Getting nostalgic, are we Dan?[:D]
You are right this was a good post and just look at the good and polite replies.
As for me I don’t just model German armor although I might say that the variety of German subjects is really something that can catch the interest.
I do it because of the camo, and the different types.
I think many are drawn to the so called “underdog” status of the German military. They basically took on the world and darn near conquered all of Europe and the Soviet Union. Why? Aside from leaders (sans Hitler) and tactics, most are drawn to the weapons. I mean who couldn’t admire a brute of steel such as a Tiger, King Tiger, and Panther? They come in so many camo schemes and whatnot. I enjoy all armor, but the big brutes with their interesting schemes, zimmerit, schurzen, et al, are some of the fascinating aspects of modeling German armor for me.
'cause it’s there?
Well I think it’s been pretty well covered,although I enjoy building Allied stuff too.IMHO just the weight of subject matter that’s out there from the Germans is adictive.Although one could say their preocupation with developing different vehicles was a hinderence.
I also think the vehicles are just plane cool looking and like Tigerman said, with all the Zim and other tidbits that their vehicles had it’s just fun to work with.
Well I think alot of it comes down to the Model Companies. German Models offer alot to the companies who produce them, because the Germans usually made several variants of the same vehicle hence the 5,000 different versions of the Tiger,Panther and so on and alot of the vehicles use the same hulls or turretts, think about it a model company spends almost 25k on a mold to make one model, you want to squeeze the most out of that one mold and why not just make twenty different versions of the same friggin vehicle look at the Dragon 251’s there are at least 15-20 different Dragon kits that are essentially the same vehicle with something different on the back of it. We can really thank Tamiya for starting the whole German thing in the Seventies but I believe they had the same thing in mind Make a mold and charge $30 for a Tiger, then a year later produce the same mold in a different box and call it Late version and charge $40 dollars. No crazy mystique just good Business.
I have until now predominantly modelled aircraft, and one of the key factors in choosing a modelling subject for me has been the camo scheme. Does it interest me, does it appeal to the eye? Therefore when I look at a Panther compared with a Sherman, the Panther wins every time in terms of visual interest. The same applies to my choice of A/C, I’d rather do the mottled camo of a Luftwaffe bird, that the OD and grey of a USAAF machine.
Karl
Whatever the reason, I hate it.
I go to the hobby store, and find that every manufacturer has a model of the PzVIB Ausf J, Winter Variant, With Zimmermit, With Early Hatch, With Late Tracks, Without Kitchen Sink, Sixteen produced, none saw combat.
In the meantime, trying to find a humble AML, 4000 produced, widely exported, combat used, etc in 1/35 and you’re pretty much doomed. (I bought a resin kit online, after much searching)
I’d rather the kit manufacturers presented us with a little more variety. Hence I give kudos to Trumpeter, their new catalogue is filled with unusual items.
NTM
Being new to modeling in general, I would have to say my first consideration is aesthetics. I won’t buy a model unless I really like the way it looks. And as far as tanks go, I only have oe so far: a King Tiger. I could have gone with any other type of tank, so why did I pick a German one? To put it simply, because when I think of a typical tank, that is what i think of, even though I know it was hardly “typical” for its time. A tank to me is a big, imposing hunk of steel that can ram a huge mortar down your gullet, not the sleek, modern, shoot-you-from-three-miles-away jobs the military is driving around these days (which are more effective, of course). And any other model I build, I build for the same reason. Planes should be fairly sleek in my opinion, but should also exude both authority and grace. Ships should look busy and bustling, places where people have to live their lives as well as perform duties, and so on.
Excellent question, and though I definetly have a penchant for German armour, I have no idea why. I’ve done more airplanes than anything else and I’ve never even had an interest in doing anything German.
So it not a “German” thing, or a “bad guy” thing, or even just a “look” thing.
I model what I think is the most worthwhile subject, like I’m paying homage, or making a statement. I think the F-16 is the slickest fighter jet period, so I put huge effort into doing a 1/32. I just like the very over-the-top idea of the Tiger I, so I’m looking to do a serious project one now, for a Afrika Corp Dio. Here again: why DAK? Because I think Rommel was the dude!
Maybe Germany simply had the most admirable, inspiring armour…
I feel that the German armor was more diversified and a bunch of varients, and they just looked meaner and cooler! The allies didnot have that much of different armor and the colors are all the same and most stuff of the allies are just plain boring, now dont get me wrong, I have built my share of shermans and matildas and such, but I just like the axis stuff better
There is one element of influence we’re forgetting; the dominant Japanese market. These are the real panzer worshipers who determine the fields of interest for Tamiya and others. Correct me if I’m wrong, J-Hulker, you are geographically placed to be the thumbs up, or down guy on this humble view.
Interesting thought. The Japanese seem to be more influenced by American culture however, so the German infatuation seems to be more of an enigma. Just MHO.
He does have a point, though. I recall David Fletcher saying that for some reason, the first set of tanks that Japanese tourists at Bovington want to look at are the German ones.
Even their modern armoured vehicles tend to look a lot like their German counterparts.
NTM
The appeal of something “evil”. Even the “ugly” German AFV’s have a strong appeal, just for the simple fact that they are/were “evil”.
Lookswise, yeah, they beat the allies.
Cause were all addicted to modeling glue.
I speak for most people when I say that I like german armor becuase it is different, and there are so many varities of tank, spg, color schemes, etc. I personally like german armor because they look different, and because they represent the bad guys(always had a thing for the bad guys)[}:)][B)] AND, because in my eyes, they look extremley BAD ASS!!!
I think is a bit of everything.
For example, long before I got into modeling I knew that panzed divisions were to be feared.
Maybe, as mentioned before, japanesse admired panzers cause Germany was their ally and they didn’t have powerful tanks. That may have influenced the apperance of early panzer models. Then, as it has happened to me, the great number offered turns to be attractive. I’m not into german armor yet this year I built a tiger and a stug IV and I have 4 kits waiting in my stash; one of which is the 251 drilling I choose just because it looked cooled, was a new kit and had so many accesories.
Also, their schemes are a good reason. IMHO even an all-gray tiger looks better than a OD sherman.
I’d prefer that manufactures did justice to the T-90, for example, instead of releasing another variation of the PzIV.
I also give kudos to trumpeter for offerings like the S-tank, Ariete, Ososrio, french SA 87. And to tamiya for the Leclerc and the JGSDF Light Armored Vehicle.
I think the appeal of German armor is first and foremost the look of it all, it looks mean and menacing, form follows function and all that. Second, I think it is a form of trophy taking. We mount deer heads and build models of defeated enemies. The Germans came damed close to owning Europe and carrying the fight to the rest of the world.
As far as German armor being inferior to the allies at the start of the war, I have a hard time sitting still for that one. The French tanks had one man turrets, limited mobility and******poor communications in and out of the tank. Russians used outdated tanks that suffered from the same problems as the French and the Brits were still convinced the tank was a passing fancy and refused to design them for anything but infantry support.
The Germans hand fairly high velocity cannon but were limited in effectiveness by small bores. They had radios and good internal communications. The tactics employed were years ahead of the rest of the world and if not saddeled by Hitler and his demands for bigger tanks and more far out weapons the world would be a different place than it is today.
As for other countries armor, they just don’t hold the interest like the German stuff .
Thanks for hearing me out>
Ben
I don’t build much german armor, but the reason I find many have such an appeal for it is because,
A) Many of the tanks stood out as a terror to the enemy, and so, gain military appeal.
B) Other than some of the Russian tanks such as the IS2, German armor simply had a tough and bad look to it.
C) German armor designs were usually far ahead of that of any other army’s.
D) German armor has a very interesting and vast history, which is very fun to model!