Luft Ground Combat badge

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Tom, some very good points. After looking at it again, and comparing it to a good one, I have to agree with you guys that this one is probably not correct. I also don't like the look of the base metal, not really zinky-looking like we would expect. Also notice the sloppy cutouts compared to the original. I think you guys are right, this is a cast copy of an original, sorry for the confusion.

Tom

[Daniel.C]

Wow it's all in the detail

Man great thread.After reading, I checked out my Wallpach Ground Lufty to compare. My badge is fine (bought it here on the forum!!!!)but sure enough the starter badge on this thread didn't have that Wallpach "nick" at the neck of the sheperd hinge but it did have the nick at the rump of the catch found in Webers book page 59!!!!Wow frightening badge.I too at first seeing it thought it a decent Wallpach.Thanks Tom for the comparitive analysis.
Dan.C

[Tom Yanacek]

Dimensional consistency is very important with these Wallpach Ground Assault Badges. Since these badges were injection-molded, the dimensions of original badges will be within very close tolerances because that is one of the main advantages of die casting: mass-production with size consistency. Most fakes of these badges will measure out smaller than an original in all dimensions. This is because the fakes were not made from the original production mold but rather from a mold made of an original badge used as the model. Therefore, due to material shrinkage inherent to the casting process, the cast fakes will be smaller than the originals.


Also, as Tom D. mentioned, the cut-out areas on each side of the eagle are too large and not of the correct shape. In my opinion, these areas did not mold too well on the fakes because of a lesser-quality casting process than what was used in original production. Consequently, these areas had to be enlarged/cleaned up to make them look more acceptable. Also notice that the round hole above the eagle is noticeably larger on the fake. (yellow circled area) These cut-out areas could also be larger on the fakes because of material shrinkage. I really think it is a combination of the two factors together. And I suppose I should correct myself when I said in the first paragraph that the fake will measure smaller in every dimension. What I really mean to say is that outside dimensions such as overall height, width, etc will all be smaller due to material shrinkage while at the same time, (and again due to material shrinkage) inside dimensions such as the size of cut-outs will be larger.



Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

I figured that I should post dimensions of an original Arno Wallpach Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge for reference. (And I hope that all can agree that this is an original badge.) I can tell you that this badge has absolute provenance as it was a battlefield pick-up by my uncle near Pilsen in 1945. At the same time, he also obtained a zinc Parartrooper Badge by Berg & Nolte and an unmarked Meybauer EK1.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

badge reverse:

To clarify here, dimension shown is from the topside of the hinge to the bottom-side of the catch.

[Thomas Durante]

Thanks for the great information Tom, very helpful. Also great to have some provenance with these late war badges

Tom