Doesn't anyone make in resin or plastic:
a) Heer (Wehrmacht) troops
b) in action poses
c) in casual dress ie: no buttoned up collars, maybe rolled up sleeves, short boots w/gaiters, etc
d) suitable for Normandy campaign
e) absolutely NO SS!!
f) NO standing and looking, or pointing
I might be asking too much! If I wanted SS I could find them for any stage of the war, even tea time!

There are a bunch of new and older Dragon figure sets that have action poses and uniforms for that time period.
J

Which Dragon sets? The older Dragon sets aren't worth using and the only newer set are the Gen 2 Vienna 1945 set with the M44 tunics which were not yet in general issue at the time of D-Day. Most stationary troops in Normandy were 2nd rate troops and foreign conscripts, and wouldn't be issued with new equipment. However, I did find a couple of Master Box figs in late pattern and Zeltbahns (better than Dragon's ancient East Prussia set!). At least they're a start.

Maybe, this link may help to get an impession of the Axis troops in Normandy. For sure not only 'second quality' troops!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy#Divisional_areas

As you may see, many model sets will fit.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dragon+german+troops&espv=210&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=MwqiUoOGKaun0wX3r4HoBg&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=898

should give you an small overview which sets are still (via e-bay and alike) available.

Hi

how about these as a possible................

Dragon 1/35 kit WWII German figures Kampfgruppe Von Luck Normandy 1944

Alan

They are perfect as well as the PanzerLehr set. Don't give up on Dragon. Do a search on Spruebrothers webstore. There are lots of possibilities.
J

This may be a very stupid questions, but is there really such a big difference visually (leaving apart insignias and camo pattern) between Wehrmacht and SS units at that (late) time of the war?

Biggles,

Here's a few to search for, all Dragon except as noted:

DN6156 Panzer riders Lorraine (still Ok for Normandy)
DN6064 HMG Team (not area specific)
DN6155 Kampfgruppe v Luck
DN6111 Panzergrenadiers, Panzer Lehr
DN6??? German Infantry, Battle of the Hedgerows
MB3584 German Infantry, Western Europe (Masterbox, newish)
DN6034 German Tank Hunters

Nicholas:

Yes there are big difference when Heer & SS troops are in action, mainly the almost universal Camo gear on SS troops, not so much on Heer, also the smocks used by SS & Heer differ in details noticeable in 1/35th. Even the helmet covers are different designs, not just colours. Despite what you will see written on the internet, there was not much swapping of camo gear between SS & Heer units, there was always a shortage of both. Some SS unis, e.g. HJ have unique uniforms also, Italian camo and Panzer leathers.

Thanks for that info, Steve! You mention that the differences would be noticeable in 1/35th scale? How about 1/72th?

How about Master box signals troops I think their suppose to be Stalingrad but would pass for a french summer.

Hi Biggles2,

About the applicability of different German uniforms:

Keep in mind that many soldiers were transfered to other units, from eastern Europe to western or southern Europe, as well as complete units did (and the other way round!). Their transfer was certainly not done with a complete replacement of gear and personel clothing. Also, units kept quite some stuff from other AoR's. This would lead to the presence of items that were issued earlier in the war and for other areas. Soldiers are very good to keep stuff which might be useful one day!
Since the invasion created quite some panic, combined with the logistic chaos due to the Allied bombardments of train and truck transport, one can asume that quite some variation in gear showed up since units were hurried to Normandy from all over western and southern Europe.

Just a few minutes on YouTube and all your doubts may have vanished!

Looking forward to see your build,

P>

Nicholas,

The differences may not be so noticeable re the smocks in 1/72nd, however if I detail them you can decide for yourself. The biggest difference and most noticeable (apart from the patterns of course) is that the Heer smock has an attached hood. The SS smock did not have this, and the cuffs and waist of the SS smock are elasticated. On the Heer smock, the cuffs have buttoned tabs and the waist is a drawstring.
Generally speaking, most Waffen SS combat troops in Normandy still wore the smock in action. There are photos showing members of HJ wearing the herringbone twill or drill four pocket camouflage suit, and there is a well known picture of grenadiers of Gotz v Berlichingen wearing the smock OVER this suit. The smock, being made ofcotton duck, was showerproof, something the later suits weren't.
By contrast, some Heer troops, mainly from the more elite units had the camo smock, but this seems to be less apparent in second line units.

I should have specified 1/35. I was looking chiefly for resin figs, but I'm being too picky in my time frame and appearance of the figs. The best representations so far are some figs by First Legion, although they seem to be made for a Stalingrad summer. However, I've decided to use a couple of Zeltbahn'ed figures from Masterbox with resin heads and Gen 2 equipment. They're about as close as I'm going to get to what I had in mind.

Biggles if you need to convert SS troops in smocks to Wehrmacht troops in smocks I've got a load of hoods as I work the other way round and convert the Wehrmacht troops to SS...lol. You're more than welcome to them. Obviously you'd have to take the camo loops off the SS smocks as the Wehrmacht smocks didn't have them but it's a straightforward enough job. Let me know if you need them mate.

Thanks for the offer Karl, but I want to stay away from Heer pattern camo smocks as from pictorial evidence they were relatively uncommon. And I don't want people to say, "He used SS figs when they should be Heer!", or, "What an amateur! He's got figs in winter parkas in the middle of summer!".

To be honest you could get away with almost any Heer regular uniform as I have seen just about all the major types from 1939 to middle'44 worn in pics taken in Normandy. I would say the basic,most seen uniform was the 4 pocket tunic with no
"folds" in the pockets and straight pocket flaps,worn with the "retreat" gaiters over low boots but as I said,earlier uniforms were also seen so the Stalingrad ones could be used. Maybe not all the figs in your scene but one or two? See what I'm gettin at?
J