Uniforms on mannequins with kit

[NZMark]

7

[NZMark]

8

[mathluft]

fallschirmjager in Ardennes

aaaaaa

[Tom M]

Outstanding display Mark!

Mathluft, love the FallschirmJaeger Is it all original?

[PANZERPIONIERE]

Excellent thos paras are the best!
I cannot wait to get my Pioniere and Panzerpioniere's together!
S

Looking for anything relating to the 16.Pz.Pi.Batl.

[Wessels]

There are some very fine displays here! However, I see (in my own humble opinion) far too many fighting knives. Yes, fighting knives were issued during the war, but only to certain personnel. A Waffen SS veteran told me that the "Kampfmesser" was issued as a tool to Pioniere (engineers). Naturally though, any soldier could have obtained one via private channels.

We all look at original photos....but the ones I've seen, never show fighting knives being worn?

I know, everyone reading this is probably thinking, "What about the two famous Battle of the Bulge pics that show them being worn in the the ever popular second button hole position?" Sorry to point this out, but upon closer inspection you will se that they are in fact captured U.S. bayonets for the M-1 Garand. You can clearly see the grips.

When I see a fighting knife on a display, to me, it just screams, "I am a collecter, I found this knife at the local show, it is real, therefore I must display it as well as everything I own with my manequin...at all costs!"

The same goes with the Erkenungsmarken (ID tags). When looking at the original photos, I only see them when the soldier has his tunic unbottoned or off completely. But when I see them on a disply, 99 out of 100 times, the collector has his Erkenungsmarke displayed over the tunic, or choked up way too high on a short cord. Original pictures show that they hung low around the sternum...even lower at times!

To me it says..."I got me a nazi dog tag, I just GOTTA display it...at all cost!!!!"...... so geht das nichts!

This is not meant to detract from displays, but I prefere to recreate the norm, not the exception. Sometimes less is more.

A fine display starts but is never finished...they should always be tweaked and improved upon, that's the fun part of setting them up!

Collect 'til it hurts!!!!!!!!

[Gran Sasso]

We all look at original photos....but the ones I've seen, never show fighting knives being worn?

I know, everyone reading this is probably thinking, "What about the two famous Battle of the Bulge pics that show them being worn in the the ever popular second button hole position?" Sorry to point this out, but upon closer inspection you will se that they are in fact captured U.S. bayonets for the M-1 Garand. You can clearly see the grips.

I don´t know if you refer to those images, but they clearly are NOT showing a captured M1-bajonett. This would be the first M1 with clip, even its size is much bigger then the one shown.

The reason you don´t see many of those on wartime-pics is that those knifes (german term "Stiefelmesser") are meant to be worn fixed on top of the boots. Which makes sense if you imagine a real close-combat-situation with your enemy only inches away from your chest, there is little space (and chance) to grap a knife that is fixed on your breast.

I totally agree about the ID-tags - IMO the only way to display them with a mannequinn is holding it in hand, like just grapped from a fallen comrade.

[Gran Sasso]

I always try to create my mannequinns as close to history as possible. The wartime-images (cloured) shown is the reason why I fitted my crete-para with a fighting-knife (shown a few pages back) - hopefully I have your bless...?

[NZMark]

I always try to create my mannequinns as close to history as possible. The wartime-images (cloured) shown is the reason why I fitted my crete-para with a fighting-knife (shown a few pages back) - hopefully I have your bless...?

Agreed,
But what happens if a soldier has a chaffing problem with his 'dog-tag' and just hangs it out front for awhile? I'll dig out a shot of a tag hanging out.
As for fighting knives, it was a matter of personal experience for the idividual as to how to wear it, as most appropriate for their requirements. (As Gan Sasso has nicely backed his point up with an image )
Lastly, I would have thought the Ardennes picture clearly shows a German Nahkampfmesser in use
Mark.

[hs132]

fighting knife

Heres my favorite fighting knife pic. Never seen another like it. Any para manikin Ive set up has it positioned as such. Regards Bill Bourque

[RayG]

What great displays, all of them. I love manikin displays as I have 20 of them myself. There sure are some fantistic and realistic looking manikins on this thread, Ray

[C.O.Sargent]

I know from my time in the infantry that even thoe we were not issued a fighting knife, everyone I know went out a bought his own to have on him.
Getting back to the displays all I can say is they get better and better well done guys.

[NZMark]

Hi All,
Just to back up my position that dog-tags may be displayed in appropriate settings/scenarios, have a look at these. (I believe the fighting knife issue has been set to rest).
Note that the only case of a tag being exposed on my display is in a tropical setting as per my reference. By the way, the dog-tag belongs to a flak member, so it isn't just a case of " I got me a nazi gog-tag..."
Thanks All!
Mark.

[NZMark]

And to hammer the point home...
Cheers All.

[Glenn Barbaritz]

I must admit. you backed up your display. good for you. Glenn