Does anyone know of a crew that would fit the 1/35 Sturer Emil? I just got the model and was thinking about a diorama.

Thank for your help

Hi Matt

This is a tricky one due to the very compact area of the fighting compartment. I think you'll need to seek out some 1/35 scale figures that come up on the smaller size of that scale.

Tristar come to mind. Set 35007. Here is a review that shows them.

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/figures/tristar/tri35007.htm

Failing that you could always go for figures around it, say in the process of repair or restocking ammunition etc. That way you don't have to worry about fitting them inside the open topped gun area.

Good luck.

Alan

I guess it depends on what you want to show:
Since only two vehicles were build (Max and Moritz, issued to 521 Panzerjägerabteilung) and they were used in the Stalingrad area during winter time, being part of the self propelled artillery one can asume that the uniforms used were mainly warm! In the January fightings in a ice cold half open vehicles I guess everything that would keep a gunner warm would be used. So, most likely, not the fancy sp gun uniforms but shalws, long coats and gloves or mitten. One vehicle ( the one with 22 kill rings ) was captured in tact in Jan 1943, the other destroyed in combat. The caputerd one can be seen in the Museum of Armoured Forces in Kubinka, Russia.

Some pictures show, however, the vehicles manned by a black dressed crew. These vehicles were field tested in the Summer of 1942. One may ask himself what these field tests incorporated. It looks less likely that real life combat use would have been part of the tests. Active use would also mean that the Russians would have noticed a new development and created new counter tactics. But, I admit, that is my personal consideration.

Going back to my own experiences during field tests of (rare) new military vehicles, you might consider the use of some interested high ranking officers and civilians, both from the departments and factories involved. In that case any uniform of the visitors could be used! In such a case a combination of shiny staff and civil cars and a new SP gun is an option.
Enjoy your build.

A quick Google image search shows Sturer Emil, with kill rings, and mottled green over Panzer gray cammo, in the Russian steppes summer or early fall 1942. The crew seem to be wearing a mixture of dark and light uniforms (black Panzer, and field-gray sturm-artillerie uniforms, and shirt-sleeves). This was probably during the summer '42 offensive which took the Germans to Stalingrad. Those Tristar figs are really well done and animated, however they are meant to be used for Pak 75mm or 88mm guns, and will need to be modified for the two-piece 128mm ammo of Sturer Emil. It was, as Paul states, captured near Stalingrad during the Russian offensive. There are some Russian pics of it, apparantly abandoned, along with some Panzerjager l's, in the desolate snowy wastes.