Armor Wish List (1 Viewer)

[fmethorst]

I can't help but speculate about the possibilities for future releases in the HB Gold Series.

I'd like to hear what armored vehicles are on the wish lists of other forum members.

I'll start it out with my list:

• Tiger I - Early version
• Tiger II - late war with Henschel turret (Serien Turm) no zimmerit
• Panther Ausf.G - late war no zimmerit
• Panzer IV Ausf.G, H or J - with schurtzen
• StuG III Ausf.G - with Saukopf mantlet
• Panzer III Ausf.L or M - with schurtzen
• Jagdpanther
• Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf.C or D - with panzer grenadiers
• Sherman Firefly
• M4A3 Sherman
• T34/76
• T34/85
• IS2 - with DShK 12.7 mm AA machinegun

wow, that got quite long

 

[Combat]

That would about cover it! I second the JS-2 and King Tiger. Prefer to see HB move on with something new rather than redo the HB Panthers and Shermans which were quite good.

 

[Wraith]

I'd take a serious look at a 251. With the exception of the K&C Meyer SL, the last one that I can think of was WS13 which is centuries ago. Might allow for someinteresting customisation options as well.

 

[The Breaker]

I second Combat's thought of no redos (Panthers, Shermans). How coud you make the Jagdpanther any better? IMO it is already on the Gold Edition level.

My list would be;
1) T-34/76
2) JS-2
3) Stug III long barrel
4) Panzer Mark III w/ schurtzen
5) Sdkfz 251
6) King Tiger
7) Brit Cromwell
8) Sherman Brit Firefly

 

[OzDigger]

HB have already made Shermans, Panthers and Jagdpanther models and I understand they intend to do them again, with improvements, in the Gold Series.

However I agree with Combat and feel they would be best to initially do something totally new in 1/30, which also rules out a Mark IV for now as Figarti recently made a very nice Winter version in 1/30.

Personally I think Russian tanks are a bit risky because they are not as popular with collectors which brings us back to German classics.

I feel King Tigers in Porshe and Henschel variants together with 250 and or 251 Half-track in various variants would be popular in 1/30 scale.

 

[nasirkasmani]

I think with regards to HB doing the remake of Shermans, Panthers and Jagdpanther models, i am personally in support of them.

I still remember when HB released its first offering, Barkmann's Panther.
Evryone was taken aback by the quality of it, which surpasses the K&C offering, though at this stage HB's crew were not yet well done.

I remembered reading many collectors purchasing the HB Panther to complement their K&C figures.

Now if you compare the gold edition Tiger to the Barkmann's Panther, the Barkmann's Panther look like a crude item, due to the sheer quality of the Tiger. So i can see the Panther Gold edition being successful.

For the Sherman & Jagdpanther, though the quality was already top notch, i can see that with premium quality, customizing, weathering & diorama thrown in, they can be a big success as well.

Sincerely,

Nasir Kasmani.

 

[OzDigger]

I support the improved Gold versions as well, I just think we need something completely different at this stage. Btw, I'm very happy with my "crude" Barkmann

 

[fmethorst]

If I were a betting man I would put my money on a Sherman Firefly being the next release.

The reason I included a Panther on my list is that I feel there is still a late war variant that needs to be done (G model without zimmerit and factory paint scheme with sharp edges). This would be an ideal tank for Battle of the Bulge along with a late war Tiger II finished similarly. With the customization options this could be a lot of fun. For instance, with a combination of Panzer IVs, Panthers and SPWs (all with late war factory paint and no whitewash) one could recreate Kampfguppe Peiper. The beauty of the late war models is they could be used for a variety of scenes including Hungary, Berlin and defense of the Reich.

Frank

 

[nasirkasmani]

Frank,

i totally agree with you, a combo of Tiger II, panzer IV, Panthers and SPWs in late camo will be terrific. It will be versatile to be used in many battles as the Germans put up a desperate struggle against the Allies. And collectors can display them together in a big diorama or separately under small different dioramas.

i think your Sherman is a safe bet, but if its true i'll keep out of this one.

Nothing against the Sherman, just that I'm purely a german collector.

OzDigger,

Regarding the panther, I'm not having a dig at you or other Barkmann's Panther owner. I'm just pointing out an example. If I do offend you, or any one here, i sincerely apologize.

I understand your idea of different vehicles, many here, myself included, started out with K&C, and may be reluctant to part with some pieces or get duplicate/similar looking set/vehicle.

But i think once the new gold edition of the already made Panther, Jagdpanther, and Sherman comes out, many will be won over, just like the gold Tiger has succeeded despite the big backlash of criticism it got at first (due to its pricing).

Anyway, if HB would like to make a different piece first, i would like to see either artillery pieces or tank destroyers. Since i feel many will voice out against if i suggest the Hummel, i would like to suggest the Nashorn.

But if you ask me, i would like to complete my basic german armour first - Tiger, King Tiger, etc...

Sincerely,

Nasir Kasmani.

 

[binder001]

OK you SGFs (in model circles that's "slobbering German freaks"). HB has done ONE Sherman. That's like saying that they have done ONE panzer. To bring balance to the force, here's my list;

M4A3 75mm Wet Stowage - suitable for US Army in Europe after fall 1944. Can be done in OD w/ stars, OD w/ black camo, snow camo, etc. Can also be done as US Army in the Phillipines or Okinawa and USMC on Iwo Jima (some in "German style" camo) or Okinawa. This basic tank can also be used as the basis for a model of the M4A3 76mm Wet Stowage (new turret, like the earlier HB M4A1 model) which can represent the US Army in Europe and/or Italy from fall of 1944 on, plus a few that went to Free French units. The same basic hull can also be used for the M4A3 with 105mm howitzer which served in the assault gun platoons of tank battalions.

M36 90mm Gun Motor Carriage (tank destroyer) - these started showing up in late 1944 to add punch to the TD battalions. Not many repaint possibilities BUT this has NEVER been done in 1/30th or even in 1/32nd. HB has shown that they can handle the "Sherman style" chassis, and in fact this vehicle would share a lot of components with the above M4A3s.

40mm Bofors AA gun with crew - Let's shift the focus from tanks to guns. Bofors can be done with US or UK crews.

M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage ("Priest") - What can you say about a vehicle that served from Alamein to Berlin with US, British and Free French forces? Although there were three different production batches of M7 a number of the early ones did serve until the end of the war, including later Pacific battles.

British Cruiser tank "Comet" - late arrival in Europe but quick and deadly. The direct ancestor of the famous Centurion.

75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 - the M5A1 Stuart with a revised front hull and an open turret with a 75mm howitzer. Used by tank battalions until replaced by the 105mm howitzer Shermans and used by Mechanized Cavalry Squadrons through the war.

Late-production M4 - Detroit Tank Arsenal built a number of M4s whose upper hulls had a cast front and welded rear. These are referred to as "composite hull" M4s or Sherman I Hybrid by the British. Some of these served in Europe as gun tanks with the US Army (6th Armored DIvision had some) and quite a few went to British units where many were converted to "Firefly" tanks with 17-pounder guns. In the Pacific these served as gun tanks in the Phillipines and Okinawa and a number were converted to flamethrower tanks.

That's my "short list" for now. Thanks for looking.

Gary

 

[Combat]

I have three different HB Panthers. They did five counting the captured Soviet version (Winter and three Barkmans). All very good. So I would pass even on a much improved Panther and save my money for something new. Given how slowly HB releases these items not sure how realistic it is to expect multiple variations of the Panther or Sherman. We would be dead before half of them got done.

 

[Rob]

I'd love to see the following from HB;

Firefly
Sherman Calliope
Churchill crocodile
Winter King Tiger
Any Stug from Russian theatre
Matilda
Priest

Now thats not a lot to ask for surely

Rob

 

[binder001]

I'd love to see the following from HB;
Firefly
Sherman Calliope
Churchill crocodile
Winter King Tiger
Any Stug from Russian theatre
Matilda
Priest
Now thats not a lot to ask for surely
Rob

Just to refer back to my list - the Calliope (4.5inch rocket launcher T34) was often mounted on M4A3 75mm Wet Stowage types, otherwise ther were often on earlier M4s.

The Firefly was often built on the "Sherman I Hybrid" (late DTA M4).

We seem to have some supporting overlap in our desires!

Gary

 

[OzDigger]

OzDigger,

Regarding the panther, I'm not having a dig at you or other Barkmann's Panther owner. I'm just pointing out an example. If I do offend you, or any one here, i sincerely apologize.

I understand your idea of different vehicles, many here, myself included, started out with K&C, and may be reluctant to part with some pieces or get duplicate/similar looking set/vehicle.

But i think once the new gold edition of the already made Panther, Jagdpanther, and Sherman comes out, many will be won over, just like the gold Tiger has succeeded despite the big backlash of criticism it got at first (due to its pricing).

Anyway, if HB would like to make a different piece first, i would like to see either artillery pieces or tank destroyers. Since i feel many will voice out against if i suggest the Hummel, i would like to suggest the Nashorn.

But if you ask me, i would like to complete my basic german armour first - Tiger, King Tiger, etc...

Sincerely,

Nasir Kasmani.

Hi Nasir, no offense taken, but thanks for your response

A Nashorn is a great idea but I suspect K & C will issue this in the not to distant future as they already have the mold for the Hummel and the Nashorn is much the same except for a longer gun. It should also be noted that the Winter Hummel was retired early which sometimes heralds an update of some kind - maybe a Nashorn

There are so many prototypes that haven't been made in 1/30 scale I can't see any immediate need for the conversion of past HB products to Gold status.

I agree that a King Tiger would be a welcome addition to the HB range, and the success of the Gold Edition Tiger despite the new K & C Tunisian Tiger has proved there are plenty of collectors willing to pay extra money for extra detail and rarity.

I intend to get a Gold Edition Tiger myself but I need to do some more research to find details of the Kurt Knispel version I would like. If not I guess a Wittman would be the next option for me, I wish I had the money and space for seven

 

[OzDigger]

OK you SGFs (in model circles that's "slobbering German freaks"). HB has done ONE Sherman. That's like saying that they have done ONE panzer. To bring balance to the force, here's my list;

M4A3 75mm Wet Stowage - suitable for US Army in Europe after fall 1944. Can be done in OD w/ stars, OD w/ black camo, snow camo, etc. Can also be done as US Army in the Phillipines or Okinawa and USMC on Iwo Jima (some in "German style" camo) or Okinawa. This basic tank can also be used as the basis for a model of the M4A3 76mm Wet Stowage (new turret, like the earlier HB M4A1 model) which can represent the US Army in Europe and/or Italy from fall of 1944 on, plus a few that went to Free French units. The same basic hull can also be used for the M4A3 with 105mm howitzer which served in the assault gun platoons of tank battalions.

M36 90mm Gun Motor Carriage (tank destroyer) - these started showing up in late 1944 to add punch to the TD battalions. Not many repaint possibilities BUT this has NEVER been done in 1/30th or even in 1/32nd. HB has shown that they can handle the "Sherman style" chassis, and in fact this vehicle would share a lot of components with the above M4A3s.

40mm Bofors AA gun with crew - Let's shift the focus from tanks to guns. Bofors can be done with US or UK crews.

M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage ("Priest") - What can you say about a vehicle that served from Alamein to Berlin with US, British and Free French forces? Although there were three different production batches of M7 a number of the early ones did serve until the end of the war, including later Pacific battles.

British Cruiser tank "Comet" - late arrival in Europe but quick and deadly. The direct ancestor of the famous Centurion.

75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 - the M5A1 Stuart with a revised front hull and an open turret with a 75mm howitzer. Used by tank battalions until replaced by the 105mm howitzer Shermans and used by Mechanized Cavalry Squadrons through the war.

Late-production M4 - Detroit Tank Arsenal built a number of M4s whose upper hulls had a cast front and welded rear. These are referred to as "composite hull" M4s or Sherman I Hybrid by the British. Some of these served in Europe as gun tanks with the US Army (6th Armored DIvision had some) and quite a few went to British units where many were converted to "Firefly" tanks with 17-pounder guns. In the Pacific these served as gun tanks in the Phillipines and Okinawa and a number were converted to flamethrower tanks.

That's my "short list" for now. Thanks for looking.

Gary

Frankly I'm sorry I looked Gary, such posts make you seem like a GWMCOS - 'Guy With Monumental Chip On Shoulder'.

If the statistics were reversed with five Tigers lost for every Sherman I have no doubt I would be a RSF (Rabid Sherman Freak) but they weren't, and I'm not.

 

[nasirkasmani]

OzDigger,

1)The Kurt Knipsel (The Highest TANK killer in ww2) idea crossed my mind too..

Name - Kurt Knispel (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945)

Rank - Feldwebel

Service - Heer

Unit - 12th Panzer Division(503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion)

Experience - Leningrad,Outskirt Stalingrad, Caucausus,Kursk,Cherkassy Pocket
Caen, Normandy,Hungary.

Panzer - Panzer IV, Tiger 1, King Tiger.

Record - 168 confirmed TANK kills

Award - Iron cross 1&2, German cross in gold, gold Tank Assault Badge.


I think he's a cool character, the shabbily-dressed (By german standard anyway), non-nazi fanatic who achieved 168 confirmed tank kills (Scholars claimed he would have 195 if only he pressed all his claims after all tank engagements)

I think the fact that he was not seen as an ideal nazi example of soldaten (2 reasons stated above) ensured he was passed for the Knight's cross, even though recommended for it 4 times.

But what i like most about him (according to his friends/ex-crew members), is his nonchalant demeanour. He wasn't too bothered or annoyed not getting the Knight's cross, even though lesser scoring aces (like Wittmann or Carius) gets the glamour and awards. He died a tank commander in Hungary, in his Tiger at the age 23, a few days before Germany surrendered.

2) But how do you do a Knipsel's Tiger?

There are no reference whatsoever to his tiger camo pattern, or Tiger number. I've been researching for quite a while, but have failed to find these answers, thats why i did the 205 Wittmann. If i uncover anything, i'll gladly inform you.

Knipsel deserved a tribute.


Sincerely,

Nasir Kasmani,
self confessed slobbering German freak.

 

[OzDigger]

Hi Nasir, I have spent a few late nites checking out Kurt K. and there just doesn't seem to be any concrete evidence of turret numbers etc so I may have to put him on the back-burner until some relevant info turns up.

However I did find some interesting stories about the guy including these two.

"Knispel trained earlier as a locksmith. This came in handy when he picked a lock on a train one night which was part of a consignment going with the and guarded by the SS Wiking division. Inside was a treasure trove of chocolate, coffee, tobacco, alcohol and so on. As much as possible was 'borrowed' and hidden in the Tiger tank air filters of Knispels unit.

Bottles of Schnapps were wrapped in cloth and placed in the tank barrels which were then capped. No one realised anything was missing so they got away with Army rules 1 and 2 ( I think these are universal rules for any soldier).
1. Do what you like - just don't get caught.
2. If it isn't nailed down - take it."

The following happened on a train journey to the Russian front. Knispel was involved in an incident - I think on the same trip - with a prison guard who was kicking a prisoner. Knispel slapped the guard and broke his rifle before giving him a kick up the backside. Everyone up to and including his battalion commander approved and when the military police turned up they were told to "look somewhere else" by the company commander who threatened to shoot them all!"

The later incident is said to have inspired the scene in 'The Eagle has Landed' where Colonel Kurt Steiner (Michael Caine) rescued the Jewish women in similar circumstances, except she was shot anyway.

Knispel was reported for this and a senior officer held a grudge and was later in a position where he could have a negative influence on Knispel's future recommendations for promotions and awards.

 

[nasirkasmani]

OzDigger,

1)No wonder he was refused the Knight's cross -

He seems to display righteousness just as Caine's Colonel Steiner (eagle has landed), nonchalant demeanour like Sutherland's Oddball (Kelly's Heroes), and impudence towards unconditional-prussian-military-obedience like Coburn's steiner (cross of iron).

Hardly the dream stuff of Nazi propaganda!

2)I too have put Kurt Knipsel on KIV. Maybe Ana could help?

 

[binder001]

Frankly I'm sorry I looked Gary, such posts make you seem like a GWMCOS - 'Guy With Monumental Chip On Shoulder'.

OZ, sorry that it didn't come across but "SGF" is ALWAYS said with a smile to the other guy, expecting a suitable term such as "Shermanoholic" in return. It is not a spiteful indictment, just a gibe.

I don't think I have a "chip on my shoulder". I just like American vehicles and WILL stand up for them to be represented in model form.

By the way, one thing; the end statistics may have come out as 5:1 loss ratio but if you were a Sherman crewman your chance of dying came less from the Panther but from mines, hidden AT guns and the little guy in a foxhole with a rocket launcher.

Gary

 

[fmethorst]

Hey guys,

Oz really picked a tough one in Kurt Knispel and I simply can't resist a tough research challenge.

After spending some time going over the information I have I think there is a very real possibility Kurt never spent any time in a late model Tiger I.

Here is my logic:

The most obvious dated modification on HB's Tiger I are the steel road wheels. This change took place in February 1944. Less obvious is T.Z.F.9c monocular gunsight (single hole in the gun mantlet) which appeared late March/early April. Since this mod is minor let's ignore it as I did for my Tiger. This means the earliest these late model Tigers could have shipped to s.H.Pz.Abt.503 would have been February 1944.

Next lets look at the shipments of Tiger Is that were sent to the 503rd. On Dec 1943/Jan1944 the unit received 45 Tiger I. These would have had the old style roadwheels making them mid version. In February 1944 an additional 10 were shipped. Since these were shipped in February it's iffy if these were mid or late version. In March an additional 19 were shipped. After this the unit did not receive any more Tiger Is until June 1944. At this point the unit received 33 Tiger I and 12 Tiger II. The 12 Tiger II went to 1st company. Based on the Wikipedia article this is when Kurt transitioned to the Tiger II. This means that only Tiger Is received between February 1944 and June 1944 should be considered. There were a total of 29 that meet this criteria and if we eliminate the suspect ones from February this leaves us with the 19 from March.

Is it possible Kurt received one of these? Certainly, but in the absence of any photographic evidence I'm not sure we will ever know. My Tiger II book doesn't help identify Kurt's mount after the transition either.

Frank