QUOTE: Originally posted by JagPanzerIV
Hello,
I need some help in trying to make Polish infantryman in 1/35 from the 1939 war. What figures could I use in plastic to make them? I am thinking early war Russians?
Thanks for the help!
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For AM stuff Ultracast has both Polish style helmets and French Adrian helmets (polish Calvary - minus the badge). Polish armored troops basically wore a French uniform. I highly recommend Ultracast as the stuff is very good.
Warriors makes a set of four mounted Polish troops, but if you wish to model anything else then you will probably have to convert figures.
Now the following information is based on "Armed Forces of World War II" and is a basic paraphrase of the text and illustration.
The Polish 1935 pattern uniform was khaki in colour and they wore long pocketless trousers and ankle boots. They wore a four pocket Jacket (no pleats with about 6 plain buttons) Plain cut cuffs with a single button. Dark blue collar patches for infantry and insignia on shoulder boards. Webbing including gas mask, canteen, magazine pouches etc was of german origin, but cheaper and the leather was brown. Standard issue rifle was a Polish produced version of the Mauser 98K. Officers usually wore the czapka. Calvary wore breaches and riding boots.
My recommendation would be to convert some late war german figures or even simpler skip the infantry and stick to the calvary and again use german figures, but modify the pleats on the pockets.
Osprey have a book on the Polish army in WWII for more detailed information.
You would think that the AM would offer a greater variety of figures than the mainstream in terms of nationalities, but not so. I could only find one 1940 French infantryman from Lincoln line for a diorama that I'm planning, the others will have to be scratchbuilt.
Goodluck.