Google Analytics

Auto Ads

Search This Blog

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Mars - Toy Soldiers

Latest Update: Italian Paratroops at the bottom of this post
__________________

Mars is a manufacturer based out of Ukraine, which has been on the 1/72 scene for a while, at least back to 2007 which is when their website is copyrighted. They entered the 1/32 market a few years ago, in 2016 or so, with some non-WWII sets, with an emphasis on Vietnam and some Afghanistan sets. It has been during the recent years 2018-2022, that they have made a strong push into 1/32 WWII. Mostly by upscaling their 1/72 sets, which is in part why they have been able to issue so many sets in quick succession. The best part about Mars throwing its hat into ring, is that they are coming up with sets that had not received much attention in the past. Besides the sets that are listed on this post, they already announced several more that should be quite exciting, but I won't ruin the surprise for you :-) Take a look and judge for yourself!

Mars German Elite Division (Waffen SS)
Mars German Elite Division (Waffen SS)
 As far as this 'Elite Infantry' set, I have to say that it is just OK. For some reason the way the clothes look on the legs of these figures seems a bit artificial. Either too baggy, or the men's legs are too skinny to fill them... not sure what's going on. I also found it amusing that they preferred to avoid calling the set Waffen SS and went with 'Elite Division'. Anyhow, the poses are dynamic enough for my taste, and they could easily be used as regular infantry if you also wanted to avoid depicting Waffen SS troops.  

Mars German Luftwaffe Field Division
Mars German Luftwaffe Field Division
This is one of those sets that had not been represented before, as far as I know. Not much to tell them apart from regular infantry or, even trickier, from Waffen SS. When I have seen them in pictures, they are usually wearing cammo smock or the tent quarters, which is what several of these guys are wearing. From what I read, these units suffered terrible casualty rates, given the fact that they had very limited training in ground combat tactics, as they had been hastily repurposed from air force duties to frontline infantry. Maybe that's why they felt compelled to include a figure getting hit.

Mars German Naval Infantry
Mars German Naval Infantry
Another set that I have not seen manufactured before. Not sure if these guys are meant to represent the Marinestosstruppkompanie, the landing parties that a Naval Force would usually carry with them, or whether they were surplus sailors which had been repurposed as ground infantry, as was the case with the Luftwaffe Field Division. In any case, it is an interesting and unique set. In terms of the sculpting, this set is pretty decent, although the poses could be a bit more dynamic. 

Mars German Panzergrenadiers
Mars German Panzergrenadiers
If not because of the name, it is hard to tell that these guys were mechanized infantry. But they are still a nice set that could be used to augment your regular German infantry, or Waffen SS. The best pose is clearly the mg gunner resting his weapon on his mate's shoulder. Unfortunately, it is pretty hard to line up the figures. At best, the muzzle is right behind the front man's ear, which would have been terrible in real life. Also, this set does have a man 'running' which is better than some of the other sets in which everyone is standing, however the running pose could have been sculpted leaning forward a bit more in my opinion. Still a good set overall. 

Mars Imperial Japanese Infantry
Mars Imperial Japanese Infantry
This is a a set that has been made before plenty of times. But at least you can tell that the Mars sculpting team is getting more adventurous in terms of adding dynamism to its poses, and they have given us two charging men. That is offset however, by the man who is throwing (or holding?) a grenade. If he is meant to throw it, I hope his squad has time to hit the ground because that's going to land a bit short! Other than that, this set is not that remarkable, considering that there's already a good variety of Japanese Infantry poses in the market from prior manufacturers. 

Mars Imperial Japanese Paratroopers
Mars Imperial Japanese Paratroopers
Now, here's a set that is new and unique as far as I know. And you can tell that these guys truly are imperial paratroopers because of its distinctive headgear which has wide straps to secure the helmet in place during the drop. Plus a few of them are still wearing their jump suit/smock. This is one probably my favorite set from Mars. The poses show some action, they are engaged in combat, the range of weapons includes a mortar, flame thrower, a sub mg, a pistol, plus several carbines... All in all a good mix to drop behind enemy lines!

Mars German Don Cossacks
Mars German Don Cossacks
Extra points to Mars for addressing a set that had not received any attention (to my knowledge) before. The quality of the set is good overall. The figures come in decent action/fighting poses, with a nice degree of movement, and the sculpting keeps improving. Perhaps the one missing pose from  this set is a cavalry figure, maybe a mounted officer. The Cossacks in general, including the Don Cossacks, were renowned cavalry troops. I know that in WWII the role of mounted units in battle was negligible, however I suspect that in the role of the Don Cossacks, hunting down partisans, and chasing them around the woods and countryside, horses would have been useful. 

Mars German Elite Infantry (Winter Dress)
Mars German Elite Infantry (Winter Dress)
This is another good set. A nice set of poses, with authentic looking winter gear. Maybe one less kneeling pose, in exchange for a prone guy would have been a good call, but still a nice set for which there were not many options previously. The only other figures that I recall, which would go well with these are the four 1/35 Dragon Can Do German winter combat troops and another four  miscellaneous German winter troops which came with some of the FOV vehicles. So these will augment that squad nicely. Fortunately, the size of these 1/32 figures is not too big, so they will all blend well. 

Mars Finnish Infantry
Mars Finnish Infantry - Part I
Another interesting and unique set by Mars to complement Engineer Bassevich's Finnish troops. Particularly nice are the two figures with skis. The actually come attached to them with a small metal peg which allows them to rotate some. I just hope they don't come off. It would have been nice if a couple more had skis, not necessarily on, but maybe on their backs. This set, at 12 figures/8 poses, was also smaller than the typical Mars set of 15 figures/8 poses, I suppose because of the extra molds to make the skis.  

Mars Finnish Infantry
Mars Finnish Infantry Part II
Most of the figures in the set are in good action poses, except for the guy who seems to be just standing around. I have also read some comments complaining about how little facial detail is visible on him, and some folks have remarked that he is wearing a mark. Emil K. and Thomas H. have identified him as the famous Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä, also know as White Death, who indeed wore a white mask, and smock to blend in better with the background. With more than 500 confirmed sniper kills, it's a nice gesture to dedicate a figure to him, but imho, it would have been better to pose him in action. Anyhow, happy about having a few more Finns to go against the Soviets!

Mars Soviet Infantry
Mars Soviet Infantry
Not a set for which there is a shortage of poses from prior manufacturers, but it is understandable that a Ukranian firm would manufacture such a set around the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War. No concerns from my end about the selection of poses. All are good, dynamic fighting poses. What's also nice about some of them are the rain capes (Plash-Palatkas). Not very common in sets from prior manufacturers. My only criticism about the set is that some of them show some flashing and/or mold misalignment down the middle line of the figure.

Mars Soviet Assault Engineers
Mars Soviet Assault Engineers
The Mars sets keep getting better! Lots to like about these guys. All of them useful combat poses, nice sculpting, good detail, great variety of weapons, including a flamethrower, a light and heavy MG, a captured panzerfaust, and of course, the fact that a different Soviet service branch is being represented. It is also good that not all poses are standing or charging. While I do like fighting poses, I think there's also a need for poses that are operating behind cover, which is easier to achieve if you have a lower body profile. What makes the Soviet Assault Troops special is that they wear these steel plates as body armor. I am not sure how effective they were against different bullet calibers, and different ranges, but some photographs do show Soviet men with dents on their body armor, which suggests that they did work sometimes. 

Mars German Volkssturm
Mars German Volkssturm
This is another unique set recently released by Mars. Not seen before in 1/32 as far as I know. They will be useful for any late war battle scenes for which you need a few civilians as reinforcements to defend the German Fatherland. The mix of poses is good. I also like how they are generous in the issuance of panzerfausts, as was the case at that stage of the war. The set contains a couple of smaller figures representing a teenage boy and girl, likely from the Hitler Youth. The only thing I did not like was the number of poses that I got in my set. Three of the poses were present 3 times, and 3 only once. Unfortunately, the poses that were over represented were the ones that look less like civilians, and more like regular army men. But still, happy to have this set. Will definitely come in handy in one of my upcoming projects!

Mars German Night Hunters
Mars German Night Hunters
This is a very unique set. First of its kind as far as I am aware of. Before Mars made it, I wasn't even aware that the German military had fielded such 'Nachtjäger' units. What makes them special is that they were equipped with infrared lights that enabled them to 'see' the enemy in the dark. A huge advantage at the time. The equipment was a bit bulky due to the batteries that it required and had to be carried as a backpack. Not all the figures are equipped this way, which allows you to mix some of these guys with other regular 'daylight fighting' units. My only criticism about this set is that some figures have their arms tucked in so closely to their bodies that it distorts their size. I understand that the sculptor is trying to account for the challenges involved in manufacturing, by trying to eliminate the empty space between the arms and the body so that the figures can be released from the mold, but in some cases it really impacts the pose, like the guy in the middle of the picture. Even so, another nice and special set from Mars. Keep them coming!

Mars German Paratroops Tropical Uniform
Mars German Paratroops Tropical Uniform
Another good set from Mars. This one is aimed at depicting the German Paratroops that might have fought in theaters like the battle of Monte Cassino. On the box they show them painted in cammo smocks and beige pants. As you can see the poses are all useful in combat scenarios, and with the customary 8 poses from Mars, that also makes the set more interesting. For instance, we also get a prone figure, which is often missing in smaller sets. The variety in the uniforms and equipment is also good. Some of them have their smocks buttoned up, and some lose. Some have helmets with webbing, some without, and there's even one guy with a field cap. Good mix of weapons as well, including the multi-potato masher being thrown by the guy on the left. My only negative criticism about this set is the size  of the hands in some of the figures. Some of them still seem a bit undersized in my opinion. 

Mars US Paratroops
Mars US Paratroops
D-Day is a pivotal event in WWII, and the saga of D-Day would be incomplete without the US Paras. Mars has more than checked that box with this set. Great action poses, which can be used both for offensive and defensive situations (holding the Eindhoven bridge?). And very nicely sculpted for the most part. I add that caveat only because of the guy in the middle of the picture who is running with his sub machine gun and his right arm is unnaturally tucked into his chest, but that's easy to overlook, when the rest of the set is so well done. The bazooka team is also a nice touch for a Para set. Something that should be noted about this set is that it fits really well next to the Airfix and ESCI Paratroops. Conte Paras are a bit larger, but if you are not too picky about scale, they can blend with them as well. 

Mars German Winter Paratroops
Mars German Winter Paratroops
 And yet another nice set from Mars. This set gets extra points for depicting the German Paras in winter gear, which is something that had not been done to date. Six of them are wearing padded/quilted suits, another one is wearing a white cammo suit, and the last one is still wearing the regular para smock with some other layers underneath. In addition to the unique outfits, the sculpting in this set is probably the best I've seen from Mars. The detail and dynamism in the poses is excellent. And the choice of poses is great as well. All of them useful in combat situations with a nice range of diverse weapons. The radio man is also a nice touch. My only criticism of this set is that all of them are standing poses. A couple crouching or prone poses would have been useful. But hey, maybe that means that eventually we get another set of winter paras with such poses, right?  

Mars German Panzer Crew
Mars German Panzer Crew
This is an original set. Typically when you see tank crew men, they are mounted in their vehicles, but when you think about it, they must have had to abandon their tanks quite often due to battle damage or mechanical failure, and when doing so, it seems reasonable to expect that they had to engage in small arms combat. The set provides a nice variety of action poses depicting the urgency of the situation. What's also good about this set is that if you are into painting your figures, this uniform with a short, double-breasted jacket can be painted in a variety of color schemes, including cammo pattern and various tones of grey, as it was worn not only by panzer crews -in black-, but also self-propelled gun crews, and panzer grenadiers. What's not so great about this set is that one figure in particular -standing in the middle of the picture- has a serious manufacturing issue, with a lot of extra plastic down the middle of his face. This is not just my set, as it has been reported by other collectors. I may try to shave it off a bit or simply replace the head.

Mars US Rangers
Mars US Rangers
Another unique and interesting set by Mars. What sets these guys apart and the reason why you can tell them apart from regular US Infantry is that they are wearing the Ranger assault vest. Aside from that, a few of them are carrying weapons that would have come in handy at Omaha Beach on D-Day, like the Bangalore torpedo, or the mine detector. The guy firing the BAR upwards, could also be firing up the Pointe du Hoc cliffs. The other poses are useful combat poses. So good ratings on the subject matter. What continues to bother me about the Mars figures is the sculpting of the arms. They are always closely tucked into the bodies. I know it is done for ease of release from the molds, but it makes them look unnatural, and sometimes it affects the body proportions. In this set, the sculpting of the sniper's legs also makes it look a bit odd, as the the front leg is bent right against its own thigh. Anyhow, happy about the set in general, but a bit disappointed about some of its details. 

Mars German Paratroops w 10.5 cm LG 42 Tropical Uniform
Mars German Paratroops w 10.5 cm LG 42 Tropical Uniform
This is a nice and original addition to the existing German Para units produced by other manufacturers which so far have lacked any heavy weapons support. The set includes two guns, each with its respective crew. They are meant to be painted in the tropical uniform. I actually purchased two sets, and plan to paint one crew in the early war (Crete) colors and the other one in the cammo scheme. The recoilless gun is interesting. The wheels are meant to be off the ground when it's deployed, but the plastic is a bit hard to straighten so that it looks even. I may actually use these crews with 21C Pak 40s. As far as the figures go, the poses are all good, but I do feel that the sculpting detail could be sharper. 

Mars German Paratroops Mortar Team Tropical Uniform
Mars German Paratroops Mortar Team Tropical Uniform
Here's another useful addition to the German Para units. Again, the set comes with two mortars and two crews. When it comes to toy soldiers, I don't feel that you need a 5-man crew for a mortar. I know that in real life you might require such man power to carry the ammo plus the different pieces when it is disassembled, but I would have preferred to get maybe 3 mortars each with a 3-man crew or simply some other additional supporting poses with other unique weapons. In terms of the detail, these guys seem crisper than the gun crew. One interesting pose that took me a bit of time to figure out its purpose is the man at the front of the mortar holding the bipod. Looks like he is trying stabilize it. 

Mars US Infantry Winter Uniform
Mars US Infantry Winter Uniform
Another good set from Mars, addressing a topic that is not covered very often. You get a decent set of weapons represented, including a rifle grenade, a sitting sniper, a radio man, plus some of the other more usual infantry poses, including a left-handed man firing from the standing position. There are however two things that I really don't like about this set. The first one is the posing of the grenade thrower. There is something strange about his stance. Maybe he needs to bend the knees a bit more, or maybe the fact that the head is aligned with the standing leg, just makes it look unnatural. The other thing that's not right is the manufacturing of the fourth man from the left. The two halves of his face are horribly misaligned. This is not the first time this happens with Mars figures. I really wish they paid more attention to such details. 

Mars British Commonwealth or Canadian Troops
Mars British Commonwealth Troops
This release from Mars portrays British Commonwealth Troops, which I guess means that you could use them as any number of nationalities. I know many collectors would like to use them as Canadian. What's nice about them is that a couple of them are wearing a leather vest, which I gather is called a jerkin. Another nice touch is that among their poses they have a prone piat firing team. As far as I recall, only 21C had made a prone piat firing paratrooper, but it did not have a loader. The set is pretty good overall, with almost all figures in good action, fighting poses. My only disappointment is the figure on the left, which I find very poorly sculpted. Like several other Mars figures, his arms are tucked next to his body as if he were trying to hold something with his arm pits. He actually looks worse when you look at him directly from the front. I really wish by now Mars had figured out how to properly sculpt arms in more natural positions. 

Mars US MG teams
Mars US MG Teams
This set consists of two machine gun teams in firing position, and a few other supporting figures. As far as I can tell, the two prone guys are operating a Browning 30 cal. MG. The two other guys are firing a water-cooled version of the same MG. The running and standing men are carrying additional MGs, tripods, and ammo. The set comes with 12 figures in total. The other 4 men are repeats of the running/standing men. In general, an OK set. I would not say it is a must have, as there are already other MG teams around from other manufacturers. And the sculpting has the same style of tucked arms as other previous Mars sets. But if you care about having a complete collection, it is still worth getting one set of these guys. 

Mars German Tank Hunters
This is a highly specialized set focused on infantry anti-tank tactics. It comes with a nice variety of weapons, including land mines, panzerschrecks (with and without shield), a panzerfaust, a panzerknacker (hollow charge), and even an improvised bundle of potato mashers. The one weapon that is missing is the anti-tank rifle (panzerbüchse), probably because it fell out of favor by mid-war as armor thickness increased. But still it might have been a good thing to have one instead of three panzerschrecks. I actually don't know if these guys would have been deployed as an independent unit or if they are simply a set meant to represent the range of options used for this purpose. I think I will sprinkle them across my other German infantry units rather than have them all as one.

Mars Soviet Border Guards
Mars Soviet Border Guards
Normally you don't think of the Soviet border guards as the most exciting topic, but this set makes it look quite intense, and other than the guy who is observing the action with his dog, all the other guys are engaged in the fighting. But I know the dog is a key element of the Soviet guards, so it had to be fit in somehow with its handler. My favorite poses are probably the guy who is running and the officer. The officer was a bit tricky to get to stand straight, but nothing that the good old hot/cold water treatment couldn't fix. The other figure that is interesting is the crawling guy wearing the cammo suit. That guy is going to play double duty with my unit of Soviet scouts. This set certainly exceeded my expectations! 

Mars US Marines
Mars US Marines
It's nice to see Mars cover this service branch. Not that it had been neglected by previous manufacturers, but for the sake of Mars collectors having a more complete range, it is good to see this set hit the market. Overall it is a good set, with nice action poses, and a good variety of weapons, including a flamethrower and two heavy machine guns. The larger one is a Browning M1917, and the smaller one is a Browning M1919. Unfortunately, this set suffers more noticeably from what I've been referring to as the tucked arm issue. I know that it has to do with the challenges imposed by two-part molds, but it still makes this set have several figures with right arms that are in very unnatural positions. Other than that, the sculpting is pretty good, so if you look at the figures from the right angle, you can avoid seeing the tucked arms. But all in all a good set. 

Mars British Paratroops
Mars British Paratroops
It's nice to see Mars produce its second set of British troops and that it is representing the Airborne guys as we don't have many of those, at least not released recently. In this set we get a good variety of weapons in use - sten guns, bren gun, mortar, side arm, rifles, some variation in the head gear - helmets with netting and cammo foliage, plain helmet, helmet with netting only, as well as a beret. The poses are fairly decent with all men in useful combat poses. The most interesting poses for me are the two guys in the mortar team who is operating in a prone position. The only thing I noticed on the second man from the left is that its sub mg strap is missing a segment and yet it retains its curvature. This defect is present on both figures that came in the box of 15 men. These guys will go well with the British Airfix paras. Less so with the Conte guys who are a bit taller. 

Mars US Paratroops - Set 2
Mars US Paratroops - Set 2
Here we have some reinforcements for Mars' prior set of US paras. A good set of fighting poses. Something interesting about this guys is that several of them have their first aid kit on the side of their helmets. I am used to seeing them on the front. In terms of the poses, the most interesting guy is the one who is lying on the ground shooting at something likely coming at him after he fell backwards. I know... I am imagining a whole scene here. Another interesting guy is the one with the flamethrower. I don't recall seeing any other paras equipped with one. I even wonder if it's possible to safely jump off a plane with one. Or maybe he just found it on the ground. The mortar team is also nice as is the guy firing the 30 cal mg off the hip. One thing that was not so great about this set is that the bottom of the bases is a bit warped and has extra bits of plastic that have to be cut off or sanded off to get them to stand straight and without wobbling. It's doable, but it can take an extra 30-60 mins to do so. 

Mars German Winter Paratroops with 10.5 cm Gun
Mars German Winter Paratroops with 10.5 cm Gun
This is a really nice set to complement the Mars German winter paras. Each crew consists of 5 men and you actually get 2 crews per box. I bought two boxes, so I now have 4 guns/crews, so I will likely assign 2 to the paras and 2 to the regular winter infantry. Those who are into conversions could replace the helmets to make them fit better as regular infantry. The best part about this set are the figures. The gun itself is made of softer plastic which bends quite a bit and needs to be straightened so that the gun stands evenly. A minor criticism is that the shells look wider than the gun's barrel. Looking at some pictures of the real equipment online, I think the shells are the ones which are too large. But let's not get too picky and instead be glad that we have this unique set to give our winter units some well needed firepower!

Mars Volkssturm Set 2
Mars Volkssturm Set 2
This set gives us a good mix of adhoc fighters for the final battles of the Reich. There are some young folks, including a girl second from left, as well as some older and disabled guys like the one with the eye patch, fourth from the left. You also get a nice variation in terms of outfits and head gear, like the firefighter helmet with the crest worn by the man on the left end. And the weaponry is also quite diverse, like the old MG08 machine gun with the drum magazine held by the man in the middle. My favorite pose ironically is the officer which could actually be used in a regular infantry unit beyond the Volkssturm. As you can tell from the positioning of the arms, this set was still sculpted with traditional mold-making in mind, even if in the end it was produced via 3D printing due to production challenges associated with the traditional mold making process. As far as scale, these guys are closer in size to Big 1/32 so they will match the Plastic Platoon Volkssturm guys better than the Mars Volkssturm Set 1 which is true 1/32 scale. But when it comes to 3D printing, I prefer larger figures as that makes them sturdier, particularly the weapons.  

Mars German MG Teams - ground view
Mars German MG Teams
These guys are operating two types of machine guns and are guided by an officer who is spotting for them. The MG with the larger tripod is a MG08 left over from WWI and the one operated by the prone man is a MG37(t). The MG37(t) was also known as ZB-53 when it was produced by Czechoslovakia before Germany took over. This is also one of Mars' first sets designed to be 3D printed, which means that the sculpting is free of the constraints imposed by traditional molds. The result is a truly beautiful set. It's also worth mentioning that the resin chosen to print the figures gives them a texture very similar to plastic. The MG37(t) is printed in a different resin which I fear may be a bit more brittle, but I don't intend to test it :-) In contrast with prior sets, when you buy these you only get one figure of each pose and the price point is a bit higher than before, but the quality of the figures in terms of the poses, the level of detail, and the material seems well worth it!

Mars German MG Teams - elevated view
Mars German MG Teams - bird's eye view
Here's another shot that allows us to get a better view of the prone men and the MGs. One interesting detail is that the assistant on the MG08 appears to have a rare EMP Erma submachinegun slung across his back. You can also see that the prone man can get his hands nicely around the handle of the MG37(t). The operator of the MG08 however can't really grip his handle as his thumbs prevent the handle from sliding in. I am tempted to snap off the handles, slide them into his hands, and then slide the hands into the MG. If it were actual plastic it would be a more predictable procedure, but with resin, I wonder if it will break at the wrong places... Anyhow, a very minor issue within an otherwise exquisite set. 

Mars German MG Team - MG08 close up
Mars German MG Team - MG08 close up
I had an interesting time assembling the MG08 gun. The base has several holes and the one in which the gun's pin is supposed to go in is actually quite tight, but the other ones are a much better fit. The problem is that in order for the latch in the back of the gun to catch the back of the plate where it is supposed to slide as it rotates you need to insert the gun's pin into the very first hole on the tripod. It took a bit of turning as I did not want to press down hard and risk breaking it. But after a few turns I managed to wiggle it into place. I should point out that I actually reached out to Sergey from Mars to confirm where to mount it and he was very quick and helpful with his response!

Mars Winter Mortar Team - Part I
Mars Winter Mortar Team - Part I
Another beautiful set. It was also designed for 3D printing, which means that the arms are all in much more natural positions. It is also great that we get more troops in winter uniform, particularly a mortar crew. One thing that I am not sure about is whether the man dropping the shell into the tube is supposed to stand on the left or the right side. Both appear to work, but when he is standing on the left as in the picture above, the shell is not quite on top of the tube, but that's the most it can go forward while still holding the tripod with his lower hand. 

Mars Winter Mortar Team - Part II
Mars Winter Mortar Team - Part II
Here's another possible configuration. In this one, the man with the shell can drop it into the tube more easily, but I feel that his face and ears are less protected from the explosion, so it seems less realistic. Another interesting vignette about this picture is that I took advantage of having real snow to take this picture. However I did not consider the effect of the low temperature on resin (it was pretty cold!) and unfortunately when I picked up the mortar, one of the legs snapped. As you can see in the prior picture, I was able to glue it back into place without much trouble but it was a good reminder that resin is not as flexible as plastic, particularly at very low temperatures! BTW, the reason why I retook the picture was not just that I wanted to position the man dropping the shell differently, but also because the prone man is not very visible given the shadows in the second picture. I hope you can get a better idea of how he is stabilizing the mortar based on both pics. 

Mars US Mortar Team
Mars US Mortar Team
This is another really nice set. A mortar team which could probably be used in both the ETO and the Pacific. Again, it was sculpted with 3D printing in mind and it shows. All poses appear so much more natural. I also love the level of detail. Look at the face of the radio man for instance. It is just as expressive as the faces of Plastic Platoon. I may like it even better as it is not overly intense. The muscles on the shirtless man are also very well done and in general, the detail such as the creases on the uniforms are all very realistic. And then there is the 4.2 inch (107mm) mortar with all its components clearly sculpted, including the thread for the angle adjusting mechanism. All remarkable for 3D printing. These guys do set a new standard for 3D printed figures!

Mars Italian Paratroops
Mars Italian Paratroops
Mars gets bonus points for having tackled this often overlooked service branch. These Italian Paras, most likely from the Folgore division which fought in North Africa are very nicely done. They are some of the recent sets made via 3D printing and you can tell how the poses are a lot more natural. The chosen printing material has improved and is able to capture a lot of detail and getting less brittle. I ordered these guys in 'Big 1/32' scale (1/30) and they go quite well next to the Waterloo 1815 Folgore Paras. In terms of the figures themselves, one thing that caught my attention is the diversity of head gear represented. Some of them are wearing the standard Italian helmet, although a couple of them with the paratrooper cover, one of them has a field cap on, a couple of them are wearing the Folgore beret, one of them appears to have a German Para helmet, and one of them is wearing a standard Italian infantry helmet (at first my imagination -or was it the netting?- tricked me into thinking it was a US army helmet!). Their weaponry is also pretty diverse, including a few German issued items like the panzerfaust and the potato masher grenade. One thing to consider though is that the panzerfaust went into service during the second half of 1943, so that figure is better suited to represent the Folgore paras who continued to fight against the Allies in Italy, likely at Anzio, after the armistice of Sept. 1943. Also interesting is the kneeling guy who is carrying a backpack with a couple of spare barrels for the Breda Mod 30 light MG being fired by the prone guy.
 


Thursday, March 20, 2025

Introducing the Tiger I

Latest Update: FOV Tiger I w winter cammo at the bottom of the post
__________________

The Tiger Tank was Germany's first heavy tank of the war. It's also known as Sd Kfz 181 as well as PzKpfw VI Ausf. H (later PzKpfw VI Ausf. E), or Panzer VI for short. The 'I' was added retroactively to the name after the Tiger II (King Tiger) came out. The Tiger tank was designed and built in response to the Soviet Tanks encountered during the invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of '41, which outgunned and were better armored than the Panzer III's and Panzer IV's. By September of '42 the first Tigers were already being sent into action around Leningrad, but as it was rushed to the front prematurely, it initially suffered from mechanical and reliability problems. Besides the Eastern Front, the Tiger Tank also saw action in North Africa, Italy and the Western Front. Its thick armor, 88mm gun, and decent speed for a heavy tank, made it a formidable opponent, able to destroy enemy tanks at very long ranges, and being very hard to knock out unless the opponent managed to get very close to it and hit it from a vulnerable angle, usually the sides or back. Its good performance in combat enabled multiple Tiger tank commanders to become 'aces' with over 100 kills to their credit. It is said that one Tiger was able to destroy 22 Soviet tanks in a single engagement.
Unfortunately, the Tiger's design was a bit too complex. For instance, due to its weight, it was not able to go over small bridges, so it was designed to ford water up to 4 meters in depth. This meant that it had to be equipped with additional systems for breathing, ventilation, and engine cooling, the hull had to be sealable, and some of the compartments had to be floodable so it would not just float and get dragged downstream. Likewise, it introduced a new design for several rows of overlapping, interleaved wheels which gave it a wider track, better able to distribute its huge weight. All this increased its manufacturing complexity and cost, which resulted in less tan 1500 being manufactured during the war. By mid-1944, it was phased out of production in favor of the Panther and the Tiger II.
Stackpole Books has a two volume narrative of Michael Wittmann's exploits as a Tiger I commander, which provides great insight into the Tiger's development, the operations of a tank battalion, and the Tiger's performance in combat. In terms of Toy Soldier manufacturers, we have a couple good examples courtesy of the usual suspects, 21C and FOV.

21st Century Toys Tiger I
This tank was the first of its kind to be produced. Released about 10 years ago, it is a realistic vehicle, at a good scale, factory-painted, with moving turret, gun, tracks, hatches, and a factory-painted crew for less than 15 dollars. At the time it came out I would be making trips to my local Toys R Us every weekend to try to catch the next shipment as they were flying off the selves. It was the best thing that happened to the hobby in terms of vehicles. After that, many more and even better models followed, but this one (and the half track) are the ones that started it all.

21st Century Toys Tiger I - Afrika Korps
A short time later, 21C Toys released another version of the Tiger I. Essentially the same vehicle in a different color scheme. I preferred the original colors, but I still got three of these to give Rommel's army a heaftier punch.

Forces of Valor Tiger I
A couple years later FOV came into the military vehicle landscape and released their own versions of the Tiger I. Several paint schemes were released. Unfortunately I only got one of them as I already had several of the 21C ones. FOV's Tiger is even better than 21C's. Aside from the fact that is made out of metal, the level of detail and realism is higher. For instance, notice the anti-magnetic Zimmerit paint cover to defend against mines, or the bent fenders above the tracks. Definitely a nice piece of equipment for your collection.

Forces of Valor Tiger I - winter cammo
This Tiger is one of the FOV vehicles released since Waltersons acquired the brand. It is part of its 'Engine Plus' series which means that you can remove the top and see the inside, to reveal a very nicely detailed engine as well as the inside of the tank. Something else that is not evident from the picture is that this tank is also heavier than prior FOV models. It really feels quite substantial. Even the tank commander is made out of metal. This Tiger also comes in a less common winter cammo paint scheme, which is actually the main reason why I went ahead and bought it. I say that because I already have enough Tiger I's in my Panzer Korps and these newer FOV models are actually quite pricey. Anyhow, now that I have this tank to guide my work, I will probably convert a couple of grey 21C tanks to match its winter cammo. The 21C tanks are a tiny bit smaller, but they will be able to come together as a squad just fine to complement my winter panzer grenadiers!  

Click here to see a post about the Panzer III.
Click here to see a post about the Panzer IV.
Click here to see a post about the Tiger II.


Tuesday, March 18, 2025

German Self-Propelled Guns

Latest Update: FOV Sturmtiger at the bottom of the post

__________________

The German Army, in its attempt to neutralize the ever-increasing numbers of enemy tanks and their sometimes superior armor, developed many varieties of anti-tank guns. This was essentially an arms race against the allied tanks that continued up to the end of the war. Mounting the guns in an armored vehicle gave them greater mobility and increased the protection of their crews. The main difference between a tank and a self-propelled gun is the lack of a turret in the latter, which made them cheaper and faster to manufacture, allowing them to be produced in greater numbers. Self-propelled guns usually had a very limited traversal range so to turn one towards its target often the whole vehicle had to be turned. Alternatively, the vehicle could lie in waiting, usually well camouflaged, until an enemy target crossed its sights. Model manufacturers have taken advantage of the large number of self-propelled guns that were produced to give us a wealth of scale models as you can appreciate below.
21st Century Toys Sturmpanzer Brummbar Sd Kfz 166
Also known as Strumpanzer 43 or Stupa. This vehicle was designed as mobile artillery in support of infantry troops. It was built on top of the Panzer IV chassis, and mounted a 150mm gun. The side skirts were standard equipment. It was produced between 1943 and 1945. It saw action in the Eastern Front, Italy and Normandy. Later versions also had Zimmerit applied to them. This version from 21C Toys is original, but a bit brittle. The side skirt attachments were all broken when I purchased it (from a fellow collector). Also it is all plastic and the tank's surface is too smooth. The FOV tanks feel a little more rugged. Nonetheless, its uniqueness makes it a worthwhile vehicle to collect.

Forces of Valor Elefant Sd Kfz 184
Also known as Ferdinand or Panzerjäger Tiger, this was a heavy tank destroyer built on top of the Tiger chassis which had originally been designed and built by Porsche for the Tiger I Tank. After the Henschel design was chosen for the Tiger, the Porsche chassis were repurposed as tank destroyers with an 88 mm Pak 43 anti tank gun capable of destroying a T-34 at a 3 mile range. 91 of them were produced in 1943 in time for the offensive at Kursk. After some slight modifications to make it less vulnerable to close infantry attacks, Elefant was adopted as its official name. Its strong armor and powerful gun gave it a kill ratio of over 10 to 1, making it perhaps the most prolific tank destroyer of the war, but its weight and mechanical problems reduced its mobility and operational effectiveness. The fact that it was manufactured in such small numbers also meant that there were few spare parts. Most of them had to be abandoned if they broke down or suffered damage as they were difficult to tow by the recovery teams. This version from FOV is really nice. The Zimmerit cover gives is a very realistic look. The only thing that I would have liked would have been 1 or 2 crew figures to go with it and make it come to life a bit more.

Forces of Valor Jagdpanther Sd Kfz 173 - Normandy 1944
The Jagdpanther was built during 1944 and 1945. It mounted a 88mm PAK 43 gun on top of the Panther Tank chassis. The Panther chassis was lighter and faster which gave the Jagdpanther greater mobility, and it was also more reliable, which resulted in fewer mechanical breakdowns. Most Jagdpanthers saw action on the Eastern Front, with a few participating in the Normandy campaign. Later in the war, they also participated in the Ardennes offensive. Forces of Valor has given us a couple variations of this tank destroyer. The one depicted here is their Normandy model. It is covered in Zimmerit paint, in the actual square pattern that was applied to the Jagdpanther. They also produced a second model released in a gold/green cammo color scheme.

Forces of Valor Jagdtiger Sd KFz 186- Germany 1945
Also known as Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B, this tank destroyer was built on top of the King Tiger chassis. It mounted a 128mm gun and was thickly armored with 10 inches of frontal armor. All this made it the heaviest armored vehicle of World War II at over 70 tons. Its weight however was also its Achilles heel, causing it to frequently breakdown. Also, the weight of the gun required it to be locked for support when not in combat. This also meant that someone had to exit the tank to unlock it before it could fire. Nonetheless, this giant could destroy any allied tank on the battlefield at safe ranges and it was very difficult to destroy in combat, although it was vulnerable to attacks from the air. Approximately 80 of them were built in total, the first ones reaching the front in the fall of '44 and seeing mainly action on the Western Front. Forces of Valor has given us this nice model. Quite heavy and with almost no range of motion for the gun as the original. The support in the front can indeed be used to hold up the gun.

 21st Century Toys Sd KFz 186 Jagdtiger
This is another version of the Jagdtiger made by 21C. It is all made of plastic, so it feels a bit light. But in terms of appearance, it is quite reasonably detailed, and certainly more affordable than the FOV version. The only thing I did not like about this one is that it does not hold up the gun very well. If you look closely, I had to prop the crew man against the gun so that it would stay up in place...

21st Century Toys Sd Kfz 138 Ausf M Marder IIIM Tank Destroyer
This was the third tank destroyer in the Marder series. Also known as Panzerjäger 38(t) mit 7.5 cm Pak 40/3, this tank destroyer was built on top of the Panzer 38(t) Ausf M chassis, of Czech origin. This chassis had the engine mounted in the middle, allowing the gun in the back to be installed in a lower position, which reduced the vehicle's profile and afforded the crew slightly better protection. The back was also closed, but the top remained open. That, plus the fact that it was not heavily armored made it a risky business to operate them, particularly under artillery attacks and urban settings. It carried a 75 mm Pak 40 gun and was operated by a crew of 4: driver, gunner, loader/radio man plus a tank commander who was free to direct the battle operations. It was manufactured during '43 and '44 with almost 1000 of them being produced. It was then phased out of production in favor of fully armored tank destroyers, but it fought on until the end of the war, seeing action on most fronts. This model comes to us courtesy of 21C Toys. Despite the fact that it is entirely made out of plastic, it is nicely detailed as you can tell from te rivets.

21st Century Toys Sd Kfz 139 Marder III Tank Destroyer
Also known as the Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7.62 cm Pak 36(r), this was the first tank destroyer in the Marder series. It was was built on top of the Panzer 38(t) chassis, of Czech origin, and mounted a Soviet 76mm gun which had been captured in large numbers during the early phases of the Soviet campaign. The gun was hosted in a structure that was simply bolted on top of the chassis and it was only lightly armored, which made this vehicle highly vulnerable. The Sd Kfz 139 was manufactured from mid '42 and into 1943. This version of the Marder fought mainly against the Soviet Union, with a few also fighting in North Africa. This Sd Kfz model was also made by 21C Toys. It is also made out of plastic, but like the other Marder, it is nicely detailed, and its gun has a nice range of motion for a tank destroyer.

21st Century Toys Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Sd Kfz 138/2
The Jagdpanzer 38(t) was yet another variant of a tank destroyer built on top of the Czech Panzer 38(t) chassis. This model however was built with thicker armor and the front sloping at a steeper angle which gave it the equivalent of almost 5 inches of frontal armor. The Hetzer was fully enclosed and had a much lower profile than the Marder III, making it also safer to operate. Its main gun was a 75mm Pak, mounted off-center. This gun was similar to that of the Stug III, capable of destroying most allied tanks. The Hetzer was designed in 1943 and produced as of 1944, at about the same time as as the Jagdpanther and the Jagdtiger, however the Hetzer was cheaper to manufacture. More than 2500 were produced and many survived the war. This Hetzer comes to us courtesy of 21C Toys. I must admit that while it appears to be an accurate representation of the original, I have found it one of their least exciting models. It has almost no moving parts, the surface is lacking in detail and the paint finish is quite dull. And it also seems to be on the smaller side of the 1/32 scale.


BMC Jagdpanzer IV Sd Kfz 162
BMC Jagdpanzer IV Sd Kfz 162
The Jagdpanzer IV was a tank destroyer built on top of the Panzer IV chassis. It was produced from the end of  '43 through April of '45. It was a bit controversial when it was introduced because the Stug III was still an effective tank destroyer at the time and building Jagdpanzer IVs diverted important resources from the production of Panzer IV tanks. Production moved forward because Hitler liked how the Stug IIIs had performed during the Battle of Kursk earlier that summer, ignoring Guderain's advice in favor of a more tanks which he considered a more versatile weapon. The Jagdpanzer IV proved to be much less effective when used as tanks later in the war due to their lack of turrets, which meant that they had to rotate the entire vehicle to 'see' and fire. The Jagdpanzer IV carried a 75mm gun and its 80mm of sloping frontal armor was more effective than 100mm of vertical frontal armor, which is what the original specification called for. In addition to its main gun, it was also armed with an MG 42 on each side of the main gun. Later versions reverted to a single MG 42, apparently because there were not enough left handed men to operate the one on the left side. Over its 1.5 year production run, about 2000 units were produced which means that the Jagdpanzer IV saw action in most theaters of war. 

BMC Jagdpanzer IV - decorative stickers
BMC Jagdpanzer IV - decorative stickers
The BMC Jagdpanzer IV comes in two color variations. In addition to desert tan, you can also find it in forest green. I wonder why it was even issued in desert tan if Germany was out of North Africa by the time the Jagdpanzer came into production. I did not realize this at the time I bought it, so I plan on painting mine to give it a more realistic look. Independently of whether you paint it or not, you can also decorate it with some stickers that come with it. In terms of size/scale, it is smaller than typical FOV vehicles, but you can also acquire it at a much more affordable price point. 

Forces of Valor German Sturmgeschütz III Ausf B Sd Kfz 142- Eastern Front 1941
The StuG III was Germany's most popular armored fighting vehicle of the war. Its conceptualization and design began prior to the war, with the first prototypes coming online in 1937. Initially it was intended to be used as mobile artillery in support of infantry against fortifications and soft-skin targets so it was equipped with a low velocity 75mm gun mounted on top of the Panzer III chassis. The Ausf B model, was made from mid '40 to mid '41. The main modifications made to this model were that it came with slightly wider tracks and simplified transmission (from 10 to 6 gears). This model from FOV is a nice representation of the early Stug III when it was still used in an infantry support role during the early war campaigns. Contrary to most FOV vehicles, this one feels lighter, which suggests that more plastic than metal was used to make it.

21st Century Toys Sturmgeschütz III Sd Kfz 142
The StuG III's low profile made it easy to cammouflage and hard to hit. Despite the lack of a traversable turret, Stug III's were more effective at destroying enemy tanks than German tanks. This is also in part due to the defensive role in which it was used, as opposed to the tanks which were also used offensively making them more vulnerable to flanking fire. Beginning in march of '42 with Ausf. F the StuG III was equipped with a 75mm Pak gun, marking its transition to a tank destroyer. It's front armor was also upgraded from 50mm to 80mm. Towards the end of '42 a machine gun shield was also added and retrofitted to existing StuGs. This model from 21st Century Toys probably represents Ausf F. Despite being made entirely of plastic it is a nice model and at the time it was sold for a very good price.

Forces of Valor Stug III Sd Kfz 142 - Italy 1944
The Stug Ausf G was the last StuG variant. It was introduced in Dec '42 and it was produced until almost the end of the war. The most noticeable change, made shortly before the Kursk offensive, was the introduction of the side skirts for extra protection. By the end of the war, close to 9500 StuGs had been produced, with a little less than 8000 being Ausf G. This model was released by FOV. It was labeled as the Italy 1944 model, however its colors suggest that it might have also been in Africa, which is quite possible as the Afrika Korps fought there until mid 1943, half a year after Ausf G had been introduced. In Afrika however it would not have had the side skirts. Speaking of side skirts, look at the level of detail on that shell impact. This model was also released in a 'Battle of the Bulge' version.

Dinky Sd Kfz 251/22 Tank Destroyer
As far as I can tell this is the version of the Sd Kfz 251 that had the 75mm PAK 40 mounted on it. I say that because Dinky only labeled it as a tank destroyer. It is a bit underscale, maybe more like a 1:35 than 1:32 model. But it given its uniqueness, I don't really mind. Since it did not come with a crew of its own, I lend it a couple of FOV guys to operate it, although there's not much room left for them by the mounted gun. Similar to other Dinky artillery pieces, it comes with a spring mechanism that allows it to fire mini projectiles. All in all a nice item to add to the collection.

Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4
Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 - Part I
This is a pretty unique model, both in terms of the vehicle that it represents as well as its level of detail. The Sturmtiger's full official designation was Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61, which refers to its 380mm rocket launcher armament. The Sturmtiger gets its name from the fact that it was built on top of the Tiger I chassis and is unique because only 18 of them were built throughout the war. Albert Speer presented the initial prototype to the Fuhrer in October 1943, which is the scene that FOV is trying to depict with the two figures that come with the model. The Sturmtiger was built to address the need for heavy mobile mortar capabilities required for urban warfare, as was highlighted by the lessons of Stalingrad. 

Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4
Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 - Part II
This model is also special because it is part of the 'Engine Plus' series released after 
Waltersons acquired the FOV brand. This means that you can remove the top and see the inside, to reveal a very nicely detailed engine as well as the inside of the vehicle. As you can see, there is plenty of detail not just on the engine side on the back, but also in the front where you can appreciate the transmission, the driver's area, and then in the middle you can also see the ammunition storage racks, and most importantly the gun's breech mechanism, which also slides open and allows you to load a shell into it. 

Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4
Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 - Part III
Here's what the engine looks like at 'ground level'. The engine BTW can also be removed if your troops ever have the need to service it or you want to take a closer look at it. The Sturmtiger required/accommodated a crew of 5, including 2 loaders besides the driver, radio operator and commander who also served as the gunner. The official specs indicate that it could hold up to 14 shells, but the model only has room for 8.

Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4
Forces of Valor Sturmtiger - Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 - Part IV
The Sturmtiger was also equipped with a crane which can rotate tot he side in order to help load additional ammunition into it, and the top of the vehicle also had a couple hatches which could be removed/open to allow the huge shell through. The model also includes a few thin metal straps which can be placed around the shells and if  you are so inclined, you can run a string through the crane and tie it to the metal belts to simulate the whole process of loading a shell into the Sturmtiger. Speaking of the loading process, FOV released a second variation of the Sturmtiger in a cammo pattern. Besides the paint scheme the other difference is that the 2 figures in this set got replaced by a crew of 3 who are busy loading shells into the vehicle.

Click here to see a post about the dreaded 88s
Click here to see a post about the Pak 40

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Sherman Tanks

The M4 Sherman Tank was one of the most popular Allied Tanks during the war. Over 50,000 of them were produced and it saw action in all theaters of operation, from North Africa, to Europe, the Pacific and even the Eastern Front through the Lend Lease program. The Sherman is what is considered a medium tank, and it offered a good balance of speed, armor and gun power, while at the same time, being reliable and easy to service in the field. All this made it a popular tank and many variations of it were made. Its 75 mm or 76 mm gun was able to take on most light and medium enemy tanks, like the German Panzer III and IVs, and the light Japanese tanks were no match for it. But its gun and armor were at a disadvantage against the heavier German Tanks like the Panther, Tiger and King Tiger (Tiger II), however the US made up for this disadvantage with numbers as well as air and artillery superiority. The Sherman's high profile also made it vulnerable as it made it easier to spot, particularly when it was silhouetted against the morning or evening sky, which made some of its crew men refer to it as a traveling coffin, particularly when fighting against the heavier German tanks. The book 'Brothers in Arms', the story of the 761st Tank Battalion, describes frightfully well what it was like to be a Sherman tank man fighting in Europe, and how the German shells would sometimes go right through the Shermans' armor wreaking havoc inside. In any case, the contribution of the Sherman during the War was substantial and they deserve proper credit for it. Manufacturers of armored vehicle models have done their part to help this happen, as illustrated below. 

21st Century Toys Sherman Tank
21st Century Toys Sherman Tank - Part I
This is a plastic model with plenty of detail. It comes with a driver and a tank commander. The other figures around it are just guys that I added for the scene.

21st Century Toys Sherman Tank
21st Century Toys Sherman Tank - Part II
Notice the pieces of track welded to the front of the vehicle to give the driver extra protection against head-on shots.

BMC Sherman Tank
BMC Sherman Tank - Part I
If you are looking for a good deal on a Sherman Tank or you are considering getting a large fleet of them, this is the tank you are looking for. You can get it for about 5 dollars and if you take some time to paint it slightly, it can look really good.

BMC Sherman Tank
BMC Sherman Tank - Part II
It is also a bit taller than the other models out there, which seems to be more in line with reality.

New Ray Sherman Tank
New Ray Sherman Tank - Part I
This is a die cast model, so it has a nice heavier feel to it. The scale is a bit on the smaller side though, but still acceptable and for some reason I've often seen them on sale, which can make it an affordable addition to your army.

New Ray Sherman Tank
New Ray Sherman Tank - Part II
This one also has some tracks welded on to protect the driver. The stars and the motif on the side are actually stickers, which is not great as they might come off, but you just need to be a bit careful with them so that they remain glued.

InAir / New Ray EZ Build Sherman Tank
InAir / New Ray EZ Build Sherman Tank
Another all-plastic kit requiring some small amount of assembly. As with the other models in this line, the appearance is acceptable. The feel is a bit on the light side since it is all soft plastic and we've now become used to the FOV or 21C models. It was still a good find (ran into it at Amazon.com)

21st Century Toys Sherman Firefly
21st Century Toys Sherman Firefly - Part I
The Sherman Firefly was a British variation which contained a more powerful 17 pounder main gun capable of penetrating the armor of the heavier German tanks. Given that it is a British variant, I suppose I should have used British guys for this picture :-)

21st Century Toys Sherman Firefly
21st Century Toys Sherman Firefly - Part II
This model from 21C Toys is made of plastic, did not feature any figures with it and has a very light feeling to it, but its appearance is still fairly decent. The long gun gives it a more impressive look.

Forces of Valor U.K. Sherman Firefly - 7th Armored Division
Forces of Valor U.K. Sherman Firefly - 7th Armored Division
FOV must be in cost cutting mode because this is the first vehicle that I come across which is pretty much made out of plastic entirely. The level of detail is still very high. For instance, the armor surface is all nicely pockmarked, but for the prices that they command these days, it was a bit disappointing that it was all plastic. Good thing that I found it on sale...

21st Century Toys Sherman Bulldozer - Part I
21st Century Toys Sherman Bulldozer - Part I
Another nice variation of the Sherman vehicle by 21st Century Toys. Vehicles like this might have been used in the rocky island campaigns in the pacific like Iwo Jima to clear paths for the other Shermans behind them with flamethrowers, which was the only way to clear some of those caves from where the Japanese fought. 

21st Century Toys Sherman Bulldozer - Part I
21st Century Toys Sherman Bulldozer - Part II
A bulldozer like this might also come in handy in the hedgerow country in Normandy, to create gaps in the hedgerows for the tanks and infantry to move through, avoiding the pre-set fields of fire. There is also a hedgerow cutter variation of the Sherman from Forces of Valor which is even more in line with what was used in that theater of operation.

Forces of Valor Sherman Amphibious Tank - Okinawa - Part I
Forces of Valor Sherman Amphibious Tank - Okinawa - Part I
This is one of the newer FOV vehicles produced since the FOV brand was acquired by Waltersons. It represents a version of the Shermans released towards the end of the war in the Pacific Theater of Operations. This model is unique because it comes equipped with 'deep wading gear' that enables the air intake/exhaust to happen above the level of the turret. This allowed it to come ashore much more successfully than the Shermans that attempted to disembark at Normandy. This Sherman is also special because it comes armed with amore powerful -and longer- 105mm gun. 

Forces of Valor Sherman Amphibious Tank - Okinawa - Part II
Forces of Valor Sherman Amphibious Tank - Okinawa - Part II
Here's a better view of the 'breathing' ducts from behind. These ducts are also removable. This is not just a feature of the models, but it reflects how the actual vehicles worked in real life, as this equipment would have no further use after coming ashore. This tank is part of Waltersons' 'Engine Plus' series which means that the upper part of the tank is removable and you can appreciate the engine and inside of the tank. The engine is removable and you can place it on the metal frame next to the tank in case your mechanics need to perform maintenance on it :-)

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Introducing the Soviet Paratroops

The Soviet airborne forces, known as Vozdushno-desantnye voyska (VDV), were established in the early 1930s. They were created with the intention of using them for strategic deep-penetration, however during WWII, logistical challenges and the scale of the Eastern Front often forced them into ground roles. The structure of the airborne forces was adaptable, with units disbanding as needed to be used as the core of new formations. VDV troops were organized into corps (division sized) and brigades. By the end of 1941 there were 10 airborne corps, at the end of 1942, another 10 were established and by the fall of 1943, 6 more airborne divisions were added.

Their uniforms generally matched standard Red Army attire. Unlike German paratroopers, Soviet ones used standard infantry uniforms on the ground with a light blue field cap. Jump suits were issued when available along with standard infantry webbing and rucksacks. The ShL-41 padded helmet was used for jumps. This could be made from leather or canvas. Their weapons included Mosin-Nagant rifles, PPSh-41 submachine guns, and DP-28 light machine guns, light artillery, and mortars. 

VDV troopers were considered elite formations and were usually designated as Guards units. Despite being used mostly as regular infantry during the war, they were often employed in an offensive manner. This was befitting of their elite status, as they were highly motivated and well-trained and could create and exploit gaps in in crucial sectors of the front. In times of crisis, they could also be deployed in a defensive role, as was the case when they were sent to help at Stalingrad. There, they were involved in brutal urban combat and the subsequent counteroffensives. 

In terms of airborne operations, a couple stand out. The Vyazma Operation in January of 1942 aimed to encircle the retreating German forces of Army Group Center by deploying the 4th Airborne Corps behind them. Launched in severe winter conditions with limited supplies, the paratroopers faced fierce resistance and a lack of air support. This resulted in only a brigade from 4th corps being dropped, about 2100 men, and many were scattered far from their designated landing zones. Despite the initial shock and disruptions to the Germans, and follow up drops of another 1500 paratroopers in February, the VDV units were gradually encircled. Some paratroopers linked up with partisan groups and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Others managed to break through German lines and made their way back to Soviet forces. In the end, the operation failed to achieve its intended objective and resulted in very high casualties. 

The Dnieper Operation in September 1943 sought to secure bridgeheads on the Dnieper River to support the Red Army's advance. Poor planning and execution of the drops, along with robust German counterattacks by troops which found themselves fortuitously on the drop zone, resulted in significant losses, with many paratroopers landing off-target. Of the 6500 troopers which were supposed to be dropped, only 4500 did, and they were scattered over an area 20 times larger than the intended DZ. As was the case with the Vyazma operation, the paratroopers were either hunted down, joined the partisans, or fought their way back to friendly lines as they pressed on after crossing the Dnieper. Having failed in its main objective, the operation turned out to be mostly a nuisance, diverting German resources and creating confusion temporarily. 

Following this failure, the Soviet Army did not conduct any more airborne operations until August of 1945 when airborne forces were used to secure airfields and other key objectives during the invasion of Manchuria against the Japanese. Throughout the war the VDV troops distinguished themselves in combat, displaying exceptional bravery, even at the expense of high casualties. Their effectiveness as ground units, while born of necessity, highlighted the inherent quality and versatility of the VDV soldiers. Their experiences not only contributed to the overall effort to win the war, but they also helped shape the development of Soviet airborne doctrine and tactics in the postwar era.  

In terms of toy soldiers, this is a service branch that had been neglected by manufacturers until very recently. This year however (2025), I have come across a couple sets which have begun to represent these courageous men. Let's take a look.

Kozak Miniatures Soviet Paratroops
Kozak Miniatures Soviet Paratroops - Part I
These guys get extra points for being the first Soviet Airborne troops that were released, as far as I know. Plastic Platoon just released theirs and I've already placed my order for them as I write this post on March, 2025. The other good thing about these guys is that all of them (or 5 out of 6?) are in poses that can be used in a battle scenes. These guys are outfitted with jumpsuits, including the padded helmet used for jumping. I am not sure that they would have kept them on after the jump, but when it comes to toy soldiers, I think it gives them more character and it makes them more recognizable as airborne troops. In terms of weaponry, 4 of them have machine guns, and two of them are rifle men. Given that they are all on an airborne mission, I would have left out the rifles and issued them all automatic weapons. I am also not super excited about their upright postures, but that's been the case with all other Kozak sculpts, so I won't spend much time dwelling on that. 

Kozak Miniatures Soviet Paratroops
Kozak Miniatures Soviet Paratroops - Part II
These are the same 6 poses as the ones above, with the only difference being that they are wearing a field cap, instead of the padded jump helmet. This cap used to be sky blue in real life. Other than that, I also took the opportunity to position the kneeling man so that the first picture lets you see the rucksack which all of them are wearing, and the second picture lets you see the front of the man. I got these guys from Toy Soldier Central, and got them in 1/30 size so that they fit better with the upcoming Plastic Platoon figures. All figures come without bases, but you can ask for them and glue them yourself. I chose to leave the kneeling men without bases as that allows me to place them closer to obstacles or on uneven terrain where bases would make them stand at odd angles.