Why are we so German Crazy (4 Viewers)

[Firebat]

I addressed this in the TGM forum so I thought I would mention it here where it will get more attention.

So many threads and poles ask what we would like to see produced by the manufacturers and it is always GERMAN !

Doesn't anyone have any appreciation for American Equipment........ Tigers, Panthers, Panzers I have tons of them and I am sick of them.

Yes American stuff has been covered also, but there is a trend to do unique stuff as of late because a lot has been done already.

So how about:

The Dragon Wagon trailer
M29 Weasel
Dodge WC 56 Command Car ( Closed Version )
GMC CCKW 352 GMC short wheel base
GMC CCKW Workshop Vehicle
GMC CCKW 353 Wrecker
GMC CCKW 353 Tanker
Autocar U 7144T Truck Tractor
Federal 94X43A Truck Tractor
Refrigerated Semi Trailer
Diamond T 960A Wrecker
Ward La France Wrecker
Forward Control GMC AFKWX

Yes the US stuff is green and basic but it has a glamor all its own. And it all helped America and her Allies win the war against all of that fancy hard to maintain German stuff

I really think this German obsession is strange considering most of who participate are on the Allies side.

 

[zulucollector]

I think Andy will tell you that sales drives new products and everyone buys german - how many other countries besides the US are interested in US vehicles? Germans have a universal appeal which helps their overall sales.

I think the reason for the popularity is that the germans made superior and impressive looking tanks and more exotic vehicles ie SPG and assault guns. The allies had the crudely welded T34s and the simple shermans and focused on simplicity due to mass prodcution. Also I think the german arnour/infantry has a legacy of fighting against superior odds and more dynamic commanding personalities. Also the germans uniforms were spiffy compared to the US GIs and Russians. The question is whether toy soldiers collectors have a strong interest in support vehicles where the allies had a significant but less glamorous advantage remains to be seen.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I think Andy will tell you that sales drives new products and everyone buys german - how many other countries besides the US are interested in US vehicles? Germans have a universal appeal which helps their overall sales.

I think the reason for the popularity is that the germans made superior and impressive looking tanks and more exotic vehicles ie SPG and assault guns. The allies had the crudely welded T34s and the simple shermans and focused on simplicity due to mass prodcution. Also I think the german arnour/infantry has a legacy of fighting against superior odds and more dynamic commanding personalities. Also the germans uniforms were spiffy compared to the US GIs and Russians. The question is whether toy soldiers collectors have a strong interest in support vehicles where the allies had a significant but less glamorous advantage remains to be seen.

IMO, a really excellent and complete answer. I have nothing to add other than the German AFVs had much longer development paths so many more Ausf and variants, lots of conversions of old AFVs into new types and the substantial conversion and use of captured equipment. Much more interesting variety than the allies. The Germans also fought a much longer war really beginning in 1936 with the Spanish Civil War, then Czech, Poland, France to mid 1945, so a longer period for innovations.

So I don't see it as being German crazy but attracted to the variety and development history of their AFVs. If you were allowed to collect WWII AFVs from only one country, I bet more than 90% would chose Germany.

Terry

 

[Rob]

I think Andy will tell you that sales drives new products and everyone buys german - how many other countries besides the US are interested in US vehicles? Germans have a universal appeal which helps their overall sales.

I think the reason for the popularity is that the germans made superior and impressive looking tanks and more exotic vehicles ie SPG and assault guns. The allies had the crudely welded T34s and the simple shermans and focused on simplicity due to mass prodcution. Also I think the german arnour/infantry has a legacy of fighting against superior odds and more dynamic commanding personalities. Also the germans uniforms were spiffy compared to the US GIs and Russians. The question is whether toy soldiers collectors have a strong interest in support vehicles where the allies had a significant but less glamorous advantage remains to be seen.

Most definitely.

The Germans made superb fighting machines in Tanks, Aircraft and Ships. If you are collecting WW2 you just have to have a representation of the ' Classics' , your Tigers, Panthers, King Tigers etc before you move onto their Stugs and SPG's etc. When I started this collection for a couple of years I only purchased German and the odd American Tank here and there, then both K&C and Figarti began to make superb British and American armour on a regular basis and they quickly took over in my collection. I am very pleased that I have a good representation of all the classic German Tanks but no longer feel the need to get every variant of each release, these days it's British and American armour for me but even those are not so often purchased as I return to figures as my main subject.

British, German, US it's all good. Never really been interested in Italian or Japanese though.

Rob

 

[Firebat]

Sorry I disagree........I buy all of the US and Allied stuff I can get my hands on and it makes for great scenes.

The Allies had their great commanders also, all of the German fluff got them a nothing but a chalk mark in the loss column. The Allies should have the universal appeal.

Maybe if the Germans had some good commanders they could have won. Oh they did a great job early in the war when no one was prepared to do battle with them

As far as the business end....If you all were not so German crazy and bought Allied stuff .....The Manufacturers would make it. You drive the market not the manufacturer.

Here are some UNINTERESTING scenes of a basic US army with basic Allies that can win a war......... dig your heads out of the sand !

 

[Rob]

Sorry I disagree........I buy all of the US and Allied stuff I can get my hands on and it makes for great scenes.

As far as the business end....If you all were not so German crazy and bought Allied stuff .....The Manufacturers would make it. You drive the market not the manufacturer.

Here are some UNINTERESTING ALLIED Scenes, dig your heads out of the sand !

I do buy Allied ' Stuff' Alex, I have more Allied than German^&confuse

Nice pic.
Rob

 

[Firebat]

I do buy Allied ' Stuff' Alex, I have more Allied than German^&confuse

Nice pic.
Rob

Excellent...Lets let the manufacturers know that, so they will do do some more cool Allied stuff

THE BRITS......They were winners too, against all of that glamorous German equipment......... just in case anyone forgot.

 

[Rob]

Superb shots Alex^&cool

 

[Firebat]

Superb shots Alex^&cool

Thanks

ALLIES ALL THE WAY :salute:::salute:::salute::........{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}

I hope you German fanatics know I am basically kidding...But I do think I have a point in there somewhere :wink2:

Hey K & C did the new inexpensive plastic Sherman, so you can buy about 50 of them and represent The Arsenal of Democracy. That would be impressive, all being taken out by 1 Tiger ( Boy am I on a roll today )

 

[jazzeum]

As Zulu Collector said and as Andy would say, "they sell." End of story.

Why they sell? Different question.

 

[mr colt 45]

I am in to ACW collecting. I have no WW II figures. But I am thinking about that new Sherman that K&C has put out for a small dio. I read all posts on the form and have seen the obsession alot of collectors have with the Germans. It seems to Me there is more Germans than allies or Americans. Correct Me if I am wrong. Thanks

 

[binder001]

You are in the midst of an "ancient" argument For years those of us in scale modeling asked the same basic questions. Why is it that the "dark side" is more appealing? Specifically, German stuff just seems to excite many people. The engineering was interesting and quite different than many Allied approaches. They often applied good tactical sense to the production of weapon systems. The German tanks have either a 1930s throw back look (Pz IV and earlier) or they have an angular "bad guy" look. The Germans embraced various camouf;age painting schemes early in the war, the Allies were rarely so colorful. I fully sympathize with your attitudes and some of the complaints. I am a notorius "GI freak" and I buy much more US stuff than German, but I will admit that on a lower shelf in my display case is a small K&C German battle group that were bought just 'cause they look cool.

The German vs Allied argument has been running thru models and toy soldiers "forever". It MIGHT be hopeful to realize after years of waiting the Allied stuff has become more prolific and of much higher quality. Glance through the new and upcoming vehicles on Terry Ashley's Perth Military Modeling Society (PMMS) web site. His site is the best place to get updates on the 1/35th market and you will see that quite a few of your requests have come out in plastic. Some of our "collectible miniatures" manufacturers use plastic models to support development of new projects, so more and better models can translate into more new Allied projects - it will just take time.

On the other side we still buy products from naufacturers who are just LAZY in their research in Allied subects. Two specifics are the K 'n C "DDay Sherman" which not nearly what it claims to be, and Collector's Showcase putting out that M4A1 with the glaring error on the rear. We still have a LOT of people who buy an item because of the name on the box, or because it's "good enough". Until we demand that these guys produce decent products I don't see them moving into some of the other stuff you want. Why make rare models when the collectors will buy any old crap? Just appreciate the releases that come out and that are correct models and don't buy the junk - vote with your hard-earned dollars (or Euros or whatever).

Gary B.

 

[AIDMAN]

So many threads and poles ask what we would like to see produced by the manufacturers and it is always GERMAN !

Doesn't anyone have any appreciation for American Equipment........ Tigers, Panthers, Panzers I have tons of them and I am sick of them.

Yes American stuff has been covered also, but there is a trend to do unique stuff as of late because a lot has been done already.

So how about:

The Dragon Wagon trailer
M29 Weasel
Dodge WC 56 Command Car ( Closed Version )
GMC CCKW 352 GMC short wheel base
GMC CCKW Workshop Vehicle
GMC CCKW 353 Wrecker
GMC CCKW 353 Tanker
Autocar U 7144T Truck Tractor
Federal 94X43A Truck Tractor
Refrigerated Semi Trailer
Diamond T 960A Wrecker
Ward La France Wrecker
Forward Control GMC AFKWX

Well i am not going to get drawn into any discussion over too much or too little!!, But i definately would welcome...(and buy) any of the excellent vehicles
mentioned above>>>>>especially the Autocar U 7144T Tractor + Open Semi Trailer. and the M29 Weasel...Normandy/Bulge>>and this vehicle would also scream to be released as an Ambulance!!!!!!!!.



Steve

 

[ExRanger]

Sorry I disagree........I buy all of the US and Allied stuff I can get my hands on and it makes for great scenes.

The Allies had their great commanders also, all of the German fluff got them a nothing but a chalk mark in the loss column. The Allies should have the universal appeal.

Maybe if the Germans had some good commanders they could have won. Oh they did a great job early in the war when no one was prepared to do battle with them

As far as the business end....If you all were not so German crazy and bought Allied stuff .....The Manufacturers would make it. You drive the market not the manufacturer.

Here are some UNINTERESTING scenes of a basic US army with basic Allies that can win a war......... dig your heads out of the sand !

I have to disagree on the German Commanders. There are some great German Commanders who's tactics are still be used today by the U.S. Military War College and at West Point. Model, Rommel, Von Manstein to name a few. As a former military soldier we see things as simple as the current issue military helmet and at the time the M-60 machine gun. Had Hitler kept out of the General's way the out come of WW2 would have been lot different. This has been expressed by many military historians of WW2. I am glad that America and her Allies prevailed but let's not knock the fighting capability of the German military. A lot of the German military lost battles were due to Hitler refusing to relent ground. The fact remains that one on one most Allied tanks were no match for a Tiger or Panther.

 

[Rob]

Excellent...Lets let the manufacturers know that, so they will do do some more cool Allied stuff

THE BRITS......They were winners too, against all of that glamorous German equipment......... just in case anyone forgot.

Very true Alex, the Sherman Firefly was not as glam as your Tiger and your Panther, but it sure had a hell of a kick and got the job done!

I am in to ACW collecting. I have no WW II figures. But I am thinking about that new Sherman that K&C has put out for a small dio. I read all posts on the form and have seen the obsession alot of collectors have with the Germans. It seems to Me there is more Germans than allies or Americans. Correct Me if I am wrong. Thanks

German Tanks were far more pleasing to the eye (if that doesn't sound too weird^&grin) than Allied Tanks (although we did have the most beautiful fighter ever built....what was it called now??^&grin:wink2 German Tanks, guns uniforms are all very attractive and make for a superb collection. I don't do the LAH range because of what the figures are celebrating in that range, but the uniforms are very smart it has to be said. But the good old Khaki and Olive green won out in the end. Having said that, I also think in it's own way the T34 is a very nicely shaped Tank too. The Tank expert at Bovington Tank Museum described it as having welding finishes that 'Would make a German Tank designer weep' , but it's sleek in its own way.

Now if we are talking ugly Tanks we need to start talking French......

 

[lancer]

The fascination with all things darkside/German is not contained to the TS/modeling world. It is very prevalent in the publishing world, as well. There are enormous amounts of German unit, battle, campaign, weapons, etc., books published every year and it just continues to grow. One can put together far more complete and detailed histories on just about any German arm of the Army, Navy, or Air Force than one can of the equivalent Allied branch. Specialized unit histories seem particularly prevalent for the Germans, be it infantry, armor, or what have you. Want to write a bestseller? Just slap the words Waffen SS into the title somewhere.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[uksubs]

Could I ask that this thread be moved to general toy soldier thread so everyone can post please ?

 

[Rob]

K&C have over the years released many US vehicles and AFV's, Shermans, M10's, Stuarts, Greyhounds, many Jeeps, DUKW's etc, they are well represented now.The Brits have also been well served from Andy with Churchill's, Firefly, Cromwell etc. So although the German releases from K&C out number the Allied, the good guys are still getting good representation!:smile2:

Rob

 

[uksubs]

K&C have over the years released many US vehicles and AFV's, Shermans, M10's, Stuarts, Greyhounds, many Jeeps, DUKW's etc, they are well represented now.The Brits have also been well served from Andy with Churchill's, Firefly, Cromwell etc. So although the German releases from K&C out number the Allied, the good guys are still getting good representation!:smile2:

Rob

Agree Rob Kc are the best for British and commwealth stuff coming out

 

[uksubs]

Agree Rob Kc are the best for British and commwealth stuff coming out but you can't collect it all