Hi all:

Over the weekend I purchased both the flak38 and the accompanying figure set from Tristar.

The flak38 is a nice kit and went together in one evening. On the back of the box they show 3 paint schemes: German Gray, Dark Yellow, or White Washed.

My question is, based on the uniforms the figures are wearing, I believe only the Gray version would be appropriate. Is this true?

I know in Saving Private Ryan, they show a 20mm gun towards the end that has a tri-color camo scheme painted on it. Would this be appropriate as well?

Here are the pics of the kits to hopefully help you answer my questions:




Thanks for any help you can provide!

John

Based on the details of the figs, I'd say the Dunkelgrau (grey) scheme is more likely. The officer is wearing the earlier war tunic. The other early-mid war indicator is the fact that they're all wearing the jackboots. It's not to say that a later war (i.e. dunkelgelb equipment) would be out of line. You're definitely safe with either.

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/figures/tristar/tri35013.htm

Hi,

Did you try here on my website : http://maquettegarden.free.fr/materiel39_45.htm

Else here's a pic taken with reenactors :



If you need more .....

From the artwork it would appear that it depicts any period from 1939 up to mid 1943, when the dark yellow and camouflage schemes were introduced.

From researching on various web sites and books, the uniforms do not always indicate a particular period of the war. Older uniforms were often sent back for repair and recycling, or the soldiers would try to hang on to them as the quality was superior to those made after about 1942.

Likewise boots - The ankle boot and gaiter combination was almost universally disliked by the men who had to wear it and the long shaft marching boot was held onto until it disintegrated. As with the tunic, they would be retained for as long as possible due to superior manufacture, plus it was an unofficial means of denoting a veteran.

Case in point. There is a picture of a dead SS grenadier lying on Nijmegen bridge - he wears a pullover camouflage smock (of possibly early pattern), 1943 pattern pea dot trousers, tucked into long shafted boots - troops often wore whatever they could get hold of and regulations went by the wayside.

Replacement troops kitted out at the base depots would often have later pattern clothing, boots and equipment but this doesn't always follow. They would be issued with whatever was available in the store at the time. So early/late combinations are often seen in photographs.

The only thing to do is to study as many contemporary photograps as possible and base your model around these.