Display base stained with wood oil for granular effect, model secured onto base via a screw drilled from base bottom. After Summer 1944 Normandy campaign, Germans reduced their efforts in documenting divisional and tactical symbols onto their vehicles, painting only the national insignia and vehicle numbers.

Rationale was either to conceal where-about of combat formations given their dwindling resources, or that combat survivability of armored vehicles lasted only a few weeks due to close proximity of Allied and Soviet forces at German frontiers. Hence, no need to waste the effort at painting additional insignia.

Inset 1 : Early version Marder III Ausf H showing mid-position of PAK gun, engine still situated in rear. Via German nomenclature, Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7.5cm PaK40/3 Ausf H, SdKfz 138, Marder III. Marder III - www.wwiivehicles.com/germany/tank_hunters/marder_iii.html

This Marder crew served with Waffen-SS Panzerjadger unit during Kharkov counter-offensive in March 1943, its crew wore special Wintertarnwendejacke (winter camouflage jacket) parka manufactured by SS military research departments. German Winter Parkas (Reversible) - www.surcompany.com/listing12-parkas/parkas.html

Inset 2 : Germans were ill-prepared for harsh Eastern Front winter conditions (they assumed Soviet Union would be conquered before onset of winter in 1941), hence both Army and Waffen-SS departments executed crash-course programs to updated winter attire to their frontline troops. Since Waffen-SS units were of elite status and deployed as mobile armor reserve across entire Eastern Front, these SS soldaten had priority requisition. M40 SS Parka - www.lostbattalions.com/german33-45/ss/sswinter.html