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References of Bersaglieri in Africa during WWII
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:51 pm
by jrlucero
Hello, I'm building Dragon's excellent 1/35 italian army figures at El-Alamein. I want to do a little vignette with two Bersaglieri (on the run of course) but I haven't found any good references to paint and detail them.
I know that Stormo is website for the Regia Aeronautica, but maybe some of you know a little too of the Regio Esercito during this period.
Thanks in advance!
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:13 pm
by Editor
The Dragon kit is a great kit and is already sold out, I can't get any. The reference you want to use is Osprey's The Italian Army Part II (2):
http://www.stormomagazine.com/books4saleAmazonRE.htm
Also, if you can find it Rex Trye's Mussolini's Soldiers, it contains a great collection of uniforms and small arms equipment.
Stormo is also about the Regio Esercito, we just don't have enough people asking these types of questions
!
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:11 am
by jrlucero
Hello Vince, just got the books, all three of them. Great stuff!
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:42 pm
by Editor
I remember when those books were first available, I paid $25.00 each at a local hobby shop! If you ever run across a copy of Rex Trye's Mussolini's Soliders, grab it, its an excellent reference with loads of uniforms and equipment and a great write-up on the RE.
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:50 am
by jrlucero
I'll look for it Vince, thanks a lot! I'll post some images of the figures when get a chance.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:13 am
by Editor
Yes please do post some pics when you get a chance!!
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:42 am
by telsono
I would also recommend:
Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini's Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa by Ian Walker
This is available from Amazon for about $17.21.
In this book you will see how the units were used. Also, you will find that some of the Italian units wore British uniforms with Italian markings. As supplies were hard to come by any source were welcomed. I believe in both Benghazi and Trobuk supplies of British uniforms were found. The Afrika Korps also used these as well.
With the scarcity of Italian infantry figures you could add additional ones using helmets available from Ultracast, and Hornet Models has sets of additonal Italian heads in either helmets or bustinas which can be grafted on other figures. Hornet also has a set of Carcano rifles. Colorado Minuatures has the full line of Hornet figures.
With the lack of Italian infantry in plastic (resin is expensive and can be hard to find) you have to be inventive.
Mike T.