bases. I know that some folks find them too bulky or constraining in terms of the scene where the men can be used, but in this case, I find them quite appropriate. One of them is standing next to a grandfather clock, and another one is standing next to a broken gramophone, not to mention the several sections of brick wall. The weapons are all good choices for urban fighting, with a panzerpfaust and a panzerschreck, plus other automatic weapons. And similarly to the Soviet guy in the Kursk set, we have a guy handing over his ammo pouches with sub machinegun magazines to a Kamerad. Overall, a good, intense set.
Plastic Platoon Soviet 76mm Gun with Crew, Winter Dress - Part I
This is a really nice contribution to the hobby. There aren't that many Soviet artillery crews and guns available. I can think of the Italeri set, but that's about it. PP has released this set in both summer and winter outfits. Unfortunately I have only been able to find the winter crew. The figures are certainly nice, as usual, but clearly, the highlight of this set is the gun itself. It comes in a few parts that must be put together - the wheels, shield, trail/carriage and the barrel, but it is fairly easy to assemble. The detail is all there. You can see many nice touches like the hinges on the front of the shield and the grooves on the wooden spokes of the wheels, as well as the firing mechanism of the gun itself.
Plastic Platoon Soviet 76mm Gun with Crew, Winter Dress - Part II
As you can see from this other angle, you get an officer who is directing the firing of the gun, an ammo handler ready with the next round, a guy ready to fire, and another guy who can be placed in a couple spots to help operate or move the gun - he is carrying a side arm, so he might also be an officer. The uniforms are nicely detailed and show a variety of winter clothing. A couple of long coats, a padded jacket, etc. My favorite is the cap with sheepskin lining. And to round it all up, you also get a couple of ammo boxes. Ready to lay some supporting fire!
Plastic Platoon Soviet Naval Infantry, Defense of Sevastopol
For some reason I really like Soviet Naval Infantry troops, so I was very excited to learn that Plastic Platoon had come up with its own interpretation. The set does not disappoint. Perhaps the only thing to criticize is the fact that some of the bases are almost like the base that you would have for an actual sculpture, particularly the anchor, the cannon, and the steps, but even those elements are well done. I also like that we get a guy wearing a cape, as well as one wearing a helmet instead of the usual cap. We also get a good variety of weapons, my favorite being the light machine gun. These guys will definitely go very well with the rest of the detachment! BTW, The title of the set refers to Sevastopol, but I feel like deploying these guys within the ruins of Stalingrad... WDYT?
Plastic Platoon US Paratroopers 82nd Division, Operation Overlord
US Paras are also some of my favorite toy soldiers. Plastic Platoon has gifted us representatives from both the 82nd and the 101st divisions, and you can tell which unit they belong to thanks to their nicely detailed shoulder patches. Regarding the troopers from the 82nd, there are several interesting bits, starting with the fact that there is a chaplain in the set administering the last rites to a wounded man. I usually prefer fighting poses, but given the uniqueness of the characters, I will take them. Another interesting pose is the man with the machete or whatever you call that weapon that he is wielding. I would not want to catch the sharp end of that thing! I also like the fact that among the weapons you see a grease gun being fired by the man on the left. Overall, lots of good detail and touches everywhere you look.
Plastic Platoon US Paratroopers 101st Division, Operation Overlord
The screaming eagles from the 101st are also ready to fight. Just look at the guy with the mohawk! That's a fierce looking warrior right there. His expression and the fact that he is ready to stab you and shot you simultaneously make him a fearsome opponent. Another interesting guy is the medic who apparently has taken up arms. You can tell he is the medic because of the big cross on the front of his helmet. And these guys have also liberated what looks like a German MG42 being carried by the guy on the right. The officer issuing the hand signals is also a nice touch. Lastly I also like how they gave us three different styles of helmet. Bare, with net covering, and with cammo inserted into the net. And speaking of helmets, there's also a German helmet with cammo cover on the base of the man carrying the MG42. Another great set!
Plastic Platoon US Paratroopers Heavy Weapons 101st Division, Operation Overlord
In case you are worried that your paratroopers are going to be outgunned, here are a few more guys to upgrade your squad! You get a bazooka man, a BAR, a rifle grenade, a 30 cal MG and then there's this guy who seems to be holding a mortar round, but there's no mortar to go with it :-) this had me a bit puzzled until it hit me that he is holding a bazooka round. I should have placed him next to the bazooka guy so he could assist him! BTW, another clue is that he has a bazooka rocket tube lying next to his right foot. Initially, I did not know what that was either. In fact in another picture that I found online, they had chopped it off the figure! Luckily, I left it there :-) One last interesting detail is the fact that despite their heavy weapons, all these guys have a big bad knife tied to their leg. I guess you never know when you are going to need it so better safe than sorry!
Plastic Platoon Soviet Infantry, Final Assault on Berlin 1945
Another nice set of Soviet Infantry courtesy of Plastic Platoon, all posed in good action poses, very appropriate for taking over Berlin. One of them is even carrying a Soviet flag. Is he going to set it on top of the Reichstag? The officer is also interesting. Not only because he is firing upwards, into the many upper floors of the city buildings, but also because he is one of the few Soviet figures wearing a cape. The bases are also definitely urban, littered with bricks and furniture. Notice also how a couple of them are firing German weapons which they have 'liberated'. One of them is firing an StG 44 assault rifle, the man next to him is about to fire a panzerfaust, and the man throwing the grenade is actually throwing a German potato masher. All in all, a good set to complement the other Berlin sets made by others like Engineer Bassevich and Publius, or simply to reinforce your Soviet army.
Plastic Platoon German Winter Infantry Mortar Team
Here we have a 4-man mortar team in winter uniform to complement the two other sets of 'Kharkov' winter German infantry. Even though Plastic Platoon has produced other sets of winter infantry, like the Leningrad set, the thick parkas were not available until the second half of the war, so the Kharkov guys are definitely a better match for these guys. In terms of detail, I like how a couple of these guys have tears in their parkas. Could they be caused by bullets that went between their legs? If so, these guys are some lucky Landser! Another interesting detail is how the officer in charge is doing his best to protect his ears even though he only has one hand free to do so. A good set overall which will provide a very welcome heavy weapons support to my German winter troops!
