German Machine Gun Platoon.

 The MG 42 or Hitlers Buzzsaw was the mainstay of the German forces in WW2. The gun could fire an amazing 1200 rounds per minute (RPM), a much faster rate than contemporary machine guns. To overcome heating issues associated with this high rate of fire, the barrels were designed to be quickly replaced on a regular basis. The gun was used on a bi pod as a light machine gun and on a tripod as a medium machine gun. The weapon was reliable and used from 1942 to the end of the war. Some 750,000 were believed to be produced.

I am painting up a platoon of tripod mounted or Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs in FOW).


This blister has been sitting in my lead pile for an age. It is one of the "must have" units for any self respecting German commander. Time to get it out of the blister and onto the painting table.

It is code GE704 from Battle front. The blister contains 4 HMG teams and a commander. I am not painting the command team for the moment as i will likely use them as combat attachments to infantry platoons (zugs).

The sculps are excellent and mine were largely without flash. The gun itself comes fully assembled. Each stand comes with 3 crew. The loader and firer are standard. I have swoped out some of the  crew from my spares box for added variety. Assembly time was mere minutes. Here they are undercoated and with flesh painted.



Next uniforms and helmets painted and basing started.



And fully painted.