Ladeschütze d. schw. Pz.Abt. 503, Slobodka, Juni 1944 (Loader of the Heavy Tank Battallion 503, Slobodka, June 1944)

Usually my projects do not have a "message". But this time I intended to put emphasize on the fact that by far the majority of the German soldiers in WW II were not after "honour" but after coming home. If not healthy than at least alive. That is why my vignette shows a German tanker who smiles on the fact that he is injured while posing in front of the tank in which he was hit.

see larger image

In addition I wanted to take  the challenge of building a figure which is quite famous through the magnificent work of Stefan Müller-Herdemertens even though the quality of the basic kit is relatively poor.

Here you will find further images of this project.

A more detailed description has been featured in the German "Kit Militär-Modell Journal", issue 1/2007. It is reprinted in the Italian "Steel Art", issue 41/March 2007. Another article will is published in issue 137 of the "Tamiya Model Magazine International" in March 2007. A descrition is also featured in isuue 102/April 2008 of the Japanese "Armour Modelling".

Items used:
Aber
35015	Tiger I, Ausf. E (Late)
35A70	German Jerry Can Set (for Tamiya Set No. 186)
Dragon
6253	Tiger I Late Production
Hornet
Hands 01
HH 04	5 Bare Heads with WW II Haircuts
Tamiya
35177	38cm RW 61 auf Sturmmörser "Sturmtiger" (figure)
35186	German Fuel Drum Set