I am planning my next ww2 diorama, but I am not particularly aware of military practice. I would like to model a tank crew, at night, possibly with snow. The bulk of the crew sleeping (maybe other soldiers as well?) - out and around the tank possibly under a tarp? One of the crew positioned (As i am yold) in the Tank commanders position - keeping guard. And one looking with a exposed flashlight (to play with fiber optics) at something or other..maybe rummaging through the supplies tied onto the tank? or maybe at the engine..? Obviously this would not be a front line crew, because of "light discipline". But where would they be located to meet these criteria? and is there something else i should consider for this project? Allies or axis does not matter. Maybe have more than one looking/working by lantern on the engine? Any help/input would be greatly appreciated.

I could see that happening in an area behind to the rear of the lines. I like the engine work scenario better. You could also have a bunch of ammo crates around and maybe some food supplies and fuel drums as well. This would suggest a rear supply and maintenance area. Sounds like a good idea. Would look good as a shadow box so you can control the lighting. Good luck.

Artisto

First, is this an allied crew a German crew or who? A German crew would see this type of activity in Russia as they prepared to go to the front. An allied crew would be France maybe Belgum {I hope I spelled that right} just before the battle of the bugle. Now I've been told by tanker friends that on cold nights the crew would sleep on top of the engine because even off it still gave off heat. I've never seen any photos of this but thats what I've been told. If this is taking place at night keep in mind that a little light can be seen from far away. Trying to find something with a flashlight would not be worth having the enemy drop some shells in your lap.

Wolfsix

Arista,
The tank crew would rarely be sleeping outside of the tank unless they were sleeping in a nearby building or trench. The danger being run over by other tanks/vehicles was real. Most of the time, the crew would curl up in/on the tank for sleep. (My friends in the armor told me that guys had been run over in accidents during training and in the Gulf.) The tanks might lager themselves (like in Africa) or they would run "nut to butt", (one looking one way and one looking the other). One last thing..they wouldn't be doing much at night. For one, you can hardly see out in the middle of nowhere.
Hope it helps
Rob

Thanks, a front line crew would be bad - because of "light discipline" I realize. That being the case, I assume a rear deployment area. 1Would they still have a sentry posted? 2And would there be others with the tank crew in such an area? As for the shadow box suggestion, maybe another time, I am going to try something different - push the envelope regarding painting. I would like a german model this time, so maybe Bastogne would be good. [ b]3[/b]What model tanks would they use? 4 Any other equipment/vehicles that I ought to consider- aside from oil cans/ crates? Thanks again

Yes! Sentries, even in rear areas are and were always posted around ‘prime’ targets (armour, supplies etc…).




At a forward Maintenance Depot, for example, the maintenance staff would work on an armoured vehicle until it was either fitting fit, waiting parts (spares) or beyond local repair (or more likely they were too exhausted to continue).

Always remember that Armour repair has a food chain and a JagdTiger would be a lot higher up than an FT17 (probably still awaiting spares 60 years later)

Also remember that where you do not have air superiority (German towards the end of the war) Armour moves at night and crews sleep during the day / early morning.




Camouflage and lots of it!

This scenario of your would work for an area like ARNHEM!

With an Idea like this you can use just about any type of armour. Example:

1940: (Fall of France) Repair to vehicles in France after Dunkirk! Vehicles could include Panzer Mk2, 3 or 4 captured vehicles Ft 17 (Bren carrier?)etc.

1941 / 42: (Barbarossa) Repair to vehicles in Russia! Vehicles could include Panzer Mk2, 3 or 4, captured vehicles T-26 (T-34?)

if u want to incoporate all of those elements you shoudl do somthing either in Russia or during the Battle of Bulge not necessarlly rear lines but middle to rear lines cause during the Bugle u did whatever you needed to do on the move or whenever you had time there was not time for rear area action espically cause most of them where cut off

Okay, I'm getting closer. Thank's all. Tell me , does this make sense - A German Pzkw4/crew in the woods beside a road at night in the snow. Two of the crew working by shielded lantern light/flashlight on the engine, The other two sleeping under a camoflaged awning stretched from the turret behind the tank. The awning serves two purposes, cover from the snow, and a cover for the lantern that the working crew needs for the repair. My goal is to use fiber optics somehow, hence the lantern/flashlight and render a nighttime snow scene using German armor. Any suggestions on markings for the armor? Or anything else?

Ok, seems pretty ok to me, but instead of working on the engine (where the other crew lie) I would have them work on the transmission, wit ha flashlight with a red filter on it (does not shine so far an night vision is still there).
Markings? Consider the date and area and search for a suitable unit in that location.

Ah, Transmission..excellent. I'll have to check into that. Red filter, nice. Would that go on the lantern as well? (Side note, the only reason that i would not use a red filter is that the effect from the fiber optic might be too dim, Use artistic license here?)

I think your repair idea would work fine. The crew would us as much light as they can get a way with in order to make the repairs. The guys sleeping under the awning would be cool too. i think you have all the ideas you need already, and start woking in that fiber optics, im dying to see it.

unless the tank was behind the lines, i dont see why a tank crew would sleep outside, you'd have to be ready to roll for whatever reason, but i could see crews sleeping outside if they were a reserve unit or something.