SADF tanker helmets which 1/72?

[italwars]

Hello
i was finally able to purchase, in 3D, almost all what i could need, as concern armour, for my Bush Wars SADF forces...

as many did, i also like to have, for a percentage of my 1/72 toys (in that case Ratels, Elands, Oliphants), the miniature commander figures and some crews  perching from the armor turrets.

.Unfortunatly, even if SADF was vatsly equipped with British material, i did nt find any figure , in 20mm or 1/72, or even in plastic, sporting something   vaguely ressembling their particular tanker's helmet...from an interesting web article, that headgear  looks like something unique..which is quite strange for me..well except those horrible H0 Atlantic Italian Navy crews plastic minis,  i did'nt find anything that could do in 1/72 or similar scale...

any ideas and suggestions?..many thanks

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t13409-south-african-and-homelands-items

[Rick]

It's an interesting one for sure - most CVC helmets either cover the sides over the 'phones or are cutaways (like this one) but without the longer neckguard. Not unique though - I think they may be (or a similar copy of) a US commercial design, possibly similar to ones used early on in Desert Storm (not sure on that one though). I also believe they may have been supplied by South Africa to Rhodesian forces during the conflict so maybe look for Rhodesian tank crew?

[italwars]

Yes you’re true , they were supplied also to Rhodesian forces ..but a Rhodesian tanker in 1/72 or 20mm is  even more difficult or impossible to find..I also thought to something similar from British , US, French even Israël modern or better Cold War  20mm ranges ..I’m also  ready to accept some compromises or to do small conversion work ..but until now, i didn’t find anything suitable..picts of those few ranges that included such tank crews are either unavailable or too much small (Elhiem)

[carlos marighela]

That looks very much like a 1980s era US CVC helmet, in fact I'd say it's a copy.

I'd try looking at Elheim or Sands Models and seeing what they have in the way of US tank crews.

[Rick]

Carlos - the main problem is that I think the US used 2 CVC helmets, the full one and the cutaway, and the only one I've ever seen modeled is the full one. Now it's entirely probable (the notes in the link suggest so) that the SADF also used both helmets as well, which would be fine for use as a tank crew helmet but not for the light armour crew helmets, which is what italwars is searching for.

[Panzer21]

Are these close enough?

http://friendshipmodels.co.uk/epages/927b314c-3d48-4f6e-9263-90c86771b2e6.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/927b314c-3d48-4f6e-9263-90c86771b2e6/Products/WFM72047

http://friendshipmodels.co.uk/epages/927b314c-3d48-4f6e-9263-90c86771b2e6.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/927b314c-3d48-4f6e-9263-90c86771b2e6/Products/WFM72046

Neil

[carlos marighela]

Carlos - the main problem is that I think the US used 2 CVC helmets, the full one and the cutaway, and the only one I've ever seen modeled is the full one. Now it's entirely probable (the notes in the link suggest so) that the SADF also used both helmets as well, which would be fine for use as a tank crew helmet but not for the light armour crew helmets, which is what italwars is searching for.

Pretty sure that you find that the 'full version', ie the one with a lower nape and built in headphones is the obsolete 1960s era T-56-6. That came in starting in about 1961 and was the helmet worn in Vietnam.

Starting in 1973 these were replaced by the DH-132 CVC Helmet, the one with cut outs for the headphones. Boom mike also transferred to the right side as opposed to the left on the older model. The comms gear is actually attached to a soft liner, not unlike a Soviet padded tanker helmet.

Even in the Australian Army the older CVC helmets had been replaced by the newer version. I spent some time attached to an ARes Cavalry Unit as an IMT instructor in the late 1980s and the padded helmet and hard shell combo was in use then.

There is a conversion route available. I wanted a later CVC helmet for some 28mm Marines some years back to use with the then Imprint (pre Empress) AA-7V. I took a suitable body, placed a  FAST helmet from a SEAL model and then added my own headphones using putty. Not perfect but good enough for government service.

[italwars]

Many thanks to both Pz 21 and Carlos..a real expertise on helmets  ...

well i could also need them for a pair of  Oliphant tanks but, above all, as Pz 21 underlined, i would need them for Elands and Ratels..from the few picts available on line and from a pair of book i have, they seem to have been used also by crews of  those two above mentioned AFVs or IFVs..the idea is to provide each 1/72 toy with a commander or crew menber miniature in order to break monotony of all kaki tanks in that scale.

i could also alternate, as concern Elands and Ratels crews, tanker helmets with classical SADF nutria bush hat or, even, one or two black berets and, in some cases, bare torsos and whatever headgear without headphones..depicting so, a less formal but practical field army, fighting an asymetrical and, to a certain extent, "secret", bush war..

i ll have a try with those Wee Friends figures, thanks for the suggestion

[Ash]

Just had a rummage through the dark recesses of my HD, and found this old WIP pic (2016) of an S&S 'Rhino'.
The crew figure was from a company called WeeFriends.
There were about four torsos in the pack, I think they were supposed to be Israeli, but looked the part.