Toy Soldier Art

Making the German helmet from a GI is easy.  Start by filing the helmet about 1/16 of an inch above the brim.  Flatten all four sides and the top a little, taking care to round the corners when you are done. File into the middle of the top backpack.  A hint of a cylindrical shape can be used to make the gas mask can and mess kit. A little filing also makes a rolled-up shelter half. Everything else is a matter of shrewd paint work. For collecting or battle games, these tricks can double, triple and even quadruple the variety of figures you can get from a set of molds.