Warsaw's Uprising- Available kits, references etc..

Tanks for starting the thread, very informative.

http://www.warsawuprising.com/

^^^ Above is my favorite site for information and reference photographs. My computer kung-fu is weak yet with some clicking I think that should get you to the site.

Here is my rendition of 'Chwat' or as you translated 'brave person'

According to my research 'Chwat' was repaired to become mobile again, yet most likely due to petrol shortages never traveled very far. One site even names the mechanics who did the repairs, a few pictures of them sitting on the engine deck can be found.

There is a AM decal set for the Panther captured, a few airplanes and of course 'Chwat' In 1/35 scale I will be getting one for a Panther in my stash. The site is in my E-mail, sent from another modeler from Poland:

Armo 35407 (captured vehicles part 1)

Here is the photograph which I am basing the vignette. Much work to do! The Hetzer is secured with a magnet so it can be removed (thinking ahead to a model contest in case the display is not complete.)

* Few more pictures:

The base is a black granite tile cut into a Star of David:

Here is the periscopes I scratch built, hence why my models take too long to build:

All good as I really enjoy scratch building.

very interesting topic. I can't elaborate on kit availability but the advise regarding figures from modified german figures is good from what reference materials I've seen 

a couple more ref:

1957 movie, Kanal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050585/

magazine, AFTER THE BATTLE, issue number 143, 2009 article by Piotr Sliwowski 

http://www.afterthebattle.com/magazine/index_of_issues.html

hope these help

Jason, you could left the upper armor plate separately, as it was in original vehicle.

some reference books:

http://www.militaria.net.pl/strony/148.html

http://www.militaria.net.pl/strony/204.html

interesting from 'modeller's view'

BTW, One most important note.

This mistake is often committed, but do not mix up Warsaw Uprising with Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

that were two different insurgences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising

I really did not know there was a difference. Thanks for pointing that out!

The links to the books appear to be sold out! Will check again and order a copy of each once the publisher has more copies.

I really find the uprising fascinating and in terms of struggles against all odds, one of the toughest battles in the history of modern warfare. As more documents and facts become declassified it will prove this fact beyond any doubt.

*The Hetzer is the wrong version, decided to go ahead anyway as the decals were the prize in that kit. A 1/35 scale Chwat is on the list of 'to do' projects in the future, as the AM decal sheet has them also.

**The Italeri 1/72 scale kit is one I would not recommend unless bought just for the decals.

KFS-miniatures

Jason, you could left the upper armor plate separately, as it was in original vehicle.

 

You mean the roof plate allowed to be removable?

the Doog did one like that in 1/35 scale (FSM magazine) and I was too far along in the build when it was decided to show off the interior decorating. Never attempted a 'cut away' hence the 'though bubble' cut-out on the driver's side. Trust me the photographs do not do this tiny tank much justice, nor does the bubble yet I know all that is inside*

Books are sold out but from publisher only. they are still available from hobby shops or bookstores.

for example

http://historyton.pl/catalog/english.php

http://martola.com.pl/en

about roof armor plate- it was separately and probably bended a little. this damage was caused by gammon bomb 

That might explain the missing remote MG!

The 'Chwat' I built is not accurate as possible, most likely will build another one day in 1/35 scale. That 'Chwat' will be more accurate.

Another inaccuracy in the scene is the scale of the Bear statues over looking the street. I sourced them at a Dollar store (childrens plastic toy animal set) and cut apart to suit, they would have been perfect for 1/48 scale.

Now I am on a roll critiquing my own work the paint is a tad vibrant, the plan is to tone it down with 'dust' colored weathering pigment once everything is complete on the base. All good as this was the plan from the start of the painting process, could not find a exact match in 'rattle can' so the yellow tint is a Oil paint wash over Krylon 'Buttercream' spray bomb paint, the green is Testor's 'Dark green' toned down with the same wash.

Considered part of 'lessons learned & improvement' building better models is a work in progress. My best work is always the current project which sometimes delays completion. This is something that needs to be sorted out as I have many 'starts' yet few 'completions'. Yet I cannot just build OOB, possibly improving & scratch building are my favorite aspects of the hobby.

about reference..

there ia very interesting discussion at one of the polish modellers board.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=pl&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=pl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelarstwo.org.pl%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D1685%26postdays%3D0%26postorder%3Dasc%26highlight%3Dchwat%26start%3D0

yes, i know, translation is really very far from good, but the most important are the pictures, which you can find in this thread.

Excellent reference pictures!

I do not feel so bad about my 'vibrant' colors now.

When done is 1/35 scale a base coat of Red-Oxide primer is due! The color photographs show chips revealing the red primer, that one picture alone is worth 1000 words or more. 

The translations are not that bad, of course some of the grammar does not read like fluent English yet I only speak & read English and sometimes struggle with it also!

In attempt to achieve a 'layered' look more weathering will be done closer to completion, agreed with the discussion odd stains are all over the vehicle. I have seen these on construction equipment where a small drip of oil or diesel fuel attracts dirt & dust over time, staining the area darker from the grease darkening the grit. Over time it will discolor the paint also.

For a decal set, go to Jadar Hobby and their ARMO set 35407 Captured Vehicles #1,

http://www.jadarhobby.pl/index.php?currency=USD&language=en

There is also a Polish street fighter figure with a homemade flame thrower bt Poiwstaniec Z PM item 35F08.

You can use German figures with camo smocks and helmets. A large storehouse of these were captured early on in the uprising. Just add the rd and white armbands and helmet stripes. If you want to use BAR's, the Polish version has a pistol grip (see Kelly's Heroes - as the Yugoslav army still had some on hand). Civilian figures can be given helmets and other gear as well. PIATs and other British weapons were on hand. The Mauser 98 rifle would be common, as it was the standard for the Polish army in 1939 as well as for the Germans.

A very good film to watch is "Kanal". To understand the ending is to know the historical content of the film. The Soviet army sat on the opposite bank of the Vistula River to let the Germans cleaned out the Polish Home Army so Stalin didn't have to.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050585/

Alot of people mix up the two Warsaw Uprisings. In 1943, that was the uprising of the Jewish Ghetto, while from what I gather, you want the 1944 general uprising.   

Here's my KUBUS from a vacuform kit which I don't know if it is still available.

Send me a pm if you would like more info.

Mike T.

A British Sten gun can be converted to represent the sub machine gun manufactured by the Polish insurgents by cutting off the magazine from the side position and attaching it to the vertical position.

From the photographs I have seen it would be very hard to tell the difference.

Thanks for the added insight Mike T.

There's an interesting story concerning those Polish submachine guns. The factory that produced them was under the streets of Warsaw and siphoned power of the power grid. A simple design was developed in Britain that was given to underground groups to make these weapons based upon the German 9mm Parabellum round. One the essential parts was a large spring. Many of the polish factory foremen and managers were tied to the Home Army and only acted as being complacent to the Germans. the best source of these high tension springs were from Sweden. The factory supervisor ordered the springs as urgent for the factory, they would be ordered and somehow ;) the Home Army knew which convoy to attack and grab the springs.

One of the Panthers was captured and manned by Boy Scouts of the Grey Ranks who placed the Bopy Scout Fleur-de-lis as part of the markings on it. Prior to the Uprising, groups were picked to located and stake out vehicles that could be captured. If possible, vehicle manuals were supplied and watched to see how the crews managed their vehicles.

One thing very good about that movie "Kanal" is that it depicts the use of PIATs and Goliaths. The Germans used alot of Goliaths to put down the uprising. It was not unheard of to have a Tiger tank escorted by a pair of Goliaths to prevent the Home Army from attacking out of concealed positions.

Mike T.