Heer Infantry Obergefreiter Radio Operator - Normandy 1944

[Panzercommander HOH]

Kitbash No. 2 of 3 for my Normandy-era Heer infantry platoon command Kubelwagen group:

Heer Infantry Obergefreiter Radio Operator, Normandy 1944.

Based off a color plate in an Osprey book, he is a typical mid-late war Heer infantryman. He carries the Feld.Fu. B short range tactical radio from Dragon's Hermann Stahlschmidt. Naturally he'll be glued to the Leutnant when they are in the field.

I initially wanted to use Wilhelm Schaper's headsculpt for the radio operator as I wanted a figure with an open mouth for more realistic scenes in photoshoots. However - his head was too big for the Toys City M-43 cap I wanted to use, so Karl Hellebaut was demoted from Leutnant to Obergefreiter as he has an open mouth and his head barely fits the cap. Wilhelm Schaper is now the Leutnant (see below).

















Reference Color Plate:



From: Osprey Men-at-Arms 336: The German Army 1939-45 (5): Western Front 1943-45 by Nigel Thomas, Illustrated by Stephen Andrew, Plate D.

Other References:

http://www.johkaz.co.uk/radios.html - if you want to get the Feld.Fu. B right in 1:6th - check out Gary's page

http://716heer.org/html/feld_fu.html - 716 Nachtrichten Reenacting Group - general info and photos of the Feld.Fu. B

[Leatherneck]

Another nice piece of work!

[Panzercommander HOH]

Thanks John!

[Germanbilly1]

Nice looking radio operator. I have several and have never taken pictures of them.
GB

[pangaloss]

He turned out great, as did the LT. The Toys city M43 has a nice shape to it, is it on the small side? or are we just looking at some figures with larger heads?
I have 4 or 5 of the Toys City M43 SS version and they fit average DML heads quite well.

Tim

[Panzercommander HOH]

Thanks guys!

GB - you should post some of your radio operators - those always make for unique kitbashes!

Tim - I stand corrected - the cap is actually a Toys City M-40 Gebirgsjäger cap. I'll get that corrected soon. My radio operator's headsculpt is Karl Hellebaut. His headsculpt is on the small side and it looks pretty good once it is on his head. It's tough to get it there though. The new Leutnant is Wilhelm Schaper and his head is definitely larger.

[MadDogCPL]

Great job Fred!
Nice late war radio operator.

[Will1/6]

Nice work on the figure.

[Gary]

Hi John if you would like to contact give me a private message and I will give you my phone number and contact information. This is a nice figure I am much impressed. I would like to see more of your work.

Gary

[Gary]

Hi Fred im sorry I got your name wrong on my last post. What do you like doing most project wise in WW2 any particular area.

Gary