Fifty Shades of Feldgrau

The joke goes that in Heaven, the chefs are French, the lovers Italian, the taxi drivers are German and the police are British … so Fifty Shades of Feldgrau is perhaps a glimpse into Hell, and the least sexiest blog title ever. Hell of course has Italian taxi drivers, British Chefs, and the French and Germans fighting it out for the rest, with rubber truncheons! Fear not, this post is just about grey-painted 1:100 scale models.

I have never bought a consistent “realistic” shade of Panzer or Feldgrau because there is just so much variation. I have white paint, and I have black, so therefore I have as many shades of grey as I want. By the time the mud goes over the top, it doesn’t matter anyway. So there!

From top row left to right: Trippel, Kfz 81, leichter Einheits Pkw.

Front row left to right resin, FDM, Resin Kfz 21.

Review -Paint and Glue Miniatures Krupp Protze Kfz 21 Staff Car

The Krupp Protze Kfz 21 Staff Car seems to have been quite a rare beast if photographic evidence is anything to go by. It was a variant of the Protze family of 6 x 4 trucks, listed as follow:

“Several variants of the Krupp Protze were produced before and during World War II for various purposes. The first variant was the Kfz 19, which was a special telephone and communications truck, which featured a fully enclosed steel roof. The second variant was the Kfz 21, which was used as a staff car and command car. The Kfz 21 had an open top and could carry seven passengers. The third variant was the Kfz 68, which, like the Kfz 19, had fully enclosed steel roof and was used to carry radio communication masts. The fourth variant was the Kfz 69, which featured the standard body of the Protze but had a special rear tow bar fitted for towing the 37 mm PaK 35 or PaK 36 anti-tank guns. The fifth variant was the Kfz 70, which was the original standard body configuration for the Protze, and was used as a troop carrier, with capacity for up to nine passengers. The sixth variant of the Protze was the Kfz 81, which featured the standard body configuration but had a modified load bed for carrying 20 mm ammunition for the FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun, one of which was usually towed by the Kfz 81 as well. The final variant of the Protze was the Kfz 83, which was a fully enclosed generator truck for mobile anti-aircraft search lights, one of which was usually towed behind the Kfz 83.”

https://ww2-history.fandom.com/wiki/Krupp_L2H43/L2H143 [Accessed 2/2/2023]

The Führer Begleit Batallion had a variant with a deeper bonnet, according to Erdmann, who lists production as “few”, but these are the only photographs that I have found:, so I’m going with it only having equipped one Panzergrenadier regiment in the NQM campaign of two battalions and an RHQ, although the three models will probably be split up to represent regimental, divisional or Armeekorps commanders. The troops in the photo above look vaguely Hungarian, so it may be that mine end up in the Hungarian box.

In this scale, you could paint practically any model car Panzer grey, and it would be close enough. With this model’s long sloping bonnet, resin is definitely the way to go. Printing lines on the bonnet of the model  in the right of the top photo are still slightly visible, even after four coats of varnish and paint. I can’t complain though as this was a free misprint, generously thrown in as an extra.

Review – Paint and Glue Miniatures leichter Einheits Pkw 15mm

The benefits of resin over FDM (or PLA) for reproducing models are self evident. It is worth mentioning that they are less robust now that it is possible to mold ever-finer detail, but I consider that to be a small price to pay.  This beautiful 15mm leichter Einheits Personenkraftwagen is an example of what is now possible. I’m aware that the seats of these vehicles were faced with a waterproof grey synthetic cloth, rather than the rich brown leather that I have painted them in, but with so much grey around I need a break! The driver is a command decision and the commander is a Peter Pig 15mm.

Wehrmacht standing orders insisted that vehicle commanders stood to ensure best possible situational awareness, when moving tactically, so I have reproduced this in a number of my vehicles. As ever, the model is in its battle-ready paint job before weathering, detailing and varnishing.

Some good examples of this vehicle can be found in the two German vehicle reference tabs in the sidebar to the right.

Review – Syborg Trippel SG6 Pioneer

The printing on this FDM model is up to Syborg’s usual standard, but the rounded contours of the model really deserve to be rendered in resin in order to do justice to the STL by Bergmann. It took two varnish coats and two thick-ish coats of emulsion before the print lines faded enough not to be the main feature of the model. The end result is a nice model that is well worth the purchase price.

The Trippel SG-6/38 Pionier (Schwimmfähiger Geländewagen) is a nice model of an unusual subject that appeared in  small numbers as a variant of the smaller SG 6/41 (800 of all versions, probably <100 of them being Pioniere?). The Pionier was, itself, an engineer variant of the SG 6/41, having a larger body and comfortable capacity of 6 (Wiki quotes a design specification? of 16 pax but I cannot see where they would fit in, or how a Trippel would stay afloat with a roughly 1,280Kg load (assuming 80kg per man with kit), against a 500kg quoted load capacity for the SG 6/41!

My Pionier will find a home in the engineer battalion of one of my Ostfront divisions. I have found pictures with tactical markings for an unknown (blanked out) SS Panzergrenadier division, a self-propelled heavy howitzer battalion, and a few with WH army plates. Extreme esoteriaphiles will enjoy Reference 5. below as  it shows a picture of an amphibious armoured recce variant and a Trippel towing two amphibious trailers (visible to the left below). Perhaps this is how the design specification was met? However, as exiting a river is the main obstacle to a river crossing, only prepared sites or very shallow bank profiles would be viable if towing even one trailer.

Trippel with 2 trailers

Trippel SG 6 Pionier with 13 pax on board. Testing to destruction!

The photo seen above shows 13? men in light order on a Pionier entering the water during what looks like a flotation trial. Very little spare freeboard is evident, judging by the waterline marks, but I found no shots of it actually floating!  I am quite prepared to believe, however that in a retreat, 16 men would have squeezed onboard and been prepared to bail. To put things in perspective, the much larger 13 tonne 8.6m long Landwasserschlepper had a design specification of 20 pax. In the end, the Trippel was superseded by the VW Schwimmwagen, which was cheaper and easier to build.

References :

1. https://en.topwar.ru/13883-amfibiynye-mashiny-germanii.html
2. http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/Homepage_english/Motor_Vehicles/Germany/Trippel/trippel.html
3. http://www.fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Artikel/Trippel_SG6.html
4. Wikipedia quotes Ref 2. as one of its sources.
5. https://en.topwar.ru/13883-amfibiynye-mashiny-germanii.html also shows an armoured prototype.

Romanian Mountain Division

The Romanian Mountain Division has been on the NQM Orbat at Corps level for a few years now, represented by helmeted Dutch Peter Pig figures with Italians and Japanese thrown in for variety. It is only idleness that has prevented me from putting some blobs of Milliput onto some heads to represent the splendidly outsized berets that they wore.

I have run out of excuses, so here they are. At the same time, I based the  regiment’s worth of German cavalry that I picked up from Skytrex. Progress will be slow, with Russian behaviour in the Ukraine tipping over towards Genocide, if not there already.

Review – Butler’s Printed Models 1:100 (15mm) Wespe

I’ve had these two Butler’s Printed Models 15mm PLA Wespes in my collection since at least 2020, still not painted much beyond their battle-ready state. But as one has already taken part in Second BRYANSK (Spring 1943) as part of 47 Panzergrenadier Division in October 2021, a review is probably long overdue.

The print is well up to the usual standard for PLA models and comes with a separate 10.5cm gun that can be set at the desired angle. It also makes building the ammunition carrier (Munitionsträger) version simple.I filled the fighting compartment with a couple of PSC gun and tank crews. The usual print striations are visible, but can be smoothed out with a couple of coats of gloss varnish. At the time of writing BPM now offers a resin print for about 50% more than the PLA version.

The Wespe was a Zwischenlösung (interim solution) for an original specification that called for a 360 degree traversing gun that could be dismounted and emplaced in defence. Common sense prevailed though and the Wespe was built on an extended Panzer II chassis with an open-topped casemated design.  626 chassis were built in total, plus 159 Munitionsträger,  according to Wikipedia. They served in the Artillery Regiment of a Panzer Division alongside the 15cm Hummel (bumble bee) that was based on the Pz III/IV chassis with 705 chasses produced and 157 Munitionsträger. It can be seen that the ratio of ammunition carriers to artillery pieces was about 1:4, which argues that more softskin carriers were also kicking around in the logistic chain

Less clarity was shown in the various designations seen in the link below:

“Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 (Sf) auf Geschützwagen II, dated from July 1943. During its service life, the vehicle received several slightly different designations. These included G.W. II ‘Wespe’ für le.FH 18/2 (Sf) auf Gw II from August 1943, Geschützwagen II in November 1943, leichte Panzerhaubitze auf Sd.Kfz.123 [This was later allocated to the Luchs] in May 1944, and le.F.H.18/2 auf. Fgst.Pz.Kpfw.II (Sf) (Sd.Kfz.124) in October 1944“

10.5 cm leFH 18/2 (Sf.) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ‘Wespe’ (Sd.Kfz.124)

Happy New Year – Resolutions that I won’t be keeping.

You know that this, as every year, you are going to be making resolutions that you don’t have the faintest intention of keeping, don’t you? Lose weight, take more exercise, reduce the lead pile, learn to shoot a longbow, shave off the beard. Ordinary stuff. Well this year, here is a list of resolutions that I will NOT be keeping.

One: Finish at least one project. No! Why? Isn’t that tacit admission that the project is over? The beautifully finished army will now sit in its box for at least ten years, never to be played with. I cite  Trebian’s beautifully complete Burmese DBA army as a case in point. It had its first outing for absolute yonks, only because I borrowed it. This is not a criticism. If Graham’s collection had not been more organised and finished than mine, I wouldn’t have had anything to play with. My projects will be finished when I’m dead!

Many books from thomastthomas.com, used without permission.

Two: Reduce my book pile. Nope! I genuinely struggle with this one. The floor hasn’t collapsed upstairs yet and there are still so many books that I want to read. It’s a pile because I keep pulling books out and reading them. I used to be able to borrow reference books on inter library loan, but in these straitened times it takes forever for a book to make it seventy miles from London to a county that bankrupted itself through the corruption and mismanagement of its members and officials, then had to start slashing services to keep the vanity projects that it had started, going. Just Google Chester House Estate, The Cube and Knuston hall, Northamptonshire, before googling Northampton Football Club, and again here,  then read between the lines – it’s not hard. For the record, any book with pictures of Giant Stompy Robots in it is not a reference book, but I’m still not throwing them out!

Three: Buy fewer tools. Nuh-uh! Tools save you money. When our decorative light tree stopped working, and my soldering iron packed up, I spent £8.00 on a new iron. Replacing the light would have cost £80.00, so I believe that I am £72.00 in the black with that purchase. Doesn’t everyone have a scaffolding tower and cement mixer tucked away in the workshop?  The sledgehammer is my favourite! 🙂

How on earth would we know that it was a face shield if the label wasn’t there?

Four: Buy a 3-D resin printer. Nein, nein, nein! That way lies madness! I have probably spent the price of a printer on models this year, but I don’t have a room full of unpainted prints that I won’t get round to painting. Also the fumes: I would need a decent extractor fan for the workshop, and some PPE. I’ve had enough of working in full PPE in clinics with no temperature control.  Also I don’t have to be consistent with resolutions that I am NOT going to keep. See resolution three.

Five: Finish Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. Not this year, maybe next. I am currently at the “Trousers of Time”, so a while to go yet. If I have understood it correctly, then it doesn’t really matter when I finish it. Perhaps I’ll just watch a YouTube post from someone with a PhD in Astrophysics.

My favourite Blog award this year goes to Lazerpig (Sorry, Guru Pig). If he is new to you, think of a cross between Father Jack of Father Ted fame and Colin Black of Black Books with Tourette’s Syndrome. Put the children to bed and listen to him through headphones because he is VERY sweary, and apparently Irish. He is particularly amusing on the topic of tanks. I can only take about ten minutes of him at a time.

So thank you for dropping by to read my ramblings over the last year. Thanks also to the Bloggers that have kept me amused and inspired. Happy New Year to you all!

The Obligatory Christmas Post

It’s that time of year again – when we all pack away the toys for a few days, meet relatives and catch viruses off hordes of their small Munchkins. We are skipping these traditional activities this year as we took the precaution of catching viruses early. It’s fine , by the way, they are succumbing to an onslaught of Pies, Port and other healthy winter fare: The viruses, that is, not the Munchkins.

The second half of this year has mostly been taken up with painting armies and enemies of the T’ang Dynasty for DBA 3.0

So that’s Christmas sorted, then.

Wishing you a heavy metal German oompah band Christmas.

More DBA, and an Updated Mountain Division Box Picture

Nanzhao Chinese vs Burmese

The Beyond the Yangtse DBA Campaign is in its 12th year now (the Year of the Pig), so to fill the yawning gap in NQM, here is an updated box picture of my Wehrmacht Mountain Division. The orbat is here.

Shedquarters 10th Anniversary

Trebian celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Shedquarters with the Monday Night Group, (which meets on a Tuesday, naturally), by re-staging Cannae with his rather splendid 25mm Hat and 20mm Airfix plastic figures, using Niel Thomas’ rules as a basis. YesthatPhil and I played in the inaugural game and I brought a bottle of Sekt. Graham still has the Cork lodged in the rafters of the Shed, so this time I played safe and brought Hobnobs. There was Red Velvet and Salted Caramel Cake. In the inaugural game I played the Roman side and the Carthaginians won narrowly. Hasdrubal, Hannibal and Maharbal are closest to the camera with Paullus and Varro opposite. At one stage, three generals were sucked into the cavalry battle on the Carthaginian left flank.

This time, I was on the Carthaginian side and the Romans won, again narrowly, with five players online and the table “pushers” taking over roles as a couple of players dropped out due to bandwidth issues in darkest Northamptonshire. The game therefore seems to be nicely balanced. Both times the dice had a role in the eventual outcome, but roll enough of them and things even out in the long run. It seemed to be in the balance until quite late in  the game.

The full report can be found here.  Graham gave me black dice, so I was feeling smug that I rolled a few numbers other than ones and twos with them! It didn’t help the Gauls though.

In other news, I have been working on a Japanese DBA army and more cavalry for the Chinese armies, as they are feeling outclassed by the Tibetan Trundlebot. Here are the horses with their gouache base coats, first coat of brown oil and black legs, manes and tails. They are all supposed to be Asian horses, so I don’t have to worry about greys, strawberry roans , bays and suchlike. There are more Japanese cavalry than warranted, as I elected to build enough for all 3 Cav or all 6 Cav. Not shown are a further pile of crossbowmen for the Twang Dynasty. They do need a lot!