Custom LEGO WW2 Minifigures: How We Design Historically Inspired Military Soldiers

Quick answer: Our custom LEGO WW2 minifigures start with history: we study the helmets, uniforms and gear each army actually used, then UV print the uniforms in house on genuine minifigure parts and injection mold the helmets, vests and accessories in ABS plastic in Washington State. In the video below I walk through the WW2 helmets and gear I make, like the German Stahlhelm, the American M1 helmet with its molded chin strap, the British Brodie and the Japanese T90. This page covers how those details come together on WW1, WW2 and modern military figures, and where to shop every piece.

SHOP CUSTOM LEGO WW2 MINIFIGURES →SHOP WW1 →SHOP ALL MILITARY →

Shop the custom LEGO WW2 helmets and soldiers from this video

These are the four WW2 helmets from the video plus two ready to go soldiers that wear them. Tap any photo to open the product page.

Stahlhelm HelmetShop nowM1 HelmetShop nowBrodie HelmetShop nowT90 HelmetShop nowWW2 German SoldierShop nowWW2 American RiflemenShop now

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How we research historically inspired custom LEGO military minifigures

I have always been a big World War 2 fan. I love history, learning about it and watching documentaries, and that is exactly how BrickTactical started. Back in 2010 I wanted to build a big Battle of the Bulge scene with Germans versus Americans in winter gear, and nobody was making the gear I needed. That project led me into injection molding, and today we have hundreds of custom molded parts.

The research shows up in the small stuff. Our M1 helmet has the leather chin strap molded right onto the front of the brim, and while it comes in lots of colors, olive drab green is the most accurate one for WW2 American troops. For the Brodie I mainly go with dark tan and tan, and for the T90, tan and dark tan are really the colors you saw them in. We also look for gear that crosses eras: the Brodie works for WW1 troops, WW2 British soldiers and WW1 Americans, and the Stahlhelm saw action late in WW1 as well as through WW2. Want the weapons side? Our WW2 guns guide covers every World War 2 weapon we make.

Custom LEGO WW1 soldiers: Brodie helmets, Stahlhelms and trench gear

World War 1 figures are all about steel helmets and long coats. Historically, the British Brodie was a wide brimmed steel helmet worn in the trenches, and Germany introduced the Stahlhelm during WW1 to replace older leather headgear. Our WW1 German Soldier and WW1 French Soldier are UV printed head to toe on genuine minifigure parts and come with period accurate helmets and gear. Add a Medic Brodie Helmet for field hospital scenes, a Netting Stahlhelm for German infantry, or cloth Trench Coats for officers.

WW1 German SoldierShop nowWW1 French SoldierShop nowMedic Brodie HelmetShop nowNetting StahlhelmShop nowTrench CoatsShop now

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Custom LEGO WW2 soldiers by army

Every army in World War 2 had its own look, so we design each figure around the right helmet, uniform colors and kit.

• Germany: the Stahlhelm steel helmet and the K98k bolt action rifle, the standard German service rifle. As I say in the video, I cannot make a German rifleman without a gunmetal Stahlhelm, a K98k and maybe a Luger. Try the WW2 German Sniper, which comes with a gunmetal Stahlhelm and a scoped K98k, or the WW2 Winter German MP40 Gunner for cold weather scenes.
• United States: the M1 helmet, which the US adopted in 1941 and used through WW2 and for decades after, paired with the M1 Garand semi automatic rifle. Start with the WW2 American Soldier or the WW2 American Thompson Gunner.
• Japan: the Type 90, or T90, steel helmet worn by Japanese infantry, paired with the Arisaka rifle. The WW2 Japanese Riflemen is made for Pacific theater dioramas.
• Britain: the Brodie helmet, which British and Commonwealth troops wore in both World Wars.

Building a whole platoon? The Helmet Pack gives you 24 military helmets in one order.

WW2 American SoldierShop nowWW2 American Thompson GunnerShop nowWW2 German SniperShop nowWW2 Winter German MP40 GunnerShop nowWW2 Japanese RiflemenShop nowHelmet Pack (x24)Shop now

SHOP CUSTOM LEGO WW2 MINIFIGURES →SEE THE WW2 GUNS GUIDE →

How the details get printed and molded

Every BrickTactical figure is built in two parts: printing and molding, both done in house.

• Uniforms are printed, not stickered: we UV print faces, uniforms and gear details directly onto genuine minifigure heads, torsos, arms and legs. In my printing vlog you can see the fixtures that hold rows of heads on the UV printer so a whole batch prints at once. Every figure is Custom Printed on Genuine LEGO Parts.
• Helmets can be printed too: helmets like the Netting Stahlhelm and the Medic Brodie are PAD printed in house after molding for sharp, durable markings.
• Gear is molded in ABS: helmets, vests, backpacks and weapons are injection molded in ABS plastic, the same type of plastic most building bricks are made of, right here in Washington State. Every part is Injection Molded in the USA.
• Vests fit the figure: every BrickTactical vest fits on a standard minifigure torso, and open chest styles like the AK Pouch Tactical Vest show off the torso printing underneath.

Custom LEGO modern military minifigures and gear

The same approach carries into Vietnam era and modern military figures. The Vietnam Grenadier is made for jungle patrols and firebases, while the Midnight Operator and Urban Camo Operator fit night raids and city combat. If you want to build your own soldiers, printed bodies like the Military Assault Body, Military Engineer Body and Military Uniform Body give you the uniform, and you add the head, helmet and gear.

Vietnam GrenadierShop nowMidnight OperatorShop nowUrban Camo OperatorShop nowMilitary Assault BodyShop nowMilitary Engineer BodyShop nowMilitary Uniform BodyShop now

For modern headgear, the Advanced Combat Helmet and Military Helmet are night vision compatible, the Boonie Hat is the classic wide brim field hat for jungle patrols and snipers, and the Tactical Headset adds an operator look.

Advanced Combat HelmetShop nowMilitary HelmetShop nowBallistic HelmetShop nowBoonie HatShop nowMilitary CapShop nowTactical HeadsetShop now

Finish the kit with body armor and packs. The Heavy Backpack clips onto BrickTactical vests that have studs on the back, and the Radio Backpack is made for radio operators and squad leaders.

Kevlar VestShop nowFlak Jacket VestShop nowTactical Vest V2Shop nowAK Pouch Tactical VestShop nowHeavy BackpackShop nowRadio BackpackShop now

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WW1 vs WW2 vs modern military minifigures at a glance

FAQ

Where can I buy custom LEGO WW2 soldiers?

BrickTactical sells ready to go WW2 American, German and Japanese soldiers in its World War 2 collection, plus WW1 and modern military figures. Every figure is Custom Printed on Genuine LEGO Parts in house, and the helmets and gear are Injection Molded in the USA in Washington State.

Which helmet goes with which army in a custom LEGO WW2 build?

Use the Stahlhelm for German soldiers, the M1 helmet for American soldiers, the Brodie helmet for British soldiers and the T90 helmet for Japanese soldiers. The Brodie and the Stahlhelm also work for WW1 troops.

How do I make my own custom LEGO WW2 soldier?

Start with a printed figure or a printed uniform body, then add the helmet and rifle for that army. A German rifleman, for example, gets a gunmetal Stahlhelm, a K98k and maybe a Luger, while an American GI gets an olive drab green M1 helmet and an M1 Garand.

Are the uniforms printed or stickers?

They are printed. BrickTactical UV prints uniforms, faces and gear details in house directly on genuine minifigure parts, and some helmets, like the Netting Stahlhelm and Medic Brodie, are PAD printed. UV printing is made to hold up to handling and display.

Will BrickTactical helmets and vests fit my custom LEGO minifigures?

Yes. The helmets are sized for standard minifigure heads, and every BrickTactical vest fits on a standard minifigure torso. They are injection molded from ABS, the same type of plastic most building bricks are made of.

Do you make WW1 and modern military minifigures too?

Yes. Alongside WW2 there are WW1 German and French soldiers, Vietnam era figures and modern operators, plus modern helmets like the Advanced Combat Helmet, tactical vests, backpacks and headsets.

Arm your WW2 soldiers with custom LEGO WW2 guns, or browse all custom LEGO guns, custom LEGO rifles and custom LEGO pistols.