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Armor/AFV: Modern Armor
Modern armor in general.
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1/35 Bundeswehr 80s/90s crew?
Andisak
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: August 17, 2018
KitMaker: 28 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 14, 2019 - 07:37 PM UTC
While not really 'modern' I hope the question was placed in the right forum.

Let's say, for a Leopard 1/2 or Marder 1A2... are there any suitable crew figures out there?
I seem to have seen a set or two but my searching didn't turn up anything that match my memory.

Any pointers? Thanks in advance!
mligthart
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: July 07, 2015
KitMaker: 46 posts
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Posted: Sunday, April 14, 2019 - 08:32 PM UTC
Hello Anders

Valkyrie Miniatures has several sets; 1 modern bundeswehr crew, one for the eighties and one for the sixties/seventees. I know Modellbau Koenig, hobbyeasy and kmt sell them. I have all three sets and they are of good quality. also Dolp Modellbau has several figures, but these are white metal and a bit less in quality compared to resin figures.
hope this helps:
https://www.google.com/search?q=valkyrie+bundeswehr+crew&rlz=1C1AVFC_enNL797NL797&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8hJnd19HhAhVKzaQKHcAUA1MQ_AUIDigB&biw=1530&bih=706

kind regards,
Michel
Andisak
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: August 17, 2018
KitMaker: 28 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 14, 2019 - 10:21 PM UTC
Hello Michel and many thanks!
Just what I am looking for and I assume the set for the 1990-2000 era is the one for me.
But was there an 1980s set in your link? I can’t seem to find it.

Thanks again!
mligthart
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: July 07, 2015
KitMaker: 46 posts
Armorama: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 14, 2019 - 11:10 PM UTC
Hi Anders,

this set is for the 1980's:

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-figures-valkyrie-miniature-vm35006-1:35-west-german-army-tank-crew-1970-1980-era-for-leopard-1-series-2-figures-and-1-bust?zenid=4e3be44f7c4ecbefe64ccf49f740a212

kind regards,
Michel
covkid
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United Kingdom
Joined: March 13, 2015
KitMaker: 252 posts
Armorama: 194 posts
Posted: Monday, April 15, 2019 - 01:54 AM UTC
I think it is about time plastic manufacturers started making these. Mini Art or Masterbox etc make some great figures and it would really be great if they made some.

Brtish,German,US,French and Europe in general would sell well.

Here's hoping

Regards Jason
frank01
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 175 posts
Posted: Monday, April 15, 2019 - 02:16 AM UTC
give this a try

http://www.y-modelle.de/scale-1-35-figures-y-modelle-c-2_179.html
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 12:41 AM UTC



On a side note, I never understood the idea of wearing berets while operating AFVs (let alone tanks). Like it wasn't a dangerous enough business to start with...

Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 05:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text




On a side note, I never understood the idea of wearing berets while operating AFVs (let alone tanks). Like it wasn't a dangerous enough business to start with...



The head of a tank crewman is not important enough to justify any protection.

Berets don't have brims to get in the way on the inside of a tank. Being one piece of cloth unlike a sidecap with its folds, it will not catch on any protrusions inside the tank.

Unless wearing a helmet it makes sense for wearing a beret. You can pull a beret very tight so it doesn't get caught on anything unlike a cap.
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 07:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The head of a tank crewman is not important enough to justify any protection.



I beg to differ. I'd like to think that my and my mates' heads were very much worth protecting. As a matter of fact, the lived of two of my fellow tankers were saved by their helmets: a fellow TC got shot in the head by a 7.62 mm round causing minor brain damage only; the other one is a loader who got squeezed between the gun-breech and the turret roof due to a malfunctioning stabilizer - both fully recovered. Needless to say, both of them would've been dead if it wasn't for their helmet.


Quoted Text

Berets don't have brims to get in the way on the inside of a tank.



If my understanding of the word 'brim' is correct (might not), proper tanker helmets don't have them.


Quoted Text

Being one piece of cloth unlike a sidecap with its folds, it will not catch on any protrusions inside the tank.



No, it won't - your head will, potentially knocking yourself out. Not exactly an ideal scenario, especially when desperately trying to escape the vehicle.


Quoted Text

Unless wearing a helmet it makes sense for wearing a beret. You can pull a beret very tight so it doesn't get caught on anything unlike a cap.



WW2 British tankers suffered unproportionally large number of head injuries compared to their American counterparts. The reason: the former wore berets, the latter helmets.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that those German tanker-berets were actually covering a hard-shell.

Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 08:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The head of a tank crewman is not important enough to justify any protection.



I beg to differ. I'd like to think that my and my mates' heads were very much worth protecting. As a matter of fact, the lived of two of my fellow tankers were saved by their helmets: a fellow TC got shot in the head by a 7.62 mm round causing minor brain damage only; the other one is a loader who got squeezed between the gun-breech and the turret roof due to a malfunctioning stabilizer - both fully recovered. Needless to say, both of them would've been dead if it wasn't for their helmet.


Quoted Text

Berets don't have brims to get in the way on the inside of a tank.



If my understanding of the word 'brim' is correct (might not), proper tanker helmets don't have them.


Quoted Text

Being one piece of cloth unlike a sidecap with its folds, it will not catch on any protrusions inside the tank.



No, it won't - your head will, potentially knocking yourself out. Not exactly an ideal scenario, especially when desperately trying to escape the vehicle.


Quoted Text

Unless wearing a helmet it makes sense for wearing a beret. You can pull a beret very tight so it doesn't get caught on anything unlike a cap.



WW2 British tankers suffered unproportionally large number of head injuries compared to their American counterparts. The reason: the former wore berets, the latter helmets.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that those German tanker-berets were actually covering a hard-shell.



Typical field caps and normal infantry helmets have brims. That's what was meant.

The head of a tanker in the US army is supposed to be solid rubber, hence the epithet "treadhead" So any damage to it is inconsequential and in fact helps the crewman continue in his risky occupation. It's akin to football players. The more concussions you survive the better you'll be at your station. Just ignore the double vision and headaches and drive on. (I am joking because I have hit my head too many times despite protective headgear.)

Seriously, the one time I wasn't wearing my CVC in the tank I was knocked unconscious when the chain hoist swung around while dropping the breach.

Way back when, berets were chosen precisely for the reasons I indicated. Side caps, brimmed hats were all in the way or caught up on things. What headgear was unique and close to the head? The beret.

Many armies played with various protective headgear. But soldiers like to be comfortable, don't care about risks to life and limb and there's military tradition. A lot of military tradition over the centuries has led to a lot of dubious uniform choices. Head wounds? Helmets just aren't done.

We're lucky hussar uniforms fell out of use before they came up with armored vehicles. Imagine the Japanese tank officer wearing a nice protective helmet, but having that sword-- Tradition.
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