Good Greif! - D-Day enters the Fox into their latest set of five figures...

D-Day Miniature Studio brings us a set of five & single figures replicating a famous conversation in the desert many years ago. We look at their latest 35th-scale set in our preview...

Good Greif! - D-Day enters the Fox into their latest set of five figures...

The Subject: Erwin Rommel's "Greif" Sd.Kfz. 250/3 halftrack...

The "Desert Fox" had plenty of notable command vehicles during his time in command of the Afrika Korps. One of the most notable was the Sd.Kfz.250/3 halftrack named "GREIF" (English: 'Griffin'). This was a standard vehicle upgraded, if you will, with not only the regular western desert extra jerrycans and stowage, but also with all of the radios and signal gear & the radio aerial frame that Rommel needed to communicate with his units in the line and the rear (if he was up front, as all of the propaganda of the time showed).

Rommel amidst advancing units in his Sd.Kfz. 250/3 command vehicle "GREIF." This set was designed to reflect this series of photos of the man, the crew and his vehicle.

Saying that it was just a standard halftrack wasn't really correct then, as "Greif" featured an Sd.Kfz.250/Z Panzeraufbau armoured superstructure that had unique characteristics such as a vision port in the rear door and a different overhanging shape at the rear.

Although there were also photos of the similar command vehicles "ADLER" (Eagle) and "IGEL" (Hedgehog), GREIF was the one that was most captured by propaganda reels, mostly shot in late spring/early summer of 1942, around the time of the Battle of Gazala and the final assault on Tobruk (26 May to 21 June 1942).

The racks of jerry cans were a distinctive theme of recon and long-distance halftracks. We noticed that this halftrack had its rubber trackpads either worn off or removed. A common thing with these halftracks in the western desert.

The Figures:

Sold as singles and as a set of five figures, these new 1/35th scale figures from D-Day Miniatures look pretty good from the painted-up versions we have seen. Here they are now...

35278 Erwin Rommel for Sd.Kfz 250/3 

by D-Day miniature studio

Kit No. 35278

1/35th scale

Sculptor & Box art: Pawel Krasicki

One resin figure included

Price: €18 Euro

A hand-sculpted resin figurine, this will be recognisable to most WWII enthusiasts as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Those of you who will have been looking at the D-Day Hobby page on FB will have known this set is focused around the famous sequence of photos above and this famous German general. We have already seen the figures, sculpted by Pawel Krasicki in bare resin, but today we can see them painted up, and paired with Takom's Sd.Kfz.250/3 halftrack in 1/35th scale these figures and set were meant to inhabit.

He is seen in a very familiar image and pose that could well be taken from any newsreel or propaganda photo of the time and place. Seen with his binoculars in hand as he listens to the soldier who he is talking to, giving a report from the front. Leaning with his hand on the side of the halftrack, the uniform is perfect, and the pose is right on. There are many sculpts of Rommel, and this one is right up there with some of the best of them. All done by hand too!

 Afrikakorps NCO for Sd.Kfz 250/3 

by D-Day miniature studio

Kit No. 35279

1/35th scale

Sculptor & Box art: Pawel Krasicki

One resin figure included

Price: €18 Euro

This is an NCO from Remmel's Afrikakorps. Seen leaning on the side of the halftrack—in this case Takom's Kfz.250/3 "Greif" kit. From the photos above, you can see this figure fits in very well. Leaning on the corner of the rear compartment and either talking or listening a little open-mouthed at the conversation going on below. You can see the sculptor wrapped his left arm around the rear aerial, with the other hand possibly—your choice—with an opened hand for a cigarette if that's your poison. Those long, laced African theatre desert boots are seen over his trousers (I like it that all of these are slightly different) with his matching tunic and peaked cap, with a neckerchief keeping the dust out.

Afrikakorps Soldier for Sd.Kfz. 250/3

by D-Day miniature studio

Kit No. 35280

1/35th scale

Sculptor & Box art: Pawel Krasicki

One resin figure included

Price: €18 Euro

Probably hoping to fade into the background in this high-intensity scene of discussion, this Afrikakorps soldier is also designed to fit in Takom's Sd.Kfz. 250/3 halftrack. He is seen sitting on the sides of the radio vehicle resting up or just watching the scene in front of him. In long pants and those high boots, plus his regular tunic and M42 peaked cap with those cloth/plastic-lensed goggles that vehicle-mounted troops often were issued, he fits in well to this scene, created by sculptor and box artist Pawel Krasicki.

Afrikakorps Officer

by D-Day Miniature Studio

Kit No. 35281

1/35th scale

Box art: Pawel Krasicki

One resin figure included

Price: €18 Euro

An Afrikakorps officer in 1/35th scale that could well be one of Rommel's staff is seen in the box art image inside the Greif halftrack. He is seen in fairly unusual gear with the addition of the open-necked button-up jumper, opened at the front. The typical uniform pants and M42 peaked cap with goggles placed over the top. Pretty standard gear. You can see the detail of the man's watch, the hair poking out from under the cap, and a lowered arm that just happens to be the right height to be resting on the kit radio.

Afrikakorps Tank Officer

by D-Day miniature studio

Kit No. 35282

1/35th scale

Sculptor & Box art: Pawel Krasicki

One resin figure included

Price: €18 Euro

This resin figure is again sculpted (and painted) by Pawel Krasicki. He is seen in shorts with his standard tan tunic over his torso. The man is smoking, and you can see his facial expression in relation to what the other crewman (in this case Rommel) is saying. He almost looks a bit shocked. Smoking, with his overseas flat cap and goggles along with a neck scarf that match his job as an armoured or AFV officer to a tee.

"Fox is Watching." Rommel & his Greif crew; Nord Afrika 1941-42

by D-Day miniature studio

Kit No. 35283

1/35th scale

Sculptor & Box art: Pawel Krasicki

Includes 5 resin figures & a rickshaw.

Price: €85 Euro

These five figures are the ones we have looked at already in this preview. Designed to fit Takom's recent Sd.Kfz.250/3 kit. Sold together for a cheaper price, you can see from these photos how they fit together in this very familiar scene.

You can see the sculpts below in cream resin sitting inside the halftrack from Takom. The unpatinated details are sometimes easier to pick out.

With the figures painted up and in place, this is really a beautifully recreated scene and shows what can be achieved with this set.

If you would like your own copies of these figures, you can order them via the D-Day Miniature Studio website.