(Login Malcolm_48) Registered Users from IP address 4.152.204.135
Hi guys -
I have this project I have been stalled on a while. Maybe someone can help. I've got a Skybow Late Tiger I built up with brass, Hauler Befehlstiger Late mods, WWII Prod. tracks, Armorscale barrel, and some good scratch work. It's in dunkelgelb, ready for camo. My main airbrush won't hang with the fineline camo, and I can't think of a better way than spraying it. I broke down and ordered one of the Skybow 0.25mm airbrushes from Meeta, so theoretically I will be taking a crack at the camo soon.
The tank I'm building is "009" from SS-PzAbt 101, Normandy, summer '44. I have Bison's decals for this tank (although I'm a little leery of the yellow with white outline turret numbers). What I would really like to know, is there an actual photo of this vehicle in existence? If so, what reference book is it in? Just to see it would take my confidence from the theoretical to the "oh, that's what it really looked like" level. Perhaps such a picture would also provide info on the location of the unit marking, which would indicate which company it was assigned to.
This tank was involved with Wittman's famous exploit near Cintheaux, France, in August '44. Everyone builds Wittman's tank(s), and I wanted to go one step removed, so the "Panzer Ace" critics would be less oppressive and ruthless.
If any one (Bruce, perhaps?) knows if there is actually a picture of this beast, I'd like to get a chance to look at it before I proceed.
I'd love to help, but I have very little on this unit other than what is in the various Squadron books. Jerry owned all the photos, and I didn't get to keep any..... As I remember, Wittman's "007" is usually depicted with white numbers, and "009" would very likely be painted the same way since it's also a headquarters vehicle.
Thanks for the response. Johann at Bison lists some book references on the decal sheet, and some are your "Panzer Colors". He lists a few more books, and one of them is the Squadron/Signal "SS Armor". I'm wanting to do it right, but I'm danged if I'm going to buy every book on his list on the off-chance of finding a particular photo. Maybe someone else out there knows.
I also lean heavily toward the all-white turret numbers.
This thing has dust on it, it's been sitting on my desk'o'mess for so long, high time I completed it .
Malcolm, I checked all three volumes of Panzer Colors, and there are no shots of the SSsPzAbt 101 command vehicles, so if you don't have the books, no need to get them for this project. I do not have a copy of SS Armor I can get to, so I can't check that book, but perhaps a request on the Missing Links or Track-Link sites will get an answer - check the Axis armor discussion groups. HTH, BC
There is a picture of that tiger in "Tiger I on Western Front" by Jean Restayn. You can see part of the right side, part of the turret and part of the number.
HTH
SeanSki http://www.pme.org.pl
--
"Car's grip is greatly reduced when wheels are not touching the ground" - Steve Matchett
Dave Reed (Login dave37167) Registered Users 68.52.83.113
Tiger 009....
May 14 2008, 7:09 AM
Malcolm, I am FAR from any kind of expert on Tigers....but I have the book mentioned. 009 is on page 100, and, as the caption mentions, seems to be in good shape. The turret numbers are DEFINITELY white outlined around some color. If you assume that the type of film yeilds the chroma we are used to...it ISN't Red,Black,or White. So that leaves Blue or Yellow, I think, as your choices. On page 90, tank #331 appears to have the exact same type of marking colors. I will leave it to the Tiger-nista to guide you to the correct colors. For Me?? Yellow looks like a winner!!
HTH, Dave
Has three pictures of SSsPzAbt 101 tigers , none of them is 009 , But one caption states the 3rd company used medium blue turret numbers , usually outlined in yellow. Don't know if this helps, hope so.
of construction materials and junk, so I can see the books on the far wall, I just can't get to them..... I don't have a copy of Tiger in Action available either. Sorry.
Hi Malcom
I have found a colour drawing of "009" at the rear of "Tigers In Combat II" by Wolfgang Schneider. It has white numbers, I
can send you a scan if you want one. I will have a look through the book & see if there is a photo.
I hope this is of help
Richard
Hi Malcom Again
I have looked in the book & there is a complete chapter on
SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 with 59 pages of photos & combat history. There is one picture but it is only a side picture of the front 1/2 of the tank & is not of very good quality. hope this of help
Richard
Thanks so much for the info, everyone. R1CH4RD, a scan of the picture and colour profile would be just what I was looking for. Sean, thanks, I think my LHS has the Restayn books, I might nip in there with my digi-cam and see if I can get away with a picture.
I have all the tools, etc., painted and the track ready to go. If I can only get the camo and decals sorted out, this project will fly together in no time. My work on the Hauler Befehls set is on this site in the reviews section.
Your pictures are an enormous help! This is definitely the tank I'm after.
It's certainly a Befehlswagen, because it has the antenna holders on the right rear side. The picture is high enough quality to get a good look at the last two turret numbers. My tired old eyes have not decided if there's actually an outline, they only want to see an outline, or if there is a trick of the light or the zimmerit. I'm still leaning to white numbers, because they would be easist to amend if I changed my mind.
Thanks for the spark that I needed to get this thing back on track . When the new airbrush gets here, I will be busy.
Hi Malcolm , glad to hear these mb of some help to you.
If you look closely at the 1st photo you will notice that there is a "nick" out of the gun barrel.. its in line with the tanker's shoulder who is leaning over the fuel barrel.
This pix is from the Tiger on the Western Front book. The 2nd pix is from Michael Wittman and the Tank commanders of the Leibstandarte.
I will have a look around my books to see if I can find anything more thats of help to you.
Ah, Combat Mission! I only played the later AK version with that big ETA mod, but a wonderful game. The new one, in Syria, I've tried, but it just doesn't grab me. Must dig out the CMAK disc and reload it onto my HD! No, on second thoughts, I'm too busy right now....
Hi Tim , I stumbled upon CMBO ( Combat Mission Beyond Overlord ) back in 1999 when it was about to be released. As I am the helpful sort I managed to get aboard the Beta Test team for CMBB ( Combat Mission Barbarossa to Berlin ) as well as helping out with research and some of the the graphics.
Then CMAK was ramped up and I was deeply involved in that too. Dare say I have spent 100's if not 1000's of hours meddeling with research and testing andI loved every moment especially when able to find bugs you would never think were possible.
It was and still is in my opinion the best war game series I have ever played with many memorable play moments and when something you planned comes off like clock work there is no better feeling to see it happen
Any of those pix that appear on my web pages that seem to have no images do actually work. All you have to do is click on the image and it will appear. I really enjoyed learning to make the "Mods" that I did do spending many an hour glued to the screen striving for the best I could do. The last one I did was the Jagdpanzer IV series and it took an intense 80+ hr's to get the mod finished all in my spare time
I have not been involved with the Modern set as they do not work on pre Intel chipped Mac's but mb one day I will get involved again.
Ah, modding! I did a revised map editor graphic, and a couple of battles, including one based on Wittmanns last action, and some waters edge tiles for a Gold Beach project, but no further. So much to do, so little time! But I agree, far and away the most engaging battle game. I know several guys who moaned about the graphics, only to become absolutely hooked. The tension of having your whole operation hinging on a PIAT team sneaking up on some Panzer that was ruling the roost, of cursing your own artillery falling short because your observer was under fire, of setting up a keyhole ambush, and then have it work, perfectly..
Hi Malcolm , I have uploaded the colour plate of Tiger 009 for you at the previous web page.
I have also displayed a pix of a ex 1st Company Befehlswagen Tiger that might be of interest to you.
According to Jentz Befehlswagen vehicles had the co axial machine gun removed and the hole plugged , the side vision port right turret side and the loaders periscope were also plated over.
Thanks again for the extra pictures, I have them safely downloaded. Hopefully I can return the favour sometime. I know about the mods, and have done them pretty much as per Jentz (see my article on the Hauler set on the review section of this website). I see the ding in the barrel since you pointed it out, it may be hard to replicate on the aluminium Armorscale barrel, though. I have a spring-loaded center punch that would duplicate it almost exactly, but I'll have to be reeeeeally careful!
As I remember, Wittman's "007" is usually depicted with white numbers, and "009" would very likely be painted the same way since it's also a headquarters vehicle.
.