Need help making sure I'm historically correct

As far as to what was used in Africa, just about anything that was in service uto the end of 1942 early 1943. What kits do you have, that would be easier to to put a full list of what the Germans had which would take up a full forum page alone.

As to your dio, if i have read that right, you plan to put al your kits into one. If i may just offer a personal view, thats going to be huge. I find these large multi kit diorama's very rarely work as they often just do not seem realistic.

Have you thought about doing seperate dio's for each one.

I strongly support what Bish suggests about dioramas. That immediately stood out in your post.

I'd suggest you buy a small collection of books.

Squadron's Afrikakorps in Action. Out of print but easy to find cheap.

Osprey's Afrikakorps 1941-1943.

Shep Paine's (Kalmbach) Armor Modelers Guide, and How to Build Dioramas.

Good basic starting points.

Hello!

If we're talking about a dio, the best thing you can do is to find a photo that you really like and try to make a dio showing just what's in the photo. Some rear-echelon photo showing one or two vehicles and some crewman would probably be best. Taking already built vehicles and trying to squeeze them into a scene doesn't work most of the time.

As for research, try finding some memoirs from Africa Corps trooper, maybe even Rommel himself, I bet he got something published - that would give you their perspective, that's always a good thing.

Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

hey guys,

Thanks for the input so far.  I will name the kits I have below.  I guess what I wrote originally didn't make much sense now that I see your point about the size of a diorama.  I guess what I truly want to do is construct these kits as if they were in Africa.  The instructions are confusing in all of the Tamiya packets I have concerning the paint they used and how it switched in 1943.  So what I really need I guess is info on anything they would have on the kits that aren't known by just the instructions.  And there are so many decals I wanted to have them built as if they were all part of one division.  I apologize I am still new to this hobby maybe my vision is to complex for me.  Here are my kits (not built yet)

1) Sd.kfz. 250/9

2) Sd.kfz. 250/3 Greif

3) Hanomag Sd.kfz. 251/1

4) Sd.kfz. 7 8 ton semi track

5) 88 mm GunFlak 36/37 (currently working on) goes with 8 ton

I do have Shep Paine's book.  

Eric

GMorrison

    thank you for those book titles.  I just looked up the Squadron one on Amazon, this looks really good AND it showed me others like it published by Squadron.  There is a whole set of the books titled on different specific aspects of the war.

Eric

Looking at your kits, you have a couple natural pairings. As you already know, the Kfz.7 was the Prime Mover for the Flak 36/37. There is one duo for you. The 250/3 would operate near the 251/1, so you could pair them up. But the 250/9 was a later war vehicle. I have yet to come across a photo of one in Africa. So come up with other plans for it. Since you like Tamiya kits, have a look at their German armored cars, the 222, 223, and 232 are all decent kits. They build easily and would make a nice recon group of their own. And of course some Panzers. Mk.III and Mk.IV are in order.   Panzer Armee Afrika is a great modeling subject.

And there is always the good old Tamiya Tiger 1. A natural for your situation.

This subject isn't in my particular interest, but if I were studying DAK, the personnel and uniforms are fascinating.

The 250/3 Grief was Rommels command vehicle, not sure if a figure of Rommel comes with it. A scene with Rommel visiting the front lines with the 251 near by would work. I ma guessing the 251 is the old Tamiya kit as you have called it a Hanomag.

As Stikpusher mentioned, the 250/9 was to late for Afruca, production began in May 1943.

Bish

The 250/3 Grief was Rommels command vehicle, not sure if a figure of Rommel comes with it. A scene with Rommel visiting the front lines with the 251 near by would work. I ma guessing the 251 is the old Tamiya kit as you have called it a Hanomag.

As Stikpusher mentioned, the 250/9 was to late for Afruca, production began in May 1943.

 

He does...

That Tamiya Flak is kind of quaint, and the crew are definitely ETO.

I think somebody like Dragon made a DAK one?

GMorrison

That Tamiya Flak is kind of quaint, and the crew are definitely ETO.

I think somebody like Dragon made a DAK one?

 

If i remember right, Tamiya re issued theres with a DAK crew, not sure if they were released seperatly though.

Cheers Stik, couldn't recall the box art.

Bish

 

 

GMorrison

That Tamiya Flak is kind of quaint, and the crew are definitely ETO.

I think somebody like Dragon made a DAK one?

 

 

 

 

If i remember right, Tamiya re issued theres with a DAK crew, not sure if they were released seperatly though.

Cheers Stik, couldn't recall the box art.

 

Youre welcome Bish. And as for the Tamiya they re issued it a few years back with a Luftwaffe Afrika crew. A few years later they issued the gun crew separately. After I picked up the reissue on sale. I mainly wanted the crew and it was not yet available. Now to get the AFV Club Flak 18...

Thanks Stik. And a Luftwaffe crew would be very appropriate. I've got a Dragon 88, but still want to get the AFC club one.

Thank you it was the 250/9 that was throwing me off trying to fit it in somehow. I do have a panzer and tiger as well.  But also I saw that Tamiya has another 251/1 different model number than mine.  I guess I will just not worry about the 250/9 for now.

The 250/3 is Rommel's Grief

I did see (after I purchased this flak gun) that they also have a specified Afrika Korps 88.  

What is this AFV club you guys are talking about? 

Eric

The other Tamiya 251/1 is probably their D version. Those did not see service in Africa. Stick with the earlier 251/1C for DAK use, or have a look at Dragon or AFV Club for more 1/35 251 half tracks. AFV Club is another model company that makes some beautiful 1/35 armor subjects. They make an earlier version of the 88 that was commonly seen in Africa, the Flak 18. 

Stik,

Thank you for clarifying that for me, I have not come across that brand before now.  As far as the Timaya 88 I have to be honest, besides the color on the cover I don't see much if anything different than the one I have.

Everyone,

Really appreciate the input here. You've opened up my eyes to different companies and clarified a lot for me.  As I am new I get confused when it comes to all these different aus letters and numbers.  One more question might be dumb but, if you incorporate model from different companies in diorama is it noticeable that they are different?  I went with Tamiya so far mainly because the range of products, there price is decent and they feel a lot more solid than let's say Revell.  Not to mention the limit of knowledge of other products.

Eric

Ok thank you,, I kind of had an idea but wasn't completely sure on the anograms. Has anyone downloaded the very first FSM pdf? Ironically on the very last page is an advertisement for Tamiya, and the picture smack dab in the middle is a Sd.kfz 7 and 88mm painted in the dark yellow.

Has anyone ever heard of or used hobbylinkjapan.com.  I came across the website and they seem to have add ons for almost every model.

Eric

Panzer III Ausf. F (some),G,H,J,L,M,N

Panzer IV Ausf. D,E, F1, F2, early G.

Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf E, H, J

The Panzer III was the workhorse. 

AFV as a general term stands for Armored Fighting Vehicle.

The African campaign falls under the category of the Mediterranean Theatre.

if you are interested in the broader Axis forces there, quite a few very nice Italian model subjects too.

My Father In Law was in Tunisia in 1943 and had some pretty interesting experiences before he moved on to Sardinia and Corsica. 

Ive got a Kubelwagen kit1/24 from Hasegawa, with "Otto" painted on the sides. It was the personal ride of the Luftwaffe ace Marseille. One day I guess Ii'll crack it open.

Tranquii, Wermacht is the word used for German armed forces, so that covers Air Force, Army and Navy. It can get sonfuseing as some times people refer to the Army as the Whermacht.

In German use, AA guns such as the 88mm were maned by the Air Force, this included guns in Army Divisions. But the uniforms would basically be the same, other than insignia.

Reichswehr was the German armed forces before Hitler came to power.

Studying and researching the German forces can be confuseing all round, so don't worry, your not alone.

TranquilBuilder

Stik,

Thank you for clarifying that for me, I have not come across that brand before now.  As far as the Timaya 88 I have to be honest, besides the color on the cover I don't see much if anything different than the one I have.

 

Eric

 

AFV Club is a very good brand for kits. Their stuff is beautifully detailed, but can also be a tad bit over engineered. The Flak 18 was the original 88. The Flak 36/37 refined the basic design. But the 18 had a single piece barrel, round foot pads on the cruciform base, and different tow wheels set up. If you compare the 18 and 36/37 side by side, the differences become apparent.

TranquilBuilder

One more question might be dumb but, if you incorporate model from different companies in diorama is it noticeable that they are different?  I went with Tamiya so far mainly because the range of products, there price is decent and they feel a lot more solid than let's say Revell.  Not to mention the limit of knowledge of other products.

Eric

 

That mainly depends upon the quality of each individual kit. Some will show marked levels of better detail and finesse than Tamiya, and others will be  obviously not up to par with Tamia. The vintage of each kit will usually be apparent, with the newer kits usually being more intricately detailed. Not to mention that older Tamiya kits were designed to be motorized, so they may be slightly oversized, and their tracks simplified. 

It gets more problematic with figures. They can vary by as much as 1 foot in height, when supposedly 1/35.

There are tall guys and short guys, but the smaller weapons and helmets are a give away

ok last question.  Are some companies partnered together?  A have a Tamiya Stuka kit but it says the parts are Italeri.  And I have seen a couple other Tamiya and Italeri together.  Also, I think it was Air Fix and Mini Craft I saw on one box.  Obviously, Revell and Monogram.  I mean are these brands set up like a car would be - the Toyota brand and Lexus brand?

Thanks Eric

Not partnered, sequential. You notice references to "repopped or "reboxed". One company buys the molds from another.

If you are interested, you can look at the website "scalemates". It usually has pretty good family history.

Some companies share moluds. Italeri kits have been re-boxed by Revell and Tamiya. Tamiya also has kits which has their own vehicle and ICM figures. Tamiya kits will usually mention it on the box, other don't.

As GM suggests, to trace the history of a kit, scalemates is the best place to look.

Indeed. Some kits have extensive histories of being packaged by companies other than the one that originally released the kit. And some get modified along the way as well. But if the original kit is a good mold, that can help to get a version not previously seen.