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Re: German infantry in gas masks

You could do it, there's Youtube film of reenactors in the states doing it, but in reality you'd have to be a big bugger to take the weight and the recoil, more likely to fire it from the bipod while prone.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Arnold Swarzenegger seems to manage it

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Dear Huw & Alan

Yes the obligatory standing machine gunner looks wrong but twist the head round slightly and he is carrying it. The MG08/15 should have a 4 man crew and was of course issued in great numbers in 1917/8. This to me is a useless pose but the others are good and probably make a good assault group . The big bonus for "head swappers" (like yours truly) is that these are WWI German figures in overcoats at last. A couple could be modified to lean on parapets so all in all a very useful set except for Arnie. A rare colour photo from WWI?



No a re enactor but note the lean back pose to counter balance the weight of the gun. Could be the Strelets photos but their MG08/15 does look a bit bulky and short from bipod to muzzle when compared to the original.

David

Re: German infantry in gas masks

the seem nice
but, as i pointed out for the WW1 austrians in overcoat and future Gas masked Austrians..maybe somethng must be reconsidered about the appearance of figure's feet. They seem sporting some heavy kack boots (or worst some anklets)while for late period Germans and above all for assault troops .puttees where almost universally wore.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

I don't mind the MG figure but I would prefer him firing prone. I do a lot of converting myself, my Russian WW2 infantry in greatcoats started as the Strelets WW1 set, all 141 of them.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Similar discussions have taken place concerning the Lewis. The overall impression is that firing either the Lewis or the 08/15 on the move was just about possible but not really worth the effort. Even with a carrying strap they were unmanageably front-heavy, and I have just read that the 08/15 also suffered from the fish-tank effect - the water moving about in the jacket magnified movement of the barrel. Here is an American soldier attempting to demonstrate the Lewis's portability. You may draw your own conclusions.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040034_American-soldiers_World-War-I_American-soldier-fires-Lewis-gun_soldiers-train-with-Lewis-gun

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Excellent piece of film.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

I love em, the mg bloke will fit nice with my trench system as the barrel will be resting on the parapet.A bit of converting and i'll make a loader for him and "Bob's your Monkhouse".Hope they carry on with Great war figures as Strelets have so much style to them and nice chunky weapons that don't break easily.If only it didn't take hours to de-sprue them and make the bases flat.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Warwick Hunt
Similar discussions have taken place concerning the Lewis. The overall impression is that firing either the Lewis or the 08/15 on the move was just about possible but not really worth the effort. Even with a carrying strap they were unmanageably front-heavy, and I have just read that the 08/15 also suffered from the fish-tank effect - the water moving about in the jacket magnified movement of the barrel. Here is an American soldier attempting to demonstrate the Lewis's portability. You may draw your own conclusions.


http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040034_American-soldiers_World-War-I_American-soldier-fires-Lewis-gun_soldiers-train-with-Lewis-gun


Is that really a Lewis gun on a tripod? It looks more like a colt potato gun to me

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Yep, it's a Colt.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

I think the point was to show how hard it was to fire and move with a world war 1 machine gun, the spud gun was just an add on(and irrelivent) to bit needed to make the point i think.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

I love the officer - that idiot looks like he has clung to his sword. Also, quite cool for 'Back of beyond' or 'Weird War One'/Steam Punk scenarios. I was thinking of building a Martian tripod or 2, and having a 'War of the Worlds' type game. These guys would be perfect.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

RCD
Is that really a Lewis gun on a tripod? It looks more like a Colt potato gun to me


The point was to illustrate the Lewis, as shown in the first 15". The last sequence does indeed show a Colt 'Potato Digger'.

This is a potato gun:

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Two pound fifty!? You wuz robbed.

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Possible, but . . .

Re: German infantry in gas masks

Hes just showing off. Look at his posture, the weight of the gun is such he can't brace that when it kicks or hold in on target comfortablt to snap off single shots.

Stormtroopers in October!

Looking forward to these figures coming out. I, personally, like slightly theatrical, action packed figures, like soldiers holding machine guns in a Rambo pose, even if it is a little unrealistic. I just noticed that the Stormtroopers are due out in October!!! Excellent news! One of the things that I like best about Strelets figures is the campaign feel of the figures. They look like they are in battle not on parade!

Re: Stormtroopers in October!

They're amomg the best Strelets have ever done. Look forward to the British and French.

Re: Stormtroopers in October!

they look superb and I'll definitely buy a box or two.
the only thing i don't like are the laying down pose. realistic yes, but i like my wargame chaps to stand boldly.

Re: Stormtroopers in October!

I agree with that Bignorm. In real wars everyone with any sense lies down, but in wargames they look better standing. I always think lying figures are a bit of a waste

Re: Stormtroopers in October!

"Stand up, Guards!" (Wellington, 1815)

It depends on the circumstances. Until the late 19th century, with a few exceptions, armies usually fought in the open, standing up. The costliness of this tactic increased with the advent of repeating rifles and improved artillery, from the South African Wars onwards. At Spion Kop, for example, firing prone was the only way to have a chance of surviving. Once trench warfare caught on men didn't lie down in trenches, but in 1914 and, especially, 1918 lying prone became more common because of the type of warfare, using temporary cover to a much greater extent. Most European armies were issued with entrenching tools, for digging temporary 'scrapes', in the first decade of the 20th century. In North Africa in WWII lying prone became very common because of the lack of natural cover and the difficulty of digging trenches. Post-WWII it has, again, depended on the terrain.

But I would agree that up to about the FPW prone figures are pretty unrepresentative.

Re: Stormtroopers in October!

The only use I get out of the prone figures is weapons crew and casualties.