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Dioramas: Before Building
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King Tigers in the Ardennes
smokeys_keepers
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: November 04, 2008
KitMaker: 193 posts
Armorama: 187 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 02:05 AM UTC
I want to build a Diorama featuring two Tamiya King Tigers in the Ardennes with the two sets of Dragon 3rd Fallschirmjager riding on the back.

I'm after some help with tank turret markings and colour schemes, I want to make sure that the two tanks I model, wouldve actually been carrying the fallschirmjager.

Any comments and links for either reference or suggestion would be much appreciated

Thanks
SIRNEIL
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: July 30, 2007
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Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 06:25 AM UTC
hi andrew
one of the tanks that you are refering to was a king tiger of the 501'st and i think the turret number was 222 also the troops hitching a lift on the back of it were from the 3.fallschirmjager division.
neil.........
Galwitz
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
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Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 08:45 AM UTC
Neil is right...

As 3. FJG failed to take Honsfeld on December 17, Peiper insisted that the regimental commander give him a battalion of paratroopers to support his panzers. As result, some of them took a ride on the KTs at the tail of his column. According to Concord’s The Battle of the Bulge (page 9), KT #222 was commanded by Oberscharfuhrer Sowa and the set of generally known pictures with paras on the engine deck was taken on December 18 near Ligneuville. This particular KT was lost the very next day in Stavelot while supporting Kampfgruppe Sandig.

HTH

-A-
H_Ackermans
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Gelderland, Netherlands
Joined: July 11, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 09:13 AM UTC
Kurt Sowa's Tiger B with turret number 222 is wel documented in pictures, it also features in the film showing a column of Tiger-B's moving through a town.

There is some debate about the colors of the numbers, some say these were blue on yellow, others claim it is regular black on white or red on white.

I have looked on my HD and I have identified 14 unique pics of 222 there.
Blade48mrd
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Washington, United States
Joined: September 03, 2004
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Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 10:27 AM UTC
Andrew -

Many here that can provide the technical details and info on Ardennes, Peiper, etc. For Tiger-B, Herbert Ackermans is the best source. Here's a great link that deals specifically with the sSSPzAbt 501 of Peiper's 1st SS Panzerkorp called "Tigers in the Ardennes";
http://www.ss501panzer.com/index.htm

Hope this helps some,
Blade48mrd
smokeys_keepers
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: November 04, 2008
KitMaker: 193 posts
Armorama: 187 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 06:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

hi andrew
one of the tanks that you are refering to was a king tiger of the 501'st and i think the turret number was 222 also the troops hitching a lift on the back of it were from the 3.fallschirmjager division.
neil.........


Hi Neil,
Thanks for the comments. The production version kit has decals for KT 222, however, I'll be ordering the verlinden stencil, so whichever numbers shouldnt be a problem
C[ ]
smokeys_keepers
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: November 04, 2008
KitMaker: 193 posts
Armorama: 187 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 06:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Neil is right...

As 3. FJG failed to take Honsfeld on December 17, Peiper insisted that the regimental commander give him a battalion of paratroopers to support his panzers. As result, some of them took a ride on the KTs at the tail of his column. According to Concord’s The Battle of the Bulge (page 9), KT #222 was commanded by Oberscharfuhrer Sowa and the set of generally known pictures with paras on the engine deck was taken on December 18 near Ligneuville. This particular KT was lost the very next day in Stavelot while supporting Kampfgruppe Sandig.

HTH

-A-


Thanks for the comments, KT 222 will be the lead tank in my convoy, I just need to find a second number for the other tank
smokeys_keepers
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: November 04, 2008
KitMaker: 193 posts
Armorama: 187 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 06:44 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Kurt Sowa's Tiger B with turret number 222 is wel documented in pictures, it also features in the film showing a column of Tiger-B's moving through a town.

There is some debate about the colors of the numbers, some say these were blue on yellow, others claim it is regular black on white or red on white.

I have looked on my HD and I have identified 14 unique pics of 222 there.


Hi Herbert,

Thanks for the comments. What is your honest opinion on the colors on the turret numbers?
What other tanks numbers apart from 222 would you suggest?

smokeys_keepers
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: November 04, 2008
KitMaker: 193 posts
Armorama: 187 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 06:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Andrew -

Many here that can provide the technical details and info on Ardennes, Peiper, etc. For Tiger-B, Herbert Ackermans is the best source. Here's a great link that deals specifically with the sSSPzAbt 501 of Peiper's 1st SS Panzerkorp called "Tigers in the Ardennes";
http://www.ss501panzer.com/index.htm

Hope this helps some,
Blade48mrd


Thanks Mike

I had already found that link still looking for other pictures with a second turret number

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