Jon Smith Modellbau - German WWI Stormtrooper

Jon Smith Modellbau

120mm. Resin Cast.  - The figure depicts a stormtrooper, attached to an assault company of an infantry battalion, western front 1918. A young man of about 20 years, he stands waiting behind the reserve line, his sandbags full of stick grenades and spare ammunition. The first stormtrooper units appeared in mid 1915. Trained to fight in small groups at company, platoon and section level, using natural ground cover, instead of the traditional long skirmish lines. These units would engage the enemy with a variety of different weapons (flame throwers, machine guns, light mortars and infantry field guns - all being manoeuvred by hand). Contents: Figure (8 parts) 2nd Head 2 x Grenade Bags Water Bottle - Feldflasche M1907 Haversack - Brotbeutel M1887 Gas Mask - Gasmaske M1917 Metallbehälter Army Spade - Heeresspaten M1822 Pickaxe - Spitzhacke Bayonet - Seitengewehr 84/98 Mauser Carbine 98 AZ - Mauserkarabiner 98 AZ 2 x Straps Stick Grenade - Stielhandgranate M.15 Steel Helmet - Stahlhelm M.16 Figure Base The figure depicts a stormtrooper, attached to an assault company of an infantry battalion, western front 1918. A young man of about 20 years, he stands waiting behind the reserve line, his sandbags full of stick grenades and spare ammunition. The first stormtrooper units appeared in mid 1915. Trained to fight in small groups at company, platoon and section level, using natural ground cover, instead of the traditional long skirmish lines. These units would engage the enemy with a variety of different weapons (flame throwers, machine guns, light mortars and infantry field guns - all being manoeuvred by hand). Uniform Field Service Dress: Feldbluse M1915. Was to replace the early M1907/10 and the simplified M1914 service dress tunics. All three were in fact worn along side each other throughout the war. Colour: made out of a dark grey material (Jäger and Schützen units wore sometimes a green- grey version), with generally a baggy appearance. The turn down collar was green and the infantry had the shoulder straps outlined in white, with the regimental number, or monogram in red. Some units removed the shoulder straps altogether, particularly towards the end of the war. The six buttons were hidden behind a flap and quite often stormtroopers had leather patches on the elbows. Note: with a bit of care and a thin, sharp blade it is possible to hollow out the gap underneath the right shoulder strap and tunic. Service Dress Trousers: Uniformhose M1914. Were identical to the M1907/10, but made out of a stone- grey material. Quite often produced without the red stripe - Litzen - running down each side of the trouser leg. Colour: stone- grey. Puttees: Wickelgamaschen. Made out of any material available. Designed to cover the cap between boot and trousers, also keeping the lower leg warm and dry. Boots: Knöchelhohe Stiefel M1901. Nailed ankle boots with between 35 and 45 nails in the sole and a reinforced heel. Colour: brown. Equipment Steel Helmet: Stahlhelm M.16. This helmet, which first entered service in 1916 was designed by Professor Friedrich Schwerd and made from high quality chrome-nickel steel. Weighing between 950 and 1200g, depending on size - more heavier than the Allied helmets, but giving a better protection to the face, ears and neck. The horn venting bolts on each side enabled the fitting of an extra armoured shield over the helmet (also available in 1:15th, 120mm from JSM, winter 2008) for sentries, snipers or other more dangerous employment. This weighing around 2000g was seldom used; although a total of 50 000 were produced. Colour: the helmet was issued in field- grey, but was sometimes repainted at the front with a four- colour camouflage scheme - red- brown, ochre (brownish- yellow), green and blue- grey. Some helmets had these patterns also outlined in black. Helmets were also covered using the light brown sandbag material, or the issued helmet-covers, seen particularly in the later war period. The M.17 & 18 helmets followed with only slight differences to the inside and chin strap fasteners. The last model to see service during the war, if only in small numbers was the M.18 Ohrenausschnitt, or Helmet with ear cut-outs (also available in 1:15th, 120mm from JSM, winter 2008), more commonly (and stubbornly) known as the Cavalry or Telegraph Helmet. In fact the cut-outs were a further design feature of the M.18 to improve the hearing ability of the wearer. Note: The rim and underneath edge of the helmet can be thinned out, giving a more realistic appearance of the original item - for casting reasons this has to be thicker. The brown card supplied can be used to represent leather or material chin straps etc. Cut the card approx. 1.2mm wide and 22 mm long and flatten or rub down on a hard surface with a blunt tool (handle of a modelling knife is ideal). Bend the strip around a pencil to give a natural curve and glue into position on the figure. The colour, thickness and texture achieved from rubbing down the card gives a good reproduction of leather in this scale. Belt: Koppel M1895. From 1915 onwards, belts were issued blackened. The buckle was painted grey. Grenade Bags: Made out of sand bags, being tied together with a cord over the shoulders behind the neck and waist. It was a common practice and ideal for carrying grenades of all kinds and spare ammunition. Colour: light- brown. Haversack: Brotbeutel M1887. Commonly known as the bread bag, made out of a canvas material and generally used for rations etc. It was a popular place to keep the spare gas mask filter. Colour: grey- brown. Water Bottle: Feldflasche M1907. This had a capacity of 1¾ pint and was attached to the haversack by means of a leather strap and buckle. Originally made from aluminium, later Ersatz material and covered with a brown felt material. On one side are the four metal snap fasteners, which were normally painted over in grey. It was quite common for front line troops, particularly during combat periods to carry a second water bottle. Gas Mask: Gasmaske M1917. The gas mask was kept in a metal container, which had a brown cloth strap. Troops serving in the front area often wore it in the alert position at the front of the chest. There was no room for the reserve filter in the container. Through constant use the containers became dented. Colour: grey. Army Spade: Heeresspaten M1822. Carried in a canvas bag attached to the belt and shoulder strap (they used, amongst other things leather coat fastening straps from the Tornister - rucksack). Assault troops had to at times quickly dig-in, or repair newly taken positions. A pickaxe is supplied with the figure as an alternative. Colour: shaft - natural wood. Canvas bag - brownish-yellow. Weapons Bayonet: Seitengewehr 84/98. The handle had a wooden grip and the sheath was black. The bayonet frog would have been blackened leather. Mauser Carbine 98 AZ: Mauserkarabiner 98 AZ. (K98 was a post war designation - AZ stands for Aufplanz- und Zusammensetzvorrichtung - one could stand the carbines up linked to each other by means of the metal hook, at the end of the barrel). Many of the stormtrooper units were equipped with the Carbine 98 AZ, shorter than the standard rifle Gewehr 98, used by the infantry. They both had about the same performance, within the reduced ranges of trench warfare. A further advantage over the Gewher 98 was that the bolt folded down against the stock of the carbine, therefore reducing the danger of being snagged on uniforms and equipment etc. Stick Grenade: Stielhandgranate M.15. The second type of German stick grenade to be issued (in greater numbers from 1916 onwards). The turned wooden handle would have the fuse duration stamped on one side, along with the makers name and production date. This grenade had the advantage of a screw cap, covering the porcelain ball and pulls cord igniter-system, keeping it dry and free from dirt. Most stick grenades were set with a 5.5 or 7-second time delay. The cap crown has 8 knurled indents to enable a better grip in wet/muddy conditions, or when wearing cloves. The metal clip on the side of the explosive charge is for attaching to equipment etc. On some original photos it can be seen that the screw caps have already been removed, ready for instant use if needed. The original master model was made using a fine grain wood to reproduce the surface of the handle. Colour: Metal parts - green/grey. Wooden stick/handle - untreated wood starts turning grey after a length of time when exposed to the elements. Note: with a bit of care and a thin, sharp blade it is possible to hollow out the gap behind the clip and the explosive charge, not forgetting to leave the bottom part of the clip still attached.