1/72 tiger's maintenance (update 07-01-09)

[Rob]

Hi all, i’ve been working on a rather large dio. atleast from my point of vieuw. normally i use bases of around 10cm for my 1/72 projects.

this time i wanted something bigger, but as i found out, it also needs more planning and puzzeling not to overcrowd the scene.

i’ve build two dragon tigers, one tiger fehrmann, ans one tiger late with zimm. gave them some battle damage, especcially on the the fenders, and one on the muffler pipes. i wanted to give one tiger a trackchange with resupply, and one a engine checkout. to achive this, i also got myself a trumpeter famo with crane and a resin maybach engine with compartement.

also joining the scene will be a opel blitz with supply’s but i still have to build this one, an old hasegawa famo is taking his place temporarilly.

figs are a combination of preiser, millicast, italeri and revell but most are preiser and millicast. i’m still looking for some more figs to change the track, and 2 or so on the famo/crane. fig placing need’s some tweeking but will come in time. also ofcourse on the track change, the track has to be altered a bit, so the connexion pieces will be cut off… and only “track” is visable

i had even bigger plans, got myself a farmhouse, and a quad 20mm aa with crew, but i found it was to much for this small base so i removed them.

of course everything has to be painted and all the groundwork made, it will be a dirt road running between the 2 tigers about the line on wich the infanterie is walking. of course with trees around it. i’m planning it late spring 44, i think in the netherlands so around marked garden, or in the ruhr area. i havent decidet if i’ll use foilage on the vehicels, it would be appropiate around that time, but i don’t like foilage because i always like to have a good look at the vehicles. also i havent decided which decals to use.

well… enjoy, i’ll keep it updated… and ofcourse feedback is more then welcome

[Anonymous]

“Less is More” is the general rule in my book…

Just looking at your dio for 2 seconds I immediately wondered why a front-line infantry squad was tromping through your Tiger rear, work-area…???

[Hans_von_Hammer]

I’m with Manny on that one about the Infantry… They’re outta place. The maintence units guards are not gonna let any ol’ unit wander through their perimeter anyway. I’d move the engine-change more to the center and lose the grunts altogether. MAYBE you could use 'em on the road, but they still don’t have any real business being there…

I’d keep trying…

[psstoff995]

I had a similar idea in mind about maintenance, I’ll hafta follow this discussion and see how it turns out. Quick question about maintenance in the field, I understand the multiple Tigers and the Crain/Engine removal definitely look like a rear, permanent kind of location, but how was emergency field maintenance handled (break downs/thrown tracks) when the crew couldn’t handle it on their own.
The way I see it they had few options
-Abandon it if the enemy was closing in
-Call it in, have a vehicle come and get them, then get towed back range to one of these rear operating maintenance locations or
-A few mechanics could just meet them “on scene” to assist

So assuming it’s not abandoned, would it be towed or would the mechanics make a “house call”?
As far as regular tune ups/oil changes went, was that handled by the crew to an extent and (I’m assuming) it was done in the field?
It just doesn’t make sense for a whole unit to pull out to get fixed if it wasn’t necessarily necessary…

While I would agree about removing the infantry units, I do like the tank crew taking a load off and laying back while their respective vehicles get over haled and re-tracked. It almost gives a sense of a selfish expectation that the tankers take the mechanics for granted. Something I’m sure a real life tanker probably would in fact appreciate, maybe not show, but definitely be grateful of.

I think if you could focus in on that kind of “story” this dio has some great potential, maybe show the mechanics all working really hard and all the tankers sleeping/playing cars and fit the title to that.

PS THE KITS LOOK GREAT! THAT’S WAY TOO SMALL FOR ME!!!

[Hans_von_Hammer]

The engine change/removal is done with battalion maintenence support. They have the cranes, wreckers, and ARVs. Tank companies have their own maintenence sections, but they don’t have ARVs. If a tank is broken down and needs to be towed, the company motor sergeant will radio the battalion to request an ARV come get the tank. It’ll be towed back to a BSA, or Brigade Support Area, where the battalion maintence elements are co-located.

The crew will go with the tank, and help with the work up to a point. The mechs will do all the work on the packs and transmissions, but it’s a crew job to remove the armor plate. Changing a track is also a crew job, done with battalion support. That can be done pretty far forward, all that needs to happen is someone brings the new track up to where the tank is… However, just because they’re bustin’ track doesn’t mean it’s a track job that being done. It could be a roadwheel replacement, which is a crew job as well. Outside wheels you don’t have to bust track on, but an inside road wheel is about a four-hour job… Crews don’t do “tune-ups and oil changes” and such… They only do preventive maintence checks and services (PMCS) checking fluid levels (and topping then off if necessary), and check belts, batteries, lights, fire-control systems, and drive-train for problems and write up any problems found, then turn it in to the maintenence section. The company maintence section has the tools and minor repair parts, and the mechanics to install them

As far as pulling the whole unit out of comabt for maintenence, sure… Units have to be rotated out of the line on a more or less regular basis for repairs, as well as bringing in replacements, bring them up to speed, replacement of lost or damaged vehicles, reconstitution of supplies, fuel, POL, parts, beans & bullets, all kinds of things. The units will be pulled back well out of enemy artillery range, several miles to the rear…

Knocked out tanks get recovered too… Crews that are killed will have their remains scooped out of the tanks, the tanks will get repaired, and a new crew will be assigned to it. It wasn’t unusual for a new crew to get assigned a tank and find bits of blood, bones, and gooey stuff in their “new” tank…

Bottom line is that they repair as far forward as possible while maintaining a relatively safe environment… This means the chance of direct combat with the enemy, although possible, is unlikely… Therefore, you won’t see line troops back their either… The maintenence folks supply their own security with guards and such being drawn from there own sections, there aren’t any Infantry troops back there…

[psstoff995]

Thank you so much!! That was just the kind of answer I believe I needed. It will definitly help out with my future projects.

[Rob]

thanks guys for all your quick responses. i didn’t know line troops wouln’d march trough a resupply/repair field. i was thinking, this would be just besides a road to the front.

i’ll make the changes suggested here, and post a new piccie this evening.

the infantry at rest, isn’t panzer crew, but also line infantry (says the box). but i’ll use the inf on another project, i have a knocked out shermi laying around, they just might go together.

cheers

[Rob]

well, i’ve build the blitz now, still needs some filling though, and i’ve removed the soldiers from the scene. the tarp on top of the blitz i made simply from clay, i didn’t like the italeri tarp, it was fully closed and no detail what so ever. i put two wooden poles under it to keep it up. i see modern truckers do that often, so i used that on the blitz. also i like the way it looks with the barrel unloading.

i think it looks better like this, it’s a bit more relaxing for the eye to watch. i did put in a motorcycle in wich the officer would have come (standing on the tiger) with an unpatient soldier waiting for his return.

i forgot to tell, the winch on the trumpeter famo, still works, i left the top loose from the chassis so i can still turn the winch.

thanks again for watchin and commenting.

[Anonymous]

I like this composition a lot better…still may want to consider down-sizing your base, or maybe cutting it into an oval shape so there won’t be so much dead-space on the corners and around the edges…there was a movement in dios several years ago where many folks “free-cut” the size and shape of their bases to fit the composition better…a lot of work from Verlinden and his following can be seen using this technique…

[Rob]

well, got some work done, i choose to do a Dutch landscape, so i made a typical dutch scene. an elevated road, with trees on one site, and a ditch on the other side. also telephone/power poles along side the road. i intent do break one, as if a vehicle crashed into it, because the road is verry narrow. the tanks, are in a farmers field (grass field). ofcourse it isn’t done yet, also the wooden base needs some attention.

also, got some camo done on the tigers, using valejo paint, i choose for a soft edge camo, because that’s all i could find on late tigers. also instead of a dark yello, i choose olive like green. i saw that in a book “tiger 1 on the western front” and also on de dragon instrucion from the fehrman tiger. i liked it, it’s something else for a change, i’m still working on the blitz and famo.

hope y’all like it, thanks for lookin

[the_doog]

RObbio, I still say you’ve got too many elements in the scene–it’s too busy. Too many things distracting you from the focal point. You’ve got no les than 5 vehicles in such a small scene–that looks crowded to me!

If anything, I would switch the positions of the Tiger under repair and the crane truck–the Tiger looks to be blocking the access to the “bridge” across that big ditch–not something that would be tactically smart in that situation.

I have a problem with the Sherman being in the scene too–I mean, if I recall correctly, Shermans and German armor DID mix it up on the road approaches to Nijmegen/Arnhem, but I don’t remember reading of Tigers in that mix? I do remmeber that Tigers were seen and used north’east of Arnhem quite regularly during Market Garden, but they didn’t re-cross the bridge back south, and the Americans never really got into Arnhem proper–where would you be theorizing this scene to take place?

[Rob]

I have a problem with the Sherman being in the scene too–I mean, if I recall correctly, Shermans and German armor DID mix it up on the road approaches to Nijmegen/Arnhem, but I don’t remember reading of Tigers in that mix? I do remmeber that Tigers were seen and used north’east of Arnhem quite regularly during Market Garden, but they didn’t re-cross the bridge back south, and the Americans never really got into Arnhem proper–where would you be theorizing this scene to take place?

thanks doog, i’ll do change the position of the crane and tiger… didn’t thought of that. i agree the scene is crowdet with a lot to see, but i don’t feel it’s to crowdet now, i have to agree it was before with all the other soldiers around.

but… i don’t see a sherman in the scene…

as far as tigers go with market garden, according to “tiger 1 in the western front” IX kompanie hymmel was near arnhem and attacked the allied bridgehead from the east, mayby not hell’s highway itself, but they where in the netherlands… that is for sure. i live about 40 km west from nijmegen, and the country around here is the same as there. also there where tiger units between nijmegen and arnhem after market garden in the area known here as “the isle” or “island of men” band of brothers episode crossroads is in this area.

[Hans_von_Hammer]

I’m only counti’ four vehicles… I think that Tiger at the top is just sittin’ on the bench, not the dio…

[Hans_von_Hammer]

If anything, I would switch the positions of the Tiger under repair and the crane truck–the Tiger looks to be blocking the access to the “bridge” across that big ditch–not something that would be tactically smart in that situation.

I wouldn’t sweat it, Doog… That action’s taking place inside a perimeter that’s in the rear… Basically a motor pool/parking lot… There’s no “tactical” consideration here, since the perimeter defenses would be well away from where the actual work is taking place, in a brigade support area…

[the_doog]

I’m only counti’ four vehicles… I think that Tiger at the top is just sittin’ on the bench, not the dio…

OOPS! You’re right, Hans!

Sorry Robbioo! (Now where’s those reading glasses?..[sigh]…[swg])

Hey, Robbioo–I was out there in '98, to both Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Overloon–cool places!

[Mixael]

I just found this thread, so pardon me for being late To touch on something Hans said about the crew breaking track, not only could they be changing road wheels, there could also be some work that needs done to the raod arm(s). And, putting this is a rear area, while the mechs turn wrenches to pull an engine (and there are several scenarios on why, not just replacing the engine), the other crew could be getting their track ready for the mechs to come service it. Heaven knows we made our crews do as much of the prep work as we could before WE started working on their stuff!

(Side note: I was a mechanic for a mechanized infantry company - stuck in a tank battalion - for 4 years. Our companies each had thier own recovery vehicles, as well as several for battalion. We would pick them up, drag them to the rear, and drop them off. And the crews would pull guard duty while the vehicle was either being repaired or in line to be repaired. 20 years ago, and not WWII German Army, but probably not TOO different.)

Now, as far as being too cluttered or too busy? I’d say it would work better as two smaler dios. One with the tank having it’s engine pulled, and the other with the track work. My opinion, you dio, do as you will.

Michael

[Rob]

got some of the groundwork done, thinking now about how i’m going to do the ditch, dried out, with mud… or with water.

also i need to do something about the famo, it stands out to much now i think. so i’ll tone it down with a darker darkyellow, and a wash or two.

thanks for lookin, and comments are apreciated.

[TacoBuff]

I like this one. It doesn’t look as crowded now that you have the ground work down (funny how that works huh?). Those tigers look great.

[Rob]

hej tacobuff, thanks for the compliment. the tigers … as are all the vehicles, aren’t done, i’m still waiting for my decals, after that comes the weatherin, couple of washes, drybrush and some mud. so the’l are going to look even better.

i used valejo paint on the tigers, and sprayd it freehand. all the pic’s i could find of that era (autumm 44) i saw softedge camo. also some of the photo’s i saw they look more a olive green tint than dark yellow and ik liked it a lot so i gave it a try.

[Rob]

got some work done… groundwork is complete now. the vehicles almost, they need some moren weathering i think. the opel blitz is done, but the others still need some dirt so that the opel isn’t more dirty than the rest.

all that is left is painting the figs.

enjoy