For all the German Armor fans...

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Why such the fascination with German Armor??? Have you ever had your family, spouse, g/f, friends, priest, etc. question your political leanings because your modeling was so focused on WW2 German armor? Do you get tired of people telling you to model other countries AFV’s, especially American armor??? SO why the fascination with German armor? My take on it:

**Variety-**C’mon how many different weapons platforms did the Germans produce during the war? Not including sub-types/marks/models, let’s quickly look:

Mk I, Mk II, Mk III, Mk IV, Tiger I, Panther, Tiger II, StuG III, StuG IV, Jagdtiger, Sturmtiger, Jagdpanther, Jagdpanzer, Ferdinand, Brumbar, Bison, Hetzer, 38t series, Marders, Nashorn, Wespe, Hummel, 250 series, 251 series, 234 series, 221/22 series, AAA tracked vehicles, countless softskins, etc, etc, etc…(this is just off the top of my head; I am leaving a lot out)…

…Okay, for the Americans, you basically had the Sherman, Stuart, M-10 and M2/M3 halftrack (insert argument that the Sherm had countless makes and models here and I will refute by picking any German AFV from above and saying the same thing)…

Colors: Probably at least four (grey, dark yellow, Afrika brown and red oxide) base colors throughout the war with endless permuatations of camo patterns, colors and schemes…

…Americans: OD, basically (insert that there were a few cool schemes in Italy here)…

Markings: Cool tactical, divisional and numbering systems in place…

…Americans, white star and weird tactical numbers and geometric symbols that were tiny and make no sense to me…

Cool Personalities: Panzer “stars” that made the vehicles more interesting because of their exploits in said vehicles…

…I know of hardly any “operational” personalities on the Allied side except for a couple: Lafayette Poole and C. Abrams…and their exploits are not nearly as impressive or (in some cases) very well documented…

…same for the Russian and British armor…now don’t get me wrong I DO LIKE Allied armor, but 'ya gotta admit, it 'aint as exciting as the German stuff…right? LOL…and I will concede the arguement that the variety of German armor platforms also contributed to their defeat: too much diversification instead of concentrating on building a few tried and tested systems (funny, the Germans and Americans reversed this role when it came to a/c)…

Your opinion???

2

Most of the armor I model is German for several reasons…

  • Very interesting looking designs
  • Many different variations throughout the development of each vehicle
  • The development of armored vehicle technologies show themselves all throughout many of their Panzers model variations (especially with regards to armor protection and guns, short to long etc.)
  • Great variety of camo and weathering options as the Germans fought on all fronts (except the Pacific of course).
  • I’m half German, and am interested in everything German.
  • My uncle and grandfather served in the German armed forces and I was always fascinated by their stories growing up as a kid.
  • Availability in kit form of just about every German AFV that there is.
  • I read a lot of WWII military history which furthers my interest in making specific vehicles from my favorite units (Das Reich, GrossDeutschland etc.) or Panzer Ace.
  • You don’t see them everyday (yet Shermans are everywhere!).
  • They’re just plain cool! [8D]
3

I’ll echo what’s already been said, and I’ll add this:

I think that for me, it’s the combination of A) all the different varieties available in size, shape, purpose and colors of vehicles; B) it’s easy to follow the development of modern armored warfare just by following the progression of German armored vehicles from the Panzer I through the Bundeswehr’s first Leopard (I don’t go that far modern, but there it is); and C) a fascination with things that aren’t available any more.

I’ve been questioned about my politics at a model show before, I guess because I’m one of those modelers who aren’t afraid to show a swastika where it’s appropriate to the build. I even came up with a standard response:

I’m not a Nazi, or anything like it. But, I’m a guy. I like tanks, and I like to pay my tribute to the soldiers who made this world what it is. That includes not only American GIs and British Tommies, but also Nazi Germans, Communist Russians, Imperialist Japanese, and Fascist Italians. But the guy in the tank isn’t a politician - and I have more in common with a German tanker than I do with an American senator.

So there. [8D]

4

[#ditto] Very well put there Scott. Can’t argue.

Ben

5

Sometimes the stuff the bad guys used is just way cool.Tiger,Panther,TIE Fighter,Cylon Raider…etc.

6

Panther…Panther… always my first choice…

7

I’ll give you the German equipment has the looks, but the Allied equipment had some pretty big stuff too just not as well represented by the companies.

Just to play Devil’s advocate for a minute [}:)]

British - Variety

Vicker’s MkVI light tank

Vickers Medium Mk I

A9 Cruiser

A10 Cruiser

A13 Cruiser

Matilda 1 & 2 (many versions of the Matilda 2)

Valentine (10+ major varients)

Crusader

Cromwell (& Centaur)

Comet

Churchill

The various “funnies”

For size have a look at the proposed Tortose or TOG 2

Armored cars / APC’s

Universal Carrier

Dingo

Daimler Armored Car

Humber (many)

Staghound (US built, but primarily British)

Boarhound

Marmon-Harrington (many)

Kangaroo

SP guns

Archer

Bishop

Deacon

Sexton

Softskins are all over the place, LRDG & SAS varients being particularly cool.

Plus you have the British varients of US equipment

For interesting paint schemes the British had several besides OD, there was the black & green “Mickey Mouse” pattern and several interesting schemes used in the desert.

The Soviets had an even wider variety and had some real monsters too, T-35, KV2, SU-122 etc

Yes the US is relatively tame in comparison but had far more than “just Sherman’s” M3 light, M5 light, M24 light, M18 Hellcat, M10 - 3" GMC, M36 - 90mm GMC, M4 “Sherman”, M26 Pershing, M2, M3, M5, M9 halftracks (and a bazzillian versions just like the Germans), M3 “White” scout car, M8 “Greyhound”, M20 armored car, M7 Priest, M8 HMC, LVT(A)-1,2 & 4 etc

Hey build German stuff because its neat stuff, it is. Don’t try and say the Allies don’t have variety though, that is just the fault of the model companies (and several of them lately seem to recognize their diservice to the Allied builders out there).

Have a nice day [:)]

8

Shot this collection at the OC IPMS Nat’s last month, ahhh the Boring Sherman. [:D]

Enjoy

I will give you though the Panther is Sean Connery and the Sherman is Harry Dean Stanton (not a big star but he is in a ton of movies [:)] )

9

I get all the shermans in there. Nice color, variety of kit, differences in armament, but what the heck is the elephanet doing (pic 4)?[:)]

As far as interesting variety, how 'bout them Russians. They made a ton of stuff (I have no idea with the shortages they faced, how they managed to engineer, develop and build all those tanks), freely modified whatever they had to suit their needs, and gainfully used everything they found or were given. I know an awful lot was Green, but nothing like a little cyrillic propoganda to liven up the exterior.

And, in my minor opinion, the Coup De Grace: bedsprings!

10

You know my brother hated American M-4’s because they are so generic. But on the otherhand he had an even deeper dislike for the German Panther. Well one morning we just took a short ride down to Louisville to see what tanks they had on display. (about 90 minutes from my front door).

Well we looked a the stuff outside, and I found several intersting subjects to check out. All’s well, and then we went inside. In the back room was a Panther and a Tiger II, pluse some other really neat tracks. Well the Panther left him bug eyed! Let alone the TigerII (that’s the one I liked). He said that he now knew exactly what this Colonel was talking about on the History Channel when he compared the Panther to the top of the line Shermans. I know how he felt because just the sight of that beast made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. As for my brother; he freely speaks of how good that Panther was built and the cut away of the Tiger was final straw. By the way my favorite track there was a toss up between the STUG III and the Kettenkrad. I’m gonna drop by there next month on the way to chase brookies and rainbows.

gary

11

I just love the WWII GERMAN Armour! Lots of varieties and no matter which hobby shop you go, they’ll have some sort of German armour for sale! I just love the way German Armours are designed… StuGs, Panzer III, IV, Tiger I, Tiger II, Panthers… ALL BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED and VERY aggressive looking war machines. IMO Unlike most Soviet armor from WWII (which I do love T-34 series), German Armour shows more characters.

12

Though it seems everyone loves German armor, but for every one that does, I’m sure the other guy likes Shermans or some other Allied tank. A balance of sorts.

Some reasons I build German armor primarily:

  • Vast array of different types of tanks with additional variations
  • Extensive use of camoflauge
  • Zimmerit coating
  • Obvious attention by manufacturers for providing such topics
  • Military History being an important interest
  • Ethnic background

I still enjoy building all nationalities and have often squacked on the forums that more attention needs to be paid to British armor in 1/35. Wishful thinking I suppose and even I tire of additional Tigers and Panthers, except for the new Dragon zimmed KT. [:P]

13

My reasons are simple…

  • It appeals to me

That’s it…all the other elements mentioned by others are summed up in that statement…all sides had variety in their equipment, all had different theater schemes and camo, all have an appeal to some more than others (and I really feel for those who have an affinity for countries/vehicles that aren’t represented at all or poorly by the manufacturers). For me, the German WW2 subjects are appealing, therefore it’s what I build. On occasion the Allied subjects will also appeal to me and I’ll add them to the stash (the KV-1 series is a good example), but I lean towards the German subjects more.

14

…great response and I appreciate your playing “devil’s advocate”…but a lot of the British AFV’s that you listed were obsolete by 1940-41 and thus saw limited if any combat, and many that did saw it in a limited time-frame (France and the very begining of the Desert War), so one argument against many opf those AFV’s is that they don’t get much exposure now because they didn’t get much exposure THEN…one other cool thing about the Germans is that when a tank became obsolete they often reworked the chassis into another effective AFV (Panzer III chassis into the StuG is one great example, another is the Panzer II chassis into the Marder II)…

…and another large portion of your list reflects late-comers that arrived very late in the war in limited numbers…but your point is still valid and greatly appreciated…

15

Although seeing all those Shermies on the table does make me wanna break out my Dragon Firefly Vc. But alas, too many German builds on the bench. Maybe some time next year.

16

True, that is kind of cool, but not so cool IMO in a modelling perspective. You find yourself building a PzIII or II chassis/lower hull ten million times to build different vehicles, since so many used he PzIII hull. [banghead] Some may not mind, or even enjoy that, but I like new building something new.

17

Revenge, you do raise a point about many of the British vehicles being obsolete by '42 but like the German’s the Brit’s did utilize many of the chassis for other uses, you just don’t see them in kit form. Many became artillery tractors, AA vehicles etc. The low turretless assault gun never took off on the Allied side outside of the Soviets, so you don’t see the variety there. The UK and US did have some great whopping assault guns that never made it past the prototype stage though. One of these days I’m going to have to get a T28 or Tortose from Accurate Armor but i still need both kidneys for now.

There are three big reasons I don’t build a lot of German armor, 2 have been mentioned Zimmeritt and all those damn wheels. [:D] The third is my airbrush and I are not great friends and you really do need an airbrush to fully appreciate German armor past the early grey period.

Now I have a great urge to find a kit of the Sturmmorser Tiger, thanks a lot like I don’t have enough to build. [sigh]

18

Oh. My. God. Where are IPMS nationals next year? I think I just bought a plane ticket.

This is the one drawback of living out in the boonies and not having a local modelling club…I’ve never seen anything like that before with so many outstanding kits in one place… Great pics. Wow.

19

…good question: where are the 2008 IPMS Nationals gonna be???

PS: still wonder how that elephant got in the Sherm mix…???

20

…I dunno… …I just wish some of the guys that built those Shermans in those above pics were posters here…'cause I’d love to see some close ups of some of them…(OK…ALL of them).

I greatly admire WWII German armor because it’s kool, has variety and looks mean…But I also love to see a well built Sherm.

TJ.