Hi guys,

So I have these Verlinden C Rations that come as a piece of card that you make up. They look nice but when I'd put one together I noticed how large it was for 1/35. When compared to a figure its clearly too big. The box is 15mm x 15mm x 8mm.

Would anyone know how big they were in real life (WWII)?

Thanks.

http://usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/Rations/rationsintro.htm

This should help.

Phil,
The old C rations came in a light cardboard top opening box box about 6x6x4 inches. I don't recall the exact dimensions though. However, they came in cases of 12 boxes per case. What you are describing sounds like the case of 12 rather than an individual ration. During WWII K rations came in a couple of different configurations in a longer, narrower box that came in dark green or brown cardboard, about 8x4x3 inches. Current MREs come in a similar case to the old C rations with 12 MREs per case, but individual MREs are much larger than the C ration individual box, while the case for both remains about the same size. Hope this helps.
VR Russ

The Verlinden cut-outs are the cases, not the meals. They're vehicle storage or cargo not figure meals.

This shows the Hudson and Allen c-rations boxes on an M48. World War 2 ones were similar. I have both and often mix and match to show that troops in the 1960s were still eating WW2 rations.

Ah, thanks guys.

Have a look at the thread I started here, you will find them on one page to download and print!

http://www.armorama.co.uk/forums/249015&page=1


Modern MRE are on these pages

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98846821/MRE%20modernas%20135%20surtidas%20y%20explosivos.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98846821/MRE%20modernas%20135.jpg

WW2 C rations

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98846821/wwii%20cration%20135.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98846821/wwii%20cration%20135.jpg

K rations

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98846821/Raciones%20K%20135.jpg

all on

http://www.fcmodeltips.com/search/label/descargas%20downloads?updated-max=2013-06-21T11:08:00%2B02:00&max-results=20&start=57&by-date=false

Just a little errata here-- Troops in the 60s were not eating rations produced during the Second World War--but they were eating the same "types" of C rations as their WWII predecessors. Rations have a shelf life just like any other canned goods, and the US Army Veterinary Corps is assigned the responsibility of approving the suitability and longevity of rations. Ration shelf life is approximately 5 years, and must be condemmed or consumed by the end of that period. Therefore, troops in the 60's were eating rations produced in the 50s at the latest. The WWII rations should have been condemned long before. But as a side note, in 1975 my unit happened upon a locker which had not been opened since the end of the Korean War. Inside were 8 in 1 and 5 in 1 rations in the original cans. The meat and fruit liquid packed products were all bad, but the candy and bread products were still edible (just barely). The candy product was a #5 can packed solid with M & Ms-- they were a little stale but we munched on them anyway. The bread in a can was interesting, it was still soft, but totally tasteless.
VR Russ