To all the WW2 Collectors...a question???? (1 Viewer)

[Lo1863]

Hello all! I have a question regarding First Legion's line of WW2. I have been looking at the German 6th Army figures for the Battle of Stalingrad and they look great as well as the rest of FL's WW2 line. I was wondering if these German figures can only be used to protray them as members of the 6th Army or can they be used for other German Army Units (both Eastern and Western fronts)? To me they don't look to have any "special" markings that make them just the 6th Army, although I could be wrong. Also what about the German vehicles as well...could they be used for any units throughout the war? Thanks for any help!

 

[Mike97]

Hi Cameron,
I don't believe there's anything about the FL German infantry that would prevent you from using them in other theaters. I've hoped that at some point FL might do some early war Brits and French troops for an early western theater campaign.
As far as the vehicles, I recall the Panzer III's are marked for units specific to the Stalingrad campaign (14th & 24th Panzer Div I believe)...but so what ? My attitude is place 'em in whatever context you want and have fun {sm4}.
mike

 

[Gebhard]

Just don't use the german figure using a captured PPSH for a Western front Display .. Regards Gebhard

 

[Firebat]

I plan on purchasing John Jenkins Spanish Civil war Panzer 1's , remarking them for early WWII France and using FL figures with them.

Jenkins Panzers are a good match and high quality. Alex

 

[Blowtorch]

I was wondering if these German figures can only be used to protray them as members of the 6th Army or can they be used for other German Army Units (both Eastern and Western fronts)?

Most of the summer figs would be good in the East from Barbarossa onwards imo. Some notable exceptions would be the figs with helmet covers. They would be more rare, though not impossible in Barbarossa. The one fig with a issue helmet cover in GERSTAL010 might be impossible for Barbarossa if the helmet cover wasn't in distribution at that time. Another problem would be the 24th Panzer Div motorcycle & truck; the 24 PD was the 1st Cavalry div prior to 1942. Did the Cav have motorcycles & tucks? & with those markings? Don't know.

The figs with snow suits might be trouble for 1941 too, as iirc, the Germans only had captured Soviet snow suits that winter & they used an armband to distinguish them from the Reds. All really minor details.

 

[fmethorst]

As noted the German figures can be used over a significant time period for both east and west. For me the things to watch are the captured Soviet equipment, improvised and issue helmet covers, location of the gas cape and the use of high and medium height boots.

Frank

 

[jazzeum]

I plan on purchasing John Jenkins Spanish Civil war Panzer 1's , remarking them for early WWII France and using FL figures with them.

Jenkins Panzers are a good match and high quality. Alex

As noted by Alex, they are high quality. The detailing is first rate. You can't go wrong with these.

 

[lancer]

I plan on purchasing John Jenkins Spanish Civil war Panzer 1's , remarking them for early WWII France and using FL figures with them.

Jenkins Panzers are a good match and high quality. Alex

Look forward to seeing the result here. Those JJD tanks look great and paired with the correct scale FL WW2 Germans, this should be an excellent dio. -- Al

 

[Blowtorch]

and the use of high and medium height boots.

Frank

I was thinking about the boots, but then I remembered you posted a very late war photo some time ago, showing a mix of boot types including the high type. Are you still of the thought that high boots are OK for late war? Or does it look better with a mix?

 

[Mitch]

Alex...

I have some of the JJ SCW sets and they are indeed very nice AFV's
Mitch


QUOTE=Firebat;539253]I plan on purchasing John Jenkins Spanish Civil war Panzer 1's , remarking them for early WWII France and using FL figures with them.

Jenkins Panzers are a good match and high quality. Alex[/QUOTE]

 

[Lo1863]

As noted the German figures can be used over a significant time period for both east and west. For me the things to watch are the captured Soviet equipment, improvised and issue helmet covers, location of the gas cape and the use of high and medium height boots.

Frank

Could you (or anyone for that matter) maybe explain the whole "boot" thing to me? Like I said I am not as educated with WW2 stuff as I am with ACW. Thanks!

 

[Mitch]

Basically at the latter stages of the war the germans were running out of al types of material including leather so, the boots made were smaller than what we commonly believe to be the a typical german long jack boot.

They were still made and quite prolific but, other types with less materials were used to conserve what they had
Mitch

Could you (or anyone for that matter) maybe explain the whole "boot" thing to me? Like I said I am not as educated with WW2 stuff as I am with ACW. Thanks!

 

[Fusilier]

Could you (or anyone for that matter) maybe explain the whole "boot" thing to me? Like I said I am not as educated with WW2 stuff as I am with ACW. Thanks!

Mitch is right on with his answer in the previous post. Basically, from 1943 to the end of the war, the low ankle boots were the norm. Some men might have been able to keep a pair of the stereotypical black boots in use, but not very many.

Noah

 

[Gebhard]

Don't forget to mention the gamaschen no self respecting Soldat would be without a pair when wearing Low Boots :wink2:

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I was thinking about the boots, but then I remembered you posted a very late war photo some time ago, showing a mix of boot types including the high type. Are you still of the thought that high boots are OK for late war? Or does it look better with a mix?

At the very end of the war low boots were more common than the traditional German "Jackboots", however they were still in use scattered about in fairly decent numbers.

 

[fmethorst]

There were three heights of boots, the original tall boot (calf height 35 cm), a shortened tall boot introduced November 9, 1939 (calf height 29 cm) and finally the ankle boots. Ankle boots were available in 1937 but weren't worn on campaign until mid 1941. It was at the beginning of 1944 that they largely displaced the older tall boots as standard. That said there were plenty of the old boots still around in mid 1944 as this picture from Normandy demonstrates:

2 have the shortened tall boots and 3 have ankle boots.

Frank

 

[Gebhard]

There were three heights of boots, the original tall boot (calf height 35 cm), a shortened tall boot introduced November 9, 1939 (calf height 29 cm) and finally the ankle boots. Ankle boots were available in 1937 but weren't worn on campaign until mid 1941. It was at the beginning of 1944 that they largely displaced the older tall boots as standard. That said there were plenty of the old boots still around in mid 1944 as this picture from Normandy demonstrates:

2 have the shortened tall boots and 3 have ankle boots.

Frank

Hi Frank ,
Very interesting photo , being a uniform guy myself the first thing that jumps out at me in this picture is the mixture of M36 , M40 and M43 Tunics also not the norm to see such early Tunics at such a late stage in the War . Just goes to show there are always exceptions to the norm and for every " experts " you wouldn't have that there is a photo some were showing otherwise . Seeing so many photo's over the decades has helped me to take the stance that unless it wasn't made yet at the time I'm portraying I will use it in my display . Can't have any back to the future dios :wink2: . Thats for sharing Regards Gebhard

 

[Firebat]

Frankipedia.................................Incredible {sm4}


I will be tapping your resources when I move those FL boys west.

 

[fmethorst]

Hi Frank ,
Very interesting photo , being a uniform guy myself the first thing that jumps out at me in this picture is the mixture of M36 , M40 and M43 Tunics also not the norm to see such early Tunics at such a late stage in the War . Just goes to show there are always exceptions to the norm and for every " experts " you wouldn't have that there is a photo some were showing otherwise . Seeing so many photo's over the decades has helped me to take the stance that unless it wasn't made yet at the time I'm portraying I will use it in my display . Can't have any back to the future dios :wink2: . Thats for sharing Regards Gebhard

Agreed, tunics are another area you do see a lot of mix in the photographic record. Not only are there different versions there are personal customizations (i.e. soldiers trying to make later issue tunics look nicer like the earlier versions, collars etc.).

I approach the question very similarly to you. I will never say with absolute certainty that X replaced Y by such and such a date. It was never so black and white. There may be a specific date that an order was issued but there were always external factors which affected actual implementation of those orders.

Frank

 

[Lo1863]

Thanks for all the information guys! I have been debating if I should open up my FL collecting to the WW2 range so that is why I was asking about using the 6th Army Germans for other units (mostly Western front). I know the upcoming SS figures are going to be great, but I hope FL will make some normal German Army units for the West as well.