Halftrack 1/6th Scale

The table I use for outdoor set ups is about 4 x 6 feet, 40 inches high.

WWII German SdKfz 250 halftrack.

It's the early war version of the halftrack but they served until the end of the war.

I got the halftrack 20 years ago, and I don't remember who made it.

The kubelwagen is from Dragon, and its very well detailed.

The wheels roll, windshield folds up and down.

The Dragon figures come with a little plastic base that is removable to help the figures stand up.

The troops fit well inside, you can see the steering wheel.

It's a good halftrack.

The window flaps fold open and closed.
 

Mine and Panzerfaust by Dragon

A mixture of weapons, including an anti-tank mine, a panzerfaust.

War dog in the distance.

Anti-tank mines could be used in an active defense role.  The soldier would hide in a trench and then run out and close assault a tank pulling the pin on the mine, and tossing it under the turret overhang, or on top of the treads.

The mine could explode and blow off the turret, or at least break the treads and immobilize the tank.

Very dangerous, but not uncommon tactic.

Panzerfaust was a one shot launcher that shot a large charge a short distance to blow a hole in just about any tank.

Both weapons required bravery and skill.

The mix of uniforms was common in late war Germany.

After years of war and many uniform changes the soldiers often did not look very uniform.
 

Kubelwagen and Troops

WWII German figure in 1/6th scale by Dragon Models.

My German collection is similar to my American WWII collection but smaller.  It represents a scratch platoon.

When in retreat, field police would set up road blocks and stop all the retreating German troops.  They would form them into ad hoc platoons, provide them with an officer or NCO and form them into a defensive position.

In this way German soldiers could be stopped from retreating and form a position to slow the enemy.

This is a Volkssturm soldier.  A locally raised militia, under the SS, who was responsible for defending his home territory, equivalent to a county in the US.

All sorts of troops might be used to form a local defense unit and so I have an eclectic mix of troops.

Volkssturm soldiers ranged from excellent to terrible, and had equipment ranging from none to fully equipped. 

Here is an under-strength squad ready for combat.

 German kubelwagen Jeep type vehicle for transportation.

WWII German Dragon Figures

Every since the first GI Joe figures I have collected 12 inch action figures.

The vast majority of GI Joes were Americans, as are the most of my collection of 1/6th scale figures.

But I do have a few figures by Dragon and a couple other companies that are WWII Germans.

Unlike GI Joe who as intended for boys, the Dragon Models figures are intended for men.

As such their level of detail is very high, and they have a large number of accessories.

I like the variety of weapons they have.  Here is an MP44 late war assault rifle.

This guy is based on Steiner from the movie Cross of Iron.  He has an anti-tank mine.

On his back is a Soviet Union PPSh submachine gun.  All my WWII German figures are Army, Navy, or SS, with a couple pilot figures.  I don't paratroopers in 1/6th scale.  My intention is that they work as opponents to my WWII US Army troops who are organized as a regular infantry platoon in the European Theater of Operations.  So that's about 40 infantry, plus the supporting elements they might reasonably have attached in direct support.  One 60mm mortar, two light tanks, a couple Jeeps, and some light and heavy machine guns.  
 

German War Hero

Caesar Miniature WWII German soldier in 1/72nd scale.

Months ago I took a large number of WWII German vehicles, troops, and guns and terrain outside to take photos of them. 

My patio is gravel and the rocks are rather large for gravel.

This guy apparently fell off the table and disappeared into the gravel.

This is not intentional weathering, the dirt and scruffiness is natural.  I suspect he may have been stepped on at least once and ground into the gravel.

However, he is now listed as returned to duty after having been listed as Missing In Action for months.

He will be cleaned up and probably a little bit of the scruffed plastic cut off.
 

Iron Cross

The Dragon Steiner figure has a highly detailed PPSh submachine gun.  It opens so you can clean it after firing.

I like that Dragon figures hands are made to really hold their weapons well.

The wide variety of patches, and awards is well done, I think.

I have over a dozen WWII German 12 inch soldiers.  Versus about 100 US Army and Navy figures.

I like 1/6th scale figures because of the detail on the figures.

And I like that you can change the pose or alter their equipment.  Same reason I like ring hand figures in 60mm.  Here he is with a helmet rather than the cap.  Cap looks better I think his hair is a little fluffy for the helmet.  I could remove the helmet liner and then it might fit better, but not today.

Here he has a panzerfaust.  Not included in the original set, but available separately, or with other figures.  Recently Fidelis Models opened an ebay store and they were selling off a stash of Dragon 1/6th figures, including a Steiner.  He only had a few so they may even be gone by now, but it might be worth a look if you are interested.  This one is in my collection and is not for sale.

Dragon Models Steiner

Besides GI Joe I also collect several other brands of 1/6th scale figures.

This one is Steiner, from Dragon Models.

He is a WWII German soldier on the Eastern Front in 1943, in Crimea.  

He came well equipped with a Soviet PPSh submachine gun, two magazines, and a stick grenade.

He wears a field cap, and unlike GI Joe, many of the Dragon figures have individual faces.

The tank destruction badge is awarded for the destruction of one tank, he has killed three in close combat.  He has a wide array of other awards.

He carried gas mask canister, map pouch, water bottle and cup, and bread bag, and mess kit.

Much of this would be left behind on patrol, too noisy.  The figure looks a lot like a character from a movie about the Eastern Front.  This figure is long out of production and can be hard to find in good shape.