Panzer Aces GB January 2007 to May 31, 2008

Scott, I've done some research already for Carius' Jagdtiger, as you probably know he and Albert Ernst commanded the two companies of sPzJgAbt 512 (we've almost got a mini-GB going here)

The vehicles were, according to several sources, marked with X* fror 1st kp. and Y* for 2nd kp. The Jagdtigers of the 512th also bore a black-and-silver bear insignia, I have a picture I'll find after lunch. 

Here you go, the first is a 512th Jagdtiger showing the unit emblem, the second is an organizational diagram.

It's debatable if the hull numbers of the company command vehicles were X1, Y1 or 101, 201...either can be considered accurate. Albert Ernst commanded the 1st company, Otto Carius the 2nd. It's pretty certain that Ernst wasn't in 101 at the end of the war, due to the frequent breakdowns and mount swapping that occured with the Jagdtigers - so you could almost pick a number from the 1st company and be accurate. 

Thanks for the info Hermisminiatures.  Sorry it took so long for me to respond.  My wife, oldest daughter and I got nailed hard with the flu and have been pretty much bed ridden since Monday.  I think this is the sickest I've ever been.  What a great way to burn up vacation time. 

I'm inclined to think that 101, 201 etc. would be the numbering scheme as it's consistant with German numbering.  What muddies it all up is a JagdTiger that was captured by the allies numbered X7 as seen in the photo below.  So perhaps the numbering scheme changed at some point during the 512th very brief history.  If I can pin down some exact dates we might be able to figure this one out.  Maybe they started off with the conventional numbering and switched to the X and Y designations as their numbers dwindled? 

Hi all

Scott, sorry to hear about the flu hitting you and ur family so hard. I've also been out of action this week due to a throat and sinus infection.

A lot has happened since my last update:

- base coat of tamiya dark yellow has been applied
- tracks have been painted with tamiya nato brown - gives a rusty brown look i feel
- a wash/filter of van dykes brown was applied - found it too light in colour?
- then applied raw umber which kinda made it look darker but not in the way I wanted
- tools and detail painting has been done - some touchups here and there still needed
- future, decals and more future has been applied

Still a lot to do but getting there, not entirely happy with the way its turned out, too many things have gone wrong

And yes, I didn't add zimmerit

Osjohn, looking great guy! That's an awesome looking Tiger.

I managed to get back to the bench finally, and have been working on Hans Melkomes Panther here. It feels good to finally see some progress on this.  I got the camo pattern painted on my Panther and the tracks installed. Now to put on the schurtzen, all the tool racks and the spare tracks:



Well, that's where I stand today, tomorrow is another day. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Nice work gentlemen, we've got some momentum going now! 

I hope to get back to work on the JagdTiger this week.  I'm still suffering from the after effects of the flu and have almost no energy. 

Momentum is right! Good work, fellas!

Think I can get back on Hartrampf's KT here in a couple of days to help add to the mayhem - should be wrapping up a couple of other GB builds.

For those of us researching Albert Ernst and sPzJgAbt 512........ The book you need is Panzer Wrecks 3!  I just received it in the mail (I'm writing a book review on it).  There are many pages loaded with photos of the surrender of his unit, including photos of him, his men, their JagdTigers, weapons.... everything! 

The 3 surviving JagdTigers were in fact numbered X1, X2 and the third is believed to be X8.  X1 was definately the mount of Albert Ernst.  There is a great close up photo of Albert at the surrendering in his uniform wearing his Knights Cross that was awarded to him in February 1944. 

My review will include some scans from the book and I'll post the link when my review has been published.  I learned more information from this book in a matter of seconds than I have in weeks and weeks of research! 

Scott that's awesome.  Thanks for posting that info, even if I'm not building one of those.

As for what I am building; Hans Malkomes' Panther is finished and ready for clearcoat, decals, dullcoat and weathering: 

The next time you guys see this, it'll be finished!

Thanks for looking, comments are welcome.

my addiction to group builds is growing lol. are there any people left from that list so that i do not need to go over 40 pages. my stash has 3 panzer IVs, 2 king tigers, and 2 panthers, but sadly no tiger I's. pm me if there is. i might be able to finish something by may 8th. im enrolled for lots of other builds but they dont really start til april.

thanks!

panzerkampfwagen wrote:

my addiction to group builds is growing lol. are there any people left from that list so that i do not need to go over 40 pages. my stash has 3 panzer IVs, 2 king tigers, and 2 panthers, but sadly no tiger I's. pm me if there is. i might be able to finish something by may 8th. im enrolled for lots of other builds but they dont really start til april. thanks!

We've been keeping the roster current.  Just to be safe, when everyone gets a chance double check to make sure I have everyones entry correct.

Something I forgot to mention regarding Albert Ernst and his JagdTigers.  They are definately not in a solid dark yellow scheme.  You can clearly see the variations in the color in the black and white photos and there is a definate scheme of at least 2 colors, more likely 3 colors given German schemes at the time.  No ambush pattern.  It appears to be a soft edge scheme of dark green, dark yellow and probably red brown.  I'll post a pic or two when I get a chance.

osjohnm-nice job on the Tiger. 

Duke-Panther looks great.  Nice camo scheme, especially in 1/72nd.  Hand brush or airbrush?

espins1 wrote:

We've been keeping the roster current.  Just to be safe, when everyone gets a chance double check to make sure I have everyones entry correct.

Checked the front list - I'm notoriously absent! Official entry should read - "King Tiger Henschel, Sturmbannfuhrer Kurt Hartrampf, Bn Cdr, 502 SSPz.Abt 102(502)".

bobbaily wrote:

osjohnm-nice job on the Tiger.  Duke-Panther looks great.  Nice camo scheme, especially in 1/72nd.  Hand brush or airbrush?

Thanks Bob! It's hand brushed. I don't have a fine tip for the airbrush so when I tried to airbrush it didn't work. So I fell back to the old tried and true hand brush.

dupes wrote:

espins1 wrote: We've been keeping the roster current.  Just to be safe, when everyone gets a chance double check to make sure I have everyones entry correct. Checked the front list - I'm notoriously absent! Official entry should read - "King Tiger Henschel, Sturmbannfuhrer Kurt Hartrampf, Bn Cdr, 502 SSPz.Abt 102(502)".

Thanks for checking and letting me know!  I'll get you on there right now. 

I almost grabbed a new Dragon Jagdpanther during the raffle at a show I was at today, but decided on a Tristar Flakpanzer 38(t) instead. Knowing how fast I model, I will probably end up doing only Carius' Jagdtiger. I have everything all ready, kit, interior, PE, Fruils, etc., and will probably start sometime next week.

Some great progress here, everyone! 

Looking forward to seeing your build Hermisminiatures! 

I'll have some more progress to report on my JagdTiger later tonight. 

Excellent Scott!! I hope to be finishing my Panther up tonight as well. I got it clearcoated for decals, so we'll see.

Oh, I also decided to take a look at the front and noticed my name was missing as well. I'm building Hans Malkommes' Panther from the LSSAH. 

Thanks Scott! 

Hermisminiatures, I'll be looking forward to your build as well! 

Duke Maddog wrote:

Oh, I also decided to take a look at the front and noticed my name was missing as well. I'm building Hans Malkommes' Panther from the LSSAH.  Thanks Scott!

Thanks for catching that, I've updated the front page. 

Hi all

Duke, very impressed with your hand brushed camo! Wish I could hand brush like that, just painting the tools without damaging the base coat is a challenge for me.

After some trying times and numerous errors, I think the kit is finished:

^very nice tiger

I would like to be add to the group build not sure what model im going to get. But im thinking about one of Michael Wittmann, for over a year now, i've wanted to do a dio with him.

Nice Tiger John!  Now if I could just find the time to work on my JagdTiger......

Here is a great photo of Hauptmann Albert Ernst (aka. The Tiger of Vitebsk!) during the surrender of sPzJgAbt 512 at Iserlohn in the Ruhr pocket.  This cam from the excellent photo reference PanzerWrecks 3. 

John-good job on the Tiger.  Is that the Tamiya kit and if so, did you use the kit supplied indy-links?  If so, how were they to work with?

Again, great looking Tiger.

Thanks for all postive comments.

 Bob, yes it a Tamiya kit and the included tracks were used.

Was the first time I've ever encountered any form of indy tracks and was naturally worried at first but found the assembly very easy.

The cleanup and assembly of 200 indy tracks was quite monotomous and tiresome but you don't have to deal with those 2 ejector marks on DML magic tracks, only the sprue attachment points.

The tracks are vinyl like their one-piece tracks so was easy to bend and shape around the idlers and sprockets. I used Tamiya Extra Thin Cement to assemble the tracks.

Hermesminiatures wrote:

Here is a list of Panzer aces and the vehicles they commanded. If you want to claim one, PM me and I'll mark you down for it. Each different vehicle for each commander can be built, so for example, 4 people can build the various vehicles of Michael Wittmann. If you want to suggest an ace not on this list, PM me and I'll add him. Also I will be updating this with turret numbers and etc., just not all at once. At the bottom will be a list of recommended kits.

Michael Wittman destroyed 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns

SS Haupstumfuhrer Michael Wittmann - 3 Tiger I's, early, mid, late, StuG III Ausf A

Michael Wilttmans tanks and numbers are as follows

1/2/1942 4th (Heavy) Company, SS Panzer Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Light Platoon Leader

Tank # 4L1  Ustuf. Micheal Wittman - PZ III or IV -not sure but i think he was in a III

7/1943 Operation Zitadelle     13th (Heavy) Company 1st SS Panzer Regiment IIInd Platoon Leader

tank # 1331 Ustuf. Micheal Wittman - Tiger

Nov 1943 13th (Heavy) Company 1st SS Panzer Regiment IInd Platoon Leader

Tank # S21 Ustuf. Micheal Wittman - Tiger

6/1944  2nd Company 101St SS Panzer Battalion Company Commander

Tank # 205 Ostuf. Micheal Wittman - Tiger 

tank 205 was nocked out in Villers-Bocage

August 9 - 16 1944 Wittman was KIA in tank # 007 northeast of  falaise

Here are some great images from Panzerwrecks 3 which answered many of my questions and confusion regarding Albert Ernst and his JagdTiger X1.  It's a great reference book, highly recommended!

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=3082

could you add me to the build

i'll be doing a tiger I mid -Michael Wittman not sure if i'll do him in Nov 1943 or july 5 1943

July 5 1943 Operation Zitadelle  13th Heavy company 1st SS Panzer IIIrd platoon tank # 1331

Nov 1943 13th Heavy Company 1st SS Panzer Regiment IInd Platoon tank # S21

Wow, it got quiet in here pretty fast!

Well, maybe this will generate a little discussion. I finished Hans Malkomes' Panther tank. This is the Dragon 1/72 scale Panther G with Zimmeritt:

Now I'll go get my Group Build Badge!

Thanks for looking, comments are welcome.