It’s almost time for a new edition of Bolt Action to hit the shelves of wargamers and stores all over the world – and it won’t be alone! Launching alongside Bolt Action: Third Edition are two brand-new plastic infantry sprues, initially available in the Battle of the Bulge starter set, as well as exclusive limited-time pre-order bundles. Lets look at the awesome new Winter Fallschirmjäger in a little more detail!
Fully equipped for the wintry climes of the Ardennes, these elite German airborne troops are the perfect foil for their American counterparts, or for defending the ever-shrinking Eastern front against the Soviet onslaught – or dozens of other engagements, so long as the weather outside is frightful! Clad in their thick winter uniforms and armed to the teeth, these paratroopers mean business – let’s look at what comes on the sprue!
We’ll start with the bodies – six of them as usual, in a range of dynamic poses – clad in their unique winter uniforms. These reversible, quilted garments came in a variety of patterns, usually white or ‘mouse grey’ on one side, and a camouflage pattern on the other, and would be worn either as oversuits or underneath the blue Luftwaffe field uniform. The bodies are designed in such a way that it’s easy to paint them as a huge variety of clothing, giving you the opportunity to flex your painting muscles and have a force that’s truly unique to you!
Head options abound, all suitably bundled up for the weather with plenty of ‘ushanka’-style fur hats and soft caps, as well as a very chilly officer. For those opting rather sensibly for a bit more protection from bullets, the iconic Fallschirmjäger brimless ‘jump helmet’ is the order of the day, with a mixture of uncovered (these would often be whitewashed for concealment in winter) and camouflaged types – it’s always good to wear appropriate PPE on the job, and a Bolt Action battlefield definitely constitutes a ‘hostile working environment’!
On to the weapons – and there are many! The stalwart Kar 98K is of course well represented, as is the ubiquitous Panzerfaust (in several variants!), and the legendary MG 42 provides plenty of fire support, but let’s be honest – you’re here for the weird and wonderful stuff, right? Well, so are we, and so is this sprue! By the latter stages of the war, the Fallschirmjäger were making use of a staggering variety of equipment, from captured Soviet and British submachine guns (one of each per sprue), to the STG 44 assault rifle iconic of late-war Germany (loads of those!), but they are perhaps best known for their use of the Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 automatic rifle. This innovative weapon was designed specifically for the Fallschirmjäger and would become their trademark towards the end of the war – so absolutely the sprue is packed with them, including one with the ZF 4 telescopic sight – perfect for a sniper team with a uniquely Fallschirmjäger flavour!
This is by no means all you get on the sprue, either! A huge spread of pouches and packs enable you to kit out your troops for a long fight, while the extra arms (including one brandishing an entrenching tool with malicious intent!) mean you can build officers, spotters, and more, making this box your go-to for all things Fallschirmjäger! Available in the Battle of the Bulge starter set, as well as a selected range of limited-time pre-order bundles, there’s still time to start a winter Fallschirmjäger force, or add these hard-bitten paratroopers to your existing German collection!
Battle of the Bulge
2 comments
Why do you always paint FJG blue ??
Their light blue luftwaffe jacket and trousers were worn under combat-/jump-clothing and not visible unless the outer clothes is taken off.
You cant possibly put jump pants and jacket under the blue luftwaffe uniform.
The Fallschirm jager gewehr 42 was maybe the rarest weapon in WW2 so putting an abundance on the sprues should suffice.
regards
Peter
I see only 2 FG42 in the sprue. One with binocular, one with arms.