Hey Guys, I just started a IDF Centurion tank and I would really like to add some infantry to a simple vignette. What I found on the net, looks like during Six Day war they used a hodgepodge of whatever they could find. I know I will need to combine several figure kits along with some Hornet heads. I think the tankers used the football/crash helmet. And most of what saw was a lot of British uniforms for the ground pounders. Any help, recommendations for kits would be helpful.

Basically, take any greenish uniform, add an Uzi or Galil, and drench it in dust.

Here is a very little known fact.Rawlings(yes,the people who make baseball gloves)were making tank helmets for the U.S. during World War II.These are exactly like the original football helmets.These helmets sure seemed to have been exported also.

Unfortunately it seems most of the IDF figures available today have uniforms and weapons too modern to be appropriate for a '67 theme. There is a beautiful set of '67 paratroopers from AC Models but you'll need to make sure your wife doesn't find out what you paid for the 12-figure set.

https://redlancers.com/item.aspx?ID=10114

Bit and pieces of U.S. and British WWII figures will work, especially for the reservists who showed up with erratic uniforms and without recent haircuts--Hornet's "unkempt" heads will work here. There are several sources for excellent Israeli FN FALs on Shapeways (which IMO should be carried by most infantry figures meant to depict the '67 period).

I have several '67 kits already in the queue and there will probably be a few more hidden in the garage until I can sneak them past my wife. I'm currently digging out old reference material on this period, found a couple of good books at the back of the storage unit just today. One would think that Dragon would be planning on some infantry and vehicle crew sets to go with their 1967 vehicles, we can only hope....

I don't think you'd find Galils in use in 1967. I've certainly never seen one that was reliably identifiable as being in that conflict. FN FALs were much more likely.

Exactly, the Galil did not enter widespread service until the mid 1970s. In 1967 the standard IDF infantry rifle was the FN FAL. Uzis, sure, some (especially with wooden buttstocks), and even some ex-Czech Kar98s presumably in reserve units. But the FN FAL--including the heavy-barrel. 30-round SAW version--is what most infantry should be carrying. In 1967 the IDF was mostly armed with 1950s technology, but then most of the time it isn't technology that wins wars, it's the people behind the technology who determine the outcome. LOL, of course the tankers were still wearing those Rawlings M38 "football" tankers helmets--why do I want to own one of those things? Just to look like "Oddball" from "Kelly's Heroes"? Maybe my wife is right about this whole "glue-sniffing" thing....

Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback. I have figures that I will have to try some "surgery " on, also got a weapons kit with the correct small arms. I can't understand why there are not figures from the Middle East

"50 shades of green"

FN-FALs, Uzis, Mausers and M-1 carbines were standard fare for infantry figures.

LOL, great photo, uniforms from all over including the US, UK and France, and I see a Lee Enfield in there too. There might have still been some ex-Soviet tanker helmets in use, and who knows what else--and that doesn't include the captured equipment they would soon have in large quantities. That's probably good for modelers, nobody can say, "the IDF never used that".

Pretty much agree with all above. Basically you can take any WW2 US/French/Commonwealth figure and use it - with or without change(s). Remember, the "real" IDF is the reserve army. It's always been like that and still it is, so using some "civilian" heads is definitely a good idea.

Cool bit of info. I went looking and found this interesting article:

http://www.ima-usa.com/original-u-s-wwii-m38-tanker-helmet.html

It looks like the real thing in good condition sells for five or six hundred bucks, with some folks asking even more. I've only see one online that had the original ear phones. But there are lots of reproductions available for far less if you really want to wear one to your next model club meeting....

These type of tank helmets were used by the IDF till the late '60's, so they would match your timeframe.

Doug that is some serious $$$$$$

Javier thanks for the photo. I purchased some Dragon British infantry in which I will have to add long pants and and a set of allies from North Africa and I will try the Hornet heads.

Concerning IDF tanker figures for the 1967 era, Hobby Fan has (had?) a two-figure set of Centurion crew members circa '67, kit #581, intended for the AFV Club Centurion.

Valkyrie Miniatures has a set of two IDF tank crew for the Yom Kippur War in '73, but those would not work for a 1967 vehicle unless someone has photos of those helmets and uniforms being used in '67.

The sets from Academy or Meng are too modern for either the '67 or '73 wars IMO.

See this thread on pretty much the same subject, the Hornet heads would be perfect:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/154320&page=1