1:35 SS Sturemann - WWII

The real subject

Sturmmann was a lower enlisted rank in the SS rank system, which had names of its own different from the army ones. For a modeler this is the type of figure that does not command in a scene but works: carrying, waiting, holding a weapon or leaning on the side of a vehicle. Figures like these tend to be the most useful on a diorama, because they can be placed almost anywhere without drawing attention to themselves.

What the set contains

One figure in 1:35 scale, supplied for assembly and painting. At this scale an adult figure works out at about five centimeters tall, so it matches the usual kits of equipment. The number of parts, the pose and the form of the equipment are given on the box and in the manufacturer's instructions; before you place the figure in a scene, look over the illustration to see whether the pose matches what the figure is meant to be doing.

Building and painting tips

Start the assembly dry: put the figure together without glue and check how the arms and the head seat. Cut any excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the remainder back; fill and sand the seams at the shoulders, the waist and the neck so that they are not visible on the finished figure. Choose the glue according to the material, and on parts that are not polystyrene cyanoacrylate glue will hold. Before painting, wash the figure, degrease it and give it a coat of primer. Working from large areas to details saves time: first the uniform, then the equipment, and finally the face and the hands.

Who it is for

For diorama modelers who need to add a figure without a commanding gesture to a scene, and for collectors who paint figures separately on a base. One figure is also a sensible way to try out painting skin and cloth before you take on a whole group. Paints, glue and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.