German Infantry, 1916–1918
Revell 1:72 Scale Figure Review
Universal soldiers: The miniatures pictured here are Bulgarian infantry in the Balkan campaign of 1941, or Hungarian infantry in the Russian campaign of the same year. Conversion is not required, the figures need only be painted in khaki uniforms.
Timeless Design
The German steel helmet design was based on a similar helmet worn in the middle ages, which covered much of the wearer’s face and neck and offered excellent protection. The front of the M.1916 steel helmet could be fitted with an additional plate of armour which rested on metal pegs on either side of the helmet and was secured with a leather strap around the back. The armour plating was impratical in the field, but it was used by sentries during in the many months of protracted trench warfare. The basic helmet design was changed very little when the M.1935 version was issued, and it became a symbol of oppression in the years until 1945.
The German Bundeswehr did not adopt the politically incorrect helmet after World War II, opting for a version based on the American M1 helmet instead. However, in 1982, the US Army re-discovered its practical shape and issued a very similar helmet design which is now popularly know as Fritz helmet. Experience from the Grenada invasion showed that the new design and the Kevlar material does offer much better protection than earlier models of steel helmets. The Fritz helmet is now seen in the French army, in the Franco-German brigade and it is worn by German UN forces.
Contents
48 Figures in 13 Poses – 23 mm equal 166 cm Height
- Officer with Pistol 08 (2)
- Sentry in Body Armour, with Rifle 98, standing (3)
- Grenadier, throwing Stick Grenade 15 (6)
- Heavy Machine Gun Team
- Machine Gun Commander with Binoculars, kneeling (2)
- Machine Gunner Nr. 2, kneeling (2)
- Machine Gunner Nr. 3 with Ammunition, kneeling (2)
- MG 08 heavy Machine Gun (2)
- Schlittenlafette 08 Sled Mount (2)
- Machine Gun Emplacement (2)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98, in Feldmütze Field Cap, marching (4)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98 and Bayonet, advancing (6)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98 and Stick Grenade 15, running (5)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98, standing, firing (6)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98, kneeling, firing (6)
- Infantryman with Rifle 98, prone, firing (4)
- Medical Rescue Dog (2)
Evaluation
Nicely detailed figures. Folds in the uniform, steel helmets, Tornister, blanket rolls, Kochgeschirr mess tins, canteen, haversacks, puttees, entrenching tools, stick grenades, pouches and weapons are well sculpted and easy to paint. The figures are correctly proportioned, they are slightly taller than the French infantry from the same manufacturer and their heads and helmets are noticeably larger.
Very useful poses, these figures are nearly perfect. The chosen standard poses are very natural in appearance, they seem almost tame compared to some of the excessively heroic figure types we have seen elsewhere. Interestingly, when they are displayed in large groups, these figures appear to be more variably posed than they actually are. They make excellent diorama or wargaming figures.
Good casting quality, very little flash.
Soldiers in M.1916 steel helmets are not different enough from the German soldiers of World War II to make this set a success in the market. Revell has missed a historic opportunity, they might have chosen the Pickelhaube spiked helmet as the most stereotypical piece of German equipment in the Great War. However, the figures in steel helmets are more versatile, they cover the entire German infantry after 1916, allowing the gamer and collector to ignore the confusing variety of headdress of the early war years.
Painting Guide
- Revell 361.09 »Anthracite Grey«: Boots, Waistbelt, Cartridge Pouches
- Revell 361.16 »Sand«: Canteen Cover, Haversack
- Revell 361.35 »Flesh«: Faces, Hands
- Revell 361.36 »Carmine Red«: Field Cap Band, Piping
- Revell 361.46 »NATO Olive«: Steel Helmet, Mess Tin, Puttees
- Revell 361.67 »Green Grey«: Field Blouse, Trousers
- Revell 361.89 »Beige«: Blanket Roll, Bandolier
- Revell 361.91 »Iron«: Rifle Barrel, Sidearm 84/98
- Revell 36.381 »Brown«: Shoes, Rifle, Rifle Strap, Entrenching Tool
In the field, the conspicuous Feldmützenband field cap band was hidden underneath a reed green field cap band. To save fur, the Tornister M1915 was made of reed green canvas, instead. The Zeltbahn M1892 shelter half, Brotbeutel M1893 bread bag, and the cover of the Feldflasche M1915 water bottle were issued in reed green from 1915 onwards.
Revell amended their painting guide over the course of several re-releases, and they now recommend blue grey trousers, which should actually be stone grey to match those introduced in August 1914, and anthracite or brown jackboots, when the figures are actually wearing puttees:
The Bavarian army continued to wear the original field grey trousers.
Historical Employment
- German Infantry 1916–1918
- Bulgarian Infantry 1941
- Hungarian Infantry 1941
- Anti-Tank dogs of the Soviet Army, 1942
These Revell figures set a high standard in figure design and sculpting detail. The soldiers are correctly proportioned, naturally posed and properly equipped. The figures are very compatible with each other and a useful figure mix has been chosen. These soldiers look really spectacular when they are painted and displayed in large groups; they form a cohesive unit and not one of the poses disturbes the overall effect. We would like to see more figures sets of this quality, WWI British infantry and Highlanders perhaps.