John Tapsell, very good pictures and an outstanding model that you have built. Perhaps more attention should be paid to this political event in model making. One cannot find many built models or dioramas on this topic in model building forums. Many model builders have no connection to this topic either, as they did not experience this period due to their young age. But here too, soldiers and civilians sacrificed their lives. Hermann, in response to your question about which T-62 tanks they were. They were the first generation T-62A tanks, which had only just been introduced in 1968. You can tell by the old tracks, the old rear plate, the mudguards over the drive wheels like on the T-55 and T-54, and no anti-aircraft machine on the loader hatch. Here are some more pictures.
Ich denke mal, das der T-62 von Zvezda genügen wird. Ich habe mir jetzt das Buch von Helion bestellt, um mich mal ins Thema einzulesen.
Joachim, you make a good point, but I suspect that most modellers just build for fun, as opposed to education.
However, as the Cold War was my War, I do tackle the political side, or try to. My fairly recent rendition of the Berlin Wall 1961 is one such effort, others, admittedly are in the pipeline but I hope to encompass the 1953 East German Uprising, as well as several vignettes depicting the Inner German Border. The trouble is, other projects keep getting in the way!
Sounds familiar … sigh …
Sooo true…..
I agree - though I haven’t that book….yet.
Did the NVA actually set foot inside Czech territory - reports are conflicting though this pic would suggest “Yes” (that said, it could easily have been taken in Germany I admit):
Brian, the only NVA troops down there were intelligence and communications personal. 11. Mot Schützendivision was ready for action in Saxonia and had even their vehicles painted with the “aggressor” stripes. Genosse Ulbricht decided to stay at home, The last German troops were in CSSR only in 1938, just 30 years before.
Another question. Could the mounted infantry on the ASU-85 be build from WWII figures?
I should think so as long as there’s no groundsheet moulded over the shoulder; the collars would be right as the uniform changes of 1969 didn’t come in, until, well, 1969(!) Steel helmets the same, weapon change obviously, and then personal equipment - AK 47 ammo pouches mainly - made from Milliput or Magic Sculpt. But then, I managed to change this:
into this (not to show off by any means, but merely to show the art of the possible (and I’m well aware of the flaws in my efforts!):
The 7th Panzer Division Dresden and the 11th Motorized Rifle Division Halle were already in the staging areas in Nochten and at the Hermsdorf Cross for weeks before the invasion. However, the Soviet leadership decided not to allow these two divisions to invade. If they had invaded, they would have immediately been subordinated to the 1st Guards Panzer Army Dresden. So, it wasn’t Ulbricht’s decision; on the contrary, he was even appalled that it didn’t happen. A wise decision by the Soviets. Here is a picture of the 16th Panzer Regiment Grossenhain in the staging area and a picture of their return to Grossenhain.
At the time the original 1961 model was about the only one fielded. These would have some of the small changes that were incorporated in 1962, 1963, and 1965 but are hard to discern in photos. I looked through a lot of photos when building my T-62 a few years ago and I don’t recall seeing many, if any, 1967 models with the revised engine deck. So, as mentioned, the first Zvezda kit, I think 3622, would be a good choice.
KL
There is a photo of a tank with:
[Swastika] - 1938
[Hammer & Sickle] - 1968
chalked on the side.
KL
BootsDMS, your picture says EVERYTHING and NOTHING. That was nothing more than speculation; there are absolutely no pictures of NVA combat vehicles in Czechoslovakia. If you have pictures, then show them here; you would refute the story. The only NVA soldiers who crossed the border were a few intelligence officers. Here are two more interesting books on this topic, which I highly recommend.
Joachim, are these still in print?
Joachim, are these still in print?
Hermann, unfortunately, I can’t tell you. You can only try the ISBN number; I’ve had these books for a long time. The picture you posted is a photo taken in the storage rooms. Today, you’d call it propaganda photos for the newspaper.
Thanks Joachim. I almost feared that.
I found “Panzer in Oberlausitzer Wäldern” used on the internet and ordered it.