Am I mistaken or do the two standing figures wear the standard cold weather tanker jacket?

http://miniart-models.com/index.htm?/35126.htm

The reason I ask is that I seem to remember the figures in this set being referred to as a 'summer tank crew', but I would happily use these for a winter project.
Perhaps the summer tank crew was a different (future) Miniart set?

Thanks for any help!

Cheers,
Anders

Even though the "tanker's jacket" was officially "Jacket, Winter, Combat" the tankers jacket was often worn in temperate weather. Those jackets were quite common in infantry units (when they could be obtained) and other arms. Look at photos of US tank crews in the summer months of 1944 in France and you will see quite a few men wearing their tanker jackets except on the hottest days. Many of us refer to the new Miniart sets at "summer" because the tankers are wearing HBT overalls and aren't budoned by the winter hoods and "tanker trousers" seen in many other figures. The tanker jackets were even used during cooler times in North Africa, so these figures are more adaptable to campaigns other than NW Europe in the fall/winter of 1944-45.

I am looking forward to these figure sets.

Great info, thanks for the confirmation on the tanker's jacket.
I suppose these will work for really late-war scenarios too? Like spring April-May 1945.

Cheers,
Anders

as the weather warmed up the tankers appear to adjust the uniforms to be appropriate. There are even photos of US Army tankers wearing late one-piece coveralls into the Korean War.

Hey Anders!

The only problem with using those figures in a late-war setting is the old style web gaiters worn by some of them over their shoes. Some crews wore them up 'til the fall of 1944, but pretty much discarded them afterwards. Rubber oversheoes (worn over service shoes or directly over several layers of socks) and shoepacs were the norm during the fall-winter 1944-45 period. Come spring, the M1944 double-buckle combat boot seems to have been the most common form of footwear among crews.

Hope this helps.

Charby

Hervé "Charby" Charbonneau
Chicoutimi QC
Canada

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity. (Bullet Tooth Tony)

Hey Charby and thanks!
Yes, I had a feeling those gaiters were more suitable for '44 rather than '45.
But for figures standing in open hatches etc with their shoes hidden from view I guess they will work fine for the last months of the war.

Just ordered this set and I am really looking forward to see what it's like.

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Anders

Of course, I should have mentoned that if the lower half of the figure is hidden below the hatch, then the gaiters are not an issue.

"Just ordered this set and I am really looking forward to see what it's like."

After seeing how you fixed the figures in the "winter" set, I am really looking forward to see what you'll do with them!

Cheers!

Hervé "Charby" Charbonneau
Chicoutimi QC
Canada

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity. (Bullet Tooth Tony)