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Jon Smith Modellbau - Machine Gunner & NCO Gunner w/Dugout Entrance

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Price:
$220.00
SKU:
JSM - JS23MXD
Quantity:


Product Description

Jon Smith Modellbau

120mm - Trench Section in Model Plaster: 2 x Trench floors with duckboards Trench Firing Step 3 x Revetment Trench Walls Sandbag Parapet with Embrasure (MG) Sandbag Parapet with Embrasure (for Loophole Plate - 2 parts) Dugout Entrance with Steps, Landing and Roof Sections (4 parts) Gas Blanket on Shelf 8 x Sandbags Trench Equipment: Sniper Shield (shield, loophole shutter, shutter handle and support leg) French canteen cup Gasmasken M.17 Set 3 x Gasmasken M.17 (Ledermaske) 3 x Filter 6 x Augen-Einsätze (Acrylglas) 3 x Köpfe (Halb, Voll und mit Feldmütze M.10) Segeltuchtasche für Gasmaske Gasmaskenbehälter M.17 Stahlhelm M.16 Stahlhelm M.16 mit Sandsack-Abdeckung Contents: Machine Gun 08/15 Machine Gun 08/15 - Maschinengewehr 08/15 (3 parts) Standard MG 08/15 Bipod - MG08/15 Zweibein Rubber Steam Hose Double-Ended Metal Spare Barrel Container - Ersatzrohr-Behälter 2 x Drum Magazines - Trommelmagazine, or the official name: Patronenkasten 16 (2 parts) 3 x Wooden Ammunition Boxes Wooden Ammunition Box - open (3 parts) Water Container - Wasserbehälter (2 parts) Ammunition Belt 08/15 MG Gunner Figure (4 parts) Canvas Gas Mask Holder - Segeltuchtasche für Gasmaske Haversack - Brotbeutel M1887 Water Bottle - Feldflasche M1907 Bayonet - Seitengewehr 84/98 Pistol 08 4 x Stick Grenades - Stielhandgranaten M.15 6 x Egg Grenade - Eihandgrenate M.17 Steel Helmet - Stahlhelm M.16 with Sandbag Covering Signal/Flare Gun - Leuchtpistole a. A. alte Art - old type (2 parts) 6 x Loose 13mm Flare Gun Ammunition NCO, Western Front 1917 Figure (5 parts) 2 x Spectacles (Acryl Glass) Mauser C96 Pistol Bandolier Trench Periscope (4 parts) 2 x Stick Grenade - Stielhandgranate M.15 3 x Egg Grenades - Eihandgrenate M.17 Steel Helmet - Stahlhelm M.16 The trench consists of 25 individual pieces cast in a high quality modelling plaster or resin and are designed to either fit together as a complete diorama set, or stand separate with their respective figures. The design of the trench, measurements and method of construction have all been reproduced from original photographs and drawings. The German units would have required the materials locally, in most cases collecting directly from Pioneer supply dumps, behind the front. The parapet pieces would have had more earth on top and in front. The rear of the trench has been left out, giving a better view of the figures and accessories. Normally one would see, depending on region some type of drainage ditch, dug at the rear of the trench floor, or under the duckboards. When constructing the master model, particular care was taken with the choice of materials used. Special attention was paid in reproducing the wood grain on the revetment walls and duckboards; in some cases the wood used was soaked in water overnight to enable planks to appear warped and bent. Also, general wear and tear with the constant traffic of soldiers has worn some wooden parts down and damaged others. The sandbags have all been modelled giving a distinctive surface texture, with consideration to the folds and creases around the top of the bags near the tying cords. Wooden revetment wall: Set at an angle, slanting outwards from the trench floor and intended to hold back the earthen walls to avoid collapsing (through rain water). The vertical beams are holding the wooden revetment planks in place and these in turn are held by wire attached to pegs and built into the soil underneath the parapet. The top edge to the revetment wall has in places been worn smooth somewhat from constant use. Sandbag parapet with embrasure (MG): The parapet (para pâte, ‘protect head') has been built up using sandbags. The parados (para dos, ‘protect back') or rear wall of trench would have been built higher. The embrasure is for interlocking indirect fire (enfilade defence), covering a designated area between the trench systems. The first sandbag layers of the parapet have been flattened by the weight of the ones above and appear thinner. Some of the bags show the prominent seems at the sides and underneath; others are damaged, with the contents spilling out. A thick log and further sandbags on top have reinforced the embrasure lintel. A few tie cords around tops of sandbags are visible, but more could be added separately as these would in some cases hang freely. Sandbag parapet with embrasure and loophole plate: Built into the right hand sandbag parapet is the so-called sniper shield. This should slide into place from the top adding the sandbag lintel afterwards. Steel Trench Shield: Infanterieschutzschild M.16. Designed originally as a portable piece of armour for securing positions and seen mostly built into trench defences, particularly during the first years of the war. A rotating loophole cover could be operated from the inside, with a weld-rivet on the outside of the shield to hold it in the open position. A carrying hook and support arm are also attached to the rear of the shield. The offset loophole enabled a right-handed person to fire through the opening with the head protected. Produced in large numbers before and at the start of the conflict but later discontinued due to shortage of raw materials. The loophole would have been carefully camouflaged from the front. The support arm was sometimes removed, or pushed to one side of the shield. The distance of the shield to the top of trench wall would have been measured out, giving a comfortable position for the soldier to rest his elbows and aim his rifle. Colour: grey. Tip: the shield is a thin item and to avoid light shining through the resin one can undercoat with several layers of metallic paint. Bandolier: The bandolier was a practical way for carrying extra ammunition and still used in many armies today. This type was designed to hold 70 rounds - 14 x 5 in clips. The bottom 2 pockets on each side were doubled up. Inside, a strip of v-shaped card was fixed along the points of the rounds to stop them damaging (pushing through) the material. On the outside of the pockets are the opening strips (rip off cords), made out of natural coloured sack-material. On some photos one can see 2 lengths of thick string at each end of the bandolier, presumably to attach to equipment. Troops would also tuck the bandoliers into their belts. The fact that this was a ‘one off - throw away' item and that it was made out of a thin, low quality material, means that there are few original bandoliers to be seen today and are sort-after items by collectors. The way the bandolier has been modelled is to allow it to hang freely from a nail or something similar within the trench. Colour: bandolier - light blue/grey. Opening strips - brownish-yellow. French Canteen Cup: The French Army issue tin-plated steel cup. Part of the French mess equipment and often seen attached to the outside of the French Model 1877 canteen. In some instances cups were used as candleholders. The resin area within the cup handle can be carefully drilled and cut out. Colour: dull silver. Firing step: The built-up fire step is constructed from a sandbag outer wall, log platform and filled with earth. A slight incline to the rear is to enable any rainwater to drain off the surface. On the left side a sandbag has collapsed causing part of the log platform to fall in - this can be drilled out under the supporting log. Trench floor with duckboards: This depicts a section of trench floor; complete with slatted wooden duckboards. The end wooden slats on one of the boards have bowed downwards with the constant use. Underneath the duckboard was normally the trench sump or drainage. The floor is generally muddy and a few footprints can be made out here and there. The figure has 2 alternative positions; either standing on the firing step, or on the duckboards. Colour: if untreated, wood when outside for longer periods will turn grey. Dugout entrance / steps: A dugout has been built into the parapet wall. The entrance has a sloping frame with a raised first step or threshold to avoid rainwater running down into the dugout. The space above the entrance and below the layer of log roofing is to mount the gas blanket and shelf. The manner of timber construction (using mortice and tenon joints) are standard German engineering methods of the time, along with height of steps - the standard height of the step is around 17-18 cm - scaled down to 11.6 mm in 1/15th scale - any large variation to this measurement and it becomes unnatural for people to walk up and down steps. The upper surfaces, particularly the middle landing has been worn down from the constant traffic of hob-nailed boots. Mud/dirt has collected in the corners and outside edges. The dugout section will have to be let into the baseboard on the trench diorama - the bottom edges of the entrance frame equal the under surface of the duckboards. Gas blanket and shelf: Designed to be quickly rolled down in the event of gas. The sides of the blanket (or similar material i.e. poncho) should overlap the sides of the dugout entrance frame and were sometimes weighted at the bottom with an iron rod to allow for a tighter fit. A second gas blanket would be installed at the bottom of the dugout stairs. Individual sandbags: Some of the bags have been modelled to lean up against trench walls; others can be built into the earth parapet. One of the bags is damaged with the contents spilling out on one side. Notes from sculpture: I have tried to design this rather large diorama base to a realistic replica of a German trench system seen from 1915 onwards, keeping in mind that the different sections can be purchased separately with or without the figures. In addition I have constructed the end pieces, e.g. trench walls, duckboards and fire steps, in a way as to enable either a further extension possible, or a tidy finish if the diorama is to stand on its own. All the measurements have been scaled down to 1:15th using standard timber sizes at the time. Some firing steps were made in the same style as the revetment trench walls. I chose to construct this firing step with logs and sandbags, giving a contrast against the other trench pieces The dugout entrance was to be designed at first as just a hole in the parapet face, but was later changed to incorporate a part of the stairwell, giving the model some depth and the possibility of installing a small electrical light (and of cause more space to store some of the equipment associated with this MG). The height inside the dugout has been kept to as low as possible to reduce size and weight of the model - generally the height would have been at around 1.75 m to enable a person to walk normally up and down the stairs. As the war progressed then more concrete was used in construction of defensive positions (particularly on the German side), even to the point of filling individual sandbags. The crew of the 08/15 MG is officially 3 or 4: Gunner, loader and gun controller/junior NCO. To add a third figure to the diorama would have been a nice idea, but cost of the final product and above all the time involved sculpting another figure would have been impracticable.


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