Among the most elite German military units of WWII was the Waffen SS, and this is a topic that holds enduring fascination for model-makers. After the initial giddy German successes subsequent to the 1941 invasion of Russia, the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS both eventually ran out of steam at the very gates of Moscow. The SS had grown from a force of 141,975 fighting men in September 1942 to 280,000 soldiers a year later. This statistic illustrates the importance attached to the formation, and how resources for it were prioritized. New divisions with names like 'Nordland' and 'Wiking' were established, joining others like 'Totenkopf' and 'Das Reich'. Dragon's newest 1/35 scale figure set caters to this interest, for it features four elite infantrymen fighting on the Eastern Front in the 1941-43 time period.

The four German figures contained in the set are all distinctly dressed and armed. Their uniforms reflect the wide variety of gear that was worn in this mid-war period. One of them is fully equipped for winter combat as he's wearing a camouflaged snowsuit, while another has a typical camouflage smock. They also carry a range of weapons that fit this stage of the war, including an MG34 machine gun, MP40 machine pistol and Kar 98k rifle. The poses all possess a convincingly authentic look and they'll slot into a wide range of dioramas or vignettes with ease. For example, taking a swig from a water bottle or loading an ammo clip into a rifle were commonplace for soldiers, but such actions are rarely offered in 1/35 scale figures. These versatile plastic figures from Dragon will inspire diorama ideas in modelers' minds, and eventually bring their miniature scenes to life!