The latest Bolt Action plastic infantry from Warlord Games has arrived! The new German Veteran Infantry Platoon is part of the Armies of Germany: Third Edition launch, adding an impressive new kit to the existing range. Let’s take a closer look!

Warlord Games German Veteran Infantry

These soldiers are designed to represent “the savage battles of the Eastern Front and the bitter city-fighting over the ruins of Stalingrad turned raw German recruits into hardened veterans in mere weeks.” Packed with specialist gear and close assault weapons, the kit does a good job of bringing these frontline soldiers to the table. In the box are five infantry sprues and five base sprues (including the heads).

Each of the five infantry sprues contains:

• 6 bodies:
  • 4 standing
  • 2 kneeling
• 18 weapons with arms/hands attached:
  • 7 rifles (Kar 98k)
  • 2 LMG/MMGs (MG 34)
  • 5 SMGs (3 MP 40s, 1 MP-38, 1 PPSh-4)
  • 2 AT Rifles
  • 1 Flamethrower
  • 1 pistol
• 18 weapons with no arms/hands attached:
  • 1 MP 40 SMG
  • 1 Kar 98k Rifle
• 1 section of broken wall (for basing)
• Various entrenching tools, ammo pouches, bedrolls, canteens, grenades, etc.

Each of the five base sprues contains:

• 13 heads
  • 8 with helmets
  • 3 un-helmeted
  • 1 with side cap
  • 1 with officer cap
• 4 SMG ammo pouches
• 3 gas cape bags
• 1 empty helmet
• 6 25mm circle bases
• 3 60mm circle bases are also included in the box

The Models

There are six different poses for the bodies – two running, two standing, two kneeling. All six are in Wehrmacht battle dress including the Early-War boots. Here are the six bodies included on the sprue on bases (I use “GW-style” lipped bases for my Bolt Action minis):

Next, let’s add some weapons. I mixed in various small arms from the same sprue to equip the original six bodies. There are more than enough weapons on each sprue, allowing you to arm your troops however you see fit. You’ll find enough SMGs to equip every model with an assault weapon if you’d like. For my squad, I went with three Rifles, two SMGs, and one LMG. For all six of models, I used the weapons with the hand/arms already attached.

Finally, let’s add some heads. With 13 heads per sprue, there’s no shortage of options. The helmets offer a great variety, including ones with webbing, covers, and bare metal. I also included both caps for added variation.

Final step – gear. The kit includes various entrenching tools, ammo pouches, bedrolls, canteens, and grenades to add to your soldiers. You’ll need to experiment a bit to find which items fit snugly to the different bodies, ensuring there are no gaps where possible. It’s worth pointing out that, unlike previous German plastic kits, both the gas cape bags (worn on the chest) and the rifle ammo belt pouches are separate pieces, rather than being molded onto the bodies. The models still look fantastic without these extra details, and having the option to leave them off is great for those who aren’t fans of the look or prefer not to spend time painting additional details.

And there they are! Six German Veterans, ready for combat on the Eastern Front. However, no force should head to the frontlines without proper heavy weapon support. With the second sprue, I wanted to explore the options for Weapons Teams. A German force cannot go without an MMG Team, and the ATR is iconic for these Mid-War engagements. Lastly, how could I pass up the opportunity to build the first-ever plastic flamethrower? I made full use of the scenic brick wall elements from the MMG team base and am quite pleased with the result. It really enhances the urban combat theme that this platoon is designed for.

Heavy Weapons Arms Race – I’m excited to see the inclusion of flamethrowers, AT rifles, and multiple MGs in this kit. With the Third Edition Platoon options, players are looking for ways to build out Heavy Weapons Platoons using plastic kits, and now it’s easier than ever. But Warlord isn’t alone in this effort. Victrix is entering the WWII market with a German Infantry & Heavy Weapons kit, and Wargames Atlantic is expanding their range with a WWI German HMG team. Victrix is offering MGs on tripods, Medium Mortars, and Panzerschrecks. While the Wargames Atlantic kit is designed for WWI, much of it could be used for Bolt Action — and it’s all in plastic. Could the days of metal Mortar and MG teams be numbered?

Scale

One common question that arises when a new kit is released is, “How do they scale with the existing range?” I’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll see two of the new Veterans lined up next to a model from the rest of the German plastic range (excluding the DAK). You’ll notice a slight increase in scale compared to the Blitzkrieg and Grenadier models, with an almost perfect match to the SS. This isn’t surprising, as the newer Warlord Games plastics have a more Heroic 28mm style compared to their earlier releases.

Now, let’s see how they compare when lined up with Warlord Games metals and models from other companies. The plastic German Veteran fits comfortably with Copplestone, Artizan, Warlord, and Empress metals, and it matches well with the current Warlord US GI plastics. Although it’s hard to tell from the photo, the Veteran is slightly bulkier than both the Warlord and Empress models.

The Takeaway

This box is fantastic. The models are crisp and full of character, offering plenty of options for additional customization. The decision to make the gas mask capes and rifle ammo pouches separate pieces was inspired, although they can be a bit fiddly. The production quality of Warlord Games’ plastics continues to improve, and the old Blitzkrieg Germans really show their age when compared to these Veterans. That said, the mold lines are still a hassle to clean. There’s one particularly annoying line that runs from the tip of the boot all the way up to the shoulder. A sharp hobby blade is essential when cleaning the bits.

It’s also worth noting that Warlord Games highlighted the Support Team Weapon options in this kit. With just this box, you can create AT Rifle Teams, MMG Teams, and Flamethrower Teams. The inclusion of three 60mm circle bases is a great touch for those (like myself) who prefer to base their Weapons Teams on a single base. With the new Platoon structure, you can use this box to build a Rifle Platoon, a Heavy Weapons Platoon, and an Engineer Platoon! Not bad for one box of 30 infantry.

Thank you to Warlord Games for providing the German Veteran Infantry featured in this article.

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More Armies of Germany: Third Edition coverage:

• Armies of Germany: Third Edition Review
• Chicago Dice Sample Armies – Occupation of France
• Chicago Dice Sample Armies – Gebirgsjäger
• Armies of Germany – Unit Analysis & Hot Takes