How should I paint them ? Are there special colours and details / beret colour, insignia etc.) ? I haven’t found many pictures, especially none of soldiers in cold weather gear. I know the ‘fancy’ camouflage pattern of the Belgian army (AIFV Belgian Crew, Azimut ADV35586) but I assume that the parkas for rainy weather were not camouflaged but simply olive coloured ?
I would be especially happy if someone had some reference photos … . Thanks in advance !
First, a word of warning: the Verlinden crew - more Bundeswehr than anything else - are quite large - probably more like 1:32 than 1:35. If installed in any 1:35 model they will grate a bit, in my opinion.
I’m away from my references at the moment but I recall these 2 books are very useful for Cold War modellers:
Not that I’m suggesting you rush out and buy them, but I did use them for identifying Belgian AFV crew uniforms although the images are scant. I think I identified a brownish OD coverall and the particular Belgian helmet, but also their plain greenish OD uniforms.For the helmets I think I used modern US ones from Hornet Heads but accentuated the earpieces to reflect the Belgian pattern. Not 100% accurate by any means, and this was some time ago.
The AIFV was in Belgian service for some time so the range of uniforms will cover those from plain uniforms to the more exotic camouflage scheme as you identify on the Azimut figures - which I understand was merely a reintroduction of a pattern from the 1950s.
I think you mean an AIFV “YPR 765” (note the order of the digits ) is what this vehicle is called in the Netherlands, but in Belgium the common name for it is “AIFV”.
The title of either translates as “The AIFV in service in the Belgian Army”.
Going by the photos in this book, the uniform seems to have been the standard olive green jacket and trousers of the Belgian Army at the time, with an AFV helmet that was unique to Belgium. In warm weather, crews appear to have worn shirts instead of jackets, frequently with the sleeves rolled up. AFAIK, the camouflage with its distinctive mustard yellow only came in later.
I think the uniforms on these figures are too new, though, if you want Cold War-era figures.
Well done Jakko - I wasn’t aware that Sylly had produced these; at first glance I think they would do for the Cold War, or certainly from when the AIFV was introduced (I remember 1st Belgian Corps displayed it at HQ NORTHAG roughly 1979/80). At least they have the correct helmet which I tried to craft using a US version.
These pics are of my Belgian M75 APC; really just to show what can be done with some generic crew figures - eg the Dragon ones I mentioned before - and a slightly modified Hornet Head:
Belgian references are very rare except for the newer Trackpad books. I’ve scanned some out of print items and they are here. Belgian References – Google Drive
“YPR 765” (note the order of the digits 
