Diorama "US Infantry Europe" 1:32

WOW.

Not really WOW.  Just another set of figures that don't go together.  The two with camo helmet covers are out of place.  Only the USMC wore camo helmet covers and only in the Pacific.  Half of them are standing there looking confused and the other half are in fighting poses.  Best of all, there are 3 guys standing directly in front of the mortar tube as the gunner is about to hang a round and have it hit them when it comes out.  Just because figures come together in a box doesn't mean they are intended to be used together.

Hi Joh,

Not that bad. Some of the comments made are quite justified. Camoflaged helmet covers weren't used in the ETO although Sgt Saunders had one in the TV Series "Combat", the producers probably thought it looked good. They however for a short while had experimental camo dungerees like the ones used in the Pacific.

It's not necessary to just use the figures straight from the box. The purpose of multi-pose is that you can mix and match to create the right pose for your dio. And the mortar tube is actually a bazooka, am I right? So the three guys are quite safe.

I'd like to see more.

Cheers,

Richard

Looks like a bazooka to me, but then, I'm mainly a ship guy. Where are all these guys going in such a hurry? 

I guess it is a bazooka as I look closer.  Either way, the figures still don't go together as they are posed.

In the old TV series "Combat!' Sgt. Saunders it is supposed that he had gotten the camo helmet covers from his brother Jerry who was a Marine serving in the Pacific. The camo uniform tried out by the US 2nd Inf. was too close to the German camo patterns and was removed.

Mike T.

Thanks for all kind comments and suggestions. I knew that all 6 figures don't go together very well, but "Joh" thought he could make them go together and I think he's done quite well.

In an hour or two I'll post two new dio's, not from Joh but from AI using newly-released figure sets. Please stay tuned!

The guy in the corner: Is the grenade too big or is the gun too small?

You mean the first guy from the left side in the second picture, right? If so, may be both! The grenade is too big and the gun too small. I just noticed that. You have very keen eyes.

I have similar 1/32 kits from Airfix that I obtained via eBay a year ago and I was not too impressed after I worked on the Germans kit.  Their weapons were either too big or small... but it was a good practice for me to paint on the figures especially after 20+ break if you recall. 

Pacific USMC are not the only American unit that uses camo helmet covers.  American airborne infantry in Europe did use camo helmet covers.

defcon1

Pacific USMC are not the only American unit that uses camo helmet covers.  American airborne infantry in Europe did use camo helmet covers.

 

They did, but if I recall, they were not an issued item.  I think the troopers in this photo cut sections of camo from parachutes and jury-rigged helmet covers.

I could be wrong, but that is what I recall reading...

bbrowniii

defcon1:

Pacific USMC are not the only American unit that uses camo helmet covers.  American airborne infantry in Europe did use camo helmet covers.

 

 

They did, but if I recall, they were not an issued item.  I think the troopers in this photo cut sections of camo from parachutes and jury-rigged helmet covers.

I could be wrong, but that is what I recall reading...

Bbrowniii, I read that too...it's camo from parachutes.

Cheers,

Richard

Yes, it's true. It wasn't standard issue. They made the camo covers from their own parachute material but still they did use helmet camo covers in europe.

defcon1

Yes, it's true. It wasn't standard issue. They made the camo covers from their own parachute material but still they did use helmet camo covers in europe.

While that is absolutely true, I think the problems here are twofold:

1) the camo cover in question looks pretty 'standard issue'

2) the use of camo covers in Europe was pretty limited (so far as I know) to paratroops.  These guys are not paratroops.

bbrowniii

 

defcon1:

 

Yes, it's true. It wasn't standard issue. They made the camo covers from their own parachute material but still they did use helmet camo covers in europe.

 

 

While that is absolutely true, I think the problems here are twofold:

1) the camo cover in question looks pretty 'standard issue'

2) the use of camo covers in Europe was pretty limited (so far as I know) to paratroops.  These guys are not paratroops.

 

I agree with many of the comments about the dio and that the two figures wearing helmet camo covers are not paratroops and I don't know if any other non-paratroopers in europe uses them. I'm commenting on the two posters below which is not true.

HeavyArty

Only the USMC wore camo helmet covers and only in the Pacific. 

rtfoe

Camoflaged helmet covers weren't used in the ETO although Sgt Saunders had one in the TV Series "Combat", the producers probably thought it looked good.

defcon1

 I'm commenting on the two posters below which is not true.

HeavyArty:

Only the USMC wore camo helmet covers and only in the Pacific. 

rtfoe:

Camoflaged helmet covers weren't used in the ETO although Sgt Saunders had one in the TV Series "Combat", the producers probably thought it looked good.

I hear ya... but, if you really wanted to split hairs, what these two posts say is, strictly speaking, true.  The paratroopers were NOT using helmet camo helmet covers.  The were using chunks of parachute to camoflage their helmets.  I know, I know, that is REALLY splitting hairs, but hey, that's why I'm here.

bbrowniii

I hear ya... but, if you really wanted to split hairs, what these two posts say is, strictly speaking, true.  The paratroopers were NOT using helmet camo helmet covers.  The were using chunks of parachute to camoflage their helmets.  I know, I know, that is REALLY splitting hairs, but hey, that's why I'm here.

So, improvisation doesn't count?

In a similar way, If I made a table from a wood crate, is it still a crate? If I made a barbeque grill from a 55 gallon drum, is it still a drum? An aerial bomb (GBU-28) was made from eight inch howitzer gun barrel, is it still a gun barrel? Just because the helmet covers weren't made from usual material and weren't "professionally" made it wasn't a helmet covers.

defcon1

Just because the helmet covers weren't made from usual material and weren't "professionally" made it wasn't a helmet covers.

Only if you want to split hairs....

If you could order it from the stock system it would be something called : "Cover, Helmet, Canvas, Camoflage pattern whatever. Then it would would be a camoflaged helmet cover. If you ordered the ones in the picture being worn by the troopers it would be ordered as "Parachute, Nylon (or silk, depending on the time frame), Camoflage pattern whatever. In the mind of the military they would not be helmet covers but improvizations and the wearers could be in violation of uniform regulations.

I have great admiration and profound respect for anyone in the armed services that can succesfully improvise in the heat of battle.  Especially if they win, keep their men safe or make their superiors look like idiots while doing it.  Lets just say these guys were improvising in the heat of battle and more power to them.

                                                                                           Pat

subfixer

... and the wearers could be in violation of uniform regulations.

Are you serious? US soldiers wearing white bed sheet for camouflage, tank crews wearing french tanker helmets,  and many other use of non-regulation weapons and equipment. I have seen them wear their uniforms not in regulation. They are in or about to be in combat not somewhere far behind the lines.

No, I was not being serious, woe to the GI in the 3rd Army who wasn't wearing a necktie in battle if Georgie Patton caught him. That is the truth.

Another thing to discuss.  All equipment that was not necessary to carry in a mission, was left aside, For example stoves and shovels.  In the diorama, all the soldiers were carrying the shovel.  You can see in this photo that no one the infantry men neither the paratroopers have the shovel with them.