Panzer Impression

[Schwartzwald]

I once again, have a few questions to ask. This time, regarding a panzer impression.

I've noticed, through a good amount of real pictures, slides from movies, action figures, models, and such, that the german tankers began to mix their black wool uniforms with camouflage.

Such as the combination of wearing a black panzer wrapper with italian camouflage trousers.


So we conclude with my questions, which are:

- Can the combinations be vice versa? (Can you wear a, lets say an M44 Dot Panzer Wrapper but with black wool panzer trousers?)

- What kind of cover would be best appropriate on an airsoft field? (Field Cap, Overseas Cap, Crusher Cap)

- Would the crusher cap have to have the pink piping, or has their been accounts of crusher caps having white piping instead?


Feedback would be great, as I am very interested in completing an SS panzer impression before the airsoft event called "Long Winter" here in Washington. I kinda got tired of seeing too many impressions of the Fallschirmjagers, and would definetely like to spice things up a bit.

[Jager.Drü]

As being a part of Battlesim. We put on long winter. What would be the purpose of doing a panzer impression? A knocked out tanker? If you are going that route of a tanker being pressed into infantry. I would go with stug wraps instead of the black panzer wrap.
All axis impression have been fine, but I trying to find out why a panzer impression?
If you want to spice things up, do a killer SS impression or Heer.

On the FJ note. Most of us do FJ as we also do FJ blank reenacting. So our kits double time.


But to answer your questions

Yes combs can go both ways. Dot top with black bottoms is fine.
I would wear a black M43. Crusher Caps are for OC staff usually.
If you are doing infantry a helmet would be great.
Like I said Crusher caps/peaked caps are for O.C. Staff.

[Schwartzwald]

I was thinking about doing an SS infantry impression by busting out the M44 Dot Jacket and Trousers...But, I was worried that it would have already been done by somebody else.

So I decided to go for a knocked-out tanker, something that is...uncommon.


But thanks for the answer

So, because I'm not on OC staff, would that knock out the idea of wearing a crusher/peaked cap?

[binarypunisher]

You can wear the hat.

[Jager.Drü]

Aug 20, 2008 22:07:38 GMT -5 binarypunisher said:

You can wear the hat.

Really? I thought Peaked/Crushed caps were for staff?


Starks:
Nope, nobody up here has Dot44. Most who do SS have Oak pattern smocks. It would be a first to have someone with a correct down pat Dot impression.

[Schwartzwald]

Dang really?


On the tunics, do people have to have specific rank insignias?
I mean, while attending an event much like Long Winter.

[binarypunisher]

I dont see why you would want to wear a peaked hat...its just going to get in the way. Helmets look far better.

[Jager.Drü]

Yeah nobody ownes Dot44.

Some staff/team members do wear ranks. The US side is full of ranks, but Axis is usually is kept pretty bare. Most people have smocks on aswell.

[Schwartzwald]

Dang...so it wouldn't be a good idea to have the Untersturmfuhrer shoulder boards on huh?

[Jager.Drü]

I would say no.

[mikkel]

An 18 year old SS Panzer Untersturmführer decked out in the black uniform and with an crusher at the frontline....thats...not very realistic (i could have happened in those rare cases where the veichle were destroyred, and for some reason the commander escaped unharmed...but i would say, very. very rare).

As said, better go with a killer standard infantry impression, where you have really done a great job on all the nice little details.
It's like in reenactment, the only really special reenactors, are those who do a very nice regular heer infantry impression...for some reason, that impression is not normally seen. Everyone want to be 'ze elite', and as a consequence the special thing is just the norm and not really special anyway.

[Schwartzwald]

Would a four pocket Heer camouflaged field jacket thats in splinter camo be a good idea?

Or would something like a Model 1944 Heer tunic be a better choice?

[Jager.Drü]

If you are going to wear splinter why not do FJ?
With a 44 Tunic it limits you in that you can only do late war stuff.
Personally I would go with an M40 or M43 tunic.

Another good thing about FJ, the uniforms didnt change after mid war. I only need a type 1 smock and repaint of the helmet to do early war.

[mikkel]

How many events to early(er) war? I have the impression that most events are from D-day and onwards?
But yes, M43 would be the best choice for flexibility. The M40 is just...overdone

If you are doing heer, then try and keep the camouflage to a minimum. Perhaps even none at all.

[9thsshohenstaufen]

For our blank fire unit, when guys are crewing the Stug or Tiger, usually only the commander has a crusher on, if he wants one. Others wear either an M-43 Baseball style cap, or the overseas cap, if they wear a hat at all. It can get pretty warm inside the vehicles.

If you decide to portray a "knocked out" tanker, what would be your weapon? At best, a P-38 would be what you should carry, maybe an MP-40 with a single clip. Armored crewmen often took their belts and sidearms off when in the vehicle, to prevent getting them hung up on hatches or other equipment if they had to make a quick exit. MP-40's were found in many vehicles by crafty crews to keep local infantry attacks at bay in unusual circumstances, but, again, if your tank is hit, and you are trying to bail out, its unlikely you would spend the time to gather up your sidearm and a submachine gun as well. While I like the idea, its really not practical for either airsoft or blank fire.

As for mixing and matching black wool and camo, it is quite appropriate. Especially from '44 onwards. Supplies were not always readily forthcoming, and when they were, it was ammo and fuel first and foremost. Guys used what they could and if something wore our or was unusable anymore, they made do with best they could, within reason. Unfortunately, for many in the blank fire world, they view that as an excuse to just about do anything they want (beards that would make ZZ Top jealous, captured weapons, more Heer camo in an SS Impression then SS camo, etc.) all under the guise of "Well, times were tough, and they would have used this if they could" or someother such rationalization. I think the general rule of thumb all reenactors/airsofters should follow is "Portray the norm". You are never wrong, and no one can then pick on your impression. Sure, photos exist of "one off" type situations, like a Stug crewman that had a beard that would rival a U-boat members, (yes, I have seen actual footage of this from the war), but that was not typical. Stick with the basics, make sure your stuff is squared away, and you'll be fine. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Schwartzwald]

Thanks
Yeah, I just wanted to do an impression that wasn't really done...or as I said earlier "uncommon".



Jager.Drü:

With Fallschirmjagers, what kinds of cover can be worn, while wearing the jump smock?

[Jager.Drü]

Helmets, if you dont have one a blue m43/side cap. Side caps were more common, but I understand wanting an M43. Sometimes I wear a field made cap from Splinter, but not in combat.

Its uncommon at Long Winter to have someone fully decked out as infantry. Wether it be SS or Heer. I wouldn't mind seeing some Dot44. If you don't mind me asking how old are you? If you are younger you could pull off a 12th SS impression.

[Schwartzwald]

I'm currently 17.

But yeah, pulling off a 12th SS impression doesn't sound too bad.

[Jager.Drü]

12th SS is all about Dot44 and Italian camo. Low boots with socks instead of gaitors. I hope to see you at this coming up Long Winter and JTD.

[Schwartzwald]

Hope to see you as well


Oh, has a date been made yet for Long Winter?

[Jager.Drü]

No that I know of. The planning process is just starting. Recondo is over and we still need to unpack and sort all that stuff.

[Schwartzwald]

Ohhh alright, gotcha.


By the way, do you have a battlesim forum account?

[Jager.Drü]

yep. its just Drew on BS.

[Schwartzwald]

OHHH! Gotacha! Saw the pics of your Luftwaffe Tropical Tunic, pretty neato.



By the way, has their been accounts of soldiers wearing coveralls on the field, other than just tankers?

[Jager.Drü]

Yeah, the 12th SS got issued a bunch of italian camo coveralls from their sister unit 1st SS LAH.

Those tropical pictures are old. The newest ones are from JTD.

[Schwartzwald]

Hmm, a 12th SS impression definetely sounds good right now.


So, are there more fallschirmjager impressions then there are Heer or Waffen-SS? <--- At Long Winter or JTD that is.

[Jager.Drü]

Yes, very much so. Most if not alll the Battlesim Team do FJ.

[Schwartzwald]

And I assume Italian Camo, like Dot44, isn't worn by anyone at Long Winter or JTD?

[Adler69]

I will be wearing Italian M1929 camo at Long Winter.

[Jager.Drü]

Italian is worn by an elite few. But you can be one of the elites