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And now for something completely different... ETO Diorama


Cobrahistorian
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Cobrahistorian

Tonight, I added the roof armor, travel lock bracket, turret rear floor, seat rails, seats, turret ammo stowage, trigger pedal and rear rail supports. I'm very pleased with how it is coming out and wish I'd been able to focus more on this one. Along with the diorama, I'm building this one for the Armorama US Halftracks campaign and the deadline fortunately has just been extended until the end of January. I may actually get it done in time!

 

 

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Cobrahistorian

Thanks! It'll be a bit before I can get the next update up here, but I did a few additions on the M15A1 prior to vacation. I added the second .50 cal and the elevation controls on the right side of the turret. I also added the cushions on top of the 37mm stowage boxes behind the driver's compartment. They're made of 2-part epoxy putty. I'm planning on having it done by the end of January if all goes well.

 

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  • 1 month later...

Those Germans don't wear the right uniforms.

I see a few panzer crew men, with blue grey uniforms.

However, panzer crew men wore black uniforms.

 

Just google panzer crew, and you'll know what I mean.

This will add some realism to your diorama.

 

p.s. I'm looking forward to the finished project.

 

Been making steady progress on the dio, although a significant amount of that time has been focused on figure painting. It's been a while since I've worked on figures and I'm enjoying the challenge. I've also picked up a bit of a side project (of a side project of a side project...) but I'm working on an additional diorama that's a 35th scale representation of a new exhibit I will be installing in the ADA schoolhouse early next year.

 

So, that being said, I've now got seven surrendering Germans and fifteen GIs assembled and in various stages of paint. All but two have their base color coats and about fifteen of them have washes and highlight dry brushing done. Another five or so need to be drybrushed. I'm just starting to paint rifles now and will start doing slings, etc fairly quickly.

 

Here are the figures so far (yes, there's a British Commando in there. He came with the set):

 

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Now my side project depicts a 57mm AT gun used by the 80th Airborne AAA Battalion at Trois Ponts on 21 December 1944. I am aware of the use of 6pdr guns by US airborne units and have not conclusively proven either way that they were using an M1 vs a 6pdr, but all of the documentation I've seen says 57mm M1, so I'm going with this. Anyhow, It depicts Lt. Jake Wertich (kneeling by the breech), Cpl. Stokes Taylor (with the BAR), and PFCs Harry Robison and Gordon Smital (not pictured yet) defending against the lead elements of Kampfgruppe Hansen. All four were KIA in the action and Lt. Wertich and Cpl Taylor were both awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Crosses as a result.

 

 

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@ Normandy1944:

 

"Those Germans don't wear the right uniforms.

I see a few panzer crew men, with blue grey uniforms.

However, panzer crew men wore black uniforms.

 

Just google panzer crew, and you'll know what I mean.

This will add some realism to your diorama."

 

 

 

Assault gun crews wore field grey "Panzer wraps" similar to this one mon ami! ;)

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Conserning the Hummel crew's uniform: Fieldgrey standard uniform will be the right choice since the Hummel was no assault gun (Sturmgeschütz) but a self propelled howitzer (Selbstfahrlafette). Some pics:

http://www.google.de/imgres?q=deutsche+panzerhaubitzen+hummel&um=1&hl=de&tbo=d&biw=1360&bih=640&tbm=isch&tbnid=8t5QXMbvzUuoJM:&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-278-0898-22,_Russland,_Panzerhaubitze_%2522Hummel%2522.jpg&docid=ZGaFr0v7uX8STM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-278-0898-22,_Russland,_Panzerhaubitze_%252522Hummel%252522.jpg&w=800&h=528&ei=CiUEUaDiNIvMswb934HYBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=367&sig=116352240468665203633&page=2&tbnh=143&tbnw=226&start=20&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:0,i:150&tx=153&ty=11

 

http://www.google.de/imgres?q=deutsche+panzerhaubitzen+hummel&um=1&hl=de&tbo=d&biw=1360&bih=640&tbm=isch&tbnid=P0mXRbXSjoiSVM:&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-219-0586-17,_Russland-Mitte-S%25C3%25BCd,_Panzerhaubitze_%2522Hummel%2522.jpg&docid=vdYmmXY1sRJdaM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-219-0586-17,_Russland-Mitte-S%2525C3%2525BCd,_Panzerhaubitze_%252522Hummel%252522.jpg&w=800&h=532&ei=CiUEUaDiNIvMswb934HYBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1044&vpy=344&dur=742&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=215&ty=127&sig=116352240468665203633&page=2&tbnh=133&tbnw=208&start=20&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:45,s:0,i:219

 

BUT: Field grey Panzer uniforms will be okay as well ;-)

15 cm schwere Panzerhaubitze auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) « Hummel » (Sd.Kfz. 165)

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Cobrahistorian

Sturmartillerie, not panzer as my esteemed colleagues have pointed out. I haven't had a chance to work on this much lately. I've been busy moving an entire museum about 3 miles across post and I've been getting home and falling asleep almost immediately after the kids are in bed. Things should ease up in the coming weeks once we've finished moving everything.

 

Jon

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