Hey gang,
I’m just putting out a preliminary “feeler” to see if there is enough interest in doing a German Armor GB focusing on “Panzer Aces” starting sometime in the spring or summer of 2007.
The basic premise would be building specific tanks of famous Panzers truppen such as one of Otto Carius’s Tigers, Albert Ernest’s Hornisse/Nashorn, Wittman’s Tiger to name just a few. [8D]
What do you all think? Anyone interested?
I am definately interested. I really like the thought of specific tanks with a theme for display. The only thing is that I would really want the GB dummied up a bit… as examples:
links to the kits we should buy (like, here is the exact tamiya kit -link-, here is the exact dragon kit, -link-, etc.)
links to the PE packages we should buy (here is the exact eduard kit you need, -link-)
pictures of the uniforms we should be painting
as many reference photos as possible
For a BG of this magnitude I really just dont want to mess anything up in the realistic department. I would like as much reference and photos with direct links to acceptable kits as possible. I dont want to look back and say “Oh yeah, I built the AusfX instead of the AusfY because I didnt read page 9 of Achtung AusfR!”, you know what I mean?
This is definately a GB that would involve a lot of us sharing information, doing a lot of research and asking lots of questions. Hopefully we can get some “experts” on board with us. [:D]
As most of you know I’ve been planning to do this myself for a while, and I already have researched many of the famous aces and have all the neccesary information ready. Of course it would be fun, and I’d love to do it…maybe I could provide a list of aces I’ve researched, we can pick one, I’ll post the info and we can build?
Also it is a good idea about which kit which detail set etc.
I think a good start might be Ernst Barkmann (Panther D) or Freidrich Luders (Jagdpanther) because the Panther series is pretty easy to build, and there are plenty of kits and detail sets available. Just because the Tiger I and most SPG’s are usually harder to build.
Cool, if we get some more interested we can make this an official GB. You’ve already done a lot of research Hermesminiatures, so it might not be a bad idea for you to host the GB, although I’ll be more than happy too if you don’t want to. [:)]
One other thing, do we want to post a list of aces and let each person pick one, or all build the same? Because I have a list of 30-some aces, and if we all do one at a time, which is is fine, we will be doing it until 2010[zzz]
Maybe pick a few and do them one at a time (but then we’ll get Wittmann, Carius, Kerschel, and Ernst, and none of the others no one’s ever heard of)
Or it could become sort of an extended GB, for example, a new ace every 3-4 months?
Whatcha think?
Unless we get a hardcore group of people who want to build multiple vehicles for this GB (which is unlikely [;)]) I suggest we let everyone choose who they want to do, even if they’re doing one that someone else is doing. I’m thinking we’d be best served that way, and of course sharing information so we can all learn more about the tanks and the men that crewed them and their exploits. If someone wants to build a particular tank and they needed some help we’d all be more than happy to assist (after all, isn’t that what a GB is for? [:)])
Since I get so obsessed with this kind of stuff, I’m seeing myself building Albert Ernst’s Nashorn and JagdTiger. I’d also like to build a StugIII, but would need to decide on who’s. [8D]
I’ve thought about buyin’ and buildin’ that Jagdpanzer, I forget the name of the guy who rode it now! This GB would get me buildin’ this kit for sure!
That sounds really interresting…
Yep you could count me in on this one.I seem to have become obsessed with German armour just lately(I usually build Commonwealth stuff)and I’m getting more into the research side of the hobby.
I think I’d go along with a Stug or Nashorn…just have to decide who’s[%-)]
Glyn has been bitten by the german bug! [:D]
Glad to see there is some interest, I think we’ll be able to make a go of it. [:)]
I’ll get an official thread started in the GB section later today or tomorrow. [tup]
Oh yes…and I blame you and Bill[}:)]
Sounds good, I’ll post my info then too.
i think ‘panzer aces’ is a cool idea— how about a build that would include axis and allied ‘ACES’ only— may get more guys and stir the "who was best’ pot a bit!![}:)]— panzer aces alone is still a cool idea-- there were many aces in many different panzers allowing for alot of diversification!!— tread[:D]
Just throwing my two cents in…
You might want to check out Panzer Aces by Franz Kurowski; Ballantine Publishing, copyright 1992 (ISBN 0-345-44884-7). This book details the combat histories of six panzer commanders: Dr. Franz Bake, Hermann Bix, Rudolf von Ribbentrop, Hans Bolter, Michael Wittman, & Albert Ernst. It’s an excellent read and might get the juices flowing.
As far as a Group Build is concerned, I must admit that I’ve never participated in such an event in my 30+ years of modeling. However, the Panzer Aces theme has piqued my interest…and Santa brought me Academy’s Mid-Production Tiger 1 with full interior…and I’ve already ordered a set of Fruilmodel tracks and an aluminum gun barrel, (this time I’m to lazy to make my own). I’m planning on building straight from the box except for the aforementioned items.
Keep me in mind.I’d like to know what the details of your “Scope of Work” for this project would be.
-the Postman
Hi Postman, I just finished that book last week, very good. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Albert Ernst. I have Panzer Aces 2 in the queue soon as I finish reading “Red Storm on the Reich”. 
I think this will be a good build, and I hope it goes a little deeper than the usual GB as we delve into the history and specifics of their tanks. [8D]
Count me in for sure.
Group Builds help me set targets/goals, plus I really enjoy the conversations and to see what everyone is building. Like Glyn, I’ve also been bitten by the German bug. I was thorougly enmessed in US Tank Destroyers and SPGs, and then I started reading up on the Barbarossa and Kursk battles and am amazed at the scope and intensity of the battles on the Eastern Front. What’s more…during my reading I came across the name of a Russian commander by the name of ‘Popiel’. I’m 100% Polish, and Popiel, which in Polish means “ashes” is my real last name (I’ll save the story about how “Cross” became my new last name for another time). To make matters even more interesting, on page 211 of the book ‘Kursk’ by Nik Cornish, is a photograph of three memebers of a Russian tank crew. The guy in the middle is an exact double for me. It is uncanny how exact the resemblence is. I’m figuring that I’ve got some relatives that were involved in the war at the Eastern Front. I am now compelled to research this possible connection.
I think my reply to this thread is probably way too long and only marginally on topic. But please do count me in on this GB. Since I’m only familiar with one or two Panzer Aces, I’ll have to wait to see the list of Aces and AFVs, and then choose one.
I’l conclude with this excerpt from the Kursk book:
"It is to SS-Unterscharfuhrer (Seargent) Franz Staudegger that the most remarkable performance in the Kursk salient must be credited. On 8 July …report arrived that some 50 -60 Soviet tanks were approaching. Staudegger and his men hurried the repairs and set off to meet the Russians. During the course of the morning this lone Tiger fought for two hours, destroying 17 enemy tanks. "
He followed up by destroying 5 addititional T-34s, ran out of ammo, and withdrew. “On July 10 Staudegger became the first Waffen-SS Tiger commander to be awarded the Knight’s Cross”.
Cheers,
Larry
Wow
Something else, Staudegger had to hop to get his broken-down Tiger to run again before his solo engaement against the Russians.
On the other hand, Franz Kurowski is known for imagineering facts to suit, so while Panzer Aces may be a good general guide, don’t take it too seriously for details.
Once the topic is started I will post a list of all the RK winning Panzer Commanders (not all at once though!)