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Alpine Miniatures is back with new figures in the 35th scale from 761st.

Alpine Miniatures is back with new figures in the 35th scale from 761st.

The end of hostilities was officially declared on May 8, 1945, with the VE Day (Victory Europe). The 761st remained in Germany another year, before they were deactivated and sent back home on 1st June 1946. These Black American soldiers fought as bravely as their white counterparts but their welcome home receptions did not include the usual parades with open arms and streaming tickertape. Returning African American soldiers often met with disdain, skepticism and overt hostility. Last month, we saw an adaptation of that theme with two DIFFERENT heads this time. One was a tanker in the SS and another in the Heer. This month, the figures are from the 761st Tank Battalion. Last month, we saw an adaptation in that theme, with the choice of two DIFFERENT heads this time, one a tanker in the SS and another of the Heer.

This month, we look at two tanks from the 761st Tank Battalion, the switch up this time is that there is a choice this time of making the two figures, but either as caucasian males or African american males, one of both, or whatever you would like.

We will look at them both now, with the single figures, and the n the set of two figures together

US Tank Crew 761st TB #1

From Alpine Miniatures

1/35th scale

No #35318

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box Art by Dr. Jin Kim

Two heads are included with the figure

FigureThe first figure in this set gives us the choice of two different heads. The first figure is a M1-helmeted man (below), and on the right, a tanker wearing the US Tank Helmet M-1938. The tanker helmets were issued to the tanks rather than each soldier. A study of the

period-correct helmet is below..

They are made by Rawlings Manufacturing Corporation. Sears Saddlery Company. Wilson Athletic Goods Manufacturing Company. and A.G. Spaulding & Brothers. Though essentially built to the same specifications, there were slight variations across the four manufacturers in terms of small details…

The second choice is the “vanilla” M1 steel helmet, the grainy surface and large dome were synonymous with GI’s of WWII. These were worn by tankers in vehicles but also when required to leave for extended periods of time. This was especially true near frontlines. The U.S. tanker wearing bib overalls is visible under the jacket. Soldiers in tank, reconnaissance and half-track armored infantry needed to wear cold weather gear while fighting out of their vehicles because they did not provide space heating. The tanker wears what appears to be a U.S. field jacket M43, which is loosely draped over the tanker overalls. This jacket has been tucked behind the arm of his pants in a pocket and is nicely draped. The collars, lapels and pockets of this jacket are very nicely wrinkled and pulled as they would be if this was a well-worn item of clothing on a living person.

Underneath his jacket is the U.S. Army M3 Pistol in its shoulder holster. Paratroopers and aircrew used the M3 shoulder pouch extensively. The M1911 Colt A1.45 auto pistol was used in this holster throughout World War 2. These were made of a single leather piece folded and stitched to form a pocket. The top flap has a “lift-the-dot” fastener. The bottom part of the belt holster has a strap that is attached to a snap-fastener that is female. This is where the mating male piece would be stuck. It folds over and snaps to the back of the holster, creating a loop. The word “U.S.” is stamped on the front of the holster. Stamped to the front of the holster is “U.S.”.

A WWII era shoulder holster, designed to fit 1911 (M9) style pistols.

US Tank Crew 761st TB #2From Alpine Miniatures

1/35th scale

No #35319

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box Art by Dr. Jin Kim

Two (different) head choices included with the figure

The second figure is seen below in bare resin, and the details of the sculpt are easy to pick out without colour. Here again the M1 steel helmet and Ridel type M1938 Tanker’s Helmet are the options. The figure in this picture is seated and resting. This tanker is dressed in winter clothing, and his gloves give the viewer a hint as to the weather around him. M1 – Standard.The M1938 helmet for tankers, also known as the crash helmet because it did not protect against projectiles, but only against the sharp edges of the tank. Before 1938, both the Infantry (the Infantry) and Cavalry (the Cavalry) had different designs of tank helmets. The supply chain was deemed to be more expensive by using two helmets. The helmet is made up of a fibre resin shell, leather ear flaps, and fiber resin rear neck protector. Ten ventilation holes are evenly spaced all around the top of the helmet. The winter tanker overalls worn by this tanker are made from cotton twill, in an olive-drab shade. They also have wool knit sleeves on the jacket. Warmth was provided by dark olive Melton Wool lining the garments. The jacket fly, bib trousers, and the side pocket were all closed with nickel-plated talon zips. The jacket was very popular in many services due to its thermal protection and ease of wear. This sculptor has him sitting on a tank, boxes, fence or anything else. The sculptor has captured his relaxed body language in this position. US Army shoepacs and overshoes often came in different colors depending on what the soldier was wearing and the environment. Mud, dust, snow and sand can all change how the shoes look. The leather was brown with a high-rise rubber sole and leather laces. Men assigned to the combat services, support and combat were given this glove. The distribution took place in both the interior zone and theaters of operation located in every climatic zone. The tankers preferred these tanks with cold steel hulls, hatches and hit shells. The jacket worn by this tanker, which is made of olive drab cotton twill #3 and lined in brown kersey lining is a well-known tanker jacket. The jacket was originally designed for crews of armored vehicles, but soldiers from all branches sought to obtain them. The jackets were far superior to fair-weather M41 Field Jacket. The jackets were particularly popular and many were obtained by by infantrymen, artillerymen and paratroopers.

US 761st Tank Battalion Set Set (2 figures)

From Alpine Miniatures

1/35th scale

No #35320

FigureSculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box Art by Dr. Jin Kim

Two head choices included with each of the two figures in this set.

Sold as a set of two complimentary figures, both of them have two head choices each, the same as the single figures do. The men here are undoubtedly from the same unit at the same time, but dressed just differently enough to be complementary as a set or by themselves used singularly.

These two figures in singles and a set will be available from Alpine Miniatures

.

If you are in the USA, you can now purchase Alpine products directly from their online store with free shipping (within the US) on all orders.

Source

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About Haluk Cetin

I'm Haluk, everyone calls me Hulk. Skydiver, Scale modeler, and Frontend Developer. Hobbyzero.com author.

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