Hi guys...

I need some help from you guys... I'm actually thinking of building another diorama which will include some German army and I need help on assisting with the uniforms and weapons.

I have totally zero knowledge on this and although the diorama will not be realistic (I'll tell more on this when I started it) but I need to get the soldiers in uniforms on the same period.

This are the first figures and weapons that I have...




Better yet, which period (year) is best to use all the models I've shown.

Thanks.

Imran,

I'm not a German expert, but I'll give it a try...

Base on the box art, these german are having those dark green colars, grey uniform, grey pant and high cup boots... I'd say they're early war period.

But U can always paint the colar and uniform field grey as mid or late war

Amy German expert may clearify this...

Notice these are old old kits from Tamiya, right? Especially the first set "German army officer" moulded with puffy look....

CPTan

Thanks for the feedback CPTan. I will be painting it field gray for a late war period.

Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I understand from your reply, the Germans has the same style/type of clothings but the difference between early, mid and late war period is just the colour, is it?

As for the Tamiya German Army Officer, yup, they have that puffy look and I have to give it some proper modification when the time comes. Currently I'm just collecting the items that I need for the diorama and get the correct line of figures and weapons.

CP has covered most of it but just to jump in with my 2 cts. although I'm no expert.

To some extent and in a very general way the German uniforms for the Whermacht remained almost similar. The differences were in the absence of certain badges on the helmet, changes in collar tabs and the minor improvements of the uniform (M33, M36, M40) and the fact that material/dyes became more scarce towards the later part of the war.

As a very broad generalization early war uniforms tended to have a greenish tinge to the german grey although not absolutely the rule for the Army as CP mentioned. The 'puffy' pants were breeches worn usually by mounted personnel which included motorcyclists as well as horse riders. Again unmounted personnel could wear them as well. The overcoat of the officer is black.

For me if you go with a basic german grey for the uniforms you should be ok. I wouldn't worry about getting the perfect grey shade as uniforms like everything else weathers in the field. More importantly is the time of the year. Your first set can pass off for late spring, early summer or autumn but your PAK crew with rolled up sleeves would likely be summer or early autumn at best. You will likely have to go for late spring or early autumn as your first set most of them have gloves from the boxart.

The following is a good link to Heer or Army uniforms while the homepage in the 2nd. link will give you info on other branches.
German Army
Other branches of the German Military

Personal equipment such as canteens, bread bags, ammo pouches varied very little. The tripod mounted MG the MG 34 came out first and was later replaced by the MG 42 the other MG in your weapon set, which was produced in 1942. Both can be used if you are going for late WWII. You can use the MP40 as well found in your 1st set being carried by the most right figure.

I'd go with a mid to late war period say 1942 onwards with winter and summer unlikely. Oops if you intend to use the multi head grenade which is likely to be the Model 43, then its definitely a mid to late war setting for you. Teller mines type 35, 42 and 43 should be no problem for late war.

Thanks for the information and links CK. It helps a lot.

I have decided to go with the 1943 - 1944 war period as per your suggestions CK. You have assisted me to narrow the period down. Ok, I would like to ask your opinions again. I have ordered this and will this fit the 1943 - 1944 period?

Tamiya motorcycle orderly set


Tamiya BMW R75 set


Masterbox tank crew playing card set


MiniArt German tank repair crew set


Will this figures fit the period? and for the tank crew, what is the best tank for them to be in for 1943 - 1944? I don't want a very big tank though.

Druid,
Please note that for the feldbluse, the distinct difference in the pockets is that the 1936 pattern has vertical folds in the middle in addition to the dark collars while the 1943 pattern has plain pockets.
High jackboots are also quite rare in the later part of the war.

As for the 1943-44 period, there are a few campaigns but then the figures set seems to be a match of summer and winter clothings. Might have to do some mods here and there.

Thanks for the heads up Loo CK.

I will get the figures prepared and then decide which period is less hassle to do and go into that direction. :D

Just as a rough guide Imran and I believe you mentioned it as well, when mixing and matching figs the first considerations would be for me in the following order:

1. Which season (i.e. winter, summer, etc) you are planning to place the dio?
2. The general storyline (i.e action at a battlefront vs. relaxed rear) coz these will set the pose of most of your figs without having to do too much modifications.
3. Area or location (i.e Russian front vs. North Africa) will determine the uniform.
4. Last would be the period (early war or late war)

For example, your Feldgendarme and motorcyclist are in an late Summer-early Autumn, relatively relaxed and definitely not fighting at the frontlines, likely to be Europe confirmed by the road signs and likely late war. You could match it with the 1st Tamiya set (German Army officer) provided the collars as mentioned by CP is not painted all round dark greenish blue but just at the tabs where the "2 bars" (waffenfarbe) are. The 2 bars have a midline in the color of the division of the army that they serve (i.e pink for panzer troops/crew if I remember correctly). The waffenfarbe color is also seen as a thin lining on the shoulder straps. Likewise I suppose it could match the BMW set as well if placed in a late Autumn setting given their overcoats and gloves.

The 2 tank crew sets will definitely need to be placed in summer and in a relaxed behind the lines setting.

The PAK crew is a misfit as it does not sit well with the earlier sets with their rolled up feldbluse but neither do they fit the summer scene of the tank crews because of their "action/fighting" poses.

Hope this makes things clearer and not worse. :)

Thanks for the guide and assistance CK.

Ok, the dio that I'm building will not use some of the figures. I will most probably will not use the PAK crew because the dio will not be in any action.

The general storyline will be that it will be at a somewhat relaxed state where the crew, soldiers and officers are mostly resting or discussing.

The season will be late summer - early autumn where most figures available can be used. If the tank crew and the repair crew does not match the season, than I'll use it in another diorama. Too bad because I wanted to show that the Germans is not in a very stressed state.

I need more advice on no. 3 and 4 though... :D

Yeah the tank crews from MB are very nice with interesting poses. Pity they appear decked out more for summer.

Looks like its most likely the Tamiya Officer set, the Motorcyle Orderly set and possibly you may just be able to squeeze the BMW R75 set although the 2 marching soldiers following the bike appear to be in their great coats, around Autumn. I would likely go for an European theatre and possibly Autumn 1943 or even Spring prior to the D-day invasion.

Should be an interesting dio. Do keep us updated.

Yup, most likely I'll be using the Tamiya Officer set, the Motorcycle Orderly set and the BMW R75 minus the 2 marching soldiers as it might not fit in very well with the scene. I might look for a few more figures for this dio.

I'll decide the season later. :D

I just came back from HHQ and get me these... :D

I see you are a casualty of the MB poison :D :D although the biggest casualty would still be my co-moderator here. :lol:

Actually the tank crews and repair teams would make an excellent setting and you have 3 different sets (playing cards, repair crew and a 2-man repair crew) which could fit in nicely in a carefree relaxed dio say set in the summer under an apple orchard. You can call it "A Peaceful Day" or "A Slow Day at the Office". :)

Besides they are much easier to paint since they are all with their black pants and field grey shirts.

Yup... that is actually what my next dio will be. Just need the best tank to fit the story. Maybe a Panzer or a King Tiger... :D

Hahaha... like I said before "I thought Low was doing the inventory check until I saw he took out a big plasic bag".

Judging from the list of the figures and accessories you bought, you really need to do some test-composition on your diorama.

Good luck on the planned dio! Any idea on how big it's gonna be?

The first dio will not be very big since most of the tank and repair crews will be "transferred" to another dio. The base will be about 30cm x 30cm.

The first dio will not be from an actual event. It will have some "twist" of "what ifs" in there. Currently, the figures that will be used is the Orderly set, the officers and two set of the BMW bike minus the marching soldier.

I will use the tank and repair crews in the second dio which will mostly depicts the soldiers at a relaxed state, playing cards while the repair crews are doing their job... :D

Oiii.....
I have to confess, I am a sucker for figure sets. Always dreamed that I can finish off all the sets in their own respective vignettes. In fact I love the figures more than the AFVs.
The Master Box kits are really good animated stuff except their tools and personal gear. Replace them if you can. I will try to do a few reviews later when time permits. Did you notice the nice related graphics that always accompany the box art on the top right corner? Always good for a cut out to dress up your vignette

How about "working on the deck" as a title for your mechanics and card players. There's a duality at play there!