Tuesday, March 31

Preview: A new set from the Ardennes Offensive from D-Day Miniature Studio

D-Day Miniatures are very good at making some figures combine into larger sets of recent time. Today a very well known scene from the German counter-attack in the Ardennes during WWII - soldiers from Kampfgruppe Knittel are the subject of their latest set that we preview today in the news...
A new set from the Ardennes Offensive from D-Day Miniature Studio

 Available now from the team at D-Day Miniature Studio is #35162 'WWII Waffen SS big set, Ardennes 1944'. It consists of four figures in 1/35th scale and accessories dedicated to Tamiya's Schwimmwagen kit. As usual, all of the figures and components of the big set may be purchased separately or in smaller sets of one or two each.

 The Background of this scene
These soldiers are sculpted from a scene in the Ardennes during the "Ardennes Counteroffensive" that shows us photographs from an SS-PK Berichter Büschel's Ardennes photograph sequence. Taken at the Kaiserbaracke crossroads in Belgium on the 18th December 1944.

A video with the scene is shown here
The series of photographs from the Kaiserbaracke road junction on the N23 road between St Vith and Malmedy showed old German road signs pointing to Malmedy and St Vith, 
This photo shows one of the most famous scenes of soldiers from Kampfgruppe Knittel from the battle, Unterscharfuhrer (Junior Squad Leader) Ochsner chomping on a cigar on the left and his platoon commander, Oberscharfuhrer (Senior Squad Leader) Persin, to the right discuss directions while at a road sign at the Kaiserbaracke crossroads on Rollbahn Eon 18 December. This photo is frequently misidentified as Jochen Peiper, but in fact, it is from the 2nd Company of SS Panzer Aufklarungs Abteilung 1 (1st SS Tank Reconnaissance Battalion), scout elements of Kampfgruppe Knittel. It is this image that has been captured in this set from D-Day Miniatures.
A VW166 Schwimwagen, driver smoking cigar, the officer look at the camera as they travel past the sign.
An officer studies the map at the same crossroads point.
Waffen SS Schwimmwagen Driver, Ardennes 1944
1/35th Scale
Kit No# 35156
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 16 Euro
This is a figure that reproduces an armed SS driver at the wheel of a Schwimwagen amphibious vehicle. Set to fit into the Tamiya kit, we are sure that he could fit other similar brands as most of those kits are pretty similar. 
The driver's appearance has been adapted to the soldiers of the SS and German forces deployed in the latter part of the war. He sports the US tanker's headgear and camouflage smock of the SS man with laces at the neck of the figure.


Waffen SS NCO Schwimmwagen Crewman, Ardennes 1944
1/35th Scale
Kit No# 35156
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 16 Euro
This figure is a reproduction of a SS NCO sitting on Schwimwagen wearing winter clothing and equipment. He has a crusher NCO visor and he is seen (like in the pictures before) sitting on the edge of the hull and spreading the map. He can be used by himself or with the larger set of two or four soldiers sold separately by D-Day.


Waffen SS Schwimwagen Crew, Ardennes 1944 (Designed for Tamiya Kit)
Kit No #35157
Resin
1/35th scale
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 31 Euro
This is a set that recreates both the singles figures combined with the SS NCO and his driver stopping to check the map while scouting the front lines or looking around a friendly front position. This set is a combination of [DD35155] and [DD35156], which is a little cheaper than purchasing the single figures separately.


Schwimmwagen Accessories Set, Ardennes 1944 (Designed for Tamiya Kit)
Kit No #35158
Resin
1/35th scaleSculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 16 Euro
This is a set of accessories that replicates a normal bunch of gear as stowage that might be carried in the Schwimmwagen and in this case is made to fit the Tamiya kit in 35th scale.
The kit features replica versions of a US duffle bag, US Army officer's case, a wooden ration box, two Panzerfausts, a Karr .98 rifle, a German motorcyclist's coat, two spare Schwimmwagen wheels and printed paper roadsigns, map, US comic books and cigarette boxes - wow!
You can see the pictures of the roadsign below that is replicated as a part of this set.
Waffen SS MG Gunner, Ardennes 1944
Kit No #35159
Resin
1/35th scale
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 16 Euro
This is a single figure of a Geman SS soldier in warm, winter gear, with a greatcoat covered by his SS camouflaged smock. Lots of layers to this fellow as he is wearing quite a lot. He is seen leaning on his MG 42 as he surveys the scene in front of him.
Waffen SS Soldier with MP40, Ardennes 1944
Kit No #35160
Resin
1/35th scale
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 16 Euro
A figure that represents an armed SS grenadier in a similar clothing style as the MG gunner  - he wears the greatcoat and SS camouflaged smock over that - but this time he is wearing an M43 steel helmet with goggles around it and an MP40 submachine gun slung over his shoulder at the ready.


Waffen SS Soldiers, Ardennes 1944 (2 Figure Set)
35161
Resin
1/35th scale
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Price: 31 Euro
This set is a combination of [DD35159] and [DD35160] set, these fit together fairly well, and buying them together is a little cheaper than purchasing them as single figures.


Waffen SS Big Set, Ardennes 1944, 4 Figures + Schwimmwagen Accessories (Designed for Tamiya Kit) 
35162
1/35th scale
Sculpted by Pavel Krasickj
Box art painted by Pavel Krasickj
Four figures plus Schwimmwagen stowage set
Price: 75 Euro
-This set is a big set combining [DD35157], [DD35158] & [DD35161] (four figures plus Schwimmwagen stowage set) and is at a price point that is cheaper than buying each of the sets individually. 
This is a figure set that reproduces the appearance of a non-commissioned officer and surrounding soldiers doing a quick map and situation check before or after the battle of the Ardennes, just like the photos that set the scene above...
This set, of course, comes with all of the stowage and gear for that set, the figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted and it does not include the Schwimmwagen :-) - but it DOES look very good.
If you would like your own copies of these figures you can order them via the D-Day Miniature Studio website. Please bear in mind that some shipping restrictions are now effective, but we will look for a good option for any interested customers.