Masterclub have a large range of WW1 German figures as well, some early war and some late as well as Austro Hungarian figures. you should be able to find something to go with your A7V

I found that ICM make a suitable set of German Infantry 1917 - 18, #35291. These were produced in 2009. I hope they are the same level of quality as their recent Hungarian Infantry. Any comments on this?

I have a set and set of their British Infantry. The #35291 are Storm Troops only and suitable more for the 1917-18 period. Their 98AZ and 98B Carbines are nicely detailed but have very fragile stacking hooks, care must be taken working with them. They also have no slings - I will have to cut some coffee filter ones and modify some WWII stick grenades. Line Infantry with Gewehr 98s would have been a bit more useful. with a little work and care you can make something nice out of them.

I suppose these figs (the German ones) can be upgraded with Dragon equipment like the Kar 98, entrenching tool, gas mask container, etc...anything that was also in use in 1914 - 18. Also Hornet WWl heads.

I guess you can use whatever heads you wish for variety, but the set already has accessories. Three are 3 sets of grenade bags,ammo bandoliers, e-tool carriers with shovels, bayonets, short rifles, carbines. Four sets of helmets, rolled assault packs, bread bags, canteens, messkits, gas mask bags, gas mask cans (use one type of each per figure). And one Luger, holster, e=tool, empty carrier. After looking at my set #35291 and consulting "The German Rifle" John Walter 1979, "German Storm Trooper 1914-1918" Osprey 1995 and "Mauser Bolt Rifles" Ludwig Olson 1976 I revise my earlier comments. Set #35291 has three Karabiner 98AZs which were in wide use by Stormtroopers not 98Bs (1923-1934). But the other three rifles are early Kar98ks (1930s) with steel not stamped butt plates. Karabiner 98s were withdrawn from service in 1902, and Karabiner 98As in 1908 because they didn't function well with the new S 8mm rounds. Most were converted to 5mm practice rifles. Olson states that some saw limited use in WWI but he does not specify which type. I would suggest that you save the 98ks (1934-45) for WWII modelling use. The A7V had a crew of about eighteen (it varied) including Infantry. I do not know if they were outfitted as stormtroopers but stormtroopers accompanying a tank is not out of the question. So use them as you see fit. They are not the "only game in town," but you can get them a lot cheaper. I got mine on special from Squadron.

Is there much visual difference between Kar 98AZ and Kar 98K in 1/35 scale? I realize the ICM figs will come with their own kit, but similar Dragon equipment is usually better quality.

At 1/35 with the naked eye the differences stand out at the muzzle and rear sight areas. The 98AZ has less barrel showing at the front end and a stacking hook, the 98K doesn't. The 98AZ has a small bayonet lug right under the front sight the 98Ks is noticeably set back. Maybe you could use some PE or very thin wire for the hook? The 98K also has more barrel showing behind the rear sight and no finger groove in the stock beneath it like the 98AZ. You could carve the groove into your 98K.

Well, I've ordered that German infantry set from my LHS. I'll see about using parts of the ICM Kar's with those of Dragon, because I know Dragons Gen ll will have much sharper moldings. Bit of a pain, but I only need 3 rifles.

Now for something completely different. I wonder how hard it would be to modify the German set to late war Turkish assault troops, say in Palestine? Simplify the collar, paint on tunic buttons, trim off the brim of the Stahlhelm and put a captured Russian Mosin-Nagant in his hands and voila! And there are 1/35 camels and other middle-eastern props available for a diorama.