Panzer IIN Platoon Finished!

In my previous post, I converted some Panzer IIIs. I still need to paint them to be ready for the weekend. Here is the step by step process I went through.

First up white undercoat. In the past, I used a black undercoat but a friend suggested that white means the base colour will be more vibrant. I don't know why but it works. This is a plastic soldier matt white.

Next up some Dunkelgelb or dark yellow. This is from the army painter spray can.

Next up a wash all over with army painter strong tone. This is from the dropper bottle and is applied with a brush

I then paint all the raised areas in middlestone (this is a perfect match for the earlier spray). I am careful to leave all the crevices that had been hit with the wash.

Next some camo. I used reflective green and chocolate brown. First I mix the camo colour 50/50 with the middlestone and water it down. I then paint within the lines just the raw camo colour. This is something I picked up from the battlefront website. This is only the 2nd time I have tried this technique.
I then painted the tracks cavalry brown. This represents the German factory primer.

Nearly there now.
Next I add some flat earth to show battlefield dust and dirt on tracks, wheels and mudguards.
Then a quick light highlight of Iraqi sand to catch the edges.
Finally some decals and a spray of matt varnish.
Here is the unit on patrol.

Panzer IIIN Conversion

So, I need some Panzer IIINs with schurzen for a game on the weekend. Somewhere in the lead mountain, there must be a box of these.

There isn't.

However there is 4 Gaming Models PzIIIL/M without Schurzen. So lets have a crack at some conversion work. How hard can it be?!?!

Panzer IIIN


Photo from worldwarphotos.info

The Panzer IIIN was the last production model of the Panzer III and entered production in 1942. It was armed with the short barreled 75mm gun and 2 machine guns.

So, onto the models. Gaming models (http://www.gamodls.com/) fall into the cheap and cheerful category. They are all resin, come fully assembled and undercoated, have a huge range and work well as wargaming pieces. They are not showcase models. I have used them in the past as a good way to get a large army on the table cheaply, to test a new army or to use as a once off.



These have been sitting in my cupboard for years and were purchased when i first got into FOW as part of a huge batch of tanks that could quickly get me onto the table. Sadly, they have sat in the cupboard ever since. Being that I need some Panzer IIIs for the weekend, it seemed like a opportunity to get these out and at least use them.

So, I need to cut the barrel down to make it look like a short 75. Yes, I know that the L and M had a long 50mm but at 1:100 scale, is there really a difference? I also need to find or construct some schurzen.

I had some plastic solider Panzer IVs schuzen in my bits box. So these might do the job. I cut off a panel, removed the supporting rail and dry fitted them. It worked. I then just cut the bottom of the last panel and the first side skirt was on.

There should also be skirts on the turrets but this was more time than I was willing to spend. I said that I might only used them once, didn't I? I am happy that anyone will see them and know that they are equipped with schuzen.



Being that these were to be used in a LW list, I expect they have been in the field for some time. I wanted them to look battle worn, I have therefore removed a few panels to simulate battle damage.



So, with that, the conversion work is over. Next up, painting.

German Machine Gun Platoon.

 The MG 42 or Hitlers Buzzsaw was the mainstay of the German forces in WW2. The gun could fire an amazing 1200 rounds per minute (RPM), a much faster rate than contemporary machine guns. To overcome heating issues associated with this high rate of fire, the barrels were designed to be quickly replaced on a regular basis. The gun was used on a bi pod as a light machine gun and on a tripod as a medium machine gun. The weapon was reliable and used from 1942 to the end of the war. Some 750,000 were believed to be produced.

I am painting up a platoon of tripod mounted or Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs in FOW).


This blister has been sitting in my lead pile for an age. It is one of the "must have" units for any self respecting German commander. Time to get it out of the blister and onto the painting table.

It is code GE704 from Battle front. The blister contains 4 HMG teams and a commander. I am not painting the command team for the moment as i will likely use them as combat attachments to infantry platoons (zugs).

The sculps are excellent and mine were largely without flash. The gun itself comes fully assembled. Each stand comes with 3 crew. The loader and firer are standard. I have swoped out some of the  crew from my spares box for added variety. Assembly time was mere minutes. Here they are undercoated and with flesh painted.



Next uniforms and helmets painted and basing started.



And fully painted.

Hello World

Hi,
As a new Dad, I have decided to start a blog to encourage me to spend some time on my hobbies. Hopefully this will keep me painting, modeling and sharing on a regular basis.

I have been gaming for 25 odd years and have enjoyed Napoleonic, Ancient and World War Two games. Flames of War is my current passion and most of my painting is for that system.

Until recently, I had seen painting and buying figures as means to game. I am more and more realising that painting and modelling are as big a part of my hobby as playing.

I hope to develop my modest skills and share reviews, thoughts, photos and articles. Please feel free to leave me thoughts and suggestions.

Cheers
Paul.