Bolt Action Fallschirmjager German Starter Army - Unboxing and review

[@markgrehan3726]

These unboxings are so good you get to see the models, a bit of cool history, and a chuckle. 10/10 guys.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Really nice of you to say so mate, thank you.

[@Kevin.Mitchell]

Another cracking unboxing chaps, always very enjoyable for the detailed look and history snippets, and of course the silliness - thanks! I have an unpainted fallschirmjaeger force sat behind behind me - that and a Soviet one are my last late war projects. Well, for the European theatre at least. I'll get round to them eventually I'm sure!

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

There is always more to do!

[@duncansBoB]

One of my 5! Looking forward to this...

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

You have 5 unpainted armies?

[@duncansBoB]

@@ModellingforAdvantage if you're just talking Bolt Action...

[@thehistorian1232]

Great review! I build 35 and 48 scale display models but you guys have earned another subscriber. Speaking of jump smocks, I believe the thinking at the time was to prevent uniform bits and pieces of kit being snagged or getting ripped and dirty on landing. The Germans used some pretty elaborate combat uniforms, so something like that was considered necessary. Of course, later on, like the jump boots, special helmet, soft gas mask carrier, etc, the jump smock became a status symbol for our “falling hunters” ETA: the FG42 was, like many German weapons, overengineered to the point of bizarreness. It fired from a closed bolt in single-shot, and open bolt in full-automatic, something no other nation of the war seemed to use or need.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Interesting, thanks.

[@fogh]

Nice review. I’ve found the arms very useful on the Fallschirmjager sprue for all sorts of conversions. A nice plain sleeve 👍.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Ah interesting

[@e-4airman124]

you always teach me things i did not know thank you and thanks for supporting Fog of War he does some great reveiws

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Great fans of Harry's work.

[@abuseofmainstreammediacanh5713]

Some maybe useful information about the "Knochensack" (bonebag) jumpsuit. As much as I know, German Luftwaffe was worried that buttons, pockets, flaps and the like of regular uniforms might get entangled in the lines of the not very elaborate chute. So, they basically designed a plain "bag" to cover the troopers torso.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Very interesting - got to say, to an Englishman "Knochensack" sounds a bit dodgy!

[@head_rat]

Superb looking model set and a great laugh at the end. Perfect entertainment, cheers fellas!

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Thanks, we got a bit silly making this one.

[@paulparker8143]

Loved the outtakes at the end gentlemen 😂

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

We had a real laugh making this one

[@paulparker8143]

@@ModellingforAdvantage brilliant belly laughs 👍

[@basicminiaturepainting]

Really enjoyed this unboxing guys,ideal starter set

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Glad you liked it mate, thanks for watching.

[@TheEccentricMan]

One of the better starter armies. Enjoyed the unboxing.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Much appreciated, thank you.

[@MajorSvenGaming]

These videos are fantastic...

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

That is very kind of you to say so.

[@CaptainVandus]

Thanks for another great unboxing! I was thinking getting into them as I picked up a 30 man pack to go against some US airborne. About them dropping with mostly only pistols; The Fallschirmjager couldn't drop with their rifles and heavy weapons due to the poor design of their parachutes. They used single risers affixed to the back of their gear. This meant that they could not steer their chutes and the load bearing of them was less than that of US and British chutes. Due to the design of the German chutes based off an Italian design I believe, in order to properly land the paratroopers had to roll upon landing. Hence the knee pads and thick gloves to lessen the impact of the landing. Having a large weapon like a rifle or lmg attached to the trooper hindered the ability to properly roll. However this was still impractical and caused many injuries of varying degrees. It is strange that they didn't adopt the other chute designs as they were much better in basically every regard, and it is not like they didn't have access to better chutes as the Luftwaffe had a better one. Crazy!

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Ah makes sense. Possibly they A: planned to never do a large drop again, and B: had already ordered a massive amount of this type they turned out not to need...

[@teamcluelessgames407]

Great to see the contents of this box set I was looking at picking it up after Xmas. Would it be one you are going to stock.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

We don't have a GW store sadly - you need a physical shop rather than just online I believe. However, sounds like Curly Mike has a lot he is looking to sell on.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Dammit, I thought this was comments on the other 40k customer video

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Yeah, we can get this one for you.

[@teamcluelessgames407]

@@ModellingforAdvantage great I will message you though your website when I'm after it.

[@Commander2012Games]

Nice video as always. Could you explain your opinion on flamethrowers? Too strong? Not strong enough? Maybe this was covered on a different video but I haven’t seen it. Thanks

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

We have said it many times, for various reasons... essentially they are too good for the points making this highly niche weapon an auto include in almost every army. Armies that can squeeze multiples into them are extra cheeseball...

[@daveb3589]

Regarding the Pak 40 crew carrying weapons, from my experience as a gun pig if they were long range artillery then they would probably have them off to one side because they would be in a defended position far away from the enemy but in a AT role they would be in sight of the enemy so they would definitely be ready to defend the gun position if needed

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Oh for sure - I just don't imagine keeping it on your back is better than leaning it against an ammo crate or similar 3 feet away.

[@daveb3589]

The video was brilliant by the way lol I'm about to start in bolt action after moving away from 40k and I've been struggling on picking between these or the grenadiers. This video was a great insight thanks

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

@@daveb3589 why thank you

[@edwardspaidejr.9128]

As a Gebirgsjager reenactor, we used to say fallschirmjager means " bird sh*t falls from sky" 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Hahaha, love it.

[@rodento3220]

"falling hunters" hmm I kind like it. Could the Pak 40 have fit in a glider and be towed by a kettenkrad? I mean not fast but a heck of lot better than trying to drag that bloody thing across Crete...

[@howardeverton2847]

When do we get a review video hosted by Mrs Kaiser and Rosie Raccoon?

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

hahaha, I am pretty sure the answer to that is never, or maybe just after that.

[@howardeverton2847]

@@ModellingforAdvantage I totally understand... May not be in contract lol 😆

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

@@howardeverton2847 I imagine Rosie might do it, but Mrs K... she works hard to avoid being on camera.

[@sjors107]

I know why the german paratroopers jumped with out there weapons this is because the point where the chute is attached to the harnas is on the back of the men. By the american and british paratroopers it is on there shoulders that is why they could jump with weapons

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Thanks for the tip!

[@AllThingsCubey]

Just an ammendment on the FG-42. They were actually intended to replace the Mauser Kar98 rifles, not the squad machinegun. The specification for the FG-42 called for a magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle in 7.92mm Mauser, which had to be shorter and lighter than the Kar98, and have the capability in a pinch to operate in full auto as a squad support weapon. They were absolutely not intended to replace the MG-34 or MG-42. Compared to the BAR they are significantly lighter and easier to fire including in full auto. By all acounts the FG-42 is more comparable to cold war battle rifles like the FAL and M14, arguably more comfortable to shoot than either, and so Bolt Action classifying them as assault rifles is perfectly appropriate, even without the intermediate "Kurtz" cartridge of the Stg-44. The plan for them to become the standard rifle for the German army post war was absolute nonsense given their difficulty to produce, but shows exactly how much they were considered rifles, not LMGs.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Maybe I mi represented myself, not to replace the LMG as a direct replacement, to replace the squad firepower equivalence - at least that is what I read. If you read somewhere something different please do direct me to that book.

[@MandaPii_]

I definitely identify as a lady and I do watch the channel... 😅 Early in the war they dropped without their main weapons and they dropped in a separate cannister, later on this changed I believe. Glider troops just landed with their full equipment and was often the preferred way for landing the Fallschirmjäger when possible.

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Glad to meet you.

[@JamesXenakis]

Fallschirmjager jumped at 300 ft.... American paratroopers jumped at 1000 ft.... Different doctrine.... Drop cannisters were a bad idea in Crete...

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

Completely.