WIP Looking to confirm accuracy for Iwo Jima Marines

[kinggeorges]

Hi everyone,

I started a new figure. Stelzel from Michael Roberts. That scuplt and casting is mind blowing given when it was released. one of the best I've seen so far !
I'd like to confirm with you Planet People that this figure could also work for a Iwo Jima marines ? I'm working on a duck Hunter camo.
The second thing is the kind of pocket he has on his right hip. The instructions puts it as grenade pouch. it seems to be rolled up ? First time I see that. Assuming there were present during WW2 ?
many thanks for your kind help with this.
Julien

 

[MalcC]

This is a fabulous model, and one I painted years ago.
I hope you enjoy painting it as much as I did.
Sorry I can't assist with the Iwo Jima info.

Malc

 

[Briggsy]

Nice model and going to be an interesting thread with the camouflage pattern, sorry can't help with the historical side, all I know is the Marines were in the Pacific!

Cheers Simon

 

[F Troop]

Iron Mike follows this page and this is his father during the Korean War. He may chime in with more info.

 

[JasonB]

By the time of Iwo Jima, most of the camo shirts and pants were gone, only the helmet cover and poncho would be in camo material. The last big battle they were seen was on Peleliu in limited amounts

I really can't tell what the small pouch is, maybe you can find it here:

https://www.wwiiimpressions.com/collections/usmc-field-equipment?page=1

I don't think the ammo pouch on the buttstock was that commonly seen on Iwo either. I did a quick look at some reference pics of the battle and none of those had it, but I wouldn't say its a no no. Also, looking at a pic of the sculpt online, the M1 he is carrying has a bayonet lug, which would be rare for an Iwo grunt as they weren't produced with the lug until the last months of 1944. Not impossible, just not the norm. Most post war M1's got the barrel band with the lug installed later on. One thing that doesn't work so well for an Iwo guy is his lack of equipment. One canteen, no backpack, no entrenching tool, no first aid kit or haversack. That just looks odd to me as someone who has done more than a few Jarheads in my time and kind of study the subject a little. One other thing. It was frequently chilly on Iwo at the time of the battle, with a number of cold and rainy days. A lot of the pics you see of Marines during the battle, they are wearing layers and even jackets. For my taste, this fig looks a little too under dressed for Iwo. I think that's because he appears to be sculpted with his shirt (blouse in Marine Corps parlance) apparently tucked in to his pants. That's not something I have seen on WWII Marines. I know this was sculpted to represent Mikes father in Korea, (probably from a photo) so its not that its inaccurate, just not accurate for the usual grunt on Iwo.

EDIT
A little more digging tells me that the "blouse" he is wearing is probably a P47 HBT combat field shirt and not the WWII era P42 HBT utility jacket, which is why its tucked in, as was apparently common for garrison duty. For 1950 Korea, it was likely during the summer and pretty warm, and more comfortable than the HBT utility jacket.

 

[kinggeorges]

Thanks Jason for your exhaustive answer.
well I think I'll have to use some artistic license then, and sacrifice accuracy to camo love.

Thanks everyone
J

 

[Scotty]

I'm sure I've seen that little pouch described as a first aid pouch somewhere. Great looking figure, I look forward to seeing what you do with him.
Scotty.

 

[fmenardi]

Hi! Figure's uniform is ok for Iwo Jima. Pay attention on the .30 Carbine. Hope this help! Good modelling, Fabrício

 

[Nap]

Hi Julien

That’s a great figure , hopefully the members posts helped

Looking forward to seeing more on this from your bench

Have fun painting

Nap

These are good books