Hi guys,
I´m gathering info for my next project which is an SS armoured car at a recon mission. I want to use also the #35044 1/35
SS Panzer Recon Crew Set from Alpine Miniatures (http://www.alpineminiatures.com/) and the whole set would be sometime after the Normandy invasion and the unit would be the 2. SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". Not being an expert on this era I ask you my friends: Are these two figures fit in this timeline? Thanks in advance,

Best regards, Anastasios.

This set?



Not sure why Alpine have these down as Panzer troops (uniforms look more like infantry/artillery) and they look like early/mid war figures with pullover smocks, the SS pattern camouflage cap and marching boots.

What armoured car are you intending to use?

David

Yes David, this set exactly. I´m going to use a Sd.Kfz. 222, propably with Yellow/Green camo and I though of a vignete with these two figures. I´m still not sure about the time and place that the scene wil take place, so I´m trying to find out what siuts the set. I think the Normandy era is ok and since the 2. SS was there too I thought it would be a good idea. Sometime around August to October ´44 somewhere around Falaise, what you think?

Anastasios.

No one knows for sure? Is that real??

At least maybe some one knows if this set is "compatible" with the Sd.Kfz. 222 or should I myabe buy something else instead??

I appreciate any help......


Anastasios.

hi

From a quick glance through my SS books it seems that your figures could be from 1941 until the end of the war, but I agree with David that they are infantry/ artillery.
Waffen SS armoured car units wore double-breasted black Panzer blouses early in the war, from 1941 the same cut in grey, and later in the war reed green and camouflage pattern.

So yes ok for Falaise, but not with a 222

Danny

Thanks a lot Danny for your precious help, if only I hadn´t already ordered them!!!! So it seems I have to find some other figures to go with my ´222, does anything from the Alpine range fits the bill even if the timeline has to be changed? Anybody out there please?

Anastasios.

Maybe the Alpine #35038 Winter Panzer crew set?

Yes I think they look better suited for what you are planning for sept-oct time, or these for earlier in the year 35032 Waffen SS Panzer Crew Set

Danny

Could it be for example to use the Winter set for a vignete of Ardennes ´44 Sd.Kfz.222 or even maybe a Budapest ´44-45 one? Both are winter times and siut the winter clothing. Once again Danny, thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

Anastasios.

Glad to be of some help. Yes you could use them for both of your suggestions in a winter setting.

Danny

Actually, despite what the others say, I would say these figures are almost certainly intended to be armoured crew. The trousers are the giveaway, they are obviously those of either the panzer suit or the SPG suit (only difference in this cale is the colour), as they are too long & baggy to be keilhose or normal infantry trousers. The panzer jacket could be buttoned up to the neck in inclement weather, although photos of it worn like this are rare. I would say the collar visible over the smock is too generous for the standard field uniform. It was not unknown for the smock to be worn over the panzer suit, particularly by recce troops, & there is plenty of photographic evidence to support this (eg pictures of Wiking personnel in the old Almarks "Waffen SS at War". What this means for the period is that they are OK for about 1942 -3 on (they are wearing the 1st pattern SS camo cap in the photo). Not sure about Sdkfz 222 in use with "Das Reich" in Normandy, but how about "Gotz v Berlichingen"? They were using the "222" series still, I've seen the pictures.

Danny and Steve,
thanks again for your input, both of you. As I´m not an expert on WW2 german army uniforms and organisation I have to say I´m a little bit confused. It seems to me that I got the following options: 1) Sd.Kfz.222 with the #35044 SS recon crew set from Alpine Miniatures ( Oct 44 "Goetz v Berlichingen" Normandy) and 2) the Sd.kfz.222 with th #35038 Winter panzer crew set from Alpine (Ardennes Offensive or Hungary Jan 45). So I ask the following question: Which do you think is the better, more accurate choice for me to follow?

Once again, I thank you guys for helping, I don´t know what I would do without your tips, propably a big mistake!!


Best Regards, Anastasios.

Since you already have the figures, I'd go with the first option. Glad to be of assistance BTW.

Hello,

I just wanted to add my 2 cents: the figures are, indeed, intended to belong to an armoured unit. Steve has nailed it: the trousers are the Panzer pattern, and what is visible under the smocks looks like the Panzer wrapper too. There are photographs which confirm camo smocks were sometimes used over the Panzer uniforms - this would be suitable for a recon unit, in fact.

If the figures are wearing jackboots, I would suggest a middle war setting. In fact their general appearance suggests this. Not that it is impossible to put them in a later war scenario, but they are more representative of earlier times - the Russian campaign. The Sdkfz 222 fits more properly there, too.

HTH,

Daniel

Hi Daniel,
thanks a lot for your help. The Russian Campaign was very apealing to me at the start too, and now I started having second thoughts about the Normandy set up. Also, I got a lot more references for the East side. I will try to find something more concrete on this set up.

Regards, Anastasios.

I'm with Steve and Daniel!
Steve, you've nailed it!!!
The pic doesn't quite show all the details clearly. These figures are wearing
Pz. uniforms in WSS cut. They can be in black or field grey. When wearing
camo smocks over, they would pull out the collars to show the ranks.
I would safely place these figures as mid war period (42-44).

Anastasios, 35044 can be used in 44 setting. Although the smocks are
an earlier type, they were worn in 44 also.


Taesung