introduction

One of the latest releases of Evolution Miniatures is another good addition to World War II German SS Soldiers in Winter uniform series. EM-35062 SS Grenadiers LAH Set-5 includes 3 figures depicting a fully equipped SS MG42 machine gun team in standing poses from the Battle of Kharkov,1943.

box

The kit comes well packed in standard yellowbrown cardboard box of the company. Each figure is seperately inserted into different small plastic zip-lock bags. Inside each bag, there is another small bag including the small parts like arms, rifles and personal equipment of the figure. Parts are represented with the casting blocks and junction parts are well placed to seperate the parts with no damage from the block.
The front part of the box shows a photo of the assembled figures painted by Maxim Veretelnikov and can serve as a basic painting guide but as World War II German winter uniforms show different variations, the painter can change the color choices on the boxart.

parts

The figures are sculpted by Sergey Traviansky and comes in grey color resin parts. Details are very crisp and clean, the sculpting quality is evident at first look. Casting is almost prefect with no problems or seamlines. Figures will not need a serious cleanwork as rescued from the casting blocks.

All of the figures has the same winter clothing commonly worn by the soldiers of SS units rather than Wehrmacht. They wear mousegray color, sheepskin lined, large hooded M40 pullover parka also known as Kharkov Parka because it was the typical SS overall worn in the Battle of Kharkov in Winter 1943. Due to the very high cost in material and time, the parka were never enough to go around in history, and various types of the fur lining were used on this garment. It has four front buttons, two pleated chest pockets with scalloped flaps,two lower pockets with flap covers and side slots on both sides for ease movement. The outer side of the parka was made of heavy Zeltbahn style cotton poplin in the typical field-grey shade and lined with sheepskin. The sleeves were padded with woolen material and the hood lined with the sheepskin as well. They have field-grey/white reversible overtrousers and felt lined leather winter boots. Cloth folds on parka and trousers, sheepskin and felt textures,details like buttons and pockets of all figures are well represented.

FIGURE #1 MACHINE GUNNER
Posed standing and looking on the left side, the figure comes in 3 body parts and 9 accessories.

Body with head and legs ; Facial details are well defined and he wears a a feldgrau woolen tube-shaped balaclava under his helmet to provide extra protection from the cold for his ears and neck. A 7.92 mm ammo link is cast on the neck of the figure. He carries a Bread bag-Brotbeutel on the right hip and a MG42 Tool kit on the front right attached to his belt.

Left arm : Posed to carry an ammo box, he wears woolen gloves on his hand. Cloth folds, cuff and woolen texture are well defined.

Right arm : Posed to grap the stock of machine gun, it shows nice folds.

M1931 mess kit-Kochgeschirr : It will be attached on the left side of the breadbag.

M1931 canteen-Feldflasche in canvas cover : It will be attached on the right side of breadbag.

Drum magazine for MG42.

Holster for Parabellum 1908 Luger used as sidearm for machine gunners.

Binoculars : It will be attached to the straps on the chest. It looks like a Carl Zeiss – Silvarem 6×30 model German binoculars.

Machine Gun : He carries a MG42 machine gun. Right hand grabbing the stock is cast on this part.

Bipod for MG42.

M41 Patronenkasten- Ammo Case : These ammo cases were originally developed for use with the MG34, and held up to three hundred rounds of the 7.92mm ammunition. The early cases were constructed of aluminum and later manufactured cases were constructed of steel. The case features a fold back hinged top lid with slightly diagonally angled side panels. The top lid has a brazed and rivetted on steel, pressure locking clip with swivel opening handle to one end and the brazed and rivetted hinge to the other end. The top center of the lid has a rectangular depression with an offset brazed and rivetted swivel carrying handle. The top carrying handle is offset to one side to allow two cases to be carried together in one hand. Each end of the case has a brazed and rivetted rectangular, swivel carrying handle. Note that handle should be scracthed to add the case to the left hand.

Helmet : He wears a M1942 Stahlhelm-Steel helmet.

FIGURE #2 TRIPOD CARRIER
Posed standing and looking on the left side, the figure comes in 3 body parts and 8 accessories. Facial details and hair are well represented. His balaclava is cast lowered covering his neck. He carries a MG42 ammo link on his neck under the hood of his parka. Attached to his utility belt, he has triple leather ammo pouches named Patronentashe on both sides and a breadbag on the right hip. Buckle of the belt, harness of tripod and straps of shovel and bayonet are well defined. Personal gear parts are easy to assembly on Evolution figures as Sergey makes marks where to put them when sculpting and it makes the job easier for modeler.

Arms : Right and left arm are posed to put his hands on his rifle hang in front of his chest. They show nice cloth folds and pins makes assembly easier.

Rifle : He carries standard infantry rifle of German Army in World War II - Kar98. It shows nice details and both hands with woolen gloves are cast on the rifle. Lined woolen texture is well defined.

Mess kit

Canteen : They will be glued in typical configuration. Mess kit to left side, canteen to right side of breadbag.

E-tool and bayonet : Bayonet and frog in scabbard named Seiteengewehr and Scheide attached to the flat shovel in leather case named Spaten und Tasche is given as a single part and will be atteched to the straps on the left back.

Helmet : It will be attached to the rifle with a scratch strap on the chest of figure. It shows nice interior details.

Lafette Ground Tripod : It comes in 3 pieces and needs some info for assembly. Reference photo can help you on that.

FIGURE #3 AMMO LOADER/CARRIER
Posed standing and head slightly turned on the right side, the figure comes in 2 body parts and 8 accessories. Facial details are well defined. He wears a M40 SS Feldmütze - enlisted men fold-up cap of German units. Large hood of the parka is pulled over the cap. Insignia of the cap is sculpted in nice details. Enlisted men leather belt and Y-straps are cast on the figure. He carries triple Kar98 ammo pouches on both sides and entrenching tool inserted under the belt buckle in front side, breadbag and an empty shovel case on back. Personal gear are sculpted in crisp details including spare barrel box and gasmask case straps. Left arm of the figure is cast on this part as left hand inside the pocket of parka.

Right arm : Posed to carry a wooden stick on his right shoulder. Cloth folds and woolen glove texture are well represented.

Canteen

Mess kit

M41 Ammo case with open handle : It will be hung to the wooden stick.

Gaskmase case-Tragbusche fur Gasmaske : Metal can to carry the gaskmask. It will be attached on the backside where the straps meet.

MG42 Spare barrel box : To be attached on the backside of figure. It is a cylindrical, magnetic sheet metal box. The carrier has a staggered hinge with an internal retaining rod to the reverse and a rivetted and brazed on swivel, hinged, locking clip to the center of the obverse. The obverse opening has staggered, overlapping, scalloped edges. Each end of the carrier has a small brazed on metal loop for securing a carrying strap.

Kar98 rifle : It will be hung in front of the figure with a scratch strap.

Steel helmet

Wooden stick

conclusion

This is a very nice kit sculpted and cast in high quality. It can be displayed alone as a MG 42 team or can make nice scenes when used together with the other German SS figures in winter clothing of Evolution Miniatures.
Highly Recommended