I am thinking of adding a figure to the Hobbyboss VK18.01 early kit.

What would be a correct figure to use to represent a crewman at tank school say around 1940?

Basic black panzer uniform with panzer beret.

(yes I know the Pz 1 pictured is not the same variant )

On a side note, IIRC the VK 1801 appeared in 1942...
H.P.

Thanks HP and Biggles.

Wiki says 1940 and sent to 1st Panzer in 43. Since the HB early kit is the prototype version and figured it would have been used around that time at school. Open to more correct information cause that is all I know.

Is there a preferred figure kit to use?

Don't know if it's more correct, but here's the information I had found :

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkampfwagen-i.htm

H.P.

Does that change the uniform for tank school?

The short answer, is "no." The black Panzer uniform was the authorized, official tankers uniform throughout the war.

The black Panzer beret with the inner cork crash helmet was worn with that uniform until about January, 1941. After that, the black Panzer (Feld) Mutze ("overseas cap") was worn with the black Panzer uniform.

There are many variations, detailed changes and other uniform combinations, but this is your basic WWII German tanker's outfit.

So, the cutoff date for the headgear change is late 1940 to early 1941 allowing for some overlap and wear-out of older items. Before late 1940, most tankers would have the beret, and after early 1941, most would have the black Feldmutze. The next basic and major change would be the introduction of the M43 Einheitsfeldmutze (brimmed hat based on the Gebergsjeager hat), but that's much later (1943) than you're planning.

There is no shortage of model figures with these uniforms in all price ranges, in both plastic and resin.

Thanks Mike.