Wittmann

I painted this one last year. It's still one of my favourites.


This, along with several other WWII paintings I've recently done can be found over on my site (see link below).

Cheers,

Andrew

 

nice work. love how you even got the zimmerit(?) looking on it.

 

Thanks and yes! They take a little time to do but the effect is worth it. I find tracks the most time consuming detail, however.

 

Latest effort, Tiger II of 3 Schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 501, December 1944.

 

Just a comment and not intended as a criticism but a command Tiger had no co-ax MG in the turret. The hole was blanked off and you could not see it under the zimm.
007 was aslo a steel wheel Tiger.

 

Thanks for the heads up. Both should be pretty easy to fix. But I can't find any reference to the removal of the MG, however. Do you have a source to confirm this? Thanks.

 

This is a link to a model but it shows the plugged MG port clearly. Note that this Tiger has the front shackle extensions as the 'cut-out' type rather than the earlier 'straight edge' style depicted in your illustration.
It also shows the 3 antenna set up on a Befehlswagen VI
The MG was removed to accomodate the radio equipment.

missing-lynx.com - Gallery - Franck Edet's Befhelstiger

 

The removal of the MG for radio equipment makes sense and the shackle extensions should also be easy to fix. The model is a great visual aid, but I will do some more research and see if I can find something a little more authoritative. Thanks again for your keen eye!

 

Nice work militaryillustrator!!!!!!!

 

As I said I used the model because it was very clear. There were some on-line Befehlswagen plans but they show unzimmed vehicles and the plugged MG post still shows as a circle-easy to believe it still is open.
I really have not got the time to wade through my books to find the actual specification for a Tiger Bfhl. maybe some one else will do it for you.
Note that the plugged port is so indicative of a command Tiger that photos have been positively identified just on that one feature. Only a rear view shows details that mark out command Tigers from a distance..
I.E see a Tiger with no turret MG hole and it is a command Tiger. That is how important this feature (or lack of) is.

Here are 3 photos from Normandy that show it clearly.


SS 101



Heer 503




SS 102

 

Thanks. I found these too, along with some info on the other issues you pointed out. It appears that the unit had a mixture of wheel types in mid-44, but I will use the steel wheel. I see that first image (008) has the binocular sight rather than the monocular one, which was introduced in April 44. I may have to change this too. Thanks again.