easy-v Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 SO, there I was driving home, westbound on I-80/94 after a 2 day gig in Grand Rapids, Michigan. About 10 miles from the Illinois border, I saw on the other side of the concrete-barrier divided highway, in one of the oncoming lanes, is a semi-truck with a flatbed trailer loaded with a Hetzer and a SDKFZ 251. Both spray painted glossy tan (almost the same color as the light brownish color in the default color scheme of this board). I only got a brief glimpse, but the Hetzer had side short skirts, and some of the middle sections were missing. 1. Anybody know where these came from, and where they were going? 2. Why do people use glossy paint on military vehicles/aircraft? :mad::mad::mad: The day got even more interesting once I arrived home. The door to the balcony from the kitchen was open, and a cute little green hummingbird decided to come and visit. He would not leave voluntarily, so I had to help him out to the balcony. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akd Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Probably from Austin, TX. There is a WWII reenactment group that keeps a Hetzer and SdKfz 251 at the museum at Camp Mabry. Both are in running condition, and if I recall, the 251 is painted with Afrika Corps markings and the Hetzer in "Ambush" pattern. The Hetzer is former Czechoslovakian Army, I think. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy-v Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Both were painted glossy light brown tan. Neither were camoflaged I wonder where the event is? Maybe Pennsylvania? Sometimes they have them at Fort Indian Town Gap (I think) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy-v Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Looks like there is a group around Chicago which does the 2nd Pzr that has a Hetzer, and "several" 251's http://www.wiking.org/topics/roster.htm 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy-v Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Looked a bit further. Apparently, these guys are not just your run of the mill re-enactors. http://www.2ndpanzerdivision.com/index.htm They are elite re-enactors 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Technically, though gepanzert (armored), they're not tanks, but Jagdpanzers, a different German vehicle classification when assessing force strength and composition. Elite reenactors? Too funny! "Yo, Fred, newbie, hier is die elitische kartoffelpeeler, Erste Klasse!" Let me know when they get Tiger 2s. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy-v Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share Posted August 9, 2008 I know, but I couldn't resist starting a thread with a title that matched the Russian Tanks invade Georgia. Thought I'd have some fun with it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Lucke Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Looked a bit further. Apparently, these guys are not just your run of the mill re-enactors. http://www.2ndpanzerdivision.com/index.htm They are elite re-enactors Ah, must be they don't accept any Herman Goering look-alikes into the ranks, then. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gautrek Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Oh i don't know.They seem to have his slightly thinner twin in their ranks. 2nd guy in the column 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 easy-v, Could've had my own ex-Swiss G13 back in my high school days, but it was more money than I'd ever seen up to that point. As I recall, all I had to do was come up with shipping costs. That was depressing, but what really fried me was missing out on the incredible MGM prop auction. Wanted a pilum so badly I could taste it and was hoping to bid on a small Ben Hur catapult. Sigh. And, yes, I got the humor thing. I , in turn, was being humorous via being pedantic and making an elite potato peeler joke. Thought of invoking Mr. Flaming Picky, but that might've been trademarked! Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DASman Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 John, I was in the same area in January and saw signs for some armor museum right about the same place. Just might be from there. E 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 DASman, Wakarimasen! That presumes you're talking to me. Which place? What armor museum, please? Are we talking where the lowboy with the armor was sighted, where the "elite" re-enactors are based, or what? Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanish Bombs Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 There is the 'Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, though that is much farther south. http://www.indianamilitarymuseum.org/ I've never been. I could swear that I had read an article in the Chicago Tribune within the last 5 years about a private collector that has some land in northern Indiana and had tanks including a Sherman, and maybe a Hetzer also. And I've driven by a farm house in Portage county that apparently has a small 'collection' in his front yard, though I remember it being 50's and 60's stuff, and maybe some trains too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Means Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Looked a bit further. Apparently, these guys are not just your run of the mill re-enactors. http://www.2ndpanzerdivision.com/index.htm They are elite re-enactors Gak. They need some elite website makers. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DASman Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Don't remember the name of the place. It was a privte museum is all I recall. I meant to take a note on it but failed to on my return to PA. E 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.