Battle of the Bulge Movie Tanks

Close up of a German Tiger tank.

The Germans captured a number of American halftracks in WWII and often repainted and remarked them and used them in their own army.  The .50 caliber machine gun was often retained.

The US Army M47 tank was about the same size of the Tiger II.  The M47 was only three feet shorter, one foot narrower, and almost as tall as the Tiger II.

So painted in WWII paint and markings it made a reasonable German tank for the movies in the 1960s, given that there were no operational Tiger tanks available for movie use in those days.

In the movie the Battle of the Bulge the Spanish Army rented out about three dozen or more M47 tanks that were repainted and remarked for the movie.  I have never found evidence of the Tiger II having been painted in Panzer Gray but for movie goers in the 1960s it was a easy way for them to recognize the German vehicles.

 The movie also used an American halftrack as the towing vehicle for a command van.

 

I got three Roco M47 tanks that were partially converted in a collection I purchased about 20 years ago.  The previous owner used what appears to have been Roco Tiger II barrels with the second muzzle baffle cut off, then glued on in place of the original M47 gun barrel.  The models were not painted.  Since I had no M47 replacement barrels, and it seemed kind of a fun project, I finished the job by painting them Tamiya German Gray and adding the decals and tank commanders.  The halftrack is a Roco M3 and the command trailer is a European made resin kit, perhaps ArsenalM but I am not sure.

The movie is very exciting and for 1965 has excellent special effects.  Don't expect a history lesson, the historical accuracy of the movie is limited.

Here is the trailer for the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIVqFQ4fhFg

Tigers and a Halftrack

German Tiger tanks and an captured American halftrack in the snow.

The halftrack tows a German command trailer van.

The snow is heavy and makes for slow going but the overcast keeps American planes grounded.

A Tiger platoon should be four tanks, but as drive sprockets break, as small bridges collapse, as engines overheat, the platoon is reduced to three tanks.

The whole vignette in the snow.
 

Dewback Patrol

The dewback is a desert creature.

Unsuited to the snow.

About once every 100 years or so it snows on this part of Tatooine.

The reptiles are not in danger of dying.

But they become very lethargic.

All they want to do is sleep and wait for it to warm up.

That can mean death to a Stormtroopers Dewback patrol if they get caught in the snow too far from base.
 

Snow Fighting

We only get about 3 to 6 inches of snow per year, so when winter comes I get all my snow figures ready to deploy.

I rush outside and set up various figures and equipment while the snow lasts.

Sometimes it only lasts one day so I have to prioritize the photos.

These 60mm BMC Korean War US Army figures are new, so naturally they get first place.

Eight poses and each one is very good.  The fit well with the old Tim Mee 60mm figures but that set up will have to wait for new snow.
 

Fighting Positions

The American line is about 250 yards away.

An under-strength platoon is dug in, in the snow.

Each foxhole contains about a half-squad of troops.

They have a few bazookas.

But no mortars, nor heavy machine guns.

Their fortifications have no communications trenches.

They have no overhead cover.

Just seven fighting positions.

They can't be expected to hold long.
 

BMC Korean War US Army

 

BMC 60mm Korean War US Infantry.

The set includes the post WWII Super Bazooka.

The WWII era bazooka was getting obsolete even during the war.

So the Army kept making larger and larger rockets until they could make one to take on Tiger tanks and in Korea T-34 tanks.

These figures are designed for use in winter.

They are wearing mittens, overcoats, even blankets over their shoulders.

They even look cold.

BMC Korean War US Army

BMC Korean War US Army troops in the snow, 60mm.

These guys just look cold.

Many are wearing mittens.

The poses are very well done.

They are a great addition to my collection.
 

More Bond Villains in Snow

More WWII Airfix figures as James Bond villain henchmen.  I wanted some just walking around as guards and some on skis to chase Bond around.

WWII Airfix Germans with German Mountain Troop heads, they really look different with just the head swap.

We got a tiny sprinkling of snow, just a dusting at night so I rushed out and took some photos of these partially painted troops.

With that pitch black sky it looks like they are skiing on the Moon.

Orange over black is the general paint jobs for these henchmen but there will be a few more details.

More to come as progress progresses.

Note, my blog is often written as long as a few months ahead so these photos were taking in January, 2024, hence the snow.