Arto announces figures of SS-Ostubaf. Jochen Peiper, SS-Hsuf. Josef Diefenthal and Tiger Crew all from the Battle of the Bulge
Just wanted to chime in on Arto’s stuff.
I’m currently doing a 24th Panzer Div/Stalingrad diorama and needed some quality heads with M42 helmets that would fit most 1:35 figure sizes since I kitbash/scratch most of my figs.
I decided on Arto’s offerings and have been so satisfied. They’re the best M42 helmets I’ve used in 1:35 and the faces look fantastic with just few steps. One-shot black primer, some vallejo basic skin tone, some Mig AMMO drybrush dark flesh and light highlights and a neutral or very thin dark wash. I suck at painting figures and these Arto heads are the most forgiving I’ve encountered with Alpine being a close second.
Also, one of my M42 helmet rims was very slightly cracked when I opened the pack. I contacted their customer service and they very quickly sent me an entire replacement set at no cost and no questions asked. They’re going to be my new go-to for figure heads and I hope to see them expand the line and do well.
How do you order their figures?
Sound good. I’ll check them out. How would you compare them to the superb Hornet heads ?
Tad smaller and a bit softer than Hornet’s heads. I’ve found them more forgiving and easier to paint once a primer coat is on.
I find Hornet heads much larger at the neck base (where one would work to adhere it to a body/torso) while Arto seem much easier to fit onto a wide variety of collar types. I scratch/bash most of my figs and with hornet, a few in a pack simply won’t fit for a fig I’m working simply because the neck is too wide and I’d have to remove the entire neck to form a fit to a body. They end up looking like Mickey Spillane. Arto’s seem to fit to anything or require very little modding to do so. That’s a huge selling point for me.
I always soak my resin fig pieces in some water with a bit of dish soap to remove the releasing agent on the surface. Arto’s don’t feel that much different after the soak than they did prior to. I’m not sure what to make of that.
Yes , I know what you mean about the necks on Hornet heads. I too cut them away and drill and fit a wire pin. I then mould a putty neck to suit the figure. I’ve ordered a couple of Arto sets to try them for myself. I’m working on these Stalingrad period guys just now and have carried out the alterations I described. 
