Red Storm on the Reich GB - Sept. 8, 2008 - May 9, 2009

Modeling Subjects Group Builds
1

Here is the official thread for the upcoming “Red Storm on the Reich” GB which also includes the Battle for Berlin as we decided to combine the two GBs.

  • Who can enter? - Anyone with an interest in the final months of the war when the Soviet War Machine crushed the German Juggernaut like a Red Storm on the Reich.

  • What subjects? - This build is focused on the brutal ground battles so tanks, artillery, half-tracks, trucks etc. are totally acceptable. Your build can be straight out of the box, or can be an intricate masterpiece with loads of photo etch, resin etc. Multiple builds, dioramas etc. are allowed.

  • Time frame? - The final months of the war from September 8, 1944 - May 9, 1945. The dates of this GB will coincide with those dates: September 8, 2008 - May 9, 2009.

Here is the Badge (Thanks Hermisminiatures, awesome! [8D])

I hope that we will continue with the excellent discussions, sharing of information and ideas as well as encouragement for our fellow modelers, particularly our less experienced members. Some of you have volunteered to put together some information to help others, so feel free to post it here in this thread. Depending on what it is, I may even add some of it to this first post so it doesn’t completely disappear in a sea of posts… [:-^]

I would also like to encourage research and reading on this catacalysmic period in modern human history. I will post a list of recommended reference materials and books on the subject for those that really want to dig deep and learn a lot. The list will be updated frequently, but I will post a message letting everyone know what has been added so you don’t have to scrutinize this first post everyday. Feel free to send me a message if there are any books you’d like to recommend.

Participants:

Espins1 (Scott) - Tamiya JS-2 Model 1944 ChKZ, 7th Ind. Guards Heavy Tank Brigade
panzerguy - DML 1/35 JS-2
Specter (Seth) - DML 1/35 JS-2
Glamdring - DML 1/35 Panther Ausf. A Totenkopf or Wiking
Anthony2779 - DML 1/35 T-34/85 w/bedspring armor
bobbaily (Bob)- TBD
madmike (Mike) - Italeri 1/72 IS-2
Hermisminiatures - Cyber-Hobby 1/35 Panther F TBD
stick man - DML 1/35 SU-100 premium
moose421 - TBD Tiger I
mmc - Sd.Kfz 7/2 with Flak 38
dupes - TBD DML SU-100 premium
Mobius - Tamiya 1/35 Ford Amphibious GPA
Bufflehead (Ernest) - Tamiya 1/35 JS-2
mg42gunner - DML 1/35 Panther G Smart Kit
Svenne Duva - TBD Panther late
Tigerman - AFV Club Pak-40
SMJModeler - Tamiya 1/35 T-34/85
wing_nut (Marc) - Dragon 1/35 Schwerer Panzerspahwagen Sd.Kfz.234/3
JMart - Tamiya 1/35 Panther Ausf. A
RMC_Birdgunner - Tamiya Panther Ausf. G
Geist (Erik) - ISU-152
Manstein’s Revenge - 1/35 ISU-152
JThurston - Dragon 1/35 SdKfz 251
Lofweir - Tamiya Panther Ausf. A
Paul_Toz (Paul) - 1/72 Dragon Pro Panther Ausf. G
Dupes - 1/72 Dragon JagdTiger (P)
Huxy - Italeri 1/72 SdKfz 234/3
Bakken - JS-2
model maniac 96 - diorama

Recommended Reading

History:

Red Storm on the Reich: The Soviet March on Germany, 1945 by Christopher Duffy
Great Book on the final campaigns through Western Poland, Silesia, Pomerania, Prussia and into Berlin.

The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Anthony Beevor
Excellent book focusing on the final drive and battle in Berlin.

Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 by Max Hastings

Stalingrad to Berlin by Earl Ziemke

Last Days of the Reich: The Collapse of Nazi Germany, May 1945 by James Lucas
Great book on the final collapse of the Nazi war machine. Covers the final months in the East, Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia and also the west.

Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin by Cornelius Ryan
A great classic on the finally battles for Germany

Defeat in the East by Juergen Thorwald

Absolute War by Chris Bellamy Great overall look at the war on the Eastern Front

Reference:

Panzerkampfwagen " Panther ’ Ausfuehrung D. (Panzer Tracts, Vol. 5-1) by Thomas Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle
Excellent reference on the Panther Ausf. D, including the prototype V2 with many 1/35 scale drawings and 1/10 scale drawings of many of the parts! Very cool.

Panzerkampfwagen “Panther” Ausf.A (Panzer Tracts, # 5-2) by Thomas Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle.
Excellent reference on the Panther Ausf. A, including many 1/35 scale drawings and 1/10 scale drawings for many of the parts.

Panzerkampfwagen Panther - Ausf.G (Panzer Tracts, # 5-3.) by Thomas Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle.
Excellent reference on the Panther Ausf. G, including many 1/35 scale drawings and 1/10 scale drawings for many of the parts.

Squadron/Signal Publications:
Panther in Action #11
Sturmgeschutz III in Action #14
Sdkfz 251 in Action #21

Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G Walk Around #2
Great walk around photos essential for anyone modeling the StuG III Ausf. G or StuH 42 Ausf. G.

Tigers in Combat, Vol. 1 by Wolfgang Schneider. Excellent book covering Wermacht Tiger I and Tiger II units with hundreds of photos. Highly recommended!

Tigers In Combat II (Stackpole Military History) by Wolfgang Schneider. Excellent continuation from vol. 1 covering Waffen SS and named Tiger I and Tiger II units with hundreds of photos. Highly recommended!

Schiffer Elefant - JagdTiger - SturmTiger by Wolfgang Schneider

Jagdtiger, The Most Powerful Armoured Fighting Vehicle of World War II - Volume I - Technical History - by Andrew Devey

Jagdtiger, The Most Powerful Armoured Fighting Vehicle of World War II - Volume II - Operational History - by Andrew Devey

Tigers at the Front by Thomas L. Jentz; Schiffer Publishing; ISBN 0-7643-0914-5 This book contains “in action” photos of Tigers on all fronts and has quite a few of the early Porsche Turret Tiger II. There are also field maintenance photos - turret removed, rear deck removed, etc.

Germany’s Panther Tank the Quest for Combat Supremacy: Development - Modifications - Rare Variants - Characteristics - Combat Accounts (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)
This is the best reference book on the Panther I’ve come across by far. It’s comprehensive and includes all original research from original source documents and records, this avoiding the perpetuation of many of the common myths and mis-information regarding the Panther.

Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of World War Two: The Complete Illustrated Dictionary of German Battle Tanks,Armoured Cars, Self-Propelled Guns and Semi-Track by Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle - Excellent comprehensive resource for all German Tanks, including rare and captured vehicles. Excellent starting point for researching Panzers and in some cases the only resource of any substance for the rare stuff.

2

Scott count me in with a DML 1/35 JS-2.

3

Put me down for a DML 1/35 JS-2m please

4

I’d like in. Can I get a ruling on whether the Maus would qualify? If not, I’ll get back at a later date on what I’ll be building.

5

That’s a tough one. Some sorces say that the 2nd prototype of the Maus saw combat while defending the proving grounds at Kummersdorf, while other sources say it was blown up by its crew at Kummersdorf to prevent it from being captured by the Soviets.

Does anyone have any information on whether or not the Maus ever saw combat? [%-)]

6

I will do Dragon’s T-34/85 w/bedspring armor

thanks for your work in getting it going

7

Scott-sounds like a great theme. I’m in but I probably won’t get started until late fall. I’ll let you know what I’m building then.

Thanks

8

Scott I read that one Maus was set up in a static defensive position and later destroyed by it’s crew dont know if it actualy ever fired any round’s though.

9

It’s been my understanding the the one operational Maus was ordered to Berlin but broke down along the way, leading to it being “blowed up” by it’s crew. I think the common consensus is that it never fired a shot in battle.

That’s why I’m questioning, it was ordered to the battle but broke down enroute. I have no problem if it would be disallowed, it’ll just give me an excuse to go buy another model. [dinner]

10

Please put me down for a Italeri 1:72 IS-2.

With the GB period nice and long I will definitely be able to add to that entry once I decide which subject to nominate.

Cheers

Mike

11

Put me down for something TBD. Either an ISU-122 or the last Ferdinand.

12

If any of those stories are documented in a book, then my inclination is to say it would be totally ok. [8D] Even the instance of being ordered to Berlin, breaking down and then being blown up by its crew. That was the fate of many Panzers throughout the final months. Can you imagine how demoralizing that had to have been for the crews? [xx(] [:(]

13

Put me down for something Russan not shure what but I do have a SU-100 so I’ll try to find out if thay where in the battel… if not I’ll try to get my hands on a T-34[:)].

14

Scott I have no idea if the Maus ever fired a shot in anger but I do have a pic of the remains of the tank after it was destroyed.

HTH

15

Count me in! I love the latter start time. Lets me finish up current builds. Thinking of doing something German. Have to research what, but am leaning towards a Panther G late. Any help in getting the correct paint scheme would be helpful.

thanks

16

I was looking in armor and someone (I think Manny’s revenge) posted info on the battel and there where ilistrations of the viacals used and there was an SU-100 in it so… I’m in with the DML 1/35 premiam edition[:)]!

Thanks for posting the info on the batte who ever posted it!

17

Could you put my name down please. I’m going to try and keep away from the heavy armour if thats ok.

I’ve got Tamiya’s 8 ton semi-track with 37mm flak, if this fits the time frame.

If not, I could go for a sdkfz 251, or maybe face Dragons 88 (so many parts!!!).

Or I could always give in to the urge to go for a big cat[:D]

18

I’m in! Going to wait to decide on what to build until it starts…maybe try to go with something that’s not covered. Or I could always do that SU-100 Premium…[:D]

Should be a good one!

MMC - save that 251, there’s going to be a 251 Series GB this fall as well. [:D]

19

I made up my mind - I’ll be building the 1/35 Cyber-Hobby Panther F.

And Dupes, you should start thinking about guidelines and an official post for the 251 GB, we’ve been talking about it for forever and an age…start sometime in the fall and run for 251 days. Or something like that [;)]

20

I just finished watching The Fall of Berlin an old documentary on DVD my brother bought me and I found my project. Zhukov’s crossing of the Oder. A U.S. built Ford GPA in service with the Ruskies. Count me in with the 1/35 Tamiya Ford Amphibious GPA. Anyone have any idea on markings? [%-)]