@fred Heh, the Humber was just a bit of silliness. The model was there, so why not do something with it? Realistically though, that sort of thing would only have been used on the Western Front (unlike say some Soviet equipment which was transferred all over). The furthest East one of those probably went was in one post-war film set in Norway where one was standing in for a German armoured car. (The model's been since sold off to another owner anyway)
And yes, typically I cover all of my models in grime for that realistic "how the hell has an officer not reprimanded these soldiers for being so dirty? Oh right, because they were shot three weeks ago..." look.
Right, now onto what's been happening with the Germans.
As far as what's actually painted, this is where the most movement's been. The majority of which has again been on their vehicles - that's just down to my tastes. The infantry remain in the same state they were when I first posted this thread actually, however as I'm yet to finish off any of my force's infantry platoons, they'll remain un-prioritised till wargaming clubs here can restart.
Here's what I've managed so far. Minus a few more vehicles which need the finishing touches on them, but I'll save those for another post (when I'm not throwing up so much stuff in one day that is).
T-20 with Pak 36Perhaps another anachronism for the time period. Germay (and the other Axis powers - particularly Romania) captured many of these artillery tractors. I believe that the Soviets stopped producing them not that long into the war, but there was enough around for sites like beutepanzer.ru to have pages of them in German service alone.
This particular vehicle is inspired by a few field conversions. Its not as developed as most, just a Pak 36 attached to a T-20; without having extended the gun shield to offer more production to the crew (similar to the ZiS-30's larger shied). Let's call it field expedient.
By 1944 this sort of thing may still have been around. Whilst the Pak 36 was obsolete by this point, it continued to be used, even mounted on vehicles. As well, a gun's a gun when facing targets which it can damage, and it could still be capable against enemies without adequate armoured or artillery support. One more vehicle to stick in the historically plausible bin, just maybe not quite so historically accurate.
I said it in the earlier post. I'm a fan of the T-20. Whether one will turn up here in its original configuration, without a dirty big gun stuck on it is another matter (I suppose the Romanians did use them as tankettes).
This one originally was going to be just a regular artillery tractor. I'd even made it as far as building up the rear seats with sculpted on cushions. But you make the mistake of look at some old photographs and this sort of thing comes out...
The model's by Paint and Glue Miniatures, with crew and gun from Rubicon. I can't say that I'm entirely sure on the fellow on the right of the vehicle moving an ammution crate. Maybe sighting in the gun would be more appropriate, though as it is it looks like the other figure's surveying the area, as the gunner re-arranges the ammunition (on the rather tight fighting area).
More T-20s to come as I find excuses to pick up more... Maybe some other small vehicles with guns strapped to them as well ( I have seen artist's impression of a Romanian Renault UE with a 47mm gun plonked onto it...).
Panzerbefehiswagen II ConversionSome form of field modification done on a Panzer II chassis to offer a command vehicle for a Marder SPG equipped unit.
I couldn't find any further information on this vehicle other than two photographs. It appears to have been pictured prior to the German military changing their vehicle colour from grey to tan at least. One more case of something which could potentially seen service in the period I'm covering - but with no evidence to back it up. It seemed interesting though, and I had a Panzer II (intended for another project) available, so it was donated to this conversion.
The model's again a 3D print. With a superstructure made from plasticard and antenna from Rubicon (its actually from a Sd.kfz 250, though with this being a field modification that may be permissable. I'm assuming however that the real vehicle used the Panzer II antenna - it may even have originally been a Panzer II command vehicle. They just wanted more space for radios, so removed the turret).
When modelling this I chose to go for an enclosed crew compartment. The one photographed appears to have an open box attached to the hull. Though for ease in making the model (i.e. not having to build up an interior) I went with one which was covered by a tarp. It seemed like a thing the real vehicle would have considering its pictured in Winter.
This conversion, whilst unique, does seem to follow a trend in German command vehicles. There's more mass produced vehicles which resemble this built on French chassis, and in the case of the below example - they've taken a SPG and removed the gun, replaced it with a machine gun, then presumably used the spare space for additional equipment.
Command vehicles are something I want to represent in games - primarily on light tank and armoured car chassis. They'll offer an additional model to relay commands using the Star Wars: Legion system; in which only models within a command radius of an officer or a radio can act immediately without having to rely on their turn being randomly drawn. With something like this giving the opportunity to move up with troops instead of sitting behind cover for most of the game till the coast's clear (though practically speaking, this will probably do the same. It could just take a more hits than an infantry figure).
AMR-35A captured French tankette serving in second line duties. Most of these were kept out of the fighting, though with the Panzer I which I had being requestered for another project, I had to find an alternative.
Honestly by the mid-war period the Germans had stopped using tankettes in most locations. This one's more representing a vehicle which has been caught up in the fighting, rather than actually being sent to the front. I was looking for a tankette with a turret, and well anything would do as all sorts of older stuff was being used in second line duties till the end of the war on one forgotten front or other... (ah, no historians quote me on that).
The Model's another from Paint and Glue. With its exhaust replaced with plasticard to save filling in the print lines. I'm a fan of tankettes. Whilst they're not ideal as far as the historical setting goes, they're just gun to make models of. There'll be more of these to follow as I can course more.
Oh, and in games tankettes share the same armour category as armoured cars and armoured trucks. Whilst their size and small armament makes them something most would look down on, when compared to these other vehicles, putting a vehicle proof against rifle fire in such a small package may actually may these desireable to use in our games. Vehicles in the modified Star Wars: Legion rules which I'm using for these WWII games can be "armoured". What this means is that unless a weapon has the tag "impact X", it does no damage to the vehicle. So one of these could quite happily take fire from infantry all day - so long as they don't have an anti-tank weapon or throw some grenades at it.
Panzer I with MG 151/20Now onto what happened to that Panzer I.
I came across an image of a Panzer I somewhere in Europe (judging by the houses in the background) fitted with an MG 151/20 "Drilling". The image was presumably taken late in the war given how late the Drilling came into service and non-Eastern European setting. Which leaves this particular model being posted at the bottom of this thread, as its not appropriate for the period which I'm trying to keep to.
I'm fine (to an extent) featuring vehicles which saw service prior to 1943/44, as some may have still been around. But its a bit difficult to field something which wasn't even built till Months later at least.
When I saw this image I just had to make one. Its a pity then that the MG 151/20 which Rubicon had shown off wouldn't be released till Months later.
The Panzer I itself is from Blitzkrieg Miniatures - having bought it years ago when they'd had a sale, as well for a few quid, why not? I'd drilled out the crew compartment and fitted the machine gun into it. Though found that even with cutting down the mount, and removing parts of the gunner's controls, it still was a tight fit. Which led to the gunner being positioned sitting on the rear of the vehicle - watching for targets - instead of manning the gun.
This may not ever see any use in games. I've not considered covering later in the war, as that would lead me to forking out for Offensive Miniature's Last Levy figures, then throwing together even more absurd conversions. A Sd.kfz 234/4 has somehow found itself onto my painting table as well, another late- 44 vehicle (I'll take some photos when I post the few German tanks which didn't make the cut for this post). Both of these may wind up being sold off if I can't stop myself from wanting a Winter of 44/45 force.
That's the end of another post for now. Next up I'll cover what I managed for the Romanians and Italians. The bulk of the vehicles that I have for them are still being tidied up before painting, thus just the one post for the two of them. After that though I'll see what infantry's available for some pictures.