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Miniatures Adventure => Weird Wars => Topic started by: Wyrmalla on August 14, 2016, 01:04:39 AM

Title: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 14, 2016, 01:04:39 AM: (http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/28/8421_05_06_17_9_10_49.jpg)

Early 1946, and Europe is marking the 5th year since the Second World War ended in a peace treaty between Germany and Great Britain. On the Eastern Front the Soviet Union continues to fight alone, their superior numbers keeping the Nazis at bay.

Anyone who's read A Kill in the Morning will see me ripping off that story's pretense right away. Konflikt '47 peaked my interest in a wargame in the weird war setting, but personally I'm not into the "weird" elements so much. ...Just some massive jumps in logic when it comes to theoretical post-war technological development.

So, without further procrastination, here's yet another project blog from myself (I think that's me up to my fourth one at this point). I guess I'll show off what I have so far.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820100_md-German%20Forces.JPG)

A Katzchen APC.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820097_md-Katzchen%20APC.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820098_md-Katzchen%20APC.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820099_md-Katzchen%20APC.JPG)

The Katzchen was envisaged as a replacement for the Sd.Kfz. 250/ 251 not that far into the war, but never took off (probably because the army could barely supply that many Hanomags to their troops in the first place, a lot of guys were still using horse drawn carts). With enough time variants mounting anti-tank guns and AA mounts would be introduced, but overall the Katzchen would not fair well against Soviet man portable RPGs which led to heavier second generation AFVs being introduced.

The mini's based on a 1/56th Rubicon Hetzer lower chassis and tracks, with a plasticard upper hull. Some design liberties were taken as there were two models of this APC developed, and source images online conflict between the two and imaginary components. I've another Hetzer sitting there, so I'll hopefully fix these when I convert that.

Panzer Grenadiers

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820096_md-Panzer%20Grenadiers.JPG)

The infantry represent a veteran unit fighting on the Eastern Front, kitted out with obsolete MP-40 SMGs and wearing captured Soviet armoured vests (though the SS had their own variant). As the stalemate of the Eastern Front drew on similarly armed units were not uncommon, though the stabilizing of the rest of Europe would eventually have these men relieved by fresher troops.

An excuse to use some Dust Tactics American torsos, mixed in with Wargames Factory German legs and whatever SMGs could find (a pity the Wargames Factory ones don't lend themselves to firing poses with that armour).

Griffon Heavy IFV

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820091_md-Germans%2C%20Weird%20War%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820092_md-Germans%2C%20Weird%20War%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820093_md-Germans%2C%20Weird%20War%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

Hands up, I knicked the Panther APC design from Claymore on the Beyond the Sprues forum, just transferred to 1/56th scale. The historical basis lies with what would go onto be the Katzchen APC project, where original Panther hulls were offered up alongside the Hetzers (which were ultimately chosen, presumably because APCs weren't such a priority in a country short on tanks).

My line of thought with this would be comparing the M113 to what the Bradley AFV would become. Battle busses were the concept of APC at the time, a vehicle fast enough to drop men at the battlefield then bugger off home. Practically though, how many M113s were used that way? Maybe I should make a Katzchen laden in armour Zelda style...
A Bolt Action Panther which a plasticard upper hull and turret. Not that much work actually, bar the gap filling.

A StuG with a mix of factory made and improvised extra armour.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820094_md-StuG.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/13/820095_md-StuG.JPG)

StuG Assault Guns still formed a large part of Germany's armoured units for much of the war, and would do for a few more years to come before being replaced by the E-25 (which itself was soon replaced with a more conventional turret layout). Eventually the whole line would be scrapped or sent off to aid Germany's foreign allies.

The first historical model tank kit I ever bought, finally painted after going through umpteen failed conversions (all that armour's to cover the state I made of the thing. most of that superstructure's plasticard/ milliput). Its a Tamiya 1/48th late war model, which I'm thinking about ditching as its far too large compared to that Panther (an excuse to make an E-25 or E-50 I think).

Sorry to disappoint if I haven't gone too out there with the weird stuff. I'm picturing German Heer forces fighting without consistent supplies on the stretches of the empire, rather than the squeaky clean SS units armed with the swankiest of gear in the capital. I doubt we'll be seeing any walking tanks or laser weapons here too soon.

Having never played a game of Bolt Action (Chain of Command's been my thing) I'm winging it when it comes to units, though overall I'm considering a mechanized force made up of STG-44 armed Panzer Grenadiers, possibly alongside a squad of SS in that Panther APC, maybe 30 men tops. On the side, the pull of making some SAS with EM-2 rifles, or giving some of the Grenadiers captured AKs is strong. :)

Critism's appreciated, and yes, I can honestly say historical accuracy's not my strong point obviously (...though I guess as long as I don't throw in too many Shoggoths that's alright).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on August 14, 2016, 01:50:12 AM: Glad to finally see your efforts come into the light. And you did a great job with all the conversions!

In the case of the Griffon, a couple of questions: it's the plastic Panther from Warlord, right? And what did you use to make the back door? Plain plasticard?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 14, 2016, 02:38:28 AM: I feel the paintjobs require about 10% more dirt and grime... ;)

Yeah, there's one picture of the Panther APC sitting half built and unpainted.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/8/9/819305_md-WIP%20Panther%20APC.JPG)

Like I said, really simple conversion. Just regiger the rear engine compartment a bit and then fill in the rest with the turret mounting and troop compartment.

Aye, the rear door's just plasticard. If I was a rivet counter I'd have made it more realistic (I could have angled the hatch like a Sd.Kfz. 251's, though following the logic of the E-series vehicles, I think German vehicle designers had finally started to simplify their designs at that point).

To show my lack of knowledge; those white coveralls the Germans wore. Were those supplied with reversible camo like the ponchos which were provided, or just one colour? They look mass produced, so if they were I'd imagine that late in the war they went over to the one colour. I ask as thematically I'm aiming for setting the army at the end of the Russian winter where there's still some frost on the ground (to fit an existing Eastern European terrain set I have for modern games), but don't want my guys to look like more idiotic than they already do still wearing their winter camo.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: commissarmoody on August 14, 2016, 10:48:47 AM: This is a pretty cool idea. Could even have some old British "SS" or allied troops kind of like the Spanish blue division.
Like the idea of the SAS with EM-2 rifles. Many use some plastic warlord paras when they come out and convert some of the sa80s from the old war games factory survivors into the EM-2. A nice mix of Bren guns, bolt-action and ballpups.
Could even be used as scurity troops trying to stop rebels in the fictional time like UK.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: commissarmoody on August 14, 2016, 10:49:22 AM: Oh and love the APCs.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 14, 2016, 01:02:53 PM: Lovely job on the APCs & grenadiers.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 14, 2016, 05:20:53 PM: Aye, the idea with the bits would be to strip down a SA80 a bit and sculpt on some wooden framework. I've about 20 Polish partisans sitting there half painted, but no idea on how to use them (in the real world the AK fought against and alongside the Nazis - late in the war the Soviets were a larger threat, which led to the Germans supplying the AK on some occasions).

The plan now, besides going back to my Frostgrave stuff to finish off some caves, is the rest of the infantry and another APC.

For the infantry the plans on maybe another unit with SMGs then the rest of Assault Rifles. The guys with assault rifles will be a mix of STG-44s, with the odd captured AK-46, and mostly wearing some sort of body armour (because I don't want to just make straight historical minis).

Rubicon have said they aren't planning a plastic King Tiger any time soon, which means whether I add a tank is up in the air. I can stick with the Panther APC, but it only has an autocannon. That or I buy a resin King Tiger and chip off all the details. ...Even then at the points cost I'd hardly think a E-50 would ever see use.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: commissarmoody on August 14, 2016, 07:42:33 PM: Sounds good so far. Don't forget to get a Panzershrek and Heavy MG team out there too.... Oh and Goliath remote control mines..... And some night hunters with infered. lol
I can do crazy with your project. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on August 25, 2016, 06:42:12 PM: That Panther almost looks like an aufklarungspanther.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2016, 01:15:47 AM: Quote from: FramFramson on August 25, 2016, 06:42:12 PM
That Panther almost looks like an aufklarungspanther.

I take it that's one of those entirely fictional tanks which have crept into WoT? There was a reconnaissance version of the Panther planned, on a scaled down hull, call the Leopard, but that never went anywhere (unless that's what that tank you mentioned is supposed to be, but it doesn't look quite the same).

No options on my front, I've a cave table for Frostgrave still to finish, but've bought a new laptop, so have been so distracted by being able to actually play video games again. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Weird WWII on August 31, 2016, 02:27:31 AM: Love your conversions!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 05, 2016, 01:43:52 AM: Wyrmalla, just found this conversion to keep you inspired ;)

(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/b_9360_1_zps2dkgzqts.jpg)

http://www.track-link.com/gallery/9360
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 03:01:34 AM: Hah! That looks like what the IDF would have done with their Panthers a few decades later had that deal actually gone through instead of them being dumped with a load of Shermans.

I have other plans for that spare Panther I picked up there...

(http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/member_albums/3966/experimental_panzers.jpg)

Well, maybe, or I use that Panther as something else. Maybe I turn it into a Panther II (whatever one of those would actually have looked like). An E-50's planned using the Tiger II rules, but that's overkill for most games probably.

I'm making some new stuff for my Germans, but that's still on hold as I try and rush out a cave table for Frostgrave. I'm actually making another Katzchen as I type, and have another order from Warlord coming, but nothing's coming till I finish that damn cave stuff. :(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 05, 2016, 03:07:21 AM: Good luck with your Frostgrave project then. Can't wait for see your German stuff later ;)

Right now I'm only concentrating on my Americans, since my opponent for Konflikt '47 is doing Germans. But next year I'll go for the Germans so your thread is a big inspiration.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 09:14:34 AM: I'll go back to the Germans on Wednesday, I just need to rush through the caves tonight for a game tomorrow. :)

Well, short term - as in going by what's sitting boxed or half built right now, the plan's to have:

1x Griffon AFV
2 - 4 x Katzchen APCs
5 x 6 Man Panzer Grenadier squads - 2 with SMGs/ 3 with Assault rifles + Panzerfaust/ LMGs

Plus:

1 E-50 Tank (made from a Tiger II)
1 Leopard Recce vehicle (based on the Panzer II for ease, even though the original prototype was the size of a Panther)
Another Panther (either with a Panther IV turret/ Flak turret/ or as a Panther II. Ooh, now that I type that a Panther II using the Panther kit + bulked up armour and a spare Tiger II turret I have would be cool)
1/2 SS squads with Infra Red scopes (Warlord/ scratch built)
More Infantry *not* armed with Kar-98s (I'm making that a rule, because I don't want a historical force - even if in reality uniforms/ equipment wouldn't really have changed - blame Hitler or something), flame throwers/ snipers, etc

...I'm not saying Power Armour, but Power Armour (they don't fit my setting much, but the local shop had those Clockwork Goblin ones)
I did notice Blitzkrieg have a Maus for sale...

No artillery - well maybe - I'm going for a mechanized force, and I'm not sure the board's big enough for one
No E-series smaller than the E-50 (even if they're more practical, but they look too dumb to me)
No flying saucers (...because they aren't invented ...*yet*)
Nae zombies, vampires, walking tanks (well maybe a prototype...).

...Possibly an Ubermensch- Superman (I've been wanting to make Katushka from the Uber comics for a bit. Love that series)
(http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_uber_4110.jpg)

Oh and terrain wise I'll be using either my club's European stuff, or my own Ukrainian bits (the whole Eastern Front thing's just an excuse to use what I already have. The early spring time setting's because all that's fairly green unfortunately).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 05, 2016, 03:37:43 PM: Following this thread with interest, lots of good stuff so far.
Quote
Maybe I turn it into a Panther II (whatever one of those would actually have looked like)
Apologies if you've already seen these, but there is the chassis & running gear of a Panther II at the Fort Knox armour museum - it had no turret when they found it & they put one from an Ausf G on it. It was proposed that it would have the schmalturm, but whether it'd have had the same 75mm or a new version of the Kwk 43 88mm (shorter breach, different recoil buffers & a shorter, fatter casing on the shell - a bit like what we did to turn the 17pdr into the 77mm for the Comet) is conjecture.
As you can see, the main visible difference is the simpler, two layer roadwheel system - pretty much the same as the Tiger II.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 04:50:45 PM: Were I to make Panther II I'd base it off of the existing chassis, but mixed in the Ausf F as well. The Panther II was cancelled for being too expensive and too heavy, whereas the Ausf F was an incremental improvement which came years later.

My fictional Panther II would be similar to this build:

(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/panther/panther10.jpg)

Thicker front armour, plus spaced armour on the other surfaces (the Panther II had thicker armour, till it was found spaced armour was lighter and cheaper). The thinner turret, with bigger gun (early plans was for it to mount the same on as the Tiger II, but this was downgraded). I'd keep the existing engine instead of the cancelled jet engine style one, with my thinking being that the Panther II was a short lived project. Only a few hundred would be made, rather the E-50s came in quickly and they were overall better/ cheaper (notably I don't see any fixes for the Panther's overtaxed front suspension, in fact that would've been worse with the added armour).

The one the Americans captured has the wrong turret attached, though popular opinion is wrong about how incorrect it is. The one people tend to think the Panther II should have mounted wasn't the production one, rather the turret would have looked similar to what the Americans wound up plunking on top of what they salvaged.

Regardless, seeing as any sort of useless of the Panther II (particularly over the Ausf F and E-50) is jumping the shark I can get away with making stuff up. My fiction is that it was an overpriced piece of crap often found in a gutted and abandoned state by the Soviets because they broke down so often. :D

Luckily I have a plastic kit. However it'll take some work, as the Rubicon one is one solid set of road wheels and tracks instead of individual bits. Whenever my Tiger II turns up I'll probably not touch the road wheels on that, even if the E-50s had a different system (I'd rather not accidently stick a dremel through the thing).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 05, 2016, 04:50:59 PM: If you are using a PzII as a basis for a Leopard, guess you have seen this conversion?

http://www.warlordgames.com/conversion-workshop-the-vk-1602-leopard-by-jakob-lotz/

As for the Katzchen APC - ever considered doing a resin version of it? Just build another one from scratch and then get someone to cast it? I guess there would be more people interested in it (hint, hint ;))

We definitively need a company doing the E-series in 1/56 lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 05:11:33 PM: Aye, I based the whole thing on that guy's mini. As I said though, I don't get how he messed up the scale so bad. He must have look at the tracks and thought they were the same thing. IIRC the rough widths of the three are: Panther 3.2 metres / Leopard 3.1 / Panzer II 2.2... My own justification for this are a subversion of why the thing wasn't produced in the first place. It was too big a target for a recce vehicle, so they scaled down the design and used the excess of Panzer IIs they had instead. :)

I think I took a note of the Katzchen's measurement's somewhere. I may buy another and make a tutorial, though I couldn't find that for the life of me yesterday so the second's one was made by me reverse engineering the first. They're just a Hetzer hull with plasticard though, but the glacis are a bit thin for resin because it has an interior (or you could just add a canopy to cover that).

But... I might shelve any more Hetzers instead for stuff like these:

(https://houseofqueeg.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/fsvw4mb4.jpg)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/sdkfz238_7.jpg)

1/72 - 1/35 is the way to go for Historicals... And we'll leave my passive aggressiveness to non-28mm scales at that. >:(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 05, 2016, 08:55:17 PM: Ahh, that first one is from Queeg. Love his site. Pity he's doing moderns now! lol

What track sets did you use for the Katchen? Received my Rubicon Hetzer today and I'm looking at it sideways, thinking if I should try my hand at doing a Katchen, even if my skills are very low.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 09:43:42 PM: With the tracks its up to you. That kit comes with the original and updated sets. Personally I used the newer set as though the Katzchen was made from scratch, but either would do if you imagine they were being converted over from older Hetzers.

I started work on the E-50/ 75 tonight, against my better judgement. When I say start I mean spending an hour gouging out the rear hull so it'd fit a Panther's engine deck. God I hate resin.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 06, 2016, 03:42:55 AM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 09:43:42 PM
With the tracks its up to you. That kit comes with the original and updated sets. Personally I used the newer set as though the Katzchen was made from scratch, but either would do if you imagine they were being converted over from older Hetzers.

I started work on the E-50/ 75 tonight, against my better judgement. When I say start I mean spending an hour gouging out the rear hull so it'd fit a Panther's engine deck. God I hate resin.

Are you using Warlord's Tiger II? For me it would be a massive effort not to botch anything! I could give it a go on a plastic model but never on a resin one.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 06, 2016, 09:43:43 AM: Aye its one of their resin kits. The tracks turned up all out of shape and there were no instructions, so things started well...

Right now its sitting with a new engine deck and some other wee details. I didn't bother changing the road wheels as they're one solid piece and the back side is completely undetailed unfortunately, so I may as well just have made new ones from scratch.

Bar some cosmetic changes, and a new turret, the E-50's going to be easily mistaken for a Tiger II. An E-75 would be even worse, as the turret's pretty similar bar a different mantle and some slight changes to the shape. I'll probably just use the regular King Tiger rules to represent it. :P

As for plastic Tiger IIs, I'm not aware of any manufacturers. I asked Rubicon, but they don't have one planned (its too late in the war for them right now). The Warlord kit's nice enough (£27 compared to the £20 which seems to be the standard for everything at 1/56), and were I not a git I'd just use it as a Tiger II.

If you really want to keep things simple the Blitzkrieg Maus is a three part kit IIRC... :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 06, 2016, 11:50:41 AM: Oh, and completely off topic, but this is perhaps a blog you folks might be into:

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/

The post war use of WWII equipment, including modernizations, up till the present day.

Anyway...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 03:48:51 PM: And I'm back with the WWII stuff again. :)

Panzer Grenadiers - with Assault Rifles.

(http://img06.deviantart.net/2e12/i/2016/258/3/c/panzer_grenadiers_by_frufruhm-dahry7z.jpg)

By the mid-40s the Stg-44 had begun to replace the Kar-98k as Germany's service rifle, continuing the military's ethos of massed fire power over individual marksmanship. In a few years most front line units would be armed with them exclusively. However, across the border the Soviets were hastily developing their own assault rifle, the AK-46, a derivative of Germany's own designs (*). The AKs trickled onto the front at first, complementing the PPSh-41s, but they were considered inferior to Germany's own weapon at the time. With improvements to the manufacturing process the Soviets were able to produce the AK at a much higher rate than the Stg however, and so the arms race between to the two blocks escalated.

* don't hate me, but whatever old Kalashnikov says the AK shares a lot in common with the Stg. Sheer coincidence that the thing turned from an automatic SKS into what it is today when those captured German weapons designers showed up. :D

Ignore the fluff, I just had a load of spare AKs sitting about which look better than the Warlord Stgs I picked up. That and having AKs in WWII is cool.

These guys are another mix of Warlord/ Wargames Factory plastics along with Dust Tactics torsos and a load of greenstuff. There's about 4 different sets of body armour this time around (fitting Germany's late war style of using anything and everything...). The body armour I'm justifying now as Germany's response to the AKs, though obviously the suits would need to be pretty thick to stop a round (maybe they were just for morale), but I guess that's why these guys ride in the back of APCs all day. :)

Flammenwerfer 35

(http://img05.deviantart.net/0794/i/2016/258/0/0/flammenwerfer_35_by_frufruhm-dahry04.jpg)

Nae background. I just had a spare flamethrower sitting about from a Dust Tactics model...

The picture's natty as they guy's pretty hunched over. In the setting a newer model of flamethrower would be more fitting (notably later versions were one man operated as well), but tell that to Dust for making the thing in the first place then for their own Weird War game. :P

Pantherturm Emplacement

(http://img11.deviantart.net/4173/i/2016/258/a/6/pantherturm_by_frufruhm-dahrxxp.jpg)

All along and within the Reich's borders fortifications were built, before against foreign aggressors, or to serve as defence towards any native uprisings. Pantherturm and similar pillboxes using turrets from the other Panther mks were common, increasingly so with their obsolescence in the wake of development of the E-series. In practice they were quickly disposed of by attacking forces, barring in ambush or areas where the terrain was to their advantage.

That spare Panther turret from the APC needed to be used somewhere... I'll probably just use this for scenery, though I suppose it would be a way of including some heavy firepower in smaller games. :)

Soviet M8 Greyhound Wreck

(http://img04.deviantart.net/e86d/i/2016/258/9/b/greyhound_wreck_by_frufruhm-dahry87.jpg)

America didn't officially take part in the war at all. As the 40s reached their close Germany began to turn its eye from the stalemate on the Eastern Front to other pastures. Besides the failed invasion of Israel and supplying the Japanese in Asia, South America appeared as a ripe target for extending the Reich's influence. America continued its neutrality, its leading officials being staunchly anti-Communist, but regardless American made equipment was retrieved from the conflict and sent back for testing...

Guess who had a spare Greyhound and nothing to do with it? Take the above spiel as my haphazard justification for the thing appearing in the setting.

Its Tamiya 1/48th scale kit, which is too big, but again the thing was just sitting there. It actually used to look like this, but I it never got any use. :(

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/11/17/557330_md-Armoured%2C%20Caesar%27s%20Legion%2C%20Fallout%2C%20Fallout.%20Post%20Apocalyptic%2C%20M8%20Greyhound.JPG)

Oh, and the concept of German soldiers fighting the Americans alongside local forces in proxy battles in South America seems neat to me. Maybe push the timeline forward so the US has Vietnam era weapons as well? :D

On the chopping block right now following that lot's: another squad of SMG Panzer Grenadiers + plus a squad with Infrared ARs, another Katzchen, possibly a Panther II (if my order ever shows up) and, depending on whether they ever see any actual game use, some Konflikt '47 Heavy troopers (don't hate me for these, but I felt an urge to buy them...). The E-50/75's on hold as I work on smaller scale stuff which'll have a higher chance of being used in games, but it'll see progress eventually (I kind of doubt a model using Tiger II rules will see much use considering a Sherman's overkill for most scenarios).

Anyhow, go on and slag my paint jobs. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 15, 2016, 04:58:52 PM: Damn, you are really working hard on this project. Nice work!

As for the Panther II, if you are waiting for the Heer46 parts, he usually takes a bit to send the things (I guess he casts them on a order basis?).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 06:00:25 PM: Aye, the Panther's turret's from Heer 46. 4 days and counting since I placed the order. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: jeffb on September 15, 2016, 06:55:09 PM: Have you read Afrika Reich and the Madagaskar Plan by Guy Saville. A trilogy of books about an alt WWII in Africa in the 50's. Highly recommend.

Jeff
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 15, 2016, 09:08:28 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 06:00:25 PM
Aye, the Panther's turret's from Heer 46. 4 days and counting since I placed the order. :)

Mine took 8 days to be sent, but I also bought a Kugelblitz turret and another IR set.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 09:43:51 PM: @ jeffb

My reading on the subject's fairly limited. Those books do seem to have a similar point of divergence to the one I'm nicking ideas from though. It was only in the late 40s that the Nazis decided world conquest wasn't an immediate option and disbanded their colonial branch in Africa (I assume that book's premise involves them taking over sympathetic British/ French colonies ...not that that'd work out too well for the locals).

@ Predatorpt

Aye, I bought the AA turret as well. I've some spare Hetzer parts left over so I'll create super structure to mount the thing on (IIRC that turret was intended to be mounted on the Hetzer chassis at one point, but as with a lot of things that never happened). :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 15, 2016, 09:56:20 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 09:43:51 PM
...
@ Predatorpt

Aye, I bought the AA turret as well. I've some spare Hetzer parts left over so I'll create super structure to mount the thing on (IIRC that turret was intended to be mounted on the Hetzer chassis at one point, but as with a lot of things that never happened). :P

I'm going to use my Rubicon Pz IV. And Ballardian is to blame, he's the one who showed me this!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPoRvB80A4

Of course I can't paint like Carsten but I'll give it a try anyway.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 15, 2016, 10:21:34 PM: I just don't like vertical armour plates on tanks, so I would've made a Panzer III/ IV with an AA mount, but they don't do much for me. :/

I have the spare Hetzer tracks sitting there, but need to jury rig the hydraulics, etc as the Rubicon kit only comes with one set. The plan's to use the turret to make something like this:
(http://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/Kora/graphics/Flakpanzer38-KORA-box.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 15, 2016, 11:44:01 PM: Love the Pantherturm (have one on the go using the left over Rubicon turret) & your panzergrenadiers, the Kugelblitz turret on the Hetzer/E-10 chassis would look great.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 19, 2016, 10:08:51 AM: Query: anyone know where I could find a Tiger II track assembly in 1/56th, other than buying full kits to cannibalize? My Panther II may have to be a Ausf F for lack of spare tracks (which isn't a biggee, I'll just say they upgraded the Ausf F with better armour and a gas turbine engine at some point). :?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 19, 2016, 02:26:48 PM: Maybe you can try and contact Warlord and see if you can buy the tracks separately? o_o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 19, 2016, 02:53:37 PM: Well the Tiger II's are cast to order to start with...

I'm not sure my heart's into sticking with the Tiger II tracks at this rate. Probably easier to keep it as an Ausf instead of the II. In the timeline it wouldn't matter anyway as any further Panther development would be token at best with the E-Series' deployment.

To brainstorm a bit, as I'm at work anyhow, I'll be going for the following with my Panther variant:

Ausf F turret
Increased frontal armour
Gas Turbine Engine (a bare rear deck with an exhaust at the rear)
Infrared sights
Rear extended fuel barrels (?)
Spaced Armour (turret/ sides) (?)

Anything else I'm missing in that wishlist? Oh, and with actual real world deployment, were the upgraded models issued to whole units commonly, or were there instances where individual vehicles entered existing units? ...Not that it'll matter as the APCs I have are already numbered differently (just in case I ever buy another Panther I suppose).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 19, 2016, 04:46:02 PM: Quote
anyone know where I could find a Tiger II track assembly in 1/56th, other than buying full kits to cannibalize?
As I'm sure you've found, aftermarket stuff like that just doesn't exist in 1/56, as a scale it just doesn't seem to impinge on the conciousness of the scale model manufacturers (which is a pity for them, as gamers would be the last untapped market). I've seen a few 1/48 examples, but their size might make them useless.
Had you considered putting a request in on the Bazaar of Obscurities want threads - perhaps someone would be happy to sell the resilient wheel/track sets from the Rubicon Tiger I which wouldn't be too awful a job to convert to your needs - you'd probably want a couple of sets.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: CompanyB on September 19, 2016, 04:57:04 PM: Ping JTFM and see if he'd be willing to check his bins for ruined Tiger II racks or cast a set for you. He's doing after 46 stuff now as part of his lineup, so he may be willing to maybe trade for painting or something.

I don't have any Tiger II, but I do have CAD for the Katchzen, E-10, E-25, Lowe and am working on the 38D series for release in 1/56.

Brent
Company B
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on September 19, 2016, 05:55:10 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2016, 01:15:47 AM
I take it that's one of those entirely fictional tanks which have crept into WoT? There was a reconnaissance version of the Panther planned, on a scaled down hull, call the Leopard, but that never went anywhere (unless that's what that tank you mentioned is supposed to be, but it doesn't look quite the same).

No options on my front, I've a cave table for Frostgrave still to finish, but've bought a new laptop, so have been so distracted by being able to actually play video games again. :)

Sorry i didn't reply earlier.

The aufklarungspanther was indeed a reconnaissance version of the Panther, using the standard hull and the turret from the Leopard/Luchs scout lines. It was a late-war design and was never produced as a prototype, but was intended to use existing materials only and all the parts to make one did exist, as it was simply the mating of existing hulls & turrets.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 20, 2016, 11:01:11 AM: @FramFramson

Aww, but the Puma turret looks so piddly on the Panther hull. :)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/9/20/828122_md-Aufklarungspanther%3F.JPG)

But aye, practically speaking, I don't see the point. The Leopard was cancelled because the Panther hull made it too much of a target. As a late war idea, fair enough, but I don't see how it'd be practical (why use the Panther chassis instead of a smaller obsolete one?). Heh, not to go off on one on you though. ;)

Re: the Panther II. That's the hull I was going to use as it is now (those side skirts are a bit natty as I under-estimated how low the Rubicon turret sits and so took a Stanley to them). Aye, I've given up on the tracks; largely due to my own impatience, it'll be a Ausf F instead.

I'm still waiting on the turret and infrared, but I may as well finish the hull. I'm thinking of doing something like this for the extra fuel barrels (T-34 style, I'll remove the rear armour plates to fit them), but I'm not sure if that fits what was originally proposed (...not that I care):

(http://henk.fox3000.com/panther/gas/2.jpg)

And aye, I'll probably pickup some of the Weird War stuff from Canada eventually, but the wait is a bit of a drag (with UK retailers I can be a lot more flippant with orders). Ooh, but keep us posted CompanyB on your own stuff. Oddly enough you're pretty good for loads of country's equipment, not just Germany like every other site. :)

Ack, and again to show my own millennial lack of attention span, I caught a look at this online and now I want one. I am passing a model shop today. :'(

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/theshiyal/01.jpg)

Even if the whole concept screams bollocks to me...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 20, 2016, 12:58:17 PM: That's a Pz IV with slopped armor, right? Saw some discussion about it here:

https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/240324-panzerkampfwagen-iv-ausf-kl-sloped-armor/

And Queeg did this:

(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/House-of-Queeg/Project%2046/Project%2046%20wip/P4w2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 20, 2016, 01:55:46 PM: Queeg!!!!!!

;)

Aye, I'm a sucker for German tanks with sloped armour (well vintage sloped armour in general actually. Not that I've been pining for Rubicon to make an IS-3 eventually... Hey, I need something to go up against the Germans). Oh, and to quote that thread you linked. :D

(http://i.imgur.com/B1PSBHL.gif)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 20, 2016, 08:51:24 PM: Yes, the Panzer IV with sloped armour is generally regarded as fantasy, (along with the version bearing the schmalturm & L70 75mm). Gaso-line used to do one in 1/50 & there may be one floating around on Ebay (though given its rarity I'd expect a hefty price tag) & it does look undeniably cool.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 20, 2016, 09:48:31 PM: Loving your work so far :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 22, 2016, 12:51:56 AM: And someone just did a Pz IV with sloped armour on the official K47 group lol

(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/14372365_10100375060320149_8572482044919612817_o_zps7jp25pbh.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 22, 2016, 08:46:29 AM: Mine's looking the same right now, bar that flat armour on the underside of the front. I'm keeping the extra armour on the turret as well, but it does look a bit out of place without adding it onto the sides as well (but then that looks weird, so I'll probably do what Queeg and this guy did and just leave on the supports). I can't see the turret copula on that one, but I'm using the Panther one on mine.

Not sure about the gun though. An upgraded one seems like the way to go. Queeg changed the full front section of the turret to accommodate his, though oddly most people just stick on a long barrel onto their's?

I just picked up the Bolt Action rules. Still to finish reading them, but those'll give me an idea of what I need to make. I think my club play's 750pt games (I'dve thought it'd be 1000), so I'll see how little I can squeeze into that points bracket. A Panther an 5 guys with ARs maybe...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 22, 2016, 02:19:03 PM: He just posted a better pic of the Pz IV. Hope it helps you ;)

(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/14462893_10100375272020899_4699285013508800808_n_zpslqs8tgs6.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 22, 2016, 02:41:09 PM: Aye that's looking just like what I'd be doing, bar the change in armour. I'm not sure if I'll copy Queeg's turret design or whether the mountings for the side armour are asking to get broken though. I can see they had a similar issue with the machine gun and the messy glacis angle. Hopefully that order I placed with Heer 46 might show up some time this month so I can get my infrared sights and turrets... ¬¬

That's pretty nice look now it has painted added. Those weird turrets still look dumb to me without changing the hulls as well though (I'd add a big power pack with capacitors to the back myself).

750 pts is where we're starting at my club. That should be enough to cover a Panther, but I may use the Panzer Iv in regular games till I hit 1000pts. That hopefully will be enough for a few Grenadier squads + Katzchens. Oddly enough when I used to play large games (I usually stick to skirmish level) I was more into massed lines of static infantry, or (in 40K) the stab them in the face with a chainsaw approach. ...Maybe Konflikt 47' might suit the later tactic better? :)

Apparently the Ostfront rulebook for BA has rules for some kit like Krummlaufs? May pick that up just for the sake of having access to those (even if I could guess at the rules myself...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on September 22, 2016, 08:49:30 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 20, 2016, 11:01:11 AM
@FramFramson

Aww, but the Puma turret looks so piddly on the Panther hull. :)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/9/20/828122_md-Aufklarungspanther%3F.JPG)

But aye, practically speaking, I don't see the point. The Leopard was cancelled because the Panther hull made it too much of a target. As a late war idea, fair enough, but I don't see how it'd be practical (why use the Panther chassis instead of a smaller obsolete one?). Heh, not to go off on one on you though. ;)

Well it wasn't my idea at least - blame the Wehrmacht's armour design B team!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 22, 2016, 11:05:19 PM: :D

How are these for Bolt Action Katzchen rules? I've zero expierence with the game bar cross referencing existing rules. Yeah, I know I'm missing syntax from all that German. :)

Katzchen APC

Cost: 90pts (Inexperienced). 110pts (Regular), 130pts (Veteran)
Weapons: 1 pintle-mounted MMG covering the forward arc
Damage Value: 8+ (Light Tank)
Transport: Up to 8 men
Tow: Light or medium howitzers; light, medium or heavy anti-tank gun; light or heavy anti-tank guns
Options:
* May add on additional pintle-mounted MMG covering the rear arc for +15 pts.
* May exchange forward-firing MMG for Panzerbuchse 41 for +40pts (Katzchen purchased on behalf of Pioneer units only)
* May remove the open topped rule for free. Enclosed Katzchen lose any MMG they are armed with.
Special Rules:
* Open-topped

So, thoughts? Is the armour value right; should it be 9+ (like the late-war Panzers its based on)? That'd take it into Ram Kangaroo territory rules wise (a much larger vehicle). What about points (which are arbitrary)? It'd be easy enough to add a light anti-tank gun or stuff like infra-red sights to those too I guess. That Panzerbuchse 41 is arbitrary as well, as that's just nicked from the Hanomag rules (it'd be a pretty cramped in there with one, but the Hanomag rules don't impede troop capacity when selecting one).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 22, 2016, 11:22:00 PM: They look good to me. If you want, I can ask for the opinion of the guys at the official K47 Facebook page. Or the Weird War group.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 23, 2016, 12:00:00 AM: Looks good, the only bits I'd question is the closed top option.
It's a very powerful thing 8+ closed top and transport cap.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 23, 2016, 08:51:40 AM: 8+ is a bit high, I'd only considered it because the late war Panzers on that chassis have the option. The Hetzer however had the 7+ armour, so that seems more appropriate. The closed top option could be ditched as well, but one was prototyped, so I thought it may as well be an option (though I did miss out noting you can't take a Panzerbuchse 41 with that as well).

Oh, and the BA transport capacity rules are weird. The 8 men capacity is the troops and the crew, as per the Hanomag's 12 man capacity. However... The BA rules state a transport can drive away without carrying any troops. Apparently in the BA world transports are an early prototype of KITT from Knight Rider. :D

Aye, I had a swatch that the K47 page yesterday. I prefer to stick to forums though as text posts there can get a bit spammy if you want to go on for more than a paragraph. :)

Looking at the transport rules I don't explicitly see anything regarding tank assaults and dismounting infantry. Reading it though I'd take the rules as you can tank assault, then dismount (as long as the vehicle doesn't run) the troops, and then being that they need to either advance or run, you could then charge with the riders (seeing as the only enemy remaining wouldn't be engaged in combat with the tank, until they elect to charge in their own phase).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 23, 2016, 10:23:27 AM: It's only 8+ and closed top that creates the problem, it's just a bit good that's all. Might need to bump the points a bit more.
It's not significantly more than a hanomag.
How about enhanced frontal armour (or vulnerable sides)? Gives a bit better armour. Sort of a halfway house. Or 7+ armoured all round?

It would be a shame not to include the closed top option. Did it lose the guns or could you make them pintle mounts (Which to fire makes you open topped for a turn)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 23, 2016, 10:48:31 AM: 7+ armour seems more appropriate to me personally. I wouldn’t bother with any sloped armour rules, as IIRC those aren’t included with all the German vehicles which have sloped armour, as does the model already have higher armour than most transports. Addon armour may be an option, though the Hanomag doesn’t have that option, and the rules are already a bit packed as they are.

I was going no mounts with the closed top as the prototype which had the roof covered anywhere where one could be mounted. The MMG could be left on, but only by changing the “real” design by adding a top hatch (which I suppose would have been the plausible next step from the prototype, but most people when making there’s miss one out from what I’ve seen).

As for points, its sitting between the Hanomag and the Kangaroo right now. I’ve no experience with these (maybe I should stick some random digits at the end…), but I was erring towards the Hanomag due to the armour decrease and smaller transport capacity (8 men is still a decent sized squad though).

Heh, it'll be fun working out how much the Panther APC should cost... Somewhere between the Hanomag, Panther and Puma rules. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 29, 2016, 09:21:14 AM: Right, a query here as I move towards making models for a practical list in Bolt Action.

Riflemen. I'll be including some, despite my stance (and the German military's wishful thinking) that the Stg-44 would be the service rifle of the Heer by 1946 (and assuming that things went better in the factories to up ammunition production so that wide scale use was viable). Before the Stg-44 was issued properly, Hitler was dead set against using it for anything bar a replacement for the MP-40. Rather instead he wanted everyman to be armed with a rifle and a scope.

So... two squads of guys with scoped Gewehr 43s wouldn't look dumb would they (Gewehr 43's as those were later production that the Kar-98ks and based on the Soviet SKS)? Possibly wishful thinking that I have that many scoped rifles, but those Wargames Factory sprues had a good few (and two squads of guys is only 12 guns, plus I could mix in some captured Soviet ones).

Considering I'm jumping into a timeline which diverges early in the war there's the leeway to say things may have gone less catastrophically for the Germans. :)

The planned 1000 pts list is:
1st Lieutenant (so far planned to be armed with a slung rifle and wearing some sort of winter coat)
2 x 8 men Veteran Grenadier squads with Stg-44s + LMG + 1x Panzerfaust (vets so they can take all Stgs ...practically speaking that's who they were supposed to be issued, not one or two per squad)
1x 8 man Veteran Grenadier squad with MP-40s + flame thrower
2x 8 men Grenadier squads with Gewehr 43s + LMG + 1x Panzer Faust
1 x Panzer Iv
+ possibly an Opel Blitz (I want that tracked Rubicon one that's coming out) or Katzchen if there's the points

Which is to say that's a bad list... In other words though, all those cool tanks are a bit expensive for the average game I think (though an APC rush I suppose would do for specific scenarios). Saying that I'm not sure how Konflikt 47' armies differ, I assume they just replace the tanks with walkers (a shame that game didn't include any proper APCs which I'm aware of).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on September 30, 2016, 01:51:38 AM: I've run your list by the K47 Easy Army creator and it gave me 1028 points. The addition of the LMG in all the squads creates a problem in terms of firepower - since it's a 2 team weapon you'll lose one shooter (who becomes a loader). In the case of the squad with the MP-40, the maximum you can get is 7 guys out of 8 (6 soldiers, plus the NCO) and if you add the LMG, once again you loose a shooter.

My American list is similar in points (1018) but I squeezed some vehicles in them:

1x Veteran First Lieutnant + 1 soldier with BAR - 103 points
1x Veteran Heavy Infantry Squad (5 guys with power armor) - 105
2x Veteran Infantry Squad (6 guys each - NCO with submachine gun; 2 with BAR; 3 with rifles) - 91 points each
2x Regular Infantry Squad (6 guys each - NCO with submachine gun; 2 with BAR; 3 with rifles) - 73 points each
.30 Medium Machine Gun Veteran Team - 65 points
M8 Greyhound Armoured Car (Veteran) - 157 points
M4A9 Sherman-T medium tank (Regular) - 210 points
Jeep (Veteran) - 50 points

Taking that in account, I've messed a bit with your list ;)

Dropping a squad and reducing the number of soldiers to 7 (6 men plus NCO) you can squeeze a Maultier half-track into there and also a Hanomag (in the place of the Katzchen) for 1022 points.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 30, 2016, 12:22:59 PM: The 8 men squads are just because that’s the size of the Katzchen. 7 men is what I originally planned, then I made a few extra Panzerfaust models and that upped it to 8.

The cost of the soldiers is also more than is to be expected due to the number of Assault Rifles and that they’re vets (it’s a bit arbitrary that non-vets can’t have all ARs, but that’s for balancing I guess).

As for vehicles. Yes, I’ll need to rewrite that list once I’ve actually experienced the game, I wrote that one based on what I was using in Warhammer games way back when. Personally I’m not actually that into APCs, I just like the look of them. I’d rather play a list of massed infantry with a small amount of armour and plenty of gun teams (or rather a core of Chaos Space marines with renegade guard and dreadnoughts for support). 
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 05, 2016, 09:52:01 AM: Painting some vehicles tonight after some delays (mostly reworking the Panzer IV's hull), but meanwhile I'm after this guy ("One Man Army"):

(http://images.bigcartel.com/product_images/66521877/GER028.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1000&w=1000)

He seems to be sold out on the AE-WWII website, and I haven't managed to find him reputably anywhere else. Anyone have any clues? I want him to go along with the unit of Warlord SS with Infra-red scopes. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on October 05, 2016, 02:44:39 PM: I'm afraid AEWWII minis are a pain in the proverbial to get hold of (I once waited four months for Wayland to fulfill an order for some) - you best bet is ask the manufacturers (now Blackball Games) to email you when they're back in stock (even Ebay comes up blank).
Alternately you could post on Bazaar Of Obscurities, there may be someone who's got one they're prepared to part with.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on October 05, 2016, 02:58:52 PM: Wyrmalla - since you are now on FB, try this group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1748013865454218/

It was created by our member "Weird WWII" (aka Brian Cottrel) and the owner of Blackball Games is also a member. Can't think of a better place to ask ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 05, 2016, 04:47:48 PM: @ Ballardian

Aye, I had a good look about the internet and oddly out of that whole range that's the only model I couldn't find on Ebay. There's some resellers, but I'm dubious to parts stocks. Thought I'd ask here due to the concept, but aye, the Bazaar might be the only option.

@ Predatorpt

Heh, yeah I thought I'd jump on that Facebook group for the sake of it. Enjoy my ugly mug. I'm dress like a pirate.

Well that escalated quickly... :)

I could make my own one of that guy, and personally the model could be a bit less chunky, but it looks the part. Thinking about it I passed on buying that mini years ago as well. :(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on October 05, 2016, 07:58:39 PM: I'm not a big fan of those AE-WWII models, they are a bit too fiddly to assemble. And since you mentioned conversions, maybe you can use a Wargames Factory greatcoat? The guy with the grenade launcher for instance

(http://www.wargamesfactory.com/Images/andres-st-ground.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 05, 2016, 08:05:34 PM: Coincidentally when I came home today I remembered that I had those WGF Shocktroopers. Unfortunately they're just too big, even compared to the relatively chunky Warlord Plastics. I was considering use the heads, but they need to be at least a fifth smaller to work, so won't do for the Clockwork Goblin Power Armour guys at all either. :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 27, 2016, 06:39:05 PM: My own Weird Panther. WIP. ...Because I've been super lazy. Need top tidy up the plasticard, add straps to the barrels, maybe add more stowage to the sides; little bits and bobs.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/10/27/835421-Panther%20Ausf.F.JPG)

The front Infra red sight seems a bit off, but I can't bring it any higher on the glacis because otherwise it'll obstruct the barrel. Thoughts?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on October 27, 2016, 07:11:33 PM: It doesn't seem off to me, to be honest. Wish I could do something similar to your work ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on October 27, 2016, 09:18:57 PM: Looks good where it is to me ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 28, 2016, 02:23:28 PM: How about swapping out the infra red for one of these?

(http://s3.amazonaws.com/forums.content.luxology.com/images/full/29d4ae5461f718325cbccb6dda45afe0.jpg)

Or maybe I should leave that for the E-75 - which has its hull mounted MG removed. Hmn, the pintle infrared on the turret is for the commander I imagine, but if I stuck on the above MG that would eliminate that and require adding an infrared sight to the gunner's position. ...Right?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on October 28, 2016, 03:29:31 PM: Not sure I follow... Do you want to add a mg42 to the hull mount IR? Thanks for the reference photo btw... That's a good one.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 28, 2016, 04:02:19 PM: Nah, I mean swap out the cupola Infrared which I already have on the model for a MG-42 with infra red sights instead. Thinking about it I'll keep the cupola sights as they are, and leave the MG for the E-75, as I two MGs is perhaps a little overkill.

Saying that the hull MG doesn't have infrared - only the driver and commander. I would have thought that would have sights along with the gunner as well, but I guess the commander coordinated everything.

Maybe I'll add a STG-44 with infrared instead. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on October 28, 2016, 08:13:08 PM: Do it! Angry Hans waving his infrared equipped stg44 at the Bolshevik hordes... I like it!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on October 29, 2016, 05:40:25 PM: There was supposedly an option for the gunner to also have an IR sight, but using older Ausf D & A vehicles/turrets (in fact FOW's plastic Panther G's come with this as well as those for the cupola & driver's periscope) which was attached to a mount on front of a second, seperate apature in the mantlet - but this is a 'pinch of salt' possibility.

"Panther Ausf.D and early Ausf.A had in common the binocular telescopic sight, while later versions had a monocular one. In case of the binocular sight a technical improvisation was possible: The binocular sight was replaced by 2 monocular telescopes. During the night the gunner would use the left one, which had a converter in front of it's frontal aperture. To the left of the telescopes the 30 cm IR searchlight was mounted. The whole arrangement was fitted on a tiny table, which was welded upon the mantlet below the two telescope apertures."
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 03, 2016, 11:19:38 AM: Whilst I am way behind on a bunch of projects. I saw something else which looked cool, so another planned project down the line...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb4XpkgTS3E/UYa_rlKKM0I/AAAAAAAAApY/x6Q9I6t5lns/s1600/CameraZOOM-20130505161802558.jpg)

A Soviet made attempt to give the T-34 sloped armour. It was never deployed due to the number of losses to German HEAT weapons at the time of production being 5% of the total.

I'm thinking that I ever add Panzer III/IV parts to a spare T34/85 I have, or... do it up as a Soviet one? In game terms a T34/85's just a Panzer IV, so I've no real need for one in German use other than rule of cool. My thinking would be that yes, the Soviets would have IS-3s by this point, but still thousands of T-34s in use, and enough sitting on the production line that it'd be a waste just to scrap them right away.

Beats bed frame armour. Not sure if it looks as cool though. :)

(http://static.warthunder.com/upload/image/!%202015%20NEWS/April/T-34-85E/T34_hist.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 04, 2016, 09:56:19 AM: A follow up to my blether.

T-34/ 85s are so last year. How about a T-44 instead?

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/T-44-100-prototype.png)

A proposed successor to the T-34, produced in some numbers, but ultimately quickly succeeded by the T-54.

I'm thinking I could find a T-54 kit and stick a T-34/85 turret on it. I'm not massively sure about the comparison between the 44 and 54, but they look similar enough that messing about with some of the cosmetics details would make it workable.

(http://i.imgur.com/0klEuw3.png)

(http://wiki.gcdn.co/images/6/67/T-54_drawings.gif)

IIRC most of the 1/56th scale T-54s out there (when I was searching for my modern Ukrainians) were diecasts. A plastic one would be a lot easier to work with depending on how much of the detail needs to be redone, but I guess if that hull is workable most people would accept just a turret change and not care about minor glacis changes (...I would think the average guy wouldn't even know what a T-44 is). :)

Just another wee rambling, and aye, a continuation of my "I want G3s in my alt-history setting". ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on November 04, 2016, 07:32:11 PM: You could always step over the T-44 & go straight for the T-54-1 (in service in 1947), the turret is as issue, (though no more than for the 44) but is probably also convertable from a T-34 85.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on November 04, 2016, 08:17:41 PM: I like it! Start building! No if only we could get the E-50 through E100 in 1/56. I would be willing to scratch/bash the originals if someone would handle casting....
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 05, 2016, 10:45:58 PM: Jeff at Die waffenkammer is working on the e series tanks as part of his post 45 range
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on November 06, 2016, 01:59:20 PM: Rich - yes, really looking forward to them (but it's understandable that we all get a bit bit impatient on occasion - especially when a new & fairly high profile game like Konflict '47 drops in our laps & of course that prompts the desire for these subjects). I know that Jeff is undoubtedly working hard to get the stuff out there, but being a small operation it means that it all takes time...(I note that the JTFM FB page hints at a possible Nov 14th release for some E series - I certainly hope so).

Rabenga - there is one model for an E-100 out there, it's a Gas-O-Line/Quarterkit one of a fictional Flak variant. It's 1/50 (& pre-painted like the Corgi models) & I understand them to be pretty decent (though I've not seen it 'in person' as it were) - at least as good as the now OOP Corgi models - though personally I'd repaint it. Normally Gas-O-Line models are pretty expensive (over €100) but they have an offer on this model, bringing it down to a less unreasonable €54.78 - still not exactly cheap I know.
Here's a link if you want to have a look: http://www.phpshopxml.com/quakit.shop/CID/579db9c4984a0f853f5681e8002797ab/function/itemPageDisplay/shopItemCode/GAS48605K
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 06, 2016, 09:42:30 PM: Pretty sure there is some E-series goodness on the way.
I need to extract my finger and get building... my Scammell needs finishing and then on to the Centurion!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 07, 2016, 09:17:39 PM: Back to things. Look, actual models!

...Other than that E-100. ... ...Damn that price.

Panzer IV with sloped armour (because yes, I am really late to the party with that idea).

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/7/837224-Conversion%2C%20Germans%2C%20Iv%2C%20Panzer%2C%20Snow%2C%20Tank%2C%20War%2C%20Weird%2C%20Winter%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/7/837225-Conversion%2C%20Germans%2C%20Iv%2C%20Panzer%2C%20Snow%2C%20Tank%2C%20War%2C%20Weird%2C%20Winter%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/7/837227-Conversion%2C%20Germans%2C%20Iv%2C%20Panzer%2C%20Snow%2C%20Tank%2C%20War%2C%20Weird%2C%20Winter%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/7/837226-Conversion%2C%20Germans%2C%20Iv%2C%20Panzer%2C%20Snow%2C%20Tank%2C%20War%2C%20Weird%2C%20Winter%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

*tell me if those pictures are too big; I think somewhere I can hear a phone user screaming

In a battlefield dominated by IS-4s, E-50s, and other heavy tanks, the ageing Panzer IV was more than outclassed. Whilst many went found use as Begepanzers or afield serving with Germany's allies, on the Eastern Front the Panzer IV and its predecessors could hardly hold their ground against a T-34/85 (itself being replaced by T-44s). Although already superseded, efforts were made to upgrade tanks already sitting on the production line. Modern sloped armour, a longer gun and an improved engine were part of the multitude of changes made (although there was little consistency between batches, as several technicians vied for control over the project). These allowed the Panzer IV to continue service as a secondary tank in German service for some time yet, but its time had already passed. Despite this, these upgraded IVs formed the bulk of the armour taking part in the failed invasion of the Dominion of Israel in the late 40s, with most of the more modern vehicles serving on the Eastern Front.

A Rubicon Panzer IV with some plasticard slapped on the front and sides and a spare gun leftover from that Panther which is still sitting unpainted. I'm not sure if I went overboard with the sloped armour; extending it all the way to the rear and replacing the engine with a Panther looking one. Most people seem to cut the armour off before the engine deck. The turret could've done with being built up a bit more, rather than using the existing one ...but, as is my constant excuse, I'll explain that away as nobody really caring about this project when there was shinier stuff like the E-series going on.

I've been going back and adding snow (or rather slush) to the bases of my infantry, to fit the theme of the army more. I thought it might work on a tank as well. How does it look? It covers up the amount of weathering I covered that thing in at least (god I love making my tanks look like wrecks ...its all the Post-Apocalyptic models). I couldn't find many references sources online for snow covered tanks which were between no snow at all and covered in a foot of it, so I made a guess at what some rapidly thawing snow would look like. Its just water effects and some white powder. ...I like it. :)

I've a squad of riflemen almost done, and another one planned plus some more guys with Stg-44s. That's the priority stuff right now, but besides that another vehicle or two'll turn up to break up that monotony a bit. The plan's to have a playable army by the end of the month; so I can make some snowmen terrain pieces. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 08, 2016, 01:52:13 AM: Excellent work! And with a backstory and all. Pity there aren't any WIP pictures, a tutorial would be great!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on November 08, 2016, 04:22:04 PM: Looks cool, I like the freehand dragon you did on the turret schurzen. As to the sloped armour, it looks good, implying a major design overhaul without getting too anachronistic.
Ive been tempted by the Gas-O-Line stuff in the past (they used to do several E series, including a nice E-50 & standard, Maus-turreted E-100, but have since discontinued them - they occasionally turn up on Ebay) but was always put off by their price - considering that they'd need a re-paint.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on November 08, 2016, 04:55:45 PM: Your K looks rad! Good work on the build and the paint!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 15, 2016, 06:14:54 PM: A first attempt at making some SS.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/15/838517-SS%20Stormtrooper.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/15/838518-SS%20Stormtrooper.JPG)

Just a mash up of bits and bobs which came from me finding load of unbuilt Mantic Games corporation troopers (or whatever they call them, I think they're OOP now).

(http://images.firestormgames.co.uk/cache/data/kow/12685-corporation-army-set-46-figures-500x400.jpg)

The rest's: a head from Dust, and a load of Wargames Factory bits (the gun being made of: the stock and magazine from an M16, body of an MP-40 and barrel from a PPSh-41, with an added muzzle).

The gun needs a repaint, but whatever. I went for some oakleaf camo, but with the armour still being white for a bit of contrast (assuming that the cloth parts are reversable white camo which has been switch to its autumn side, prior to replacing the uniform entirely with the spring variant).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 15, 2016, 07:35:49 PM: Hmm...to be honest, I would paint the middle of the body armour in white instead of black, because at first look...it looks like a female soldier with the dreaded boob armour

In other news...I was going to post a request for Mantic Games corporation troopers on the Bazaar. If you want to trade yours for some Wargame Factory Germans (I'll take some pictures later today), drop me a PM ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Cambra on November 15, 2016, 08:12:23 PM: Realy nice minis, keep them coming. I tought exactly the same as Predatorpt, the soldiers looks like a female soldier.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 15, 2016, 09:08:36 PM: I just need to quit painting big black lines around everything, but I'm stuck with my cartoony style. What's pissing me off the most is the one along the body of the gun. It looks like they merged the charging handle with the ejection port. That I went for slimmer components rather than the chunky warlord bits and puffy trousers doesn't help the feminine look, though I could do some un-helmeted ones.

...I'd have made some female soldiers had the Nazis not been so opposed to women in any sort of combat role. :)

Ack, I only have enough of those guys for 2 8 men squads, and even then that's with way too many kneeling. Sorry mate, had I had another box spare I'd have ...I'd have started a jungle fighters SS force with them. ;)

Are they really difficult to get? They must be carried by some third party stockists still. :/

Anyhow, had this sitting for a while, but as they'll never see any in-game use well...

SS Panzermensch

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/15/838626-SS%20Panzermensch.JPG)

A closely guarded secret of German military technology, disputed by some to not exist at all. In the late 40s the British S.O.E. discovered information that the Soviets had encountered such suits during the siege of Stalingrad, though it wouldn't be until their own agents fought off one years later during an attack at a Heavy Water plant that this could be verified.

In actuality the German Panzermensch concept had stagnated for years, another proposed wonder weapon. The heights of government were all for them, especially for propaganda purposes, but in practice they were highly unreliable and slow. Despite eventually capturing several suits, neither the Soviets or the British tested their own variants of the suits in combat. Unfortunately for the Germans the mere threat of these weapons led to advances in their Anti-Tank capabilities; which had more effect on the war effort than the Panzermensch ever would.

Yup, Power Armour. Had to.

I kind of like the idea of British agents encountering a couple of these guys during clandestine operations, or the Soviets facing off against them in city fighting (having them out in the open would be a bad idea). Pending the initial encounter the Soviets would've issued more PTRDs, leading the British to question the build up, but being how impractical the suits would've been that buildup went to waste as the Germans never fielded more than a handful at one time. ...I like Power Armour, but well, honestly they'd have been useless facing off against guys with AT weapons. :)

With CompanyB having an E-50 in the works that sparked me to think of a way to re-pupose that Tiger II I have sitting there. I'm thinking it'll do as an APC for these guys? ...Because they need something a bit more beefier to find than even the Panther APC (heh, no, I don't foresee using half of this stuff ever in a game obviously). :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 15, 2016, 09:35:23 PM: It was worth a try - if you had any spare ones, I could trade them ;)

I'm itching to try something similar to your conversions (I have enough Dust and SOTR heads for that) but I'm thinking about using the Defiance Marines torsos

(http://www.beastsofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Marine-Bodies-and-Heads.jpg)

The armor on them seems "primitive" enough to be used on WW2, specially with those big straps over the shoulders.

Can't wait to see what kind of APC you get for the Panzermensch ;) And don't worry, most of the things I've planned also won't be usable in game.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 15, 2016, 10:21:58 PM: Those Defiance Games bodies would probably work with the Warlord plastics, which are pretty chunky. I'm not aware of what size they are, but they look Games Worshop sized?

Because I have no original ideas I was going to steal something similar to this E-50 APC.

(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii548/Queeg2/Project%2046/E-50APC_4_zps918f1f8f.jpg)

Or this AMX variant.

(http://www.milweb.net/webvert_images/80166/img_1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 15, 2016, 10:24:34 PM: You have my approval...and the skills to do it, lol. Looks good!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 16, 2016, 07:24:41 AM: Interesting idea.
I'd suggest using left over Pz-1 turrets perhaps?
Put a fighting compartment in fornt of the engine with the bow MG in the glacis and turret above. So the vehicle crew is together. Then put the engine bay in the middle and the troop compartment in the rear, possible open topped with Hanomag style MG rear AA mount. Maybe two pintle MGs?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on November 17, 2016, 04:44:03 AM: This is an awesome thread. You're selling me Konflikt '47 better than Warlord is :) . Love the conceptualized AFVs!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 17, 2016, 12:22:42 PM: There is a bit of a project rumbling on in the background in a dark corner of facebook - alternative World War 2.
Basically Weird War without the weird.

Lots of us were moaning about the fantasy vampires and occullt nonsense so we are slowly gathering stuff for a fan made Bolt Action addition.

The main premise is change a few dubious Strategic decisions, extend the war and see what happens.
Deviates in winter 1942/1943

It also means we can make use of the late war prototypes and paper panzers :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 17, 2016, 03:55:46 PM: This whole thread came about from me seeing Konflikt -47 then going "god damn they just had to add zombies again!". I then say A Kill in the Morning at Waterstones, read that and spun off from the idea that Hess' crackjob of a plan may have worked.

With much of the war ending, or not even starting, particularly the non-stop RAF bombing of the industry, that'd mean Germany would be in a much better position in this fictional 1946. Men with Stg-44s wouldn't have been limited to firing 30 rounds a day for one. The wonder weapons would've still been their, because Hitler's Hitler, but I'd like to have though that more practical minds prevailed after the ongoing attrition, and we'd have still seen stuff like the E-series and a reoganization of certain army elements.

So when people puzzle how the world had advanced so far in such a small space of time we're not using the same circumstances that Berlin was somehow saved and then the Nazis had a million Maus being produced out of nowhere. I can't ponder myself how they would have ever managed anything like that with the Americans or the British involved. ...Even if the Germans got the bomb early; though that'd just resulted in the Allies nuking Dresden or something. :P

Anyhow...

With the Tiger II APC thing I was thinking of giving it the same treatment as the Panther APC. Move the engine to the front right, add a compartment with a raised roof to the back and then stick a turret on it. Being that it'd be a much more specialized vehicle than the conventional AFVs I already have it may be worth it to imply NBC protection, or stick some spaced armour all over it (the whole concept would be for it to be the best protected APC available, regardless of production time and quantity available- seeing as its for transporting an off the wall wonder weapon).

Turret wise its up in the air. I have a Panzer II Luchs one saved for an Sd.Kfz-251 conversion for some of my SS, but I suppose I could downgrade that to a Panzer I. The problem's sourcing a loose turret at all, though possible Warlord could handle that?

Having blithered a bit there, for practicality's sake I'd again point out that whilst something like this may be feasible as a one off, a Tiger II APC's just there for rule of cool only. The IDF Achzarit, one of the if not the heaviest production AFV in the world, comes in at around 44 tons (being based on the 36 ton T-55. I'd mention at this point a Panther's 45 tons). A Tiger II is 70 tons. Now remove the turret, but add the renovations and then let's say 6-ish Power Armoured soldiers and we now have a vehicle which'll definitely crippling the poor infrastructure of the Eastern Front...

But, well, let's just not tell that to any wargamers who're reading this thread. Maybe the Soviets will just think its a fancy engineering vehicle and not immediately blow it up with artillery. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 17, 2016, 10:59:49 PM: More junk. :)

Armoured Opel Blitz Truck.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/17/838920-Opel%20Blitz.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/17/838923-Opel%20Blitz.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/17/838924-Opel%20Blitz.JPG)

With the acquisition of the European territories and Soviet assets, Germany had the resources to build (and fuel) the vehicles it needed to compete its enemy's. Even as the Katzchen took over as the Heer's "standard" personnel carrier, most of the military were still using horse drawn carts, trucks or civilian vehicles. Teniable at best for actual combat use, the proliferation of automatic-weaponary made un-armoured transports obsolete. For those forced to use vehicles though, field modifications were common; till full scale re-armament came in the late forties.

A Rubicon Opel Blitz with platicard slapped onto it. Its based on a flak variant of that truck which saw some use, however I haven't seen any German armoured trucks in this particular configuration (though similar looking vehicles appeared on the Soviet side). Another example of trying to keep my models in a state where they can be used against WWII armies instead of Cold War ones (hmn, though having a Cold War Nazi German army is a cool idea...). That and this thing's a lot cheaper than a Katzchen for game use (not that I really use transports anyway).

A full enclosed one (as an amulance or radio vehicle for artillery) might be an idea if I ever pick up the Rubicon tracked version.

Heer Infantry with Rifles

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/17/838919-Heer%20Riflemen.JPG)

The advent of the StG-44 and its later derivaties marked a change in infantry warfare doctrine which would influence armies worldwide. Production of arms and ammunition were sufficient, but never adequate to outfit every unit. Rather new equipment was issued on a division level, with whole units being upgraded, as others continued to use older gear. In an effort to keep the later competative in the new battlefield Germany fell back on an earlier idea to increase an individual soldier's lethality by issueing scoped G-43s where available. However these had their own supply (and training) problems, and would never see deployment on any scale copared to the StG-44.

Another excuse to use WWII-era stuff. Assault Rifles are expensive in Bolt Action... Hitler was opposed to the StG-44 and saw it as just an upgraded sub-machine gun for quite a while. His plan was for semi-auto scoped rifles to become the standard for the army. In practice one of those sounds a hell of a lot more practical (just how many replacement scopes did they think they'd be going through in a month from breakages?).

A mix of Wargames Factory Germans, Warlord plastic Soviet and Warlord Winter Germans, with the odd West Wind or Warlord head + greenstuff. I went with more greys and browns with this lot just to offset them from the mostly-white armoured guys; and well, guys wore what they could get as long as it was warm (but no, I didn't represent the practice of painting your clothes white for camo...).

Oh, and besides all the other gammut of side projects, I started on a bit of terrain. I already have my Eastern European stuff for modern games which will be useful, but I've had a load of these Mars Attacks ruins sitting idle for yonks. Still lots to do with this.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/17/838918-WIP%20Ruin.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 18, 2016, 02:41:46 AM: Great work with all the conversions (as usual) but a special appreciation must be made for the Mars Attacks! terrain usage! How did you made all those ruined bricks laying around?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 18, 2016, 03:32:34 PM: The loose bricks are just out of a bag of plaster cast ones I bought from a model shop here. No idea who the manufacturer is, but you can buy that type of stuff online (IIRC Secret Weapon Miniatures does them, but they're probably more expensive than what I paid). If that isn't an option then just buy a length of balsa and cut that into rectangles, same effect. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 18, 2016, 04:43:51 PM: Yeah, not an option to buy them, I'll just cast some myself, lol. ;D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 23, 2016, 08:18:10 PM: Seeing as it takes me ages to actually finish anything, bar flippant side projects I'll never use, here's another snippet.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/23/840355-WIP%20Soviet%20APC.JPG)

And then nobody knows what the hell that's actually supposed to be... Well it ain't German. I'll need to raid my spare sprues for some more gubbins and add a bit more greenstuff (hinges mostly), then its off to be painted. ...Followed by sitting on a shelf unused for a good while. Meh, it'll do as scenery.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 27, 2016, 01:27:38 AM: Soviet BTR-30 APC

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841035-BTR-30.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841036-BTR-30.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841038-BTR-30.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841037-BTR-30.JPG)

Following encounters with the various models of German tracked armoured personnel carriers the Soviets were quick to put their own into development. At the time there had been little traction to create such a vehicle, the Red Army finding regular trucks sufficient for their purposes. With no end to the war in sight, and just coming out of a major restructuring, resources were put into providing the military a tracked carrier on a limited basis.

The tested T-34 chassis was chosen as a basis for this vehicle (already being superseded by newer tank variants). It was decided to create a transport with a similar purpose to the German Griffon (based on the Panther chassis), though mounting a pintle MMG (a turreted version being planned, but shelved for an entirely different vehicle with the same function). It was found that the single rear door hatch and small roof hatches made exiting difficult (later NBC protected vehicles omitting the roof hatches altogether) even if the rather heavy armour was seen as a compromise. The BTR-30 was primarily issued to Guard units and proved invaluable, but never in sufficient numbers as tank production was a higher priority.

Well I had a T-34 sitting there with nothing to do with it, so...

A Rubicon kit, reversed so the engine's at the front (taken from IDF conversions of T-54/55s) and a plasticard upper hull. As far as I'm aware there weren't any T-34 APCs, even as field conversions, so I was winging it with this. The design started off as a Type-63 crossed with a Azovette and bits of a BMP-1, which is probably obvious. It looks a little too high-tech for the period (especially when compared against my German stuff), but oh well, I'll pull the usual "its a specialised vehicle/ prototype/ from the "late 40s"" bull. ;)

Oh, and comparisons with my Panther APC and a BMP ...because. It is rather tall.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841034-BTR-30.JPG)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/27/841039-BTR-30.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on November 27, 2016, 03:08:34 AM: Great work, you're really the king of Weird war conversions ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 27, 2016, 09:52:52 AM: We were pondering what would the soviets do if Lend Lease had been stopped.

Lend lease trucks kept the red army mobile but cut that off then they had to produce their own which would have impacted other production.

I was pondering either copies of the US half tracks or perhaps early BTR40 style armoured trucks.

But a fully tracks option is also possible - I was pondering how to covert a T-34 with minimal tooling change. The fighting compartment isn't very large on a T-34 but it's not that hard to cut the hull roof out and add an armoured box extend that over the back deck and you get a heated seating area and then in Russian style stretch a tarp over the top.

Might get a T-34 now and have a go...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on November 27, 2016, 12:06:12 PM: Awesome work, please keep the images coming.

Wolt
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 27, 2016, 03:09:13 PM: The first hit on Google images for T-34 APC gives you this:

(https://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot/tanks/ww2-tanks-soviet-union/t34-apc.png)

I went for the Achzarit style though as that design doesn't accommodate for a rear door. In order to don that they'd either need to lay the engine flat, or sideways and decrease the size of the troop compartment. Just reversing the hull and then either leaving the engine where it is (and raising the driver's area so he can see over it) or mounting it sideways and eliminating the gunner's position seems a better way to go. That does eliminate the distinctive T-34 front glacis look however.

Alternatively there's putting the compartment at the front using the existing engine layout. That seems especially cramped to me though.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1/dadlamassu/Fictional%20Africa%20extras/DSCF4862.jpg)

It just seemed easier to me to go with something based on real world solutions to that particular problem. Even with you did leave the engine at the rear and mount it sideways to maintain the front glacis, I'd still suggest that it be modified so as the slopes weren't so drastic. ...Though that's perhaps moot. I like how the Type-63 has the raised front, as opposed to the drastic slope needed on the Azovette.

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/China/Type-63/Type-63_APC-1.png)

From an alt-history standpoint the concept's up in the air. I just slapped on the new top because it was easier and looked cool. If the military are already transitioning over to new vehicles like the T-54 then a lot of the T-34 tooling would be junk anyway (IIRC they were still making T-34s for years into the T-54 production though). APCs may not have been seen as a high priority, so any major re-tooling on an obsolete chassis may not have seen as warranted. I suppose it depends on what state the Soviets are in, and whether they have the resources to spare.

In the timeline I'm using Lend Lease never started and neither the US or Britain committed any resources to the Soviets. Were I to make a proper Soviet army then I'd need to be modifying a load of stuff from scratch because of this... Given though that the Germans have their own tracked APC projects in the works then I'm using that as a the basic for this Soviet one (my BTR-30 isn't intended as their first project, but the successor to multiple prototypes and takes it look from the German's - just with harsher slopes). However, I also have a wheeled 251 sitting there as well, so there's a possibility that an early BTR-40 to show up (but that didn't seem so practical to me as they didn't have great off road performance and with the war lasting longer the Soviets wouldn't be dealing with paved roads so much, but still be stuck out on sticks).

If I could be bothered I'd buy one of Rubicon's Soviet trucks and turn that into a cross between an M3 half track and a 251 (...I have a thing for sloped armour). ...Which as I type that may come about now. ;)

Heh, anyway, I'm going off on one. :)

I think I'll go back to my Panther tonight. Looking at that turret it looks a bit snubbed at the back, I wonder if it'll look better if I extended it so it looked more Tiger II like...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 28, 2016, 12:42:59 AM: Because unpainted pictures may be interesting, here's what's next on the painting table. Its only taken me a few months and tearing the thing apart a couple of times.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/11/28/841276-WIP%20Panther%20II.JPG)

I did eventually go for the Tiger II tracks (partially after seeing the results of a bare Panther trying to go up hill and breaking its from bar). :D

Its still in need of a tidy and some greenstuff (rivets, maybe a few extra tarps, etc). I'm not sure if to go with a straight white paintjob. Maybe a late war (or post war) green camouflage beneath a partially worn off white wash?

Anything else which I should add? I think I've covered a lot of the proposed Panther upgrades wishlist there right?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on November 28, 2016, 01:40:22 AM: Looks good man! Can't see the back, but did you add the battery box for the IR gear in the place of the right side stowage bin? Like the added MG to the cuppola, can't wait to see it with some paint on it!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on November 28, 2016, 07:22:55 AM: Nice work again! I love that stage when all the different materials can be seen.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 28, 2016, 09:06:59 AM: @ rabenga

I don't have pictures at the moment, but yes, I just stuck on a spare stowage box to represent it. Oddly its not something included in the Warlord kit, and doesn't turn up in a lot of builds; but it is a bit hard to make out. I'll probably be able to power through painting this today or tomorrow, so I'll post the usual 360 + crappy paintjob then. ;)

Its not really up to grade with all the little details as your own one though. All those hooks just seem so fiddly (thus the cop out addon armour).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on November 28, 2016, 04:38:44 PM: I think your selling yourself short... You obviously have the skills,. Just takes a pile of evergreen styrene in different shapes and diameters, some tamiya extra thin cement, tweezers and some patience...the reference photos of the battery box show it looking essentially like the stock one, the top chunk is missing and the access hatch is on the front face and not the top... I can post some pics if you like, I'm sure ballardian has some better reference photos too. That guy has a library! The track swap looks frickin awesome! I wish I had the bits to pull that one off,. Didn't feel like buying a 50$ kit and waiting another 3 weeks to get it, just so I could cut it up though...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on November 29, 2016, 06:05:58 PM: On the model front - nout - I've been playing a load of Heroes and Generals instead. :P

Just a thought, maybe wishlisting: Vichy France backed by Germany going to war with Francoist Spain in the 60s... Hmn...

Or a Vichy force taking part in Operation Sealion, but again in the 60s. Kitted out in NBC suits due to the British deploying vast stockpiles of chemical weapons in the defence.

Ah, hmn... Just a thought. A NBC suited Vichy soldier and some weird alternative-history AMX (in a perversion of real world events; being both countries would be fascist) seem like a really interesting idea to me.

Ramble over. Just wanted to put this on paper ...and spoil me turning up here one day out of the blue with a French force. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on December 03, 2016, 02:37:31 PM: Just saw this on the Weird War group :D

(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/15202525_10154829544223724_8777317086612633862_n_zpsgvg1pgdj.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/15355808_10154829544393724_2334894558441682683_n_zpsdmka2j40.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/15267499_10154829544333724_4238676333326442123_n_zpsaylhol5j.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/15267540_10154829544233724_603333272420600509_n_zpstkydsczn.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/SOTR/15268037_10154829544388724_4983004757041514021_n_zpsto3w1hjg.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 03, 2016, 03:14:10 PM: I'd hate to be the driver in that; no way to get out other than the roof hatches. The engine's cutting that vehicle in half. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on December 03, 2016, 03:51:38 PM: Cool! Wonder what scale it is?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 03, 2016, 04:14:44 PM: IIRC that Tamiya stowage kit at the back is 1/35th (looks like there's some of their modern US one in there as well). Those infra-red sights, and well just stuff in general, aren't too difficult to find in that scale.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on December 03, 2016, 05:38:09 PM: yeah, the link was reposted from another FB group and I think it is a 1/35 conversion.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on December 03, 2016, 09:20:54 PM: I like how the IR gear is mounted I'm front of the remnants of the travel lock for the gun, and not the drivers periscope...works good! :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 04, 2016, 03:17:52 AM: Panther II

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/4/842198-Panther%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/4/842197-Panther%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/4/842200-Panther%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/4/842199-Panther%20II.JPG)

Yup, finished it. :D

I posted a spiel about this before I think: but to summarise - the Panther II was a planned major revision of the Panther, but was cancelled for more incremental improvements due to cost. Well in a world where things weren't going so badly, and the Soviets were fielding heavier armour, maybe this project would have seen the go-ahead (I'll then ignore that the E-50 was designed as the replacement for the Panther II and go and buy an E-50/75 anyway). ;)

To run through parts again: a Rubicon Panther with Warlord Games Tiger II tracks (important otherwise it'll break the front torsion bar going up a street curb), Heer 46 turret and infrared sights and a load of plasticard for extra armour, a new rear deck for the jet engine and a rear bustle for the turret (personally I think the extra armour and bustle make that turret looks much less like some prototype and more realistic for field use).

Its probably not noticeable due to the whitewash and amount of grime, but I tried to go for a ambush patter camo scheme under all that. ...I really do have a nasty habit when it comes to dirtying up my models don't I?

I'm a bit apprehensive, but it didn't turn out that bad did it? I certainly like its overall look more than the Panzer IV I made (I really hate how the gun mantlet looks on that thing; it needs a bigger turret). I kind of want another one...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on December 04, 2016, 01:28:35 PM: Looking good and I would really like to see one of your vehicles without all that snow :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on December 04, 2016, 04:09:41 PM: That is a good looking kitty sir! I like the jet exhaust!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 04, 2016, 04:11:07 PM: The snow hides the crappy paintjobs!

Not sure how realistic it is, but meh. If justification is required then um, well, the following Winter of 1946-1947 was the coldest on record for Europe. If anything I should have found a way of visually representing one of those addon engine fans which heat the crew compartment, but it just wouldn't work with that engine deck. :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 05, 2016, 09:47:53 AM: I want this. Now.

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15181540_658965990948026_9067379501989844541_n.jpg?oh=e8bec3baf65ff0935d6bf332f95a59b1&oe=58BD2EF6)

A Cast hull/ turret Panther from Paper Panzer (1/35th) representing late war outsourcing to Czechoslovakia / France to cover production (IIRC in the real world only the Czechs were making tanks for the Axis, France was just conversion shops - but I know bugger all about history). I'd imagine in my own timeline that'd cover Germany switching over to the E-series, but having other states building tanks which their early-war industries were more geared towards.

Anyway. Shouldn't be too difficult to cut up a Panther a bit then milliput over the details.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 05, 2016, 12:35:32 PM: Hull will be no problem but the problem will be the turret; blobby cast shapes are really hard to get right.
If you can get some good drawings that will help alot.

Look forward to what you cna make of it!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 05, 2016, 03:52:18 PM: I saw that lovely model & I agree. The turret would be a bit of a bugger, but to me, from that angle at least, the turret resembles that of an M60, albeit with a lower overall profile - so do you think a conversion from that (if a 1/56 version is out there) would be possible - otherwise scratch building would be necessary.
Your Panther II looks great by the way, I like the striped camo reveal.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 05, 2016, 04:28:30 PM: The nearest thing I have to an M60 to hand is this:

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/4/17/793311_md-Tank%2C%20Toy%2C%20Type%2061%3F.JPG)

But I'd rather just sculpt a new one. That turret's just the example which they had on their webstore. It fits the idea of a late war Panther outsourced to a third party, including some design revisions over the older models, but being separate from the mainstream German model. I could go so far as to just dub it the AMX-40 or something silly like that. :)

I think I didn't angle the stripes sharp enough with that camo, but its a field job, so doesn't have to be clean. I do like that style of camo though, so I think I'll stick with it on later tanks, rather than the straight white wash my others have.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 05, 2016, 06:38:45 PM: I'd think that outsourced tanks would more likely be flat plates? Complex casting would be the improved versions from the fatherland
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Sardoo on December 05, 2016, 06:47:40 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 05, 2016, 09:14:34 AM

...I'm not saying Power Armour, but Power Armour (they don't fit my setting much, but the local shop had those Clockwork Goblin ones)

As your profile mentions Glasgow I'm guessing "the local shop" is somewhere in the "Dear green place". As I'm coming to Glasgow on Thursday I'd be interested in visiting the shop. Can you tell me where to find it?

Cheers!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 05, 2016, 07:09:27 PM: Quote from: Rich H on December 05, 2016, 06:38:45 PM
I'd think that outsourced tanks would more likely be flat plates? Complex casting would be the improved versions from the fatherland

Well I know zip about real world tank design, I just wing it. That curved turret fits the curved hull, so they seemed to fit.

The Czechs at least had a pretty advanced industry, so I'd imagine they'd have designs on par with any German ones (whether or not they had the independence to follow up on them is questionable though). Whilst complex, I'd have thought that the French would have been competent enough given the Char B and similar tank's castings no? I believe the intent behind that 1/35th model there is that the other countries had the skill base for inter-war tanks which could be used to create something resembling a Panther, just with different methods.

But, well, I'm not justifying that company's design, I just want one as a cast hull Panther screams alt-history to me. :)

Quote from: Sardoo on December 05, 2016, 06:47:40 PM
As your profile mentions Glasgow I'm guessing "the local shop" is somewhere in the "Dear green place". As I'm coming to Glasgow on Thursday I'd be interested in visiting the shop. Can you tell me where to find it?

Cheers!

Static Games at the Trongate, 5 minutes from the City Centre (its paint a garish yellow with a 1970s style space warrior fresco in the window), stocks Bolt Action/ Konflikt 47. By the High Court, 2 minutes from Static towards the river, there's also Scott's Models (formed by some of the ex-staff of Jamieson's after the owner retired - a former literal meca of scale kits), which carries Rubicon 1/56th scale kits (along with other scales). There's also Hellcat Models a couple of minutes away from Partick train station - though they carry more 1/35-1/48th scale stuff. There's a couple more, though Static's the only one left gear towards wargaming (and they've been moving away from the more traditional games for the x-wing and toys market over the past couple of years). Definitely pop into Scott's Models if you're heading to Static though, they're some great guys (I have an inordinate amount of vehicles in this thread because their customer services is that good I need to buy something every time I pop in...).

Oh, and if you're sticking around then there's the G3 Gamers club on Tuesday nights at the Woodside Hall by St George's Cross subway station, which is the country's largest club (luckily its turned winter and people have gone back to hibernating, so you can actually get a table...), but that's probably a bit late if you're just up for a couple of days. If you can make it though, look for a one "Geordie Paul", his game's are always a feast for the eyes no matter what the scale (on a slow night he once ran a naval battle using the whole hall's floor as the playing area...).

And aye Paul, there's your nod if you're snooping about reading this. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Sardoo on December 05, 2016, 07:24:44 PM: Thanks, this really helpful. Will be in the city centre area mostly so will deffo go to Scott's models and Static. Cheers!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on December 06, 2016, 12:28:16 AM: Very cool! I wish they would make stuff in 1/56!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 18, 2016, 06:16:04 PM: Now where was I...?

Kugelblitz 38(t)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844955-Kugelblitz.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844956-Kugelblitz.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844958-Kugelblitz.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844957-Kugelblitz.JPG)

Perhaps not the best choice of vehicle to pick in a setting where the Allies don't have air superiority, but I have some spare Hetzer bits and a Heer 46 turret.

I've noticed that a brown drybrush isn't doing too well for the worn away white paint in some areas. The edges of the glacis are brown, but the surrounding area's an ochre. The brown drybrush makes the whole vehicle's edges look much darker than they are to the eye.

...Just in case you were screaming at me for going a bit too heavy with the weathering. Um, which I do, but ah ...hmn. :)

That ruin's been painted too.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844960-Winter%20Ruin.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844961-Winter%20Ruin.JPG)

I think I should have added more mud? Oh, its supposed to have been sitting as a ruin for years btw, in case you're wondering how that much grass has grown up through the middle.

Lastly, an officer; still sitting as a green.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/18/844959-WIP%20Officer.JPG)

Does he look alright? He probably doesn't scream German officer, but well, not every one of those needs to wear a trenchcoat and have a peaked cap. The scarf over his mouth is probably a bit much - but that came from actual work getting in the way and me being too lazy to sculpt a proper mouth/ moustache combo.

His pouchs still need some extra bits, but should I stick anything else on? Maybe shoulder pads to match the rest of his armour?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on December 18, 2016, 07:52:43 PM: The finished ruin looks fantastic; Great work taking the MA ruin and amping the realism. Very nice sculpt on the officer. You feel you copped out with the scarf but the rest of the figure has plenty of small details to attract the eye. That will be a wonderful, moody piece once you get it painted up.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 19, 2016, 03:23:11 PM: The 38t Kugelblitz looks cool, nobody on the allied side is going to appreciate the rate of fire from the twin MK103 30mm (are there existing Kugelblitz rules in K47 or are you going to have to come up with some?).
your winter-clad officer looks great, I wouldn't worry about the scarf - it makes sense for the mini & the visible bit of face is very characterful.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 19, 2016, 04:12:52 PM: On the officer, I think I have an Enclave officer from my Fallout stuff sitting doing nothing. I may give him a repaint; he's more of your stereotypical SS guy in a trench coat though.

Oh and re: the scarf ~ its fucking freezing. There's my justification. ...Even if his orders may be a tad muffled. ;)

There's oddly rules for the 6 Panzer IV based Kugelblitzs in the Armies of Germany book ; despite Warlord not making a model of them.

Rich H posted some points costs on the BA Facebook page when I asked. Something like - enclosed - 2x heavy AA guns on a turret mount - no hull MMG and whatever the Hetzer's armour value is for 170 points. (don't ask me how you calculate points for that game...)

I've not read the K47 rules, but from what I can tell that game doesn't cater much for paper panzers. They're more into off the wall stuff unfortunately which is why I never picked it up.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 19, 2016, 04:31:33 PM: We've reverse engineered the points from all the books, it's pretty well pegged now.
There are a few anomalies but it's close enough ususally

Hull
Softskin (6+)   15
Armoured Carrier (7+)   50
Light Tank (8+)   70
Medium Tank (9+)   110
Heavy Tank (10+)   190
Super Heavy Tank (11+)   350

Options
Half Tracked   5
Amphibious   5
Armoured all-round   -/-/20/40/80/120 (depends on hull)
Dual-Directional Steering   5
Easily Catches Fire   -10
Extra Front Armour   -/-/20/40/80/120 (depends on hull)
One-Man Turret   -10
Open-Topped   -5
Recce   10
Slow   -10
Slow..pitifully Slow   -15
Slow Load   -5
Slow Traverse   -5
Thin Sides   -
Transport Capacity   2/per person
Unreliable   -20
Vulnerable   -20
Command Vehicle   25
Waterborne   21
Tow Capacity   No cost


Light Machinegun   5
Medium Machinegun   10
Heavy Machinegun   20
Light Autocannon   30
Heavy Autocannon   45
Anti-Tank Rifle   20
Light AT Gun   50
Medium AT Gun   70
Heavy AT Gun   110
Super-Heavy AT Gun   190
Light Howitzer   50
Medium Howitzer   60
Heavy Howitzer   100
Flamethrower   50
Medium Mortar   55
Panzerschreck   65
Multiple Launcher   70
Co-ax 5
Pintle/flak 5
Extra HE 10
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on December 19, 2016, 08:42:11 PM: Aye Wyrmalla here's that nod back, I was snooping about in the Wierd war section as I have been known to make some Wierd war stuff now and then , below ;) and thanks for the big sell about the games down the G3 club. (Which is a great club with great people) I do try my best but really clubs are an excuse to inflict our own personal Wierd projects on the unsuspecting !
I didn't know you had so many great models, love the Kugelblitz and Katzchen models, grimy and very realistic too.
Here's a 'little' pic of my own (if it works) to add to the '46 mix, a troop of Rattes (with variants) some tiggers a Maus and a Gerbil (wustenrennmaus) in 6mm scale.
Gerbil is my invention of a beast to fill the gap between Maus and ratte (size wise) with it having a secondary turret from a Bismark class BB (2 x 5.9").
See you at the club !
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 20, 2016, 08:27:23 AM: Awesome! Great idea with the battleship bridge/superstructure too
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 20, 2016, 09:47:42 AM: I'm beginning to wonder if there's some model you don't already have Paul...

Oh, aye, and cheers Rich. I may have a bit of a fiddle with those at some point. :)

Saying that, I see no Super heavy autocannon in there. I suppose I won't be making a Flakpanzer Coelian (...or something bigger) then. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: streetkern on December 20, 2016, 12:14:19 PM: Great thread - really atmospheric paint jobs
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 20, 2016, 12:28:13 PM: Flakpanzer Coelian has 2 heavy autocannons... they are only 37mm guns. ;)

According to my ever reliable wiki srource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flakpanzer_Coelian
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 20, 2016, 12:39:02 PM: Warlord's rules for upper end weapons seem to Plateau. The Kugelblitz has two heavy autocannons, but the Coelian appears to have a larger bore. The only bonus for the Coelian over the Panzer IV Kugelblitz would be the Panther's armour, which makes me wonder though why they didn't add any rules for it in the latest book (probably because it didn't see production like the Kugelblitz).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 20, 2016, 04:19:55 PM: Well the Kugelblitz had a pair of MK103 30mm autocannons (originally destined to provide some AAA protection on U-Boats) while the Coelian had/would have had a pair of more standard 37mm flak 36/37s - hence the larger barrel diameter & length. While I'm not familiar with BA or K47 I don't suppose the difference between them would (in game terms) be much, so I'd use whichever the rules do cover.
Both were intended to be increased to quad mounts at some point in the 'future' (plus there were plans to add a pair of 20mm guns as an interim move as quad-ing the 30/37mm weapons would have needed redesigned turrets).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 20, 2016, 05:59:16 PM: Indeed. 37mm are just heavies.
However twin heavy ACs is a HORRIBLE combo!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 21, 2016, 12:44:17 AM: Had a hunch that the 30mm MK103's had a rather higher rate of fire than the older 37mm types & yes, a rather scary 450 rpm to the 37mms' 120 or so (they had a theoretical maximum of 250 rpm but in practise this was never achieved, even by the later Flak43 version, which was fitted to the Ostwind). That said, either would be a terrifying prospect for infantry or soft skin vehicles.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 21, 2016, 07:30:56 AM: Again Wiki claims similar theoretical rates of fire:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_cm_Flak_30/38/Flakvierling

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MK_103_cannon
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 21, 2016, 11:07:19 PM: Any input on this turret design?

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/21/845465-WIP%20Panther%20II.JPG)

Too thin? I was going for something early Tiger II like. It needs some protrusions for the radio and commander's hatch, but should I make it wider in the middle? My other Panther II's turret is much thicker (ironic that it was designed to have a more streamlined profile than the regular turret... Maybe its all that extra armour), though this comes out as just a smidge thinner than the regular Tiger II's turret. It'll be covered with milliput at some point anyway (I'm erring towards having a welded plate turret rather than a cast one right now).

That's where my second Panther II's sitting right now. Are the Tiger II side skirts all right, or too iconic? The regular rectangular Panther plates just didn't look right with that hull (which is supposed to be cast btw, though still needs some tidying). I feel a real urge to slap on a load of spaced armour onto this, but that'd make the cast hull thing completely pointless as you wouldn't be able to see it (I guess that means buying yet another Panther...). I didn't bother with the jet powered engine either, from a fluff standpoint being that this was outsourced largely to the Czechs (I'll call it the Panther II (t) or something), and that I kind of wanted to use some of the Rubicon kit's fancy air filters.

Oh, and any other bits and pieces which I should be adding? ...Or I guess I shouldn't over complicate the look too much. Cast hull tanks were fairly sparse with the amount of tat welded onto them from what I can tell. :P

And yeah, the tracks are a mess; need to tidy them up later. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 22, 2016, 12:45:38 PM: The mantle looks very US to me... Most of the later panzers had the cast thin conical mantles.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 22, 2016, 01:03:04 PM: Aye, I was going to sculpt the mantle to look like the original Tiger II turret. That'll all be merged into the rest of the plates.

I want it to have a distinctly non-Panther look to it. I'd imagine the upper hull (bar the engine deck) and possibly the turret would be outsourced to the Czechs - who had their own opinions about the design (or some bollocks).

(http://www.masterminiatures.it/gal/tiger2-porsche/img/tiger2-porsche-04.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 22, 2016, 06:25:03 PM: I like the cast hull a lot, but the models angle in the pic make it a bit hard (for me at least) to make an accurate assessment as to whether the turret's too thin or not (if pushed I'd say maybe a little). A pic taken from directly above would help more, but looking great so far.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on December 22, 2016, 09:27:52 PM: Ok. Bring the side plates forward to meet the mantle and fair in the gun barrel perhaps?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 26, 2016, 06:52:30 PM: Updates: nout painted, but here's more crap.

The current state of the second Panther II. Yup, its now literally just a Tiger II.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/26/846219-WIP%20Panther%20II%20%28t%29.JPG)

Here's to originality!

My fluff for this is that a plant/ concern/ whatever was assigned the task of improving the existing Panther II design; particularly in reducing costs. What resulted was further merging of the Panther and Tiger II, but also a load of good old WWII German wonderwaffen-ness (that's a word). Plus your usual standard bureaucracy and corruption as obsolete and over complicated parts were included for the hell of it.

Oh, and the new barrel's made from a Tamiya lampost. Just an FYI. :)

Meanwhile... Well remember that Tiger II which I said I'd turn into an APC one day? Well, youknow how I'm shit at sticking to plans?

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/26/846220-WIP%20Jagdtiger%20II.JPG)

Daddy I want to be a Jagdtiger one day!

Right, I did ignore the part where Jagdtigers had longer hulls, but well, that whole super structure's bullshit anyway. It was going to be a Sturmtiger, still I'll barely use this thing in games as it is (though that would have been an excuse to explain all the ruined buildings on the table...).

That Tiger II APC thing may see light one day. I was looking at the Rammtiger today thinking one with transport capacity and maybe a light autocannon would fit the bill as a personnel carrier for those Power Armoured troops. The whole merging the Rammtiger onto the Tiger II chassis whilst having the troop compartment thing was such a headache I went for the Jagdtiger II instead. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on December 27, 2016, 12:09:19 PM: Your experimental Jagdpanzer looks cool, it has the 'right' look & I'd happily use it.
Good re-purposing of the lamp post!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 29, 2016, 08:59:04 PM: Jagdtiger II

(http://orig11.deviantart.net/7cc2/f/2016/364/d/c/jagdtiger_ii_by_frufruhm-datfxnd.jpg)

A revision on the existing Jagdtiger design to provide better armour (with increased slopes and extended to cover the engine bay as an aircraft deterrent) make it a more effective sniping vehicle for the open Russian steppe (including the standardised infrared sights, plus a more advanced periscope). Unfortunately doing nothing to improve the awful torsion bar and engine issues however - only aggravated by the increased weight of all that armour. ...That's what the E-100 Crocodile's for I suppose.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/29/846682-Jagdtiger%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/12/29/846683-Jagdtiger%20II.JPG)

Bits and bobs of the Warlord Tiger II and a load of plasticard. The Lowe style muzzle break's from a Dust Heavy Walker (it broke off, so it isn't quite as flush with the barrel as it was), plus your usual Heer 46 sights.

Heads are probably being scratched at the choice in camo. No, I didn't just paint it with a white wash for once. Instead that's supposed to be a field paint job so the tank would be better hidden within a snowy forest (...What's German for "Christmas Tree Scheme"?). :)

Oh, and I edited the picture on this one. Is that better than the raw picture, or...?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on December 30, 2016, 01:41:01 AM: Love the Jagdtiger II, awesome work as usual.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on December 31, 2016, 04:52:22 AM: Looks great! The IR sights and alternate muzzle break are sharp.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 13, 2017, 08:46:35 PM: Update; I've been dead in a ditch since New Year's. Moving on...

Czech Panther II

(http://orig00.deviantart.net/f798/f/2017/013/1/8/czech_panther_ii_by_frufruhm-dav9nrp.jpg)

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849815-Czech%20Panther%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849816-Czech%20Panther%20II.JPG)
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849817-Czech%20Panther%20II.JPG)

In attempts to hasten production the Panther II entered service as a replacement for the existing Panther and Tiger I models. What resulted was a tank which made up for many of the flaws of the original Panther, whilst introducing a fair few of its own, and did little to eliviate costs.

A sister project began with the promise of further improve upon the design. Much of the actual manufacturing was outsourced to the Czechs, who notably cast the hull, whilst Germany produced the more complex components (who also off-loaded many obsolete parts as well through backroom corruption).

Unfortunately, whilst the outsourcing did lead to more tanks being built, the results fell short of expectations. Under a hundred of these Panther IIs were built, which would mostly see service in central Europe, but the project was soon cancelled. Tank development had continued elsewhere; as German command saw the benefits of the Standard Panzer concept in the form of the E-50/75.

- Yeah, the running theme with these tank's apparently they're all shit and something better came along eventually (which, well, is sort of true. There's a reason why most countries only have one main tank these days). -

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849818-Panther%20IIs.JPG)

This wound up becoming a different beast than I'd originally set out to make. Its even more of a frankentank than the other Panther II, mostly due to my own lack of creativity. This one looks like an odd attempt at a Tiger II (or E-50 Ausf. M) more than anything. The whole conceit though's that some designers were dead set on continuing an already failed project, meanwhile including their own dumb elements and taking backhands from the factories to use whatever spares they had lying about.

Anyway, its the usual Rubicon Panther with a load of milliput and plasticard slapped on it. I copped out with the whitewash on this (instead of going for the white over an under camo), though I suppose that could be put down to it coming white out of the factory (which'd also explain the different tone).

Besides that, here's a bit of a weird looking beast.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849814-WIP%20Jagdpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)

Its a mash-up of various concepts, but I'm calling it the Jagdpanzer III/IV. The odd looking casement comes from a mockup for a StuG mounting an 88 (though this has a Panther's 75mm ...because screw trying to stick an 88 on that chassis)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EsneWgMnM1o/UYN0PxEK3dI/AAAAAAAAAGo/SuKcePZQXNg/s1600/STUG.png)

And as an aside, the donor 75mm came from my Panzer IV Ausf. K. That 75mm did look pretty dumb on that, so I used another lamppost (plus the barrel off of a Games Workshop/ Forgeworld Autocannon) to give it a new gun.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849819-Panzer%20IV%20Ausf.%20K.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 13, 2017, 10:06:04 PM: Great work, really love your conversions and the background fluff :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on January 14, 2017, 08:07:21 AM: Same as Predatorpt but the poor Wehrmacht! Like leaves in the wind of graft and profiteering. I'd recommend another dash to the Fuherbunker for more breaking watercolours of wunderwaffens but the best defence is probably just counting on human nature where the behavior of Allied industrialists will be just as sketchy. The snow and compacted ice on the hulls of the models seals the deal on some superb weathering.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 14, 2017, 05:04:41 PM: More snowy goodness! Your Jagdpanzer III/IV looks good, after all a significant number of Jadgpanzer IV's were built with the awkward tall casemate (the JgPnz IV L70/A, made by Alkett near the war's end).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 14, 2017, 06:59:37 PM: @ horridperson

I had been reading up on the internet of corruption in Nazi Germany lately, which I suppose tinted my opinion slightly. I'm using a timeline which didn't involve the day and night bombings of the factories, so I'd expect that sort of nonsense would be rife (what's the TV Tropes page? "Fascist, but Inefficient" ~ "You can see why Che ducked out right after the revolution. It's a lot easier to blow up the trains than to make them run on time.") :)

@ Ballardian

Yeah, this isn't directly inspired by the (A), but I'd imagine the interior would be similar. That tiered glacis thing the casement has on mine is weird, but I'd imagine served some practical function in cramming the 88 into the thing.

Given the setting I really aught to start making rear mounted casements like the Jagdpanther II; seeing as that's what the Germans were supposed to be transitioning to near the end of the war. The forward casements are fairly distinctive of the period though, and oddly enough post-war German tanks kept that style opposed to the rear ones.

I did the bad thing and bought yet another Panther. ...Because I have a problem. I've a spare small radar from a Dust Heavy Walker which I think could be stuck on a box at the rear to turn the thing into a Command/ Radar tank. It'd have a similar look to the Panther APC I made a while ago, barring a larger rear and dropping the turret for an MG mounting one.

The real problem I have is I keep wanting to change the glacis layout to be similar to German tanks from the Cold War, but that'd ruin the WWII aesthetic a bit. Saying that, I have enough spare bits that I could probably scratch build something like the Schützenpanzer Kurz 11-2, and say that its the next generation of German vehicle design (...I'm still wanting to make an Operation Sealion take two force with weird Cold War era stuff- though I don't think Conflicts that Came in from the Cold would entirely suit that). ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 14, 2017, 09:30:21 PM: Awesome finishes! Love all the rust and grime and the final effect is well worth the time and effort you put in there. Well done great models. The Czech Panther II reminds me so much of a Porche Tiger II (one of my favourites) but I guess there are many subtle differences in there too.
The ' Wierd beast' looks like a Jäger version of a Brummbar sturmpanzer. Maybe the original design lightened by thinner armour could take an 88 pak.. Not sure if I'm talking about Brummbar or Wierd thing now, oops. Anyway looks great and love the experimentation! (bring them all down the club maybe ?)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 14, 2017, 09:39:22 PM: Heh, I've been meaning to play Nick at a game for weeks, but I've been sick whenever the club's been on. At this rate I have more of an armoured force though (in the average Bolt Action game you're probably lucky to have one or two Panzer IVs).

Once I have some Volksgrenadiers, a Lieutenant and some more terrain finished then I'll see about playing something. Actually bothering to learn the rules may come in as a close second to all of that. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 15, 2017, 05:39:03 PM: I got dragged into a bolt action disagreement at the club recently where it seemed vague in a case of Stuka vs Churchill, I erred towards the Stuka winning but the Churchill survived officially in the end. Maybe those rules are not the best for 'big stuff' but mine was just another opinion. Anyway look forward to seeing one of your games this year whatever the rules!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 15, 2017, 06:46:04 PM: Oh, don't look at the Bolt Action rules and think they're any representation of reality. Once you hit a 75mm gun everything after that (bar the 128) has the same stats. I was looking at that Jagdpanzer and thinking about sticking an 88 on it, like the concept, but having difficulty justifying it in the rules. It turns out a 75mm and a 88mm are the same in that game (and the 128mm just ignores long range penalties. I've no idea how they'll accommodate for that new Maus which is coming out soon). :P

I just picked them up because they had a bit of depth and that's what Dougie and Nick wanted to start up. I'll be whinging in a month about how the rules don't let me use all that armour appropriately.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 15, 2017, 11:48:24 PM: If bolt action seems best for infantry only maybe you could try that new Konflict 47. Though in your case it would be Konflict 46 of course ;). But then your lovely tanks might get Battered by some mecha (aka big infantry) and that's enough to spoil your day!
Anyway, who needs rules just keep making the great tanks ! That's the best bit really.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 17, 2017, 12:54:17 PM: Amazing work, definitely tempting me into a new theatre with my post-apocalypse stuff, especially as I have large skirmish rules to test! :o

You mentioned liking Chain of Command - have you considered using the "Coculator" on the TFL forums to stat up your '46 bits and carrying on as usual?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 18, 2017, 09:58:54 AM: @ Ironclad Paul

Another week or not being bothered to go to the club... :(

I'm not into Konflikt 47 so much because it plays up the fantasy elements, without paying much attention towards any realistic development which would have been going on. That and well, I'm a bit too conservative to be that into timelines which just extend the war with Unobtanium ...whilst ignoring how difficult it would be for Germany to bounce back at that point (Uber is my exception to this I suppose...).

Tsk, anyway, I just crap these things out regardless of playing any actual games of them. The club needs to get around to playing another World of Tanks style game at some point (I'm having recollections of one years back where we discovered Jardan's rules made ramming other tanks much more effective than shooting each other). :)

@Ahistorian

I dropped off the Post-Apocalyptic stuff after Fallout 4 was a bit meh, and This is Not a Test took its time releasing a print version of its rules. Queue me picking up a random alt-history novel with a cool cover and starting this thread instead. :)

Chain of Command's probably played more consistently around here, but Bolt Action's what a couple of guys had recently taken up. Either or would do frankly. None of the stuff I've made couldn't just be proxied in with existing rules though (Panther II's using Panther or Tiger rules, etc).

Anyhow... Having recently been watching Band of Brothers I'm reconsidering what I'm doing with my infantry. The mishmashed style may be more realistic, but once I've cleared my current backlog I'm thinking of going back to a more uniform approach. By that I mean guys in white winter uniforms with plate vests. Well, those and I need to finish those SS in the autumn camo.

On that front I'm in need of some StG-45s (or were they called something else? G-10s?). ...Because in reality the StG-44 was already set to be replaced before it even entered service (being too heavy). I have some L1A1s about (from Colonel Bill's Wargame Emporium IIRC), so those'll probably do as an alternative at this scale (with the fluff explaining them away as the 45's replacement).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 18, 2017, 10:54:26 AM: Well please keep going, I find all your work very inspirational! The Assault Group do weapons that scale well with Warlord plastics.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 18, 2017, 11:32:30 AM: Heh, I hardly play games to begin with, so I suppose which rules I use is moot. ;)

Actually I'd like to avoid the Warlord plastics where possible. I've using Wargames Factory ones as a base mostly - with the Warlord arms as stand ins for winter clothing (because they're just so massive on those other models). Its my preference to go for slimmer build and "realistically" (if such a thing is possible in 28mm) proportioned models, which Warlord's certainly aren't unfortunately. ~ As an aside, I have plenty of AK-74s from those Wargames Factory kits for my Germans to use as captured guns.

The SS guys I have are fitting in much better with the 1/56th scale vehicles, which is kind of why I want to ditch the chunkier models. ...I've not even played a game with this stuff yet, but I'm wanting to redo half my stuff already. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 18, 2017, 12:03:34 PM: Ah, it was the arms that tricked me! The WF kits are definitely the best source of "true-scale" 28mm modern weapons I've come across.

How do you do your slush, by the way? If I recall correctly you said PVA and white powder, but is there a particular nose candy substitute you use? ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 18, 2017, 12:30:30 PM: Aye, the guys from the first page are Dust Axis and Soviet bodies with WGF/ Warlord arms and legs with SOTR heads, plus a load of greenstuff.

The slush came from Googling how to do model snow and picking what seemed the easiest without resorting to just using flock. Its a mix of water effects (cheapest off of Ebay) and a bag of white powder (it doesn't smell like talcum powder if that's your question). Its a bit difficult to work out what ratio of powder to add to the paste, but variation gives it a decent effect. Where necessary (i.e. screwing up and not adding enough powder) sprinkle the snow over the mix once its been applied ~ or go for a second layer with more powder on top of the existing one (which probably has a better effect as it makes it look like there's solid chunks amongst the slush).

I apparently don't know how real snow works so I just splatter it all over my tanks everywhere but the engine deck. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 18, 2017, 08:22:09 PM: As an outside observer I find it somewhat tragic that there seems to be a sort of schism between those who prefer 1/56 vehicles and those with 1/48 (or 50). It's an awful situation that people who should be so together are probably so far apart. I suppose it's the nature of scale modelling though and the quest to achieve what 'looks right'.
Preparing for that elusive 'game' is what drives us to do what we do but it does have to actually happen occasionally too! so, Wyrmalla get yourself down the club this week for one of my WW3 games, sort of thaw of 96' , And who knows it might even be a 'weird war 3' with some mecha amongst the hordes of T72's too. (Probably no snow though , so after the thaw). Go onnnn...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on January 19, 2017, 11:52:34 AM: A super hero would be awesome. There are some weird war things I don't like quite as much but Golden Age war time heroes of the Axis and Allied powers are all pretty awesome. I loved those Invaders comics I had as a kid. Another idea I thought was pretty cool reading more modern comics involved the Fables universe. I thought it was pretty cool when the Big Bad Wolf got into it with Frankenstein's monster :) .
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 19, 2017, 12:26:44 PM: @ Ironclad Paul

Well to tell you the truth I prefer 1/50th models. 1/56 is an "accurate" size for 28mm, however that ignores that the infantry are scaled to 1/48th (with 1/35th appendages and weapons). 1/50th tends to look less out of place, without being as large as 1/48th, but nobody makes thing in that size (you're lucky to find most stuff in 1/56th).

Things are so much easier at 1/35th, but well, screw making terrain that size and storing it (there is a regular game at Carronade in something like that size though). :P

Heh, and the whole "thaw" thing (beyond being an arbitrary name for a thread title) is just so I can use the models with the summer Ukrainian terrain I have. I've a load of brick ruins, roads and deciduous trees to finish for this, but damn do I hate the idea of making yet another terrain set.

God I hate my stupid username. Eugh, blame making up a name at random a decade ago and being too lazy to use anything else for every other forum...

@ horridperson

I think I've said this already, maybe not. Well if it counts an ideal model for me would be one of Katyusha from Uber. I'd have her posed rising on a twisting pillar of metal with elements of the Stalingrad Children's Fountain coming up around it (Puppetswar does the fountain I think). It'd be easy enough to do, but I'm out of armatures. :)

(http://static7.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111124701/4360351-mariaphoto.png)

I'd note though that the A Kill in the Morning Novel, whilst for the first 2/3rds is fairly tied to reality, the last bit plays up the Weird War tropes for fun (the writer told me he wanted to go for your standard war movie ending, but felt it was missing an opportunity...). Heydrich at the end has "The Heart of Stone", a Nazi force field, as is it heavily implied that the Thule Society had some things right (the last lines of the book are an extraterrestrial race picking up the Heisenberg's experiments).

As I've gone on ad nauseum the fantasy stuff doesn't do it for me much, but aye, we'll see what I'm doing with this in a year, and just how much I've ripped off Wolfenstein.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 21, 2017, 04:14:11 PM: I'm a bit busy this weekend with other bunk, but decided to start throwing this thing together this afternoon.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/21/851831_md-WIP%20Tracked%20Sd.Kfz%20251.JPG)

This coming off the back of someone posting some vehicles from a Japanese game on the Weird War II Facebook page.

(http://thumbnail.egloos.net/600x0/http://pds21.egloos.com/pds/201602/20/60/e0032460_56c7343f0bb3b.png)

So far the build's a Rubicon Sd.Kfz with the fenders taken off slapped onto the tracks of a Panzer III.

Now the Soviets stuck truck cabs onto tank chassis often enough, though on mine I've done it the other way around and shortened the distance between the tracks. I think I've read that taking the tracks off of Panzer Is and other light tanks was done though.

The back of the cab's missing as it was used for that Puma APC I said I'd be making yonks back (that's still a WIP, along with the SS who're supposed to ride it - though those are being worked on right now too actually). I could rebuild it easily enough, or maybe I aught to build it into something else? Any ideas though? Most of the 251 conversions I've seen don't alter the rear cab beyond one Luftwaffe variant with a flak mount. Though aye, I'm erring towards just rebuilding it - either with a solid enclosed roof, or with a tarp cover from the Rubicon kit.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on January 21, 2017, 05:37:05 PM: Nice concept APC.

You could wait until the Rubicon 250/8 and 251/9 upgrade set came out and use the 251 neu top.

I like the hard top in the picture.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 21, 2017, 06:39:15 PM: Always interesting seeing you get creative - I agree with UVS that a hard top would look cool, perhaps with a small mg/light autocannon turret (rather like the E-25 Aufklarungspanzer might have had).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 21, 2017, 07:49:05 PM: If you want to wintrify easily, may I suggest white felt/fleece sheet cut into irregular pieces, maybe with a light painting to add depth? It's what I use on top of either a grey or green mat of the same fabric. If you use fleece, you can even drape smaller "snowdrifts" over the roofs of buildings for a charmingly just-thawing effect.

For example as a whole sheet: http://www.fat-wally.com/IABSMWinterWarfare.html (http://www.fat-wally.com/IABSMWinterWarfare.html)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 21, 2017, 08:11:30 PM: Wyrmalla, interesting direction for a fully tracked apc. if you google 'Valkyria chronicles tanks' you will see amongst many many others possibly the blue camo design which inspired you, as well as a game it's an anime series or 2 too.
It's very clever design as its all German ww2 inspired but all ever so slightly different too, cool designs and clearly inspiration for slightly alt/ww2 style fantasy done the way the Japanese seem to excel at. I can bring the art book down the club if you like..
Maybe a hard top and medium puma style turret would give you the first IFV !
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 21, 2017, 08:48:13 PM: Edit: damn, wall of text incoming.

On the subject of a fully enclosed 251. Whilst its not what the Germans were doing during the war, or even what they planned for the Katzchen, that's entirely representative of post-war designs. Its what I did with the other 251 style APC I already have (which has been sitting unfinished for ages), and IIRC its what the Czechs (...I think it was the Czechs) did with their's post-war. Tarp roofs just seem more wintery (that's a word) to me, but I suppose they're a bit moot if the engineer's had bothered to stick a roof on your truck and a heater...

@ Ultravanillasmurf

Aye, I've seen those. I'm too impulsive to buy one from their site directly and wait on delivery unfortunately - but if they ever show up at my local shop I'll buy one and use the spare bits I have from this 251 to make a complete vehicle. With this thing though aye, for the replacement upper glacis I'll probably copy over the Neu's design for ease.

@ Ballardian

I'm not 100% on adding a turret right now. A pintle MG would be easy enough to do, but I'm not sure about how the turret on the other 251 looking APC I already have is looking. Adding turrets messes with that iconic aesthetic, even they would be much more practical (the turreted 251 in the Bolt Action book however is weird, in that they assume the thing needed to carry so much spare ammunition that it no longer can carry troops).

Heh, everyone just loves sticking E-25 turrets on the weird vehicles. I was going to do the same with the Panther/ Radar vehicle, but it just wouldn't fit! :)

@ Ahistorian

Do you mean for the actual board, or on top of a tarp top? Sorry, lost the context there (...I'm slightly out of it right now, been doing a removal all day). Ooh, I like some of that terrain over on that site. I take it that its your's? Those light tufts of grass in the marsh is something I'd like to steal, as they scream the Eastern front to me (I already have some bogs for my modern Ukrainian stuff, but they're for a warmer time of year). :D

@ Ironclad Paul

The Japanese do have their thing for WWII Germany when it comes to anime. I'd have expected you to already have a load of minis based on that series had I known you were into it. :)

Well I've a Panther with a troop compartment at the back and a Puma turret already, plus two Katzchen and a Puma with a Luch's turret. When Die Waffenkammer come out with their E-25 APCs I'll probably pick up one too. This is just another in a long line of APCs which I'll never use in actual game in other words... (well maybe as terrain for an abandoned command post or something).

Aye, I'll see about eventually turning up at the club. I keep getting sick in the weeks I've taken off to finish enough stuff to play a game with this. Its been yonks though. I need someone to prod me on Tuesdays instead of defaulting to - "Its four o'clock, works over, time to go to bed". ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 21, 2017, 09:03:32 PM: I appear to be stalking you on Facebook... ;D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 21, 2017, 09:33:25 PM: Quote
@ Ahistorian

Do you mean for the actual board, or on top of a tarp top? Sorry, lost the context there (...I'm slightly out of it right now, been doing a removal all day). Ooh, I like some of that terrain over on that site. I take it that its your's? Those light tufts of grass in the marsh is something I'd like to steal, as they scream the Eastern front to me (I already have some bogs for my modern Ukrainian stuff, but they're for a warmer time of year). :D

Either, really. A white sheet is easy enough, but I prefer the "half-melted" look of snow templates on a green mat - they can double as templates for woods &c too, which can be helpful depending on your rules. The site isn't mine, but it is indeed a fantastic Eastern Front project. Wally is an inspiration to me in every period we share.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 21, 2017, 10:19:59 PM: Hah, Rich I feel my conversations with you there go along the lines of "oh, and BTW all you Bolt Action players, this guy makes models for a company which sells cool stuff. Go buy it. No, my posts aren't just ninja marketing plays...". ;)

@ Ahistorian

Ah right, yeah, that's what guys typically do at my club. I have a fetish for mixing water effects into everything though, so that's what I've been using so far. I seen a really cool looking cloth sheet a while back in the WWII board here by someone. It had some sand textured into it IIRC.

Personally though, if I can find a muddy brown mat I could maybe drybrush some white onto it for a bit of frost. I started out this thread with my models on spring time bases (so I could use my existing terrain), though now I'm erring towards more mud with a bit of slush. I think the winters in the late 40s were some of the coldest on record in the UK (so much so that they're tangentially cited as one of last nails in the coffin for the empire), so I'd imagine we'd have seen the same sort of weather across Europe. The early 1946 setting I've quoted in the thread title falls along similar lines, this has turned into more of a late 40s project thus far (...with some 50s stuff being wishful thinking).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 21, 2017, 11:14:18 PM: Anyone would think I'm on commission... oh wait.... lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 21, 2017, 11:28:07 PM: I'm just banking Brownie Points with you guys in the hopes that the Plane/ Ship/ Submarine/ Carrier Pigeon doesn't have any unfortunate accidents... Plus, if I say E-100 enough eventually one will be willed into being (that's how it works right). :)

This work on the tracked 251's had me pulling out my Puma/ 251 hybrid. God, its depressing to think that whilst we started ours at the same time, Claymore had his finished way back in November. :(

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6695.105

Damn I love his thread. He actually knows what he's talking about with this stuff. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 21, 2017, 11:56:43 PM: I've drunk a lot of gin this evening... I was thinking of that thread but couldn't remember where I'd seen it!

Perhaps... split the hull and widen it? Make it look heavier an more substantial?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 22, 2017, 12:16:02 AM: He's one of the reasons I started all this. I read a couple of books then remembered I'd seen that thread once. I just love the imagery conjured by the background fluff of every vehicle in that thread.

If I wanted to be realistic I'd just do what the Russians did and yeah, slap a widened truck cab on top of an existing hull. As I'm basing the thing partly on that game's model though I went for sticking the III's tracks on a shorter base to keep them in line with the 251's shape.

Now were I not a lazy git I'd go back and just slap the 251 onto the III (not bothering to widen it, just sticking some extra tools on the side). At this point though I've already rebuilt the thing and am onto gap filling, so I can't be bothered. :)

Saying all this, if my local shop if buys in a Soviet truck I was hankering to make one of those into a kind of pro BTR-40, or a Soviet made 251 (i.e. a gaz truck with sloped armour). That'd leave over the body to stick onto a T-34, T-70 or something I suppose, though I'd need to do something to weird it up for the setting (or just leave the thing as it is I guess. How many Soviet artillery tractor models of that configuration are out there in 1/56).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ahistorian on January 22, 2017, 12:18:20 AM: The Range do a nice brown fleece, just over 6'x4' - it's the basis of the dark green mat on this post: http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/awi-with-ahistorian.html (http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/awi-with-ahistorian.html). They also do nice cheap car sprays, perfect for terrain!

Without wanting to geek out about 70 year old weather too much, do you have any links for that?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 22, 2017, 01:02:17 AM: That felt simulates a dirt texture quite well actually. I was looking for a PVC mat which'd do a while back, though most companies don't really have something applicable (mud's oddly not that popular. Well, go look at a battlefield after guys have been fighting there for a few hours).

Wikipedia has its article on its effects in Britian, and I can remember local papers putting out articles on it a couple of years back when we had heavy snow:

"That winter is also cited as a factor in the devaluation of the pound from $4.03 to $2.80, Britain's decline from superpower status and the introduction of the Marshall Plan to aid war-torn Europe"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_of_1946%E2%80%9347_in_the_United_Kingdom

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01556/bus_1556179c.jpg)
(http://www.myyorkshire.org/learning/the-winter-of-1947/winter%202.jpg)
(http://www.myyorkshire.org/learning/the-winter-of-1947/pics1_crop.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on January 22, 2017, 09:44:57 AM: Because of that Beyond The Sprue link, I will not have any time for modelling ^___^.

Thanks
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 22, 2017, 11:41:18 PM: Here's where the two APCs are now.

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/22/852214-WIP%20APCs.JPG)

Enjoy the obnoxious milliput. :P

Should I add that rim thing the MG sits behind on the roof to the Puma as well, or ditch that? What was that for? Something for a tarp to latch onto (in which case I'll drop it off the tracked one).

And no, that Luchs turret isn't too big for that thing. ;)

(http://www.pietvanhees.nl/251/period/251d1_lb_r35turret.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 22, 2017, 11:44:22 PM: I think there's no need for the ring on the Puma - my vote is cast lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 22, 2017, 11:52:04 PM: :-* Nice work! They look great!

Are they supposed to be improvised of factory (Or factory improvised?)
If improvised I'd be tempted to hide some of the joins with big weld fillets perhaps.

Suggestion for the turret - small fillets under the edges would make it 'fit'

Like this:
(http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/WWII/BA64/BA64_16.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 23, 2017, 12:01:02 AM: I'm not sure about them being field conversions. The Puma one's out of the factory for that - with the Puma being relegated to second line operations in Europe (this one perhaps travelling into Russia during a more temperate season > which'd explain my SS Autumn camo). The tracked 251 could do with weld lines yes (they crossed my mind, but its too late here for me to be bothered right now).

There were examples of Light tanks have their tracks removed to make half tracks, I'm just not sure how much effort it would be to do the same with a Panzer III, nor why the guys in the shop went to the work of thinning the III's chassis (or rather welding the tracks to the 251 then adding armour plates to the bottom). Maybe it was one repair shop or factory churning out a load of these, though not a fully adopted thing? In practice they'd probably not perform any better than a half track, still its not like that could be the only reason for the conversion.

Tsk, aye those fillets were common enough. The concept I and Claymore based that thing on lacked them. It doesn't overlap the edges as much as that 38t AA tank I have, however if that thing was made out of the factory like that it have been something the guys would have added.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 23, 2017, 12:06:07 AM: Cool.

Could be something like the Leningrad Kirov plant turning out all sorts of crazy stuff as things started to run out perhaps.
Problem would be the suspension it would need shorter torsion bars but that's not *that* demanding.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 23, 2017, 12:12:42 AM: Well they're both from my own nonsense timeline, so someone somewhere made each. In a world where things went a bit better for the Germans * they could have captured or held onto plants which they wound up losing to the Soviets, so you never know... I'll write up some fluff which'll amount to me slagging off how impractical the thing was as usual (it was based off of an anime).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 23, 2017, 12:16:44 AM: Look forward to seeing what you come up with! ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on January 23, 2017, 10:35:14 AM: Excellent.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 23, 2017, 08:48:22 PM: This is a bit of a guff update, but I kind of wondered to myself as I bought another four tanks just what my vehicle pool was looking like...

(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/23/852385-Current%20Vehicle%20Pool.JPG)

All that without having played a single game. I really need to check if I have more vehicles than the "tank guy" at the club has for WWII... (bugger, I have a Nashorn too sitting somewhere which I totally forgot about).

(Aye, that's just a random box right now, I'll store them properly - as in stick a crap ton of foam in that thing- eventually. The sad thing is I thought that box would be big enough for all my crap, now I'll need another...)

* oh, and no, the Jagdpanzer III/ IV isn't finished yet. Spoilers! :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 23, 2017, 10:17:51 PM: Quite an impressive eclectic collection - I'd get a pic of mine but I'm lazy... lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 23, 2017, 11:15:22 PM: I'd be scared to see how much you have Rich...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 24, 2017, 12:00:00 AM: Great little collection you've got going there. Looking forward to seeing them on the offensive down the club soon. You'll have to introduce me to this 'tank guy' with the big collection too ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 24, 2017, 12:16:43 AM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on January 23, 2017, 11:15:22 PM
I'd be scared to see how much you have Rich...

Mostly just one of each... about 65 odd various tanks after a quick count.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 24, 2017, 12:18:11 AM: I was going to clarify that as not 10,000 tanks beneath 28mm scale, you already have the ribbon for that. ;)

I'll find some excuse to turn up tomorrow night. :)

Tsk, Rich you clearly don't have my issue with procrastinating. Hmn, maybe its the money involved on your end (saying that it was Jeff who I threw money at earlier. I hope PayPal didn't mess that up...). :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 27, 2017, 06:02:03 PM: German Super Heavies > can someone who relies less on guesswork explain why the E-100 and Maus both had flat sides?

Its my assumption that this was done possibly to accommodate the size of the Maus turret, whilst not resorting to just widening the width of the upper hull with added plates like say the Kugelblitz 38(t) - sloped armour requiring increasing the vehicle's profile (which was already excessive).

Also:

The E-100, is there any evidence at all of what its actual track guards looked like? Again, assuming here, but the curved style seem to have been made to fit the brackets we see on the prototype model. However, at least in the case of very similar brackets on the Panther, evidence from the Germany Military archives indicate that they were to carry a strengthened pair of bridges as used on engineer versions of the Sd.Kfz 251 (as was long assumed).

So are they actually supposed to look like this, or was the artist making educated guesses?

(http://wiki.gcdn.co/images/3/3a/E-100_3.jpg)

If they weren't, and used something more in like with the Tiger II, then that brings me back to my question regarding vertical sides. I had seen one piece of art of an E-50 with StuG style Schurzen, which may be applicable, though that seems entirely fantastical to me; particularly as by that point in the war the Germans were doing away with those for the most par (swapping them out for mesh).

Just wondering myself as I'm working on a Super Heavy here, but am unsure how to do the side armour. I could use the E-100 style side skirts, though in any areas where the plates are missing I'd then be concerned whether the retaining bolts which we see on almost all E-100 are actually historically accurate. ...If they are accurate then why the hell do they resemble bridge mounts so much (I guess they'd serve a similar function)? ???
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 27, 2017, 06:35:28 PM: The side skirts on the E-100 weren't just skirts, but armour around 50mm+ (not sure of actual thickness off hand, will have a look for it) & did look like the images we're familiar with. The vehicles sides were flat, in part, because of this - in order to transport its ridiculous 130+ tons it was going to be spending a lot of it's time on railway cars & if the side armour skirts had been integral it wouldn't have fitted. It also explains the huge bolts for attaching the skirts - their sheer weight demanded it, unlike the comparatively minor weight of the standard schurzen.
The only pick I have to hand of the skirts is below (I'll have a look to see if I can find any others).
The E-50, being a more rational design, wouldn't have need this sort of thing, essentially being the hull of a 'rationalised' Tiger II (slightly different armour distribution, simpler suspension, angled glacis etc) so had track guards that would probably the same (though I also have a pic of a render featuring 'extra' schurzen - whether this is a 'realistic' probability I don't know though).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 27, 2017, 07:14:24 PM: Thanks Ballardian, that's spot on.

Well I have a 1/48th Panther here, which at 1/56th sits between the E50/75 and the E-100. I'd err towards calling it an E-90, or something. Visually its being based on the E-100, though obviously with liberties.

I hadn't considered how much those plates weight, though yes, the whole concept was wildly impractical (in my own head had Germany produced Super Heavy tanks the whole mess would have been a tug of war between Hitler and Speer, till the Soviets choked them with tank production). If I'm making this E-90 after the E-100 then I'd definitely lose the side armour entirely with the justification that the crew were scared the thing would sink some mud and never make it out again (Tigers were bad enough to winch).

Ooh, and yes that E-50's similar to the one I saw. Tsk, I thought I bookmarked it for whenever the Company B one turns up. It just looked so unusual that I thought it'd make my E-50 even more distinct from a Tiger II.

* Oh, and as an aside. That Jagdtiger II I made is ridiculous. The thing'd break its suspension before it even rolled out of the factory. I'm learning... :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 27, 2017, 07:51:04 PM: Quote
Oh, and as an aside. That Jagdtiger II I made is ridiculous. The thing'd break its suspension before it even rolled out of the factory. I'm learning...
I'm hoping that continues to fail to put a dent in your creativity, you've made a lot of cool stuff & I hope you long continue to!
Sadly nearly none of the scary looking E- based Jagdpanzers come within sniffing distance of reality, the Krokodil et - al was just one of the many fake German vehicles, made up by Hubert Cance, and published in the French magazine, "Batailles & Blindés".
There were plans however, for both a Jagdpanther II - based on the Panther chassis (Ken Overby's gorgeous 1/72 one is in the WWII section), armed with a 128mm L55 in a rear casemate & an E-100 StuG - though I'm not aware of anything more than a written description - imagine a larger Jagdtiger lol (central casemate - the Krokodil would likely have collapsed its front suspension as soon as the 175mm was installed - yours still inhabits a believable universe!)
Quote
the crew were scared the thing would sink some mud and never make it out again
That's why the tracks were so ludicrously wide, grousers included, though it would still have had pretty insane ground pressure levels!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 28, 2017, 01:07:03 AM: Ermm, why did you say that "Batailles & Blindés" is a neo-Nazi magazine? Now I feel bad for owning so many :'(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 28, 2017, 01:37:26 AM: Apologies Predatorpt, I should have made it clear that I was quoting another source, (I'll include the attribution in the morning). 'B & B' was a publication I was aware of but had always been a little wary of as I'd heard that some of it's contributors may have had dubious sympathies, as a consequence I've avoided it - though the E - series material it contained did end up fairly widely disseminated, to the point where if you're interested in them (as I am) you've probably seen it, but that doesn't excuse me from voicing another's opinion without being certain as to whether I agree with it.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 28, 2017, 01:43:14 AM: No problem, I was just wondering where did you get the information. I work at a French company here in Portugal and we import lots of magazines and books from France and the titles from that editor (there's more WW2 magazines on the same line) are always a best-seller.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 28, 2017, 12:12:18 PM: @ Predatorpt,

I read the same thing here:
http://panzerpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Fake_Tanks

Not sure if that's the original source, or just whether it was just republishing as it is a wiki.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 28, 2017, 07:54:56 PM: That's all great to me, I love fake tanks and to me all this 46/47+ gaming and talk is just more and more fantasy/SF inspiration! the more I see with fake stuff in, the more interesting it gets.
I loved panzer front (so atmospheric) and while I thought the E-79 was curious and lean looking but somehow uninteresting, my favourite was the schnell jagdpanzer Aureole, what's not to like about an improved jagdpanther with a gas turbine and sloping side skirts, it looked so racy.
Didn't work in the game unfortunately as it was just too darn fast to control effectively and besides, tank hunters are supposed to be stealthy ambush vehicles, not fast attack.
panzer front also had fake US and Soviet designs which were cool too (short bull super heavy tank, just awesome) but the drab green allied camo always means they won't be as desirable as the German designs. (Just my humble observation/opinion)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 28, 2017, 09:14:40 PM: I've noticed that particular game being rather popular as a source, World of Tanks even rips it off. Those designs are fairly crazy though...

With this heavy I'm making its looking a bit ...hmn, basic? That's not the right word, though the backstory in my head right now is that its intentionally meant to sit between the E-75 and E-100. A third party was looking to receive a contract for making a lighter Super Heavy tank which would be cheaper than the E-100, but in the scheme of things by and large just as effective (one Super Heavy's going to be as good as any other if they're facing off against regular armour, as would Soviet big guns - if we're going by the early 1950s era - go clean through a Maus). So it would lack a Entwicklung designation as it wasn't part of that, though have a similar design for compatibility (that being my excuse for nicking parts of the E-100, and getting away with using this Panther kit...).

Anyhow, I may have the thing finished by the time we play that tank battle game. ...Hopefully not, or the game'll go on all night with that thing's armour value! :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 28, 2017, 09:32:18 PM: If I'm going to talk about something I may as well post a picture.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/28/853441-WIP%20Jaguar.JPG)

I'm not happy about how tall the hull is. I should have made it a smidge lower to fit in line with the E-100, though as its an unrelated model I guess I can get away with that.

I'll stick a 128 with a co-ax MG and a pintle MG on it (its probably too small for a E-25 turret instead of a commander's cupola - which would be a dumb idea anyway). It won't have track guards, though I'll have the mounts. Hmn, I could fit on an ATGM system, though it looks like it might be large enough to have some sort of T34 Calliope mounted, but with a Wurframen 40. Just a thought- if its not too over the top with the weirdness already. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 29, 2017, 01:02:33 AM: What 1/48 model are you using for the basis of the super-heavy? The plastic color looks like Italeri, but I didn't knew they made 1/48 models! I only knew of the Academy and Tamiya models.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 29, 2017, 01:14:39 AM: Its a Tamiya kit. Had I shown the wad of metal they use for the lower hull it would've been more obvious. :P

(http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/1/e/tamiya-32522-german-tank-destroyer-jagdpanther-late-version-1-48-scale-kit-35826049b03e6546edec948714fe476d.jpg)

If there was such a thing as 1/40th scale that'd do for E-100 sized heavies, but you work with what you have.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on January 29, 2017, 01:34:00 AM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on January 29, 2017, 01:14:39 AM
Its a Tamiya kit. Had I shown the wad of metal they use for the lower hull it would've been more obvious. :P

(http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/1/e/tamiya-32522-german-tank-destroyer-jagdpanther-late-version-1-48-scale-kit-35826049b03e6546edec948714fe476d.jpg)

If there was such a thing as 1/40th scale that'd do for E-100 sized heavies, but you work with what you have.

Thanks for the info. Didn't remember that they used the same color than Italeri. Never liked their 1/48 kits because of that metal hull. Another of your projects to follow with interest!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 30, 2017, 12:18:11 AM: Something I've throw together before I call it a night.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/30/853761_md-WIP%20ATGM.JPG)

Its a simplified version of the Ruhrstahl X-4 (the mount's entirely fictional), which probably isn't what the production model would have looked like (apparently tests proved it very inaccurate), but meh, this thread's more about "the look" over practicality most of the time. :)

I'm out of milliput, so work on the Super Heavy's stalled. I'll see if one of the art shop's carrying any (and not charging three times the retail price), otherwise its waiting on Amazon. I'm not happy about how tall the hull its, as its looking too much like just a 1/48th tank, but I guess that could be explained away as a design choice for simplicity or something. I'm probably just overthinking that, and well, I'll have something else to distract me soon enough.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on January 30, 2017, 01:21:19 PM: It's really inspiring to see some scratch conversions (hope that's the right term), thank you, please keep posting.

If you are cool with it, it would be lovely to get a raw materials list, to give nubes such as myself a starting point.

Looking forward to seeing the projects develop.

Regards

Wolt
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 30, 2017, 01:37:04 PM: Do you mean for that ATGM specifically Wolivant or just in general? Most of this stuff isn’t really planned, so I don’t tend to record what’s what (materials wise they're mostly just plasticard and clay anyway). I do have the odd tutorial for terrain on the Post-Apocalyptic Tales board though.

That ATGM’s just a cocktail stick. Cut the point off one end and add a greenstuff body. Cut off the other tip and stick that onto the back (with the very end cut flat flat for the exhaust). I can’t remember the measurements off the top of my head unfortunately, but I could make another one easily enough (…if I can find another cocktail stick). I'm not sure if the thing's the right size, though I suppose that's moot given the fictional nature of the setting.

The fins aren’t even straight on that one…
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on January 30, 2017, 07:49:50 PM: Thanks Wyrmalla, Im headed to a Wargames show in Feb at York, UK so I will pick up some materials there. What is the card you use?

I will check you tutorials in the PApoc Thread.

I am new to 28mm wargaming, always avoided it due to costs, but there is so much about at the moment that it drew me in, lol.. inevitably that is starting to lead on to moding kits, hence the query.

Regards

Wolt
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 30, 2017, 08:49:52 PM: Making me actually measure how thick the platicard I use is... *grumbles*

2cm and 1cm thick. 3cm for basing, if I don't cheap out and just use the 2cm stuff. 2cm covers the majority of the hulls pieces/ addon armour. 1cm does for hatches and the smaller stuff (failing that I use greenstuff).

Pft, you're lucky if you find any of my threads. I haven't updated the others in months, if not years. Once there's interest I'll either reboot them or start something else, though this one here has my attention for the immediate future at least.

Well I stick with 28mm as its what I started with, and it covers plenty of kits, plus has the player base. I dislike smaller scales as they're too fiddly to mess about with and you can't cover so much detail. Meanwhile larger stuff is really easy to come by for this setting, but you'll never find a game with it (...no, that's not me asking a certain someone at my club to start running 1/35th scale games). That and all my other stuff's in 28mm, so I have the cross compatibility there between parts and stuff I can use in games (I could run a pretty decent Shadowrun, Twilight 2000, etc campaign with the amount of weird crap I have here).

When's that show? Till the Summer things are fairly dead up here in Scotland for pure Wargames shows (there's plenty of toys fairs though), and York isn't that far down South comparatively. I may just check it out (if the train fair isn't insane). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on January 31, 2017, 12:13:46 AM: Can't be me at the club you're talking about, I've sold all my 1/35 figures and tanks now as not only was it far too big to store but it's almost as expensive as 28mm lol

20mm is the best, huge ranges, mucho cheapness, abundance of everything now. And because 20mm tanks are at least half the price of 28mm you can field both sides hence always finding an opponent ( any random passers by). They even do 1946 panzers now, lots! And even the more adventurous fake ones too.(if you like that sort of thing or are feeling 'edgy')

But then I'm forgetting, 28mm is a skirmish scale anyway and too big for tank battles ;) lol
Nice models though..
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on January 31, 2017, 12:40:28 PM: The cost is part of the reason I build, for £1 I can have a sheet of 1mm plasticard (my favoured thickness) and in an hour you can have a vehicle hull.
Tracks and wheels are always a problem but not impossible to overcome.

Materials for even a large tank is still under £3.

Though having jsut played CofC in 15mm it 'feels' much more epic and I plan on another change of scale...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on January 31, 2017, 04:43:25 PM: Your super heavy is coming along nicely & your version of the Ruhrstahl looks cool (have an idea for a Borgward carrying a reloadable system - a little like the Leopard based Jaguar).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 05, 2017, 11:11:54 PM: What's that? Content?

(http://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/boss-gifs.gif)

Jagdpanzer III/IV mit 75mm

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855095-Jagdpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)

The Panzer III/IV entered service alongside the Panzer 38(d) with the intention of replacing earlier series of tanks. In practice dedicated tanks built on these chassis were largely outdated (though the Luftwaffe did make attempts to develop an air droppable 38(d) variant), each saw some service as specialist vehicle mounts.

A Jagd III/IV was soon commissioned. The original intent was for the assault gun to re-use a modified casement from a cancelled StuG III conversion mounting an 88mm gun. Whilst the casement made it to the production model, the gun did not; proving far too unstable on such a light chassis. Rather a 75mm was mounted instead, with any extra spaced used for additional ammo racks.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855064_md-Jagdpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855066_md-Jagdpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855065_md-Jagdpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)

A Warlord Panzer IV with the top cut off and a load of plasticard. The kit's fairly meh compared to the Rubicon one, but well you take what you can get. An 88 looked dumb on that casement, so I used a 75mm instead, which isn't too silly of an idea if the StuG and Jagdpanzer IV were being phased out I suppose.

The paint job's inadvertently a version of the Christmas Tree camo I painted the Jagdtiger II in, just with less white (they must have ran out of paint). I suppose that fictional camo's common to the unit which these tanks are from

---

Sd.Kfz. 234/5 "Mammut"

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855097-Sd.Kfz.%20234%252F5%20%26quot%3BMammut%26quot%3B.JPG)

I'll not spoil the fluff Claymore came up with for this vehicle, so here's a link to his original. :)

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6695.105

To expand on it though...

The Mammut had seen fairly unanimous use with those ground based Luftwaffe units - with a lighter variant planned for the paratroopers (which would later see fruition in another case, though some years later). Oddly however this one appears to be in use by the SS.

Following the German breakout from Kamenka the military composition was a mess. The original token Luftwaffe force had later been supplemented by Heer and then SS units (including tanks). As the siege had ground on the Mammuts proved near useless on the broken terrain of the city. Post-battle only a handful of the Mammut's original owners had survived, leading to the SS to re-question the vehicles (which had remained largely intact from their infrequent use) for the retreat.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/s/i/gallery/img/2017/2/5/855070_md.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855072_md-Sd.Kfz.%20234%252F5%20%26quot%3BMammut%26quot%3B.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855071_md-Sd.Kfz.%20234%252F5%20%26quot%3BMammut%26quot%3B.JPG)

A Warlord Puma mixed in with the top off of a Rubicon 251. As Claymore didn't go into the specifics of his much initially, I'd advise one thing if making this yourself. The wheels and their covers are on back to front (in order to give a more streamlined appearance). You could keep them on the correct way for realism, but you may have issues fitting the cab on there properly. Just an FYI.

Yes, this thing's just about as practical as the Puma would have been on the Eastern Front, but tell that to Goering. The SS would have acquired them during the early Summer when they were more useful, before ...well leading onto my next post for today. :P

*Tsk, and when I say Kamenka; that's a pretty common name for Slavic towns. IIRC there's one outside Volgagrad somewhere, but I wasn't being that specific. I'm solidifying a setting for this force a bit here, with the excuse that its a bedraggled breakout force explaining the general awful state of all their gear.

---
"Eber"

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855096-%26quot%3Beber%26quot%3B%2C%20%26quot%3BEber%26quot%3B.JPG)

By mid 1946 SS Buchthunde had been stationed in northern Ukraine for a better part of a year. They had gone there equipped with Mammuts re-questioned from the Luftwaffe, along with the usual hodge-podge of trucks, none of which handled the Ukrainian Autumn or Winter well.

The "Eber" was the unit's mechanics attempt at dealing with the extremely poor ground in country (and due to its ad-hoc nature was given no official designation within German inventory). The vehicle is an odd combination of a Sd.Kfz 251 and the track units from a Panzer III (many of which were now being converted into fixed emplacements, so had no use for these). In practice they saw similar performance to the Panzer III on rough terrain, though the modifications required to fit the tracks onto the truck's chassis did make some of them rather temperamental beasts. Experiences with the AK and other partisans groups eventually led to an armoured under carriage and a fully enclosed troop compartment (later common across all German APCs) being added.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/s/i/gallery/img/2017/2/5/855067_md.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855068_md-%26quot%3BEber%26quot%3B.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855069_md-%26quot%3BEber%26quot%3B.JPG)

Pretty much an Sd.Kfz 251 by Rubicon with some Panzer III tracks bolted onto where the drive section would be.

SS Buchthunde is just the sort of name I'd imagine one of those units would call themselves out on the Eastern Front, not to bring that particular subject into this... Its what I'll be calling the SS models I make. Still no idea on the official designation for the Heer or Panzers (I've actually no idea how the naming conventions worked with those, but with the SS at least it seems like "just pick a random number and a cool name") . Yeah, even in this alt-history setting they're still scroungers.

Yes, there's inconsistency in the unit markings on these vehicles now that I'm including some SS, though aye, that guys were just jumping into any spare APC and getting the hell out of dodge is my excuse for that.

...And I'd really rather not want to that painting Nazi imagery on my minis otherwise I'd go astray from this site's rules. :)

---

SS Officer

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855094-SS%20Officer.JPG)

This guy was originally an Enclave Officer from my Fallout minis collection (I think I used him in like one scenario). Not to let a mini go wasted, I gave him a Luger and a repaint. His uniform isn't SS standard, but meh, its alt-history / he found it in a flea market. :)

---

And that's the last of the page breaks...

Pft, it took a while, but that's those three cleared. The Super Heavy's almost done, as have I started on another emplacement - this time based on some spare bits leftover from the Jagdpanzer III/IV. Someone needs to prod me to finish those SS Stormtroopers I started yonks back so I can actually play a game.

Oh, on that note I'm playing a WoT style game with Ironclad Paul on Tuesday. ...As yeah, I have more vehicles finished than complete squads of infantry. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 06, 2017, 07:17:03 AM: Nice work!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 06, 2017, 10:04:47 AM: Those are excellent, looking forward to more.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ryltar Thamior on February 06, 2017, 12:55:59 PM: Excellent work :D I'm surprised just how much I love the Eber - it just looks so .. so right. Combines the distinctive German Hanomag silhouette with a more 'modern' (relatively speaking) drive-train. Definitely better than a warmed-over M113-analogue :P

[and while I understand that the initial reason for half-tracks existing in the first place was because having front wheels made steering incredibly easier than designing complex whatever-the-technical-term-is-for-tracks-doing-the-steering ... you've nicely incorporated the idea of technical obsolescence and 'repurposing' that seemed such a hallmark of late war German designs]

What's the turret armament on the Mammut? 2cm KwK or a 7.92 mg
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2017, 01:58:46 PM: Don’t tell JTFM that, I have their E-25 APC in the post… :)

The turret’s just your standard Luch’s one by Warlord, so presumably a KwK 38 with a co-ax MG-34. In game terms its either a standard Hanomag, or I’d use customer rules (Hanomag stats, but enclosed + wheeled + Luchs turret + 250 troop capacity - for the ammo – i.e. much more expensive). From a fluff standpoint this is the support variant of the Mammut which would’ve been deployed in a 1/3 ratio initially, then later become have become the standard version (I'm not sure if it would have competed with the Katzchen, though I'm thinking the Kitten was the standard APC then each branch had their own specialized contracts).

The Hanomag’s the iconic APC of the Third Reich, so aye, keeping one or two about even if they’re not my favorite thing is a given. I mean I have a Maus incoming for the same reason. I hate that thing (my fluff for that is that it was a slow piece of junk soon relegated to being a glorified bunker – similar to how WWI era Mk.1 tanks were used in WWII).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2017, 03:06:33 PM: Youknow, is it me or is this guy absorbing all of that gun's recoil into his chest? Traditionally German gunners were positioned to the left of the gun in order to allow some room for the breach; not in the weird world of Konflikt '47! :D

(http://media7.beastsofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Spinne-Model.jpg)

The other thread made me want to look at the Clockwork Goblin Spinne. ...I'm sort of in the mood to buy that one my local shop's had for months and fixing the damn thing (weight distrusting feet as an addon kit for non-urban battles are my biggie).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ray Rivers on February 06, 2017, 03:22:11 PM: Who makes that?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2017, 03:26:16 PM: Clockwork Goblin made it, Warlord Games sell it. IIRC Clockwork Goblin sell a 15mm one of that on their site.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 06, 2017, 03:36:43 PM: Nice work on the APCs & Jagdpanzer, the 'Eber' has thae authentic look of a machine cobbled together to solve a problem, fantastic stuff!
I long ago gave up trying to completely rationalise most weird war designs- but where the Spinnes commander is standing probably explains his rather pained expression!
(I agree, it's the lack of feet to spead its weight that jars a bit - I tried various designs on mine, from simple ball joint with a flat disc foot, to the feet off a GW Sentinel - nothing looked right so I may just leave it as is.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ryltar Thamior on February 06, 2017, 03:52:56 PM: Churr for the clarification. It does also occur that in the vein of support vehicle variants, it wouldn't be too hard to up-gun your Mammuts with something like the 5cm KwK 39 (given its presence in a turret mounting on the original 234/2) while still retaining a decent transport capacity - or even the short-barreled 7.5cm KwK 37 that turned up on the 234/3 and Panzer III Ausf.N [although this may require a larger turret than is feasible to mount on the chassis, or unduly eat into infantry carry-capacity]. Certainly, it would make a bit of sense for the otherwise light-infantry Fallschirmjaeger whom it was originally supposed to be carrrying (if I recall the fluff right) to be bolstered by swift-moving (light) AT and HE support rather than slowing down actions by towing more traditional AT-guns behind wheeled transports etc. Although the counter-argument to this, of course, is that subject to the efficacy of infantry-carried individual AT weapons - such up-gunning may be unnecessary due to organic squad support weapons in cover representing a greater danger to enemy armour close-in anyway.

As applies that Spider ... I'm not necessarily a fan of the initial design as-is out of the box - but if you've demonstrated anything in the last 16 pages, it's that you can make all sorts of things excellent. Good call on the "feet" rather than those points (it was the first thing my eye went to and winced about, picturing the 'points' sinking into less solid earth and destabilizing the entire vehicle); although I'm not sure how you're going to be able to fix the turret.

When it comes to the more Pulpy WWWII German Walker craze, I still believe that nobody has yet exceeded the old Gear Krieg designs. So if you're dead set on dipping in to superscience, even though it's a different scale, I'd thoroughly encourage looking in that direction and seeing if there's anything worthwhile there for hwat you want to do.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 06, 2017, 04:55:18 PM: The recoil path on the Spinne is from the same designer as the Leman Russ.

Oh, and where does the driver sit?

A Quadruped 222 would have been better, similar to the 250/251 Gearkrieg vehicle.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 06, 2017, 05:55:18 PM: Okay, there are some comparison photographs (Spinne, Rubicon SDKFZ253 and Warlord 37mm PAK) here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=94636.msg1211909#msg1211909 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=94636.msg1211909#msg1211909)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2017, 07:06:12 PM: @ Ballardian

I'm not sure where I got this idea, but I'm sure they're based on something I've seen in the real world (maybe old fire engine feet).

Time for show and tell kids.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/6/855242_md-.JPG)

See I could have drawn all that again so it looked tidy and you'd all thing I was an amazing artist, but no, you know what this thread is... ;)

A dumb idea to fix another dumb idea.

@ Ryltar Thamior

In the real world people were sticking some weird turrets onto 251s. The French had a Char B turret sitting on top of one of their's. However on the same note training sites also stuck wooden mockup turrets on them which people often confuse as being factual. Regardless... I'm not clued up on the Luftwaffe, however IIRC its infantry were split up between the paras and ground forces (who I think were mostly used to defend airfields/ provide AA support). The Mammut's suited more for use by standard infantry rather than paras, though again, I'm not 100% on what technology was like for airdropping vehicles around that period into the 50s (we've all seen that video of a Humvee being airdropped during training and plummeting to the ground).

Oh I hate that thing. It just looks so chunky, not to slight the designer; that's their aesthetic. Looking at it I'd add those snow shoe things, cut up the legs for a more dynamic pose and replace the turret with something resembling the 222's (with the assumption that there is no commander sitting beneath to get in the way of the lowered gunner position). I haven't opened the kit yet to give it a proper lookover, but those are the biggies.

And well, its a nonsense thing anyway. I can see the fluff already "a far fetched idea for the next generation of urban combat vehicle. Scattered Soviet reports mentioned sightings, as were there rumours of a counter Soviet program - in actuality entirely fictional. Funds were eventually diverted to more practical projects like flying saucers and death rays".

Nah, I'm fine with the tanks and junk. That Spinne just looked lonely in the shop. The issue with walkers is coming up with something realistic, which is impossible to do considering the subject matter. I like them, they just don't fit into this setting though, but that thing could do as a short lived prototype which some Nazi higher up took a liking too (before Speer shot him in the foot).

@ Ultravanillasmurf

Tah mate. I picked up one on the way home (oddly the shop now has two for sale. Nobody likes you Spinne, go home). Aye, a cursory look at the Spinne infers that it carries barely any ammo, and if there is a commander then he had the gunner's platform on his lap. A BA-64b had a crew of two, but I'm inclined to think that the official fluff for the Spinne has it sitting with 3-4 crew (somehow). Oh god, I just had a flash of those BA-64b APCs the Soviets piloted ...though just with the Spinne.

Yuck.

Meh, I need another piece of crap to throw in the to do pile. Maybe I'll give it skis.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 06, 2017, 07:29:44 PM: I think your foot concept for the Spinne is good - having tried a few different approaches I found that making the foot bigger than 5mm across made it look ridiculous (or more so depending on how you feel about the mech). The one I was happiest with was pretty similar - a ball attached to the foot with the pistons attached to the ball.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ray Rivers on February 06, 2017, 10:45:51 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2017, 03:26:16 PM
Clockwork Goblin made it, Warlord Games sell it. IIRC Clockwork Goblin sell a 15mm one of that on their site.

Got it! Thanks!

Nice thread ya got going! ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 07, 2017, 01:13:33 PM: Hmn....

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/West_Germany/Raketenjagdpanzer/Raketenjagdpanzer-I.jpg)

How about a Raketenjagdpanzer-IV? :)

(Yeah, I know I have other stuff being worked on already, but still)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 07, 2017, 04:01:37 PM: Interesting thought, will be interested in seeing how that develops.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 07, 2017, 04:24:06 PM: Yes, very interesting...

(http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot/tanks/tanks-n-p/panther-raketenwerfer.png)

(https://media.giphy.com/media/FrajBDPikVqBG/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 07, 2017, 04:49:29 PM: I was not expecting that.

How about a beefed up HS293 on a Tiger or Ferdinand chassis?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ryltar Thamior on February 08, 2017, 12:41:37 PM: you may have already seen the attached images; but just found this while looking throuhg Beyond The Sprues.

As previously discussed, dependent upon the rarity and accuracy of a hypothetical German AT missile, it may be logical touse them to augment cannon on a given vehicle rather than replace them completely. [the other points of consideration would include weight/spacial capacity of any guidance apparatus/control system, and how many missiles/launch racks were included on the vehicle]

(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/gallery/others/whatif/afv/rakette.jpg)

Oh, and also just noticed this - an actual historic German AT missile, with "unconfirmed" reports of use on the Eastern Front.
http://www.wehrmacht-history.com/luftwaffe/missiles/x7-rotkaeppchen-anti-tank-missile.htm

The prototype launcher vehicle :D

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VABXigYPFgs/VW5iwrxxylI/AAAAAAAAyQ0/ygALxS8qNjQ/s1600/T-4-RaketenW.jpg)

And a model of same:

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYuv1B7o4NQ/VW5jpaC36VI/AAAAAAAAyRE/JuIeHW_-Tjc/s640/BDRAK18APR08_002.jpg)

So looking at that and some supplementary materials, it appears that the hypothesized approach was indeed going to be a missile-primary armament rather than supplementary armament vehicle. Although it could also be argued that the prototype depicted wasn't armed with a cannon simply because it was a testbed rather than a mainline combat vehicle.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 08, 2017, 01:33:45 PM: Or not enough room n that tiny turret to fit a gun as well. You'd need quite a bit of room to reload it.

Great find :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 08, 2017, 02:40:07 PM: Yes, good find - I like the idea of a Jaguar type vehicle.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 08, 2017, 03:01:06 PM: Nice find.

The Schutzen is good as well.

It looks like a Pzr IV Swingfire.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 08, 2017, 04:34:01 PM: Ah yes, I had seen those, but forgotten about them. Presumably in the latter example they'd reload it by having the whole unit descend - then replace the armament through a hatch in the bottom or front (I don't see how there's space to do it from the front inside that turret)- or they'd do it from the rear (but that seems really dumb).

Oh, and the second configuration seems more practical than the one where the missile is mounted over where the gun originally was. Sure they could have a hatch, though you only really fit one in the gap at a time. IIRC the actual 1960s vehicle which was used had two ATGMs mounted on platforms which would descend into the vehicle for reloading (fire one/ reload the other and repeat. In the case of the prototype you posted that looks like you'd need to reload both in tandem; decreasing the rate of fire).

Aye, in practice the Germans used ATGMs as a vehicle's primary weapon. They stuck one ATGM mounting vehicle alongside regular Jagdpanzers of the same build.

I don't really like the Panzer IV's profile in general, so the prototype one with the turret just isn't to my tastes (maybe mounted on a 38 (t), but that'd have zero ammo capacity). The Post war method of having them mounted on a jagd chassis seems more appealing to me.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on February 10, 2017, 07:02:26 AM: That Mammut looks really sweet! Great looking conversion. As for the utility; Oh well. Alt History Goering must have thought it looked awesome too; He had a thing for ridiculous uniforms lol.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 10, 2017, 09:42:21 PM: I don't think that real prototype pz4 vehicle has an X7 launcher. I suspect it's an unguided artillery rocket experiment. The X7 ground tripod launcher is along a rail and that tank mount has no rails nor do they seem possible unless they telescope forward. Plus most if not all post war ATGW vehicles have no obstructions in front of the launcher as they are problematic for a system which is connected to the parent vehicle by a wire.
That vehicle is very odd though, superstructure front unlike any pz4 I've seen and rounded front hull edges too. If I hadn't seen that photo in Chamberlain and Doyle's encyclopaedia from the 70's I'd be suspicious about it as it seems a bit Wierd on closer inspection. Interesting though and food for thought..
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 11, 2017, 06:01:39 PM: Wyrmalla, here's a nice pic of your tanks advancing in 'Thaw of '46' (the game). probably just as well nobody can see what is going on in the background (world of tanks, for real) ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 11, 2017, 06:14:37 PM: and on an earlier subject (Spinne feet)... I bought some 15mm Spinne mecha years ago 'cos I liked the look of them and intended to use them for 6mm war of the worlds 'Goliath' games. When I got them home from the show there wasnt any instructions so I had no idea how the legs were supposed to go. Anyway, after a bit pondering, and because the human mecha in 'Goliath' are tripods I ended up fixing the legs like this (pic) and was quite happy. as I'd bought 3 and only used 3 legs on each I managed to get another 4th mecha out of it too by making a different body.
Anyway, thought I'd put up a few pics so you can see, the bottom of the leg is now the long pointy foot (hence no need for a foot). And the bigger unfinished scratch mecha was a superheavy to the spinne 'medium' (not as big as a Ratte though). I added a little 'Dalek' top to the spinne as I thought it needed it. my 'thaw of 46 ' is a different world to most (it has martians too, sometimes).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 11, 2017, 06:20:34 PM: Heh, I was going to post those, but unfortunately not that many came out all that well (my camera doesn't like green tables). The plan was to post the pictures of the start of the game, then juxtaposing WWII archive pictures in to cover up the fact that my side were slapped about roundly (maybe including the smoking model tanks in between, as tiny images). :)

Aye you mentioned those 15mm ones at the club. I see what you mean now, those don't look half bad (the added on commander's turret thing fits their dinky look). I've a second walker sitting here now which is sort of like a Puma, ah, though I've no idea how to go about the legs. Just another project to ponder over as I work on something else I guess.

Ah, and well, the book which inspired me - not to spoil things- has hints towards the whole thing being sparked off by alien space bats if that counts? :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 11, 2017, 06:24:35 PM: Nice kitbash on the Spinnes IP, it certainly gets around the foot issue.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 11, 2017, 06:33:59 PM: Ahh ASBs, the ultimate 'because I said so', a useful tool if one of last resort.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 11, 2017, 09:09:36 PM: and just to finish, sort of related to this thread I suppose ;), 1/72 tanks just before the '46 thaw. Maus scratchbuilt in 1975 from a strip in a Victor comic (!) still with dodgy '70s paint job (I was at school), and Esci Tiger II (with 46 real game kills on the barrel, ..ah the '70s) and a Sturer emil converted from an airfix tiger back then too (didnt know its name at the time though). pics taken a few years back but seems atmospheric...maybe will inspire a bit..
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on February 12, 2017, 01:01:44 AM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on February 11, 2017, 06:20:34 PM
...
Ah, and well, the book which inspired me - not to spoil things- has hints towards the whole thing being sparked off by alien space bats if that counts? :)

I should mention that I went ahead and bought the book after you mentioned it several times lol Really enjoyed it - specially the James Bond vibe you get from "the assassin" but I thought that the ending (after the crash) was a bit rushed. Loved the glossary in the end with all the little jokes and I can't understand why the author didn't write anything else, after that ASB ending :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 12, 2017, 09:03:57 AM: Very realistic snow.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on February 13, 2017, 08:46:54 PM: Oh crap ! Now i have to buy more Spinne.... ;o)

Wolt
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 15, 2017, 10:39:03 PM: Hmn...

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/15/857565_sm-WIP%20Puma%204x4.JPG)

Just well, something. ...Yup, I'm too tired right now to tidy the thing.

Oh, does someone sell loose turrets at all? Particularly smaller stuff like the Luchs or 222's. They'd be useful for stuff like this, or APC conversions. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: horridperson on February 16, 2017, 02:57:54 AM: Oh I love APCs and Scout cars. As a unit they sort of went Darwinian with aerial reconnaissance but I think those fast movers look cool.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 16, 2017, 07:16:37 AM: Nah, give it a pintle MG42 and an open top ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 16, 2017, 09:02:56 AM: I was going to flip it around so that the engine's at the front (I'll add vision blocks), and yeah probably add a tarp over the roof to simulate it being opened top (anything larger than a Panzer II turret looks too big on that shortened hull). Some chains on the tires may overcome the adage that wheeled vehicles sucked compared to tracked ones on the Eastern Front (which always seemed a bit obtuse to me).

Something like the Sd.Kfz 247 if you squint a bit.

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/972_21_10_08_10_54_31.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 20, 2017, 12:23:36 AM: Yeah, I'm working on a few things right now.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/20/858470-WIP%20Tiger%201.5%252F%20Katzchen.JPG)

I picked up a Tiger on the cheap for the hell of it, and for the lack of a better idea decided to be lazy and just give it sloped armour. Sloped armour was a thing around when the original Tiger was being designed, but they chose not to include it for various reasons (for the time the armoured was thick enough/ smaller interior space/ change in gravity, etc). Well, let's come up with some nonsense why they prototyped this thing before the Tiger II came around (the timeline I'm using splits after Dunkirk, so aye, I can get away with earlier stuff like this I suppose). As ever the caveat that my changes would only exacerbate the original vehicle's issue is apparent (didn't you know, the Germans started making all those delicate components out of Unobtanium in 1942). :D

Oh, its a Warlord Tiger with a Warlord Tiger II turret. The bolted on addon armour eliminates the hull MG, though I'd imagine the designers ditched it for later models as it was excessive and the higher ups wanted more defensive weaponry. The bins at the back I think came off of one of Porche's prototypes (their Panther probably). Ah, and yeah, the inclusion of the original track guards and other wee details was deliberate to keep this thing closer to the original Tiger than its successor.

Anyway...

There's that second Katzchen too. I think I've had that thing sitting about half built for months. As this is based on the first Katzchen which I screwed up the measurements of, it still looks a bit weird. I couldn't be bothered attempting to fix the interior, so just gave it a tarp. I'm kind of in the mood for making one with a lower profile and the Panther style front mud guards and just calling that another version (probably also making it a Stummel variant as that's in vogue).

And no, that Katzchen having eight jerry cans on it isn't excessive. ...I just like the look of them stacked like that. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 20, 2017, 07:22:02 AM: Just call it the Auto-union Katzchen?

Both look great!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 20, 2017, 09:38:27 AM: Brilliant.

The soft top on the katchen is particularly good.

I look forward to seeing them painted.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 20, 2017, 03:03:13 PM: Very nice! The canvas top is vey nicely done.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 26, 2017, 07:21:46 PM: The state of the Spinne.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/26/860154-WIP%20Raketenspinne.JPG)

Or Raketenspinne...

I wasn't in the mood to wait on ordering a Luchs turret, so had to come up with an alternative. That Nebelwerfer still launcher would be a hell of a pain to reload (presumably the crew would have to re-position the legs/ fetch a ladder).

And yes, the middle row of tubes are cosmetic. They'd have to be, otherwise it'd be as though I didn't account for where their igniters would go.

Sans the snow shows. I wasn't in the mood to fiddle about with them tonight. They may be added at a later date.

Meanwhile...

Hey look, my minis were mentioned by the author of A Kill in the Morning's website. Huh. :o

http://graemeshimmin.com/alternative-history-vehicles-kill-morning/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 26, 2017, 08:23:11 PM: That is very good.

The shields on the legs are great, though I would have been tempted to add them to the lower joint as an alternative to your snow shoes.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on February 26, 2017, 10:21:46 PM: Wonderful work as usual and congrats on the mention ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on February 27, 2017, 09:02:38 AM: Watching this thread for a while - the latest additions are very nice (the tarp is a happy accident).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 27, 2017, 01:24:47 PM: I think the author stuck those pictures through a whitening filter... Nitpicks. :)

@ Ultravanillasmurf

Like the Dust Heavy Axis Walker’s crab feet? I don’t want to mess with the thing that much, otherwise I may as well make a new one for all its faults (walkers are a dumb concept anyway). If I can be bothered to work on it I have a second walker sitting here which looks more like a Puma with legs, though its no less impractical.

Hmn, still waiting on that JTFM stuff. Might need to poke a certain Canadian. :(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on February 27, 2017, 02:59:25 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on February 27, 2017, 01:24:47 PM
I think the author stuck those pictures through a whitening filter... Nitpicks. :)

@ Ultravanillasmurf

Like the Dust Heavy Axis Walker’s crab feet? I don’t want to mess with the thing that much, otherwise I may as well make a new one for all its faults (walkers are a dumb concept anyway). If I can be bothered to work on it I have a second walker sitting here which looks more like a Puma with legs, though its no less impractical.

Hmn, still waiting on that JTFM stuff. Might need to poke a certain Canadian. :(

I'm waiting on an order from October. Jeff said he would check it out in January 19th, no word since then :(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 27, 2017, 03:04:44 PM: Its my belief that the shipment was sunk by an old WWII era mine somewhere in the North Sea.

I.e. it'll turn up next week slightly less soggy than usual.

The Maus which I ordered from Blitzkrieg at the same time took 3 weeks to get here. The thing's sitting in my cupboard. ...God I hate the Maus.

Though that kit in general looks inferior to the Warlord one FYI. If you have a choice between the two I'd advise going with Warlords (then asking yourself why're you being so dumb as to buy a Maus. Two Tiger IIs would look much nice).

And damn, now I want another Tiger II.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on February 27, 2017, 04:36:17 PM: I already have a Blitzkrieg Maus ;) I'm not going to buy the Warlord one until they stop with that nonsense of pre-ordering it and "limited" editions.

My JTFM order was a Tiger II :'(
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 27, 2017, 06:25:44 PM: Give him a prod, he's been literally under the weather. The weather being lots of snow.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 27, 2017, 06:33:53 PM: Nice one on getting your creations on the author's site. Jeff operates at the mercy of the Canadian postal service which appears to make ours look god-like in comparison, so a bit of a wait can occur.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 27, 2017, 06:38:59 PM: Missed the Spinne - nice work!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on February 27, 2017, 06:44:11 PM: Oh yes, the Panzerwerfer Spinners is very cool 8)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 07, 2017, 11:45:31 PM: Hmn, whatever to do with that last set of Hetzer tracks...

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/7/862301_md-WIP%2038%20%28d%29%20Tracks.JPG)

(Yes, they're anachronistic - using the early war road wheels instead of the prototypes and other nonsense. Meh).

(http://forum.valka.cz/attachments/796/steyr2.jpg)

And I've had a cold, so there's your lot. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 08, 2017, 07:17:34 AM: Waffletractor?! ;D

I've just got this book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/3613039257/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Might stir your inspiration a little :D It's in German but the pictures are good (Shop around I got it for £12 IIRC)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 08, 2017, 09:01:42 AM: Neat extension. Look forward to seeing how that develops.

I was going to follow the Warlord article with mine and build a Katchen (anachronistic wheels and all).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 08, 2017, 09:54:42 AM: God those tracks look weird with those slapped on wheels. They don't have any teeth!

Ah well, its 28mm, who cares? :P

@ Rich H

Hah, Ironclad Paul actually just showed me that book last week. Yah, there's some good pictures of the heavy stuff in there of interest, plus all sorts of weird blueprints. Aye, I may just splurge on it if there's used ones going for £15 (...my experience with reference material is that they tend to go for quite the pretty penny unfortunately).

@ Ultravanillasmurf

I'd highly recommend the Rubicon kit over Warlord's. Warlord's is resin, with solid track sections. If you wanted to make a Katzchen out of that you'd be pretty much making the entire hull from scratch. With Rubicon's meanwhile you can use the tracks and lower hull, then add a plasticard superstructure for the top (you'll need to cut out some of the spacers in the lower hull though).

That and you get two sets of tracks with every kit, so if you're going to the effort of making one Katzchen it won't take much to make another (or do what I did and use the spare Hetzer upper to make a variant). I would hazard that I messed up my own measurements pretty badly (its was all done by eye...), so mine are too tall. It might be worth me going back and making a third Katzchen (a Stummel probably), though seeing as I'm already choking with APCs that might be excessive.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 08, 2017, 10:15:58 AM: Thanks.

Sorry, but a combination of lack of clarity on my part combined with not finishing the kit:
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/if-youre-not-ill-it-will-fix-your-car.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/if-youre-not-ill-it-will-fix-your-car.html)

I have the spare tracks from the Rubicon kit and was going to use them with the scratch building instructions on the Warlord site.

I do have the Warlord kit, but I cannot generate any enthusiasm to try and build it (the tracks are warped and heat treating them cannot get them straight).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 09, 2017, 11:55:29 PM: Hmn......

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/9/862823_md-WIP%20Panzerf%26Atilde%3B%26curren%3Bhre.JPG)

...I was going to make a Jagdpanther II, but couldn't be bothered sourcing the tracks, and had already torn apart the kit so, well. Operation Sealion Mk.2's a go? ;)

The IV's turret's off an emplacement, thus the weirdness. I aught to have another sitting about somewhere that'll do (though I'm not sure what turret to stick on the thing ...I needs one though).

What you thought I was going to post something else I had already shown in a WIP state? Never. I don't have the attention span. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 12:00:43 AM: Can you please radius the hull above the sproket... my OCD is flaring up... lol

Make it more of a landing craft than a tank perhaps? Got any Pz1 turrets?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 10, 2017, 12:10:51 AM: Hah, but it'll be in water all the time, so any stuff gummed up in there will just be washed out! ...That's how things work right?

Aye, if I flipped the thing around you'd see the other side's cut in further there, I just thought I'd dump this thing in whatever state it was in before I slinked off to bed. :)

Yeah a Luchs one would do, or maybe just a Puma's. I could go for a Panther's, but that's probably overkill (I guess if such a thing did see production they would've given the odd one a bigger gun for support maybe. ...I haven't bothered to Google what the Brits and US did with their own craft).

Oh and yes, again for with a lack of research at this time, I'd count it for the same role as the LVT-4 Water Buffalo (which IIRC I've seen used post-landings as an APC). In the timeline I'm going for Sealion's planned later down the line, so I guess this would be the German's attempt at re-using the obsolete Panther hull for a landing craft (though no comment on the intended purpose of the actual ones in being used as tugs for un-seaworthy craft in order to bolster the invasion fleet). I've no idea how the interleaved wheels would perform in that function, probably as crap as they were in the snow (ooh, these things floundering as they tried to make it up the beaches, with the crews having the bail out is a great image).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 07:01:30 AM: Perhaps even cut the roof open as a big landing craft? A bit like the BARV?
Put a load of pintle MGs on it and maybe an AA turret?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 10, 2017, 09:45:57 AM: Nah, I want it enclosed. If I were going for something open topped I'd copy over the passenger compartment from the 251 and stick that within that structure.

A Kugelblitz turret may work, but that'd give this thing a taller profile than it already has (...not to mention storage issues). Due to the size I'd rather it have a turret instead of just a pintle MG, with this being perhaps the beefier cousin to the Panzer IV originals - acting as support in the landings (though presumably they'd use craft carrying regular tanks too).

I'll go down rabbit hole of landing craft at some today to see what I can find. At this stage hopefully I can avoid making some funnies...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 10:01:01 AM: The bit I'm struggling with is the vertical slab of armour above the hull.
It's too tall for the 'standard Panzer fighting compartment' (PzIII/IV).

Can you reduce it's height a bit? Make it like a PzIV with bow MG adn driver slit then slap the PzIV turret on the roof
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 10, 2017, 10:59:21 AM: Hmn, yes I was concerned with that as well. Its a result of the angle of the front glacis. I'd have to raise it a fair bit to bring the front plate close to the size of the Panzer IV's.

Possibly doing that slightly then adding another plate at the front on top of the glacis which is angled (for some extra armour) could work? Ah, maybe a visual aid would be more descriptive....

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/10/862901_md-Some%20fixes.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 11:38:58 AM: Looks better
How about a shorter front plate from half way up the glacis? As if the forward part is for flotation or similar?

Id be tempted to keep the sides vertical not slope them in.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 11:40:08 AM: I assume its an amphib tank/apc combo? Would explain the extra hull volume.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 10, 2017, 12:36:35 PM: Its an updated version of the Panzerfähre Gepanzerte
Landwasserschleppe, so yes, the interior would hold about 20 men (I think 20 was the quote for the IV original version, not the armoured one, but the Panther's obviously larger).

(http://2iemeguerre.ca/blindes/image1/panzerfahre2.jpg)

The original was designed as tug for un-seaworthy craft for Sealion (the Germans didn't have enough ships), whilst the armoured one came later and was requested for service on the Eastern Front (2 were made).

If I showed the back you'd see the bit I cut in to mount the propellers (but I'm at work at the moment).

Are you meaning something like this (with a tidier profile at the sides)? I want to keep the slope of the front armour to differentiate it from the original a bit.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/10/862917_md-One%20more%20try...jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 10, 2017, 01:39:34 PM: Yes, probably :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 10, 2017, 02:54:49 PM: Drat, I was so looking forward to jumping back into MS Paint again... ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on March 10, 2017, 05:46:17 PM: Another very cool project, it's nice to see an update of the LWS concept. (I'm inclined to agree with Rich H as to the turret(s) - small autocannon/mg/flamethrower turrets would look great, with perhaps a support weapon version akin to the M8 turret they slapped on some LVTs - a stummel type mount - maybe in an open multi sided turret perhaps?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 12, 2017, 05:47:32 PM: Query - on that LVT thing. The area at the front there on the original was considerable smaller, with some of it including the crew space, but most being an addon ballast. On mine the crew are behind the sloped area, so now that (a quarter of the whole vehicle) is just hollow.

Do you think I could get away with adding a front ramp to this thing? Overall even with the ramp there'd still be plenty of space for a ballast at the top. I'm just looking at the design and the limited amount of hatches for the infantry to disembark from. The US originally gave their's front ramps, though did away with them after they found they were a very bad idea, so moved them to the rear (I can't fit one there with the engine layout unfortunately).

With Sealion not existing in the 40s in this timeline, instead in the books there was the cancelled invasion of Israel at the end of the 40s. I'd imagine that, or various river crossings on the Eastern Front, is what something like this would be planned for. ...Ah, we'll call this an early attempt at the concept, thus all the design missteps.

Anyway, I'll finish the thing tonight when SS-GB's on. ...We'll just ignore the Katzhcen, Tiger and those SS Stormtroopers which I've had mostly painted for the past most over on that table. ::)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 12, 2017, 07:16:11 PM: How about a ramp or hatch opening in the upper glacis plate?
Leave the lower hull intact (and watertight!) and let the infantry come out over the front.
Maybe make the hatch open forward and become a ramp? Perhaps incorporating a bit on the lower glacis?

Pu the driver off to one side and make the hatch ramp ff to the other side.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 12, 2017, 07:26:32 PM: I already have a hatch like this on the upper plate actually.

(http://images.yuku.com.s3.amazonaws.com/image/jpeg/ec3350ec94d3f6b8a6444948a40918c34065336.jpg)

The very tip of the front glacis looks like it was used as a ballast on all versions of the German LVT, so whilst it may be more practical to remove it, I'd rather keep a nod to it. Reading up on later prototypes it seems the Germans didn't intend for their ballasts to be completely airtight, rather they were filled with a light weight foam (...or was it cloth, can't remember) in case they did flood.

I suppose I can get away with happening that access hatch there at the top of the front glacis, and another at the rear of the main cab. This thing is oddly designed compared to the America one, and I'm seeing a lot of areas it could be improved for practicality's sake, but that's moot considering.

Oddly the German LVTs had ladders going up the side, whilst the American's didn't include them. The profile of the later US LVTs would be as high as this, though those had a rear ramp, which maybe explains why. I guess I should stick on some foot and hand holds so the guys can actually amble about the thing... Hmn, though as far as stowage, etc, goes maybe a few spare tyres/ life rings wouldn't go amiss. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 12, 2017, 07:33:38 PM: What about a ramp that slides off of the glacis so there is not a big drop if the troops deploy forward.

Will you do the British LVT from the Osprey Covenanter/Crusader book?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 12, 2017, 08:21:45 PM: If you can find me some pictures I'll see. I have a Rubicon Crusader kit somewhere. :P

This is what Google images turned up for Crusader LVT. It appears that there may have been some variant called the Neptune (question mark)?

(http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/photo/usa/LVT/lvt_crusader_1.jpg)
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz160/Kustum52/PercyRose-Neptuneamphibiousvehicle_921x768.jpg)
(http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz160/Kustum52/PercyRose-NeptuneatCommonLaneWorks1945_1024x740.jpg)

I've steered away from the British as they don't really appear as a military force in that book's timeline, well till the very end. Because of that there's a decade of alternative development from what happened in the real world to consider, so their vehicles would've looked quite different I image. Modding out an older Crusader though seems viable ...if I can find the time and the design looks alright. I don't have any spare Crusader tracks to work with those, so that'll probably be a sticking point for any conversions.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 12, 2017, 09:16:47 PM: Ooh, I had not seen those photos.

I do not have the sketch from the New Vanguard book to hand.

From memory the wheels looked more like the Churchill's
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on March 13, 2017, 12:25:03 AM: The more amphibious vehicles you look at, the more you'll realise they all have very high fronts. Or if they don't have so high fronts they mostly have a trim vane folded down somewhere which is a plate that needs erecting before they go swimming. This raises the 'bow' falsely to prevent waves rolling up the glacis under speed and then forcing the bow down (dive dive dive).
While I think they all look cool they don't make for very military looking vehicles. (Boats:)
From memory there is some spectacular film footage of Neptune getting very swamped in the BBC 'the secret war' 70's documentary. Highly recommended old series by the way..
I think you might need a trim vane... If you're being realistic ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 13, 2017, 08:25:46 AM: Amphibious vehicles do look odd, especially out of their environment, just looking at US AAVP7s in the desert.

Not quite as odd are the various British articulated snow vehicles.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 13, 2017, 09:13:25 AM: Trim vanes may be a bit advanced for the period. I could stick an Amtrac style one under the front without too much trouble (right now its just a big empty plate). :)

Hmn, how are Warlord resin kits for cutting up? Their tracks are just one big solid piece right? That seems like it’d probably be a bit of an effort to cut up a set to extend them, unless anyone’s had any experience (making the whole assemblies from scratch is a bit daunting …though in this particular case I’d be scratch building the rest of the tank anyway).

How do Company B’s shape up in comparison (I'll assume they're better, but still solid pieces)?

Another flippant idea I’m having, I’m just wondering if the whole thing would be viable at all.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 13, 2017, 11:37:36 AM: Scratch building tracks you say.... ;)

Depends on what you are after. Full scratch build is painful but looks amazing.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f127/richardhumble/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/20150405_082709_zps7bumnibd.jpg)
http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=17105&start=10

Easier way is find somehting with similar tracks and buy the plastic model.
I used Tamiya KV-1 tracks for my T-100 - I just ordered the track sprues seperately for £3 each.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f127/richardhumble/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/20150328_173644_zps0mms1q1j.jpg)
http://warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=19889
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 13, 2017, 12:26:39 PM: I was looking at various kits yesterday at a shop. Unfortunately most of them only do for Super Heavies, or light tanks. The middle ground is stuff like the Hetzer in 1/35th (£40...) or 1/48th kits (again probably Hetzers).

In this case though, I doubt I'd have much luck. I was searching for LVTs and stumbled into The Pacific Theater. The Japanese had a whole spread of experimental or short run Tanks which were sitting preparing for an invasion of the Home Islands which never came.

I quite like the Type 5 Chi-Ri. It was equivalent to the Panther, with a 75mm autoloader (2-3 Tank Destroyer variants with 105mm were planned).

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Type-5_Chi-Ri.png)
(https://d2ev13g7cze5ka.cloudfront.net/ktn/ktnk35c12_0.jpg?v=0000000001)
(yes, I have a fetish for sloped armour)

At the start of this I had considered making some Japanese, but never went ahead as I assumed that getting a hold of the tracks and guns would be impossible. Warlord's range of Tanks is fairly limited, and mostly covers the earlier stuff (which few of the prototypes were made from, even retroactively).

Right now I'm not wanting a full IJA force... So I was looking at just Warlord's Chi-Ha (itself the early war version), and've found a load of variants based on the later model tank. The ones I was eyeing up though mostly have one or two extra road wheels however, necessitating extended whatever the Company B or Warlord kits include.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 13, 2017, 12:37:54 PM: Chi ha running gear plus an extra bogy each side would work for the Chi-Ri.
Not sure if they are related in that way?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 13, 2017, 01:48:09 PM: Oh the Chi-Ri has very similar gear to the Chi-Ha. There were two versions, one with similar components, another which improved on them (I'll take what I can get obviously).

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/Medium_Tanks/Type-97_Chi-Ha/Type97_Chi-Ha_china1939.png)

I'm trying to get my head around how to do the assemblies though. I could maybe just cut off the two sprockets (or whatever they're called ...the big wheels at the ends. They're different enough that I could maybe just use some spare German ones if that goes tits up) and then add on an extra road wheel either side. Any interior details would need cut off and re-made in order to fit the new length.

I'm not sure what to do about the tracks, though I'd probably do the same thing I did with those 38(d) tracks I posted a bit ago and use whatever I have spare which is the same size, then cover them up in mud so nobody notices.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 13, 2017, 06:21:02 PM: I'd be inclined to cut the tracks infront of the first return roller and after the second road wheel. Then again after the third road wheel. that gives you an extension piece. Cut the other tracks in the same way and add in your extension piece.

Obviously means a spare set of tracks...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 13, 2017, 07:04:34 PM: I was thinking something like this, depending on how the Warlord kit's tracks sag. That'd maintain a lot of the detail hopefully.

(http://orig12.deviantart.net/9327/f/2017/072/9/c/planning__p_by_frufruhm-db26f7g.png)

(Yeah, I'm at home now, but still CBA loading up a proper image editor).

I've put an order in with Warlord. If all else fails I suppose there were less drastic conversions of that tank out there, and well, I could always use the thing as a dug in pillbox.

Anyway, back to painting ze Germans.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: CompanyB on March 14, 2017, 05:58:34 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on March 13, 2017, 09:13:25 AM
Trim vanes may be a bit advanced for the period. I could stick an Amtrac style one under the front without too much trouble (right now its just a big empty plate). :)

How do Company B’s shape up in comparison (I'll assume they're better, but still solid pieces)?

Another flippant idea I’m having, I’m just wondering if the whole thing would be viable at all.

If you want Amtrack tracks... I have piles.

I have piles of many, many things. Some broken, some not. It's stuff that I would never sell on eBay, as it's too much of a pain to catalog and photo them all. But if anyone wants to scratch build some models, I'm more than happy to part with spares for a few bucks, or trade, or trade for figure painting ;-)

I suppose I should make a list and post on on a webpage for ref...

-Brent
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 14, 2017, 11:17:38 PM: @Company B

Aye, well tracks and turrets are useful for scratch builds. Big plates and other bits are easier to make, but I'm too lazy to make the finicky stuff. I suppose we'll see when it comes to that E-50 order.

Anyway, crap incomming.

Another Katzchen.

(http://pre12.deviantart.net/eba2/th/pre/f/2017/073/a/7/katzchen_by_frufruhm-db2bd14.jpg)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864100_md-Katzhcen.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864103_md-Katzhcen.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864102_md-Katzhcen.JPG)

As I said I messed up the measurements on this and the other one, so they're too tall, but meh - extra head protection I guess.

Intermediate Tiger

(http://pre09.deviantart.net/f38a/th/pre/f/2017/073/f/5/sloped_armour_tiger_by_frufruhm-db2bdpq.jpg)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864104_md-Tiger%201.5.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864107_md-Tiger%201.5.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864106_md-Tiger%201.5.JPG)

Nae fluff, just an excuse to use a Tiger kit I bought on the cheap. The real Tiger I didn't have sloped armour as it'd reduce the space inside. Similarly this'd be impractical due to its shorter tracks compared to the Tiger II as well. Oh well, call it another prototype dumped on some poor bastards for field testing. ;)

Ah, and I've swapped over to white paint for the camo as opposed to a light grey coat then white. I think these look a lot better than my earlier stuff (i.e. I've bothered to buy some actual white paint instead of using what I grey I had spare, and then the half hardened pot of white I had sitting there).

SS Stormtroopers

(http://pre12.deviantart.net/28e5/th/pre/f/2017/073/5/0/ss_stormtroopers_by_frufruhm-db2bbzc.jpg)

At its inception the SS were to be the pride of the Nazi party. Intended as a uniform force with the cutting edge in both equipment and fighting men. ...Just over half a decade into the war however and those starched suits were starting to fray at the edges.

SS Butchhunde was part of an attempt reorganizing the SS (in tandem with a similar scheme being undertaken by the Heer). Under strength veteran units were merged and re-equipped to become what the party considered would be a soldier fit to fight for decades to come. This in reality did not quite pan out as hoped naturally...

On paper each man was to be armed with a lightweight (in comparison to the Heer's) armoured suit (made up of chest, back, ground and greave armour, plus a remodelled helmet), reversible camouflage two layered clothes (in Spring/ Summer, Autumn/ Winter patterns), a gas mask (still in use at the time through the Fuhrer's fear of the British launching a surprise attack with their rumoured stockpiles) and an assault rifle (the actual model of which varied, though the most common were G-08s and T-45s, with a smattering of captured AK-46s and AVS-36). In reality this was more of a framework, with local stockpiles being raided where necessary (...or necessary) as needs required, whilst the party's attention drifted to other projects.

The unit fought the length of the Dnieper river, both into Russia, and in retreat from their offensive, before eventually being disbanded and reformed prior to the massing on the Dominion of Israel in the late 40s. By the reformation they had become somewhat of a test-bed for the SS, notably having fighting in support of the first open battle combat use of the Panzermensch among their honours.

---

Woo, spiel. ...That fluff, along with the previous stuff about a mish-mash force of remnants retreating out of the SU is my justification for any randomness in this tread. Obviously that's entirely irrelevant, but its there for the rivet counters (which damn, if those guys haven't blown a blood vessel already at this thread, that nonsense background surely will do). :)

Just to add to some points. The G-08's the StG-45/ Gerat-06 (or one of that family of gun's various names), but in a guise similar to the CETME (i.e an excuse to give some guys G3s in future). The T-45's (as in Czech 1945) are the AR the models are carrying and's supposed to look like its inspired by the MG-42 to an extent with the barrel shroud. The AVS-36 (...which was real, unlike the others) wasn't a true AR, but functioned similarly enough in some of its variants.

They're OOP Mantic Games colonial troopers (or whatever they were called) with greenstuff over their legs for winter trousers and hoods added, with a mix of Dust and Wargames factory heads, Wargames Factory arms, and ARs made from MP-40 bodies with PPSh-41 barrels (with a flute added to the end) and stock and magazines either from AR-15s or PPSh-41s (my head canon's that they're just different iterations of the same gun).

Heh, and this is around where any Israeli players dig at me for following the book I'm sort of basing this on's timeline and calling it the "Dominion of Israel". Don't worry, Haganah are totally killing Nazi higher ups in the background of all this. ;)

---

Only the one picture as I'm too tired right now for more. Yeah, I would point out that the test model (to the left of the second row) does have a cross on his chest, but the others don't, as well its more of an iconic symbol for the Heer I guess. ...And sticking a rune on these guys instead would probably rub the admins the wrong way

I've the bits for another 8 of these guys with G3s and hopefully that Stalhelm the East Germans used (which oddly rarely appears in alt-history media). Though I also picked up some Clockwork Goblin Fallschirmjäger (who have had their jet packs removed) and Achtung! Cthulhu who I suppose could work as Gestapo (they don't really have the look of a military unit to me), but I really just bought them for the sake of having a few about.

So in other words, no, I still don't have enough infantry complete to run that Bolt Action 750 points list which I wrote up months ago. Maybe I'll just count some of the guys with ARs as riflemen or something (IIRC Forgotten Weapons.com did mention an StG-44 which was issued which was semi-auto only). I just really don't like the Warlord plastics I already have with rifles. Assault Rifles and body armour make everything better. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 15, 2017, 07:20:42 AM: :o Great work as ever :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: streetkern on March 15, 2017, 08:42:17 PM: Look great
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 17, 2017, 04:14:29 PM: I just bought a few Chi-Ha from Warlord in resin for cutting up. Now they're out in plastic. Fffffk!!!!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 17, 2017, 06:45:20 PM: Usually jsut after I finish a built someone produces the same thing...
Finished my AEC and Deacon - Perrys announce an AEC and a deacon 2 days later... :-[
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 17, 2017, 06:55:49 PM: Well the good think I suppose is that with a plastic kit I can nab the road wheels from that, plus a bit of platicard and then combine them with the Tamiya Panzer III tracks to make a set of Chi-Ri track units ...which is much less of a headache. Ah, barring having to wait for the release, and now having a tank which I'll have to find another use for (probably a Chi-He or something).

Ah, that is if I can find loose Tamiya 1/48th tracks. I had a look on Ebay and all that comes up are complete kits or the odd third party metal set. :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 18, 2017, 12:43:34 PM: Contact the tamiya agent in the UK. You can buy single sprues for about £3-£4.
You need to know the kit number and the sprue (a,b,c,etc) that you need they will order thee rest. Takes a little while as thye come form Japan but not too long.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 18, 2017, 09:50:45 PM: Ah right, I hadn't thought that companies still did stuff like that...

The current stuff now pending painting.

Panther based LVT.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/18/864813_md-WIP%20Panther%20LVT.JPG)

With that spare Spinne's turret I had left over. It doesn't look like the most practical vehicle, though neither were the first couple of LVTs the Americans came out with.

Panzer II Leopard. ... thing.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/18/864815_md-WIP%20Panzer%20II%20Leopard.JPG)

Based on that article Warlord threw up. I'm not calling it a Leopard (and if I didn't already have this I'd have picked up Die Waffernkammer's E-25 one), as the measurements are way off. Instead I guess this can be the Panzer II ausf.K or something (somehow jumping over the radical changes which the ausf.J had made).

Type 5 Ho-Ru

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/18/864814_md-WIP%20Ho-Ru.JPG)

One of those Japanese tanks I mentioned. This isn't a complete reproduction of the real world prototype (the tracks were thicker, and the angle of the casement at the back is off - though third party model kits are inconsistent on this, as does the remaining picture of the real one obscure the back), but meh, its not like anyone makes a model of this in 1/56th. On paper the 47mm gun was obsolete for straight up fights with Shermans, but I think they designed it as an ambush tank for attacking their sides (with the expectation they'd only get off one shot) or going after soft skins.

Japanese tanks, even the prototype ones, just come across as being way behind what was going on in the European theatre. I guess the type of battles which were being fought in Asia were a different ball game though, especially when it comes to the context of Operation Downfall.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on March 18, 2017, 10:25:46 PM: Genius again. Parts bin specials lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 18, 2017, 10:29:38 PM: The Ho-Ru's barrel's from a Tau Battlesuit burst cannon.

Hmn, Tau, somehow appropriate... ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 18, 2017, 11:25:39 PM: Excellent.

The LVT is especially good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 20, 2017, 09:50:45 AM: And for something a bit further afield…

(http://orig02.deviantart.net/1053/f/2017/078/7/2/chi_nu_and_ho_ru_by_frufruhm-db2w8y4.jpg)

A Japanese Chi-Nu and Ho-Ru.

Both are Warlord models, the Chi-Nu’s out of the box (or bubble wrap), and whilst the Ho-Ru’s a Ke-Nu with a casement added.

The Chi-Nu was an interim modernisation of the Chi-Ha design, itself just a stopgap leading onto the Chi-To (and tangentially Chi-Ri) model. Under 200 were made, and issued for the defence of the Home Islands. None saw service, but the post-war Japanese Defence force did use them for a time.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/20/865080-Chi-Nu.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/20/865081_md-Chi-Nu.JPG)

The Ho-Ru was an attempt to salvage some last use out of the interwar Ha-Go tankette. The Ha-Go had seen much service, but was severely dated, even in its later guise as the Ke-Nu light tank. By adding a casement mounted 47mm gun it was hoped that the vehicle may see some life as an ambush tank, though the small calibur gun would have been incapable of penetrating a Sherman's armour (let alone the upgraded variants which the US had started deploying). At most one Ho-Ru was built, but the navy had greater need for the raw materials, as did the war end, so no mass conversions ever took place

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/20/865078-Ho-Ru.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/20/865079_md-Ho-Ru.JPG)

I'd have liked to add some ferns as camo, but only had more European looking foliage to hand. I guess that'd make these suitable for other environments as well, though I intentionally painted them in a sort of tropical camo (actually a Chinese post-war one. The Japanese did however use green as a base rather than ocre for those climates ...apparently, there wasn't much on Google on the subject).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on March 20, 2017, 11:33:03 AM: Very good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: CompanyB on March 25, 2017, 03:13:41 PM: ooo, very nice.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on March 25, 2017, 06:47:06 PM: Good stuff, love the Ho-Ru conversion.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 27, 2017, 12:15:57 AM: The week's been a right off a bit (really need to stop bleeding out of my face at random...), but well I did start on making a second Jagdpanzer III/IV this morning. Having already made one not too long ago this one's almost finished (if I'd stuck it in the over to cure the milliput faster I could have been done with it tonight).

I was after another Panther turret from Heer 46, but predictably they were out of stock. I did notice that they were stocking their German infantry in parkas line though. Tanks are much more interesting than the regular soldiers (giving them Assault Rifles does increase my esteem a little...). I've been procrastinating over rifleman for ages, and there's look fairly nice (that they don't need to be covered in greenstuff also helps).

They're a bit chunky looking however, but on par with Warlord's. So I picked up enough for two squads, then thought hang on, didn't someone else make something similar? Aye, CP Models (with a website only just a tad better to navigate than Heer 46's) do a small range as well (upscales of their 20mm stuff). So, that's me sorted for filling out riflemen for Bolt Action ...so I can actually play a game which isn't just 2 squads of Veteran SS with ARs and a Panzer IV...

Anyway I'm off this week, and I've promised not to get blood everywhere again, so maybe we'll see some progress. I'm egging to make another Panther II (this time around sans the crappy cast hull), though without that Heer 46 turret I'll have to come up with something else. I suppose that's dependent on the local shop having restocked their Rubicon lineup (which are miles ahead of Warlord's stuff. Every time I'm stuck using one of their kits instead of Rubicon's I feel a bit sick), ah, though maybe buying less stuff might be just the excuse I need to actually paint something (having all this unbuilt stuff just means there'll be plenty to work on the next time nuclear winter sets in and I can't leave the house for a bit). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on March 27, 2017, 12:17:08 PM: I look forward to seeing more of your scratchbuilds - have you seen the WG plastic Tiger II ? It could make some projects easier once it's released, it looks more or less ready but they haven't mentioned a date yet).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on March 27, 2017, 01:00:33 PM: Aye, I was eyeing that up myself. Pity the thing's covered in zimmerit (which is a bit of a novelty, but limits the period). I'd have to take a knife to it to clear that all away. Its not that I dislike zimmerit, just that Warlord’s looks a bit naff, as does it make conversions a pain.

Hopefully Rubicon will be along with one eventually too (though when I asked they said they want to stick to early/ mid war tanks for the moment), as Warlord’s kits are horrendous in comparison.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on April 15, 2017, 12:04:22 AM: And we're back. :)

I made the mistake of painting multiple things at once. I'd become bored with one thing and start another, which led to a bit of a backlog. I still have some other stuff sitting partially painted, but well, if would like to avoid the long breaks I'm prone to if I can avoid it...

Lieutenant

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870454-Heer%20Lieutenant%20.JPG)

"Lef-tenant". ;)

Anyone remember this guy? I posted him as a green back at Christmas I think. He's not changed much since then, and well I copped out with some of the details as I just wanted him finished at this stage.

Everything on him bar the vest's period. I've no idea what the red stripes on his jacket indicate, but well I saw a load of guys with them in pictures, so stuck them on (they can easily be painted over if they're out of place though).

SS Infantry in Parkas

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870456-SS%20Riflemen.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870455-SS%20Riflemen.JPG)

From CP Models Kharkov line. First point, damn, they took a day to reach me following ordering. I can only guess at how long the similar order I placed with Heer46 will take to show up (meanwhile divers are still failing in their attempts of retrieving that package from Canada from the ocean depths...).

I like the sculptor's style with the other ranges I have from him, but the height is always an issue. They're realistically proportioned, yet stand about half a head taller than all my other minis). The intention's to mix up the four squads worth of models amongst one another so there's a variation in the parkas and hopefully so the tall guys don't stick out so much.

Once the Heer46 guys turn up I'll maybe do a size comparison, as I don't know about you, but I really like those parkas. Artizan make some as well I think, but unfortunately their guns are huge (they must have had a different sculptor for their much more realistic G-43s and StGs).

And some stuff which'll never be used outside of armour battles. :)

Panzer Fahre

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870452-Panzer%20Fahre.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870453-Panzer%20Fahre.JPG)

Between the cancellation of Operation Sea Lion, and run up to the later cancelled planned invasion of the Dominion of Israel, Germany had prototyped amphibious variants of nearly all of its standard Panzer variants. The Panzer Ferry wasn't a standard tank however, rather it was an sea-borne landing vehicle based on a tank's chassis. Later a purpose built landing vehicle would be developed, following lessons learned from the LVT's service on the Eastern front (particularly a transition from the interleaved tracks, which continued to see service with the Panzer Ferrys long after they had been deemed obsolescent among the regular panzers).

A Warlord Panther hull and tracks plus a slab of plasticard. The end result's pretty German looking, and well whilst its well armoured and has a good transport capacity, in comparison to what the US LVT its kind of sucky. I suppose that's the result of different design decisions, but damn I can just see guys scrambling to pull themselves out of those roof hatches (if I recall correctly the lack of a rear exit is something the US pressed to address with their own LVT).

Sort of appropriate with Warlord's latest Sea Lion book. ;)

Jagdpanzer III/IV

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870448-Jadgpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870449-Jadgpanzer%20III%252FIV.JPG)

Yeah, another one of these. I liked the look of this thing, but the camo scheme I went for the first time around seemed iffy. This is just a whitewash, though I wanted to try out some netting, so stuck a bit on the front. Ah, whether or not that type of camo is appropriate is up in the air. The contrast between the orange and white looks cool at least.

Jagdpanther II

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870450-Jagdpanther%20II%20Ausf.%20A.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870451-Jagdpanther%20II%20Ausf.%20A.JPG)

No, its not that proposed Jagdpanther with a rear casement mounting a 128mm gun (that's Jagdpanther mit 12.8). I'm into having Tiger II tracks on a Panther, hmph, but I forgot my Panther II had a jet enginge, so this I guess is a Ausf.A Jagdpanther II or something. The zimmerit's a bit iffy to me. I tried making a tool to do it, though the end result is a bit meh.

Oh, and WIPs of those two Jagdpanzers.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870445-WIP%20Jagdpanzers.JPG)

Panzer II Ausf. L ...ah, II, or something.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870446-Sloped%20armour%20Panzer%20II%20Ausf.%20L.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870447-Sloped%20armour%20Panzer%20II%20Ausf.%20L.JPG)

I'm kind of fuzzy on this one. Its based on a photograph of a Panzer II Ausf. L with sloped armour, but with a Panther style engine layout (the picture has a Panzer II exhaust) and a Puma turret to keep it competitive in the post 1945 battlefield. The thing is, what the real world vehicle was supposed to be is confusing, though I suppose it was just a test.

(http://wiki.gcdn.co/images/1/1d/VK_1602_Leopard_pic3.jpg)

...That's my guess anyway. The Leopard pre-dated the Luchs, however that picture is called a Leopard almost everywhere I've looked. ...Despite the Luchs being a factor smaller than the Leopard and that vehicle having a Luch's turret, track and exhaust layout.

My proposed 750 points army list's changed again. Hopefully for the final time now. Unfortunately I'm now two squads short, but those'll be filled out with the Heer46 stuff I ordered. Whilst I await them, some terrain's being worked on again. ...Placing all those bricks is a bit draining though. Bits and bobs are coming along in small steps as well, but nothing solid yet (I'm up to three super heavies now...).

Anyway, more crap incomming eventually.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on April 15, 2017, 09:12:06 AM: Lots of neat stuff.

Those conversions/scratch builds are awesome.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on April 15, 2017, 01:52:35 PM: Great stuff as ever - I really like how the Lieutenant came out. I hadn't considered the CP models before, but you've made them look an attractive proposistion.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on April 15, 2017, 02:41:46 PM: I'd tell you to avoid them Ballardian. Once I have the Heer46 set I'll post a comparison, but the height difference between them and every other 28mm model I have is noticeable. If you can disguise that by mixing them in with regular guys then you may be able to get away with it; its just that the arms and legs are obviously longer and they stand about half a head above every other model.

They'd be ideal alongside 1/48th scale vehicles (for comparison I'm using the 48th stuff as Super Heavies compared to my 1/56th vehicles). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on April 15, 2017, 03:59:44 PM: Cheers for that, I'm certainly interested as to what they & the Heer 46 ones look like compared - the Heer 46 ones look like lovely sculpts, though they appear quite chunky.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on April 15, 2017, 04:37:57 PM: Lovely work as usual. Good luck with your Canadian parcel, the divers gave up on mine...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on April 15, 2017, 07:35:33 PM: @ Ballardian

Yeah, they look like they're based around Warlord's plastics scaling. Heer46 can take their time in sending out stuff, so it may be another week or more before they turn up.

@ Predatorpt

Heh, Jeff's comments on the Canadian postal service complaints section puts him in the same boat as us I think. Its supposed to be a 4-12 day service (though judging by people complaining that stuff they've sent to people within the same area turning up in another country doesn't speak well of that company at all). :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on April 29, 2017, 05:19:13 PM: Well next on the chopping block.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/29/873758_md-WIP%20E-25.JPG)

Its been sitting for a few weeks as I decided what to do with it, but there's the state of DieWaffenkammer's E-25. Its a nice kit, so I didn't want to go too overboard with any conversion work. Just some extra armour, Infra-red to make it look a bit more individual.

I've the E-25 APC and an E-10 sitting there as well, though with those I only really swapped about the stowage a bit. They're lovely models, so anyone buying them should be fine to use them out of the box really (along with the fair amount of extra gear which Jeff includes with them as well).

Oh, and thanks to Rich H for writing up those roles for using the E-Series in Bolt Action. Obviously casement mounted guns suck compared to those in turrets with that ruleset, but rule of cool and what not (pity as well though that there's little difference between the larger guns in that game). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on April 29, 2017, 05:59:39 PM: Looks great, nice schurzen & the addition of the IR gear is good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on April 29, 2017, 09:28:57 PM: Nice, waiting to see it painted.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 01, 2017, 03:10:27 AM: Its late here, so no spiel and Nazi death lasers as per usual, but well, here's the pictures. They're all from DieWaffenkammer's "After-45" range.

E-10 Tank Destroyer

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874117-E-10%20Tank%20Destroyer%20.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874116-E-10%20Tank%20Destroyer%20.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874118-E-10%20Tank%20Destroyer%20.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874119-E-10%20Tank%20Destroyer%20.JPG)

This one's mostly as is, though I did change out the stowage for some spare tows. Oh and made a new exhaust out of some rod. I nicked the camo scheme from Queeg's E-100 Krokodil. :P

E-25 Schützenpanzerwagen Ausf. A. (guess who pasted that name from the product page...)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874112-E-25%20APC.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874113-E-25%20APC.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874114-E-25%20APC.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874115-E-25%20APC.JPG)

Barring the out of the box stowage, I did remove the plate which the turret on the base model sits (which isn't found on the original image which Jeff based it on, but I guess is there for ease with casting/ for some practical reason. Hey, I'm not an engineer).

Tsk, one of the headlamps fell off. ¬¬

E-25 Tank Destroyer Asuf. A.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874121-E-25%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874120-E-25%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874122-E-25%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874123-E-25%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)

As per the WIP, this one had some tat shoved on it. The gun transport mount's from a Warlord IS-2 (which yes, I already managed to snap off 4 times whilst putting the thing together).

Now just to fill out the rest of those Entwicklung numbers. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 02, 2017, 06:05:37 PM: Nice.

Snow camouflage and snow effects are good.

Look forward to the rest of them.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 10, 2017, 02:31:25 AM: A couple of the current WIPs.

Opel Maultier and (mini) SWS supply truck

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/10/875866_md-WIPs.JPG)

The Maultier'll be an ambulance; I left the armour off originally, but well, thought that the patients could do with some extra protection as well. The SWS is undersized for what it should be (its meant to be based on a 5-ton truck instead of a 3-ton), but well, I didn't bother to look at the weight of the thing before I put it together. Oh well. :P

Hummel and Panther II

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/10/875865_md-WIPs.JPG)

During the war the most the real guys had on the Hummel was a mesh to protect against grenades (which I think was only included on the early versions), but well, adding a roof seemed appropriate for a late war conversion. Maybe I should turn the gun into a Panzerwurfkanone 10H64 and count it as a Nashorn? The Panther II lacks the jet engine which I included on the first one, but has the Ausf. F style the Czech Panther II has. I'll probably leave it as is, though its looking a little naked with that amount of stowage compared to my other stuff. Speaking of stowage...

Edit: actually the Hummel was armed with a 150mm gun. I'll add a muzzle break to it, as a better version was prototyped during the war, and adopted post-war by a few countries which had one.

That 4 wheeled Puma I posted ages ago

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/10/875867_md-WIPs.JPG)

Oddly I seen something like this in a journal from the 70s (...ah, if I can't remember exactly. Ironclad Paul had it), so I went and finished my own one. It doesn't look half bad in that configuration to me.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 10, 2017, 07:28:02 AM: Wonderful conversions.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 11, 2017, 12:44:25 AM: Raketenspinne

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/10/876181_md-Germans%2C%20Tank%2C%20Walker%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

One of the so called "Secrets of the Third Reich", the "Spinne" came out of a program to develop a specialised urban combat vehicle. A few were tested in central Russian, where they were supposed to be limited strictly to cities. In practice this could not be guaranteed, and due to the sensitive nature of the project they could not be simply left behind in the case of a retreat. On the open steppe their spindly legs faltered in the mud, even with ad-hoc snow shoes bolted on in the field.

Prior to his stroke the Fuhrer had called for much larger vehicles taking over a similar role to tanks to be built. Much like many other such projects these allegedly never left paper. The idea would later be resurfaced in a more functional format by the Luftwaffe as simple equipment carriers, though few were aware of their ancestry.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/10/876180_md-Germans%2C%20Tank%2C%20Walker%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

Yeah, this eventually popped up again. Still without the snow shoes. ...I just wanted it off of the "to-do" pile to be honest, as well, I've been threating over it falling and the bits going everywhere. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on May 11, 2017, 09:55:49 AM: I love your attention to detail and research in bringing history to life. (Zaloga's a hack.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 11, 2017, 10:10:18 AM: Very nice.

The rocket pod suits it.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 11, 2017, 03:01:57 PM: I like the Spinne conversion, the added plates on the legs look good & the multi-launcher goes really well on it.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 18, 2017, 11:16:16 PM: Plate make it look a lot more substantial.
Lets hope none of the rockets hangs up and smashes it face down into the mud!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 19, 2017, 12:36:52 AM: That thing can't fire forward without one of the rockets hitting the pintle MG. ;)

...Its a really dumb model. :D

Aye, no uploads at the moment here. I decided making some muddy roads would be a good idea, and promptly sucked up half a tub of water effects making them. So I'm out of that stuff at the moment for making more snow/ mud. The roads aren't finished (they need pools of water), and neither do the infantry/ trucks/ that Puma thing have any snow on them.

No, I haven't bothered my arse to order any more water effects yet...

Meh, just an excuse to make more crap which'll never be painted. The roads go along with 4 more ruins (screw sticking on all those loose bricks). No game shots till that terrain's finished off (eugh, and I suppose I'll need one of those fancy gaming mats to go along with it. Pity I haven't seen a muddy winter one. I suppose most people just stick to city boards or summer fields. ...Almost like fighting in some scummy Soviet backwater in winter's not an ideal situation).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 19, 2017, 06:52:15 AM: Quote from: Rich H on May 18, 2017, 11:16:16 PM
Plate make it look a lot more substantial.
Lets hope none of the rockets hangs up and smashes it face down into the mud!
I now have a video in my head of it being flung round the landscape by the rocket motor (in a Wiley Coyote style).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 19, 2017, 01:19:21 PM: See I accounted for that with the design. Normal operating specs of this thing is to have it neck deep in the mud with those spindly legs. They're fantastic hull down firing platforms (how else can people reach the tubes to reload the thing)! :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 19, 2017, 02:30:16 PM: Good point. ^___^.

Maybe it functions like the rocket packs that were trialled on the Universal Carriers?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 19, 2017, 03:57:23 PM: You've obviously discovered the real purpose of the pointy feet, to be driven into the ground to stop Panzerwerfer variants blowing themselves over.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 19, 2017, 04:39:33 PM: FFS, just noticed that I forgot to add the bloody rockets into the thing. Those launch tubes at the backs are all empty. That thing really must be difficult to reload! :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 19, 2017, 09:45:15 PM: Spin the launcher round then they can reload ;)

Nice idea with the 'firing position' mode :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 21, 2017, 05:34:36 PM: I managed to scrape out some of that water effects stuff so...

"Cougar" Scout Car

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878383_md-Coyote%20.JPG)

Following the near disastrous landings at Yalta the Luftwaffe put in an urgent request for their paratroopers to have some heavier form of mobile fire support in the field. Multiple solutions were proposed for a vehicle light enough to be airdropped, but carrying an armament of some substance. Of them a few bore field testing.

The "Cougar" was in function a simplified variant of the Sd.Kfz 234 "Puma" armoured car. In order to meet the weight requirements four of the eight wheels were removed and the chassis shortened. Even with the changes the vehicle didn't meet the bar **, however production went ahead due to the short time frame in which it could be produced (with very few changes being required of the existing tooling).

Admittedly the Cougar carried the same inherent flaws as the Puma when dealing with the Russian winter, but filled a gap in the Fallschirmjäger's arsenal. Eventually further rounds of trials would result in a more capable vehicle for the role, though by then many Cougars were already in service. Their light construction wouldn't serve the line well later in life, with them being less capable of upgunning than their larger parent, but some did see use (as with many of Germany's obsolete equipment) in secondary theatres.

** Presumably aiming for something in line with the 3 ton Universal Carrier. The Puma came in at over 10 tons. For comparison the M113, designed for a similar role, weighs 12 tons. ...Yeah, some number fudging was required in this case.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878384_md-Coyote.JPG)

A Warlord Puma with a few of the wheels lopped off. :P

The Puma as a 4x4 doesn't look that bad to be honest. Obviously its not kitted out for a muddy quagmire, but well, sticking tracks on the thing would be a bit questionable... As for the concept, I suppose its a simple solution for the problem proposed, rather than going down the lines of designing a tankette like the real German military did post-war. :)

I'd imagine that its competitors during development would've looked similar to those larger autonomous tracked mines the Germans were using late in the war (similar in function to the Goliath, and they did prototype some armed Borgward IVs - not just those ad-hoc ones used at Berlin). A project for another day perhaps.

Hummel SPG

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878385_md-Hummel.JPG)

Early production of the Hummel included a grenade shield to protect the crew. As the war progressed this was found to be inadequate protection. Whilst the Panzer III/IV was being removed from service, the last version of the Hummel included a fully enclosed crew compartment, along with an improved 10.5cm gun.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878386_md-Hummel.JPG)

I bought this yonks ago and forgot about it. I could've turned it into one of those APCs which Queeg made up, ah, but it seemed like a waste of all that resin (it'd be easier to make one from a plasticard Panzer IV with a load of plasticard). Instead I addressed the issue the real Hummel (and similar SPGs) had and gave the thing a roof ...which also deals with the whole freezing cold temperatures thing. Post-war the 10.5 had a muzzle break stuck on it, so I just pulled one off of a 1/48th kit.

Opel Maultier Ambulance

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878387_md-Opel%20Maultier%20Ambulance.JPG)

Well, they stuck tracks onto trucks to make them more suitable for the crap roads ...how about sticking on some extra armour as well when using the truck in this ad-hoc role?

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878388_md-Opel%20Maultier%20Ambulance.JPG)

I've been a bit tired of waiting on Rubicon releasing their Opel Maultier, so just stuck on some 251 tracks onto a Rubicon Opel Blitz. They don't look quite right (the real things mostly used bits from tankettes), but whatever. Originally just the cab had armour on it till I felt bad for the patients. :)

Fallschirmjäger

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/21/878382_md-Fallschirmj%26Atilde%3B%26curren%3Bger.JPG)

Spiel... 1950s paras. :)

Clockwork Goblin's German infantry are a lot nicer than their vehicles. The metal's software enough that cutting off the jetpacks wasn't too much of an issue, and barring just gap filling these're pretty much out of the box. Tsk, I should have added a bipod to one of the FG-42s (I think in practice they were supposed to be used as rifles, but one was issued for the MG role - which oddly enough post-war is what the American derivative was used for). I don't think that the real paras never did drop with those rifles though, I guess as the designers thought the guys would eventually go back to being paratroopers instead of regular infantry (post-war the StG-44 was used by other nation's paras, maybe due to more being captured).

I have two squads of Heer46 SS being painted on and off at the moment, which hopefully will be finished soon. Ah, that's not going to happen though as I said I'd make a Springer engineer vehicle on the Bolt Action Facebook group. Plus a new expansion for a game I play's coming out tomorrow so...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 21, 2017, 08:41:40 PM: Excellent conversions as ever.

The heavy 4x4 armoured car is great.

Interesting about the Clockwork Goblin infantry, nice work.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 21, 2017, 08:54:39 PM: Excellent stuff!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 22, 2017, 05:56:25 PM: Great conversions, seeing yours I'll definitely have to pick up some of those FJ's.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 24, 2017, 11:12:38 PM: The Springer came together fairly quickly tonight. I went for the driver's bay closed for ease/ it doesn't look as goofy (plus well, in a 28mm game the distances are that short that it'd be radio controlled anyway I guess). No comment on the size or individual angles, etc. As the Warlord Kettenkrad tracks aren't sized exactly alike the pictures of the Springer which I could find (and I couldn't be bothered making them from scratch) its not an exact copy obviously.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/24/879187_md-WIP%20Springer.JPG)

* The Springer's tracks had two extra road wheels than the Kettenkrad btw, thus the size difference.

I've converted over the larger Warlord Borgward IV Ausf.D now as well, but that was just a case of filling in the second crewman's position. Anyone know what period German military film cameras looked like? The Ausf.D was proposed to have a wireless camera attached to it which'd transit to the handler for better control, though obviously that never happened (and the Goliath/ Bowrgward IV were to be replaced by the Sd.Kfz 304 Springer anyway). Just a thing to add to the model to make it a bit more alt-history.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 25, 2017, 12:43:43 AM: And damn, just because its annoying me - the Springer isn't actually that massive...

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/24/879224_md-Springer%20Size.JPG)

(http://www.airbum.com/BlogPix/TTM-GermanSpringerACar-LW.jpg)

Doyle's / Doyle's in 1/56th scale/ the actual models measurements are:

Sd.Kfz 301 Schwerer Ladungstrager Ausf C (Borgward IV)
Length - 4.1 m / 7.32 cm/ 6.3 cm
Width - 1.83 m / 3.27 cm/ 3.7 cm
Height - 1.25 m / 2.23 cm/ 2.7 cm

Sd.Kfz 304 - Mittlerer Ladungstrager (NSU Springer)
Length- 2.4 m / 4.29 cm/ 5.4 cm
Width- 1.43 m / 2.55 cm/ 2.9 cm
Height - 1.45 m / 2.59 cm/ 2.2 cm

So my Springer's longer than it should by a smidge as the Warlord track drive wheel isn't positioned as steeply as the real one's/ I can't confirm Warlord's Kettenkrad is scaled rightly / I was mostly judging stuff by eye. Hopefully I messed up those measurements, otherwise Warlord's Borgward is really off...

Ah, but yeah, I think there was a point to this. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on May 25, 2017, 12:51:32 AM: Is there an award or the title of "Scratchbuilding machine" on LAF? Because it's yours :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 25, 2017, 12:57:35 AM: Sure, Rich and I will have a fight to the death over it! ;)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYm4dGsesB8/UTjZ4soFvlI/AAAAAAAACKY/JIb5UFlndx8/s1600/11-08.png)

Though seriously, I threw that thing together without thinking too much. I'd thought that the deadline on the Bolt Action Facebook group which I said I'd finish it for was the 30th of this month. Turns out its the 30th of next month. ...Seeing as I've already bloody finished most of the stuff which I pledged to do I guess I'll need to amend that and find something else to work on.

Ah, Maus, Lowe, or E-100 (...or well, E-90, as its a bit smaller than it should be)? :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 25, 2017, 07:10:21 AM: ;D

Love the springer.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 25, 2017, 08:18:19 AM: Excellent model.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 26, 2017, 03:37:42 PM: Nice job on the Springer :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Slayer on May 26, 2017, 04:52:21 PM: oh please do the E100.... :-*
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 27, 2017, 09:56:01 PM: Where one of my E-50s is sitting right now.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/27/879742_md-WIP%20E-50.JPG)

Sans greenstuff, as I'm waiting on that milliput at the back to dry before sculpting it as a rolled tarp.

If anyone's needing spare roadwheels/ tracks then Tamiya's 1/48th Tiger kits are ideal. I bought one to use the roadwheels for an E-25 (...which has been sitting as a WIP since I painted the first one), and they're pretty much the same size. I suppose with Company B's model they chose to go for the larger size, as IIRC the E-25's were supposed to be larger than the Tiger II's.

I tore off the track armour, as as I've mentioned in the other thread this thing is big. That and TBH I think it looks better without them, but that's personal taste.

Oh, and I swapped out the exhaust for a weird style of Tiger II which the Swedes managed to find in some depot post-war.

(http://i.imgur.com/gkxmZRK.jpg)

Anyway, this'll take priority over the other junk that's not already on my desk (which FYI is: 16 Kharkov SS, a supply truck, the Borgward IV, and the NSU Springer). With the other one I'll probably keep the turret for something else and just give it a casement instead as its really off putting how titchy the Panther turret is on the chassis (the larger one looks much better, as will hopefully the E-75 one when its hopefully released).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 28, 2017, 09:36:06 PM: And the other E-50M. I decided to just extend the turret on the other one, and to wait on Company B's casement variant.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/28/880041_md-WIP%20E-50M.JPG)

Besides that, I threw this together as well. A Jagdtiger ...One?

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/28/880042_md-WIP%20Jagdtiger.JPG)

Looks a bit British... :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 28, 2017, 09:50:47 PM: looks more ork to me! lol

great work again!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 28, 2017, 09:53:50 PM: I suppose I could have gone ahead and made this silliness. :)

(http://oi1060.photobucket.com/albums/t455/lnerj72a/Jagd-Sturmtiger/DSC08801.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 29, 2017, 01:45:03 AM: The big stuff's pretty and all, but having vehicles cheap enough to actually play a game with is nice too.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/29/880107_md-WIP%20Bergepanzer%20T-34%252F85.JPG)

Nothing too "weird" about this one compared to my other tanks. I was going to turn it into an engineer's vehicle, though covering it in spare tracks (or "dragon scale armour" as the Germans called it) seemed cooler. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on May 29, 2017, 08:14:35 AM: Has the turret got an additional bustle?

Nice collection of bits, is that a Panther skirt?

There are a number of calls for Rubicon to add a cupola to the next German stowage set.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 29, 2017, 09:03:00 AM: o_o
Looks very T-44
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 29, 2017, 02:40:41 PM: Yeah, I knicked the turret bustle off of a Warlord Panzer IV. The skirts come from a Rubicon Panther.

Personally what I want spares off are the commander's cupola/ hatches. I'm going to make a mold of the next one I have, as all these scratch builds seem to need them. :/

Ah, and as for a T-44 > incoming as soon as I can be bothered dumping the money on Blitzkrieg for their new T-54 kit. Soviets aren't really a priority at the moment...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 29, 2017, 04:05:46 PM: Nice job on the E-50s, I'm still in the process of adding extra detail to mine before I get to the stowage. Good call on the Tamiya 1/48 Tiger bits, I'd been scratching my head as to where to get some believable track links - I thought I was going to have to wait for the plastic WG Tiger II & nick them from that. (I'd looked at some 1/48 after-market tracks, but at £20+ it makes more sense to buy the Tiger kit - plus I'd heard that Tamiya UK were usually amenable to selling individual sprues). Looks like you'll cross the finish line first on this one, I'm still waiting for a turned metal barrel from Gaso.Line (their 1/48 KwK 42 L/70 75mm luckily ends up pretty much the same size as an 88 at 1/56) - it's probable that I'd end up pretzel-ing the pewter one before long.
I'm using the Schmalturm to make another Panther F, this time with steel wheels (thanks to Captain Blood's letting me take the unused late set from the Rubicon Tiger kit off his hands).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 29, 2017, 05:04:45 PM: I had plans for the E-50 kits, but I wound up just wanting to have them painted ASAP, so just stuck on the stowage.

If you want individual Tamiya sprues just find the kit number and sprue designation then email Tamiya. It'd probably be easier to do this through one of their UK retailers as they have a contact already. I just asked the guy who runs my local shop to order some in, though he did say that Tamiya looks down on people ordering more than a handful of sprues, as the service is supposed to be strictly for missing parts.

...Yeah, so I did order in some Tiger II sprues (the road wheels in 1/48th are the same size as the E-25s. Add some 1/56th Panther tracks and 1/76 drive sprokets and you have a full track assembly), but I CBA putting the Tiger box back together, so bought that kit for spares... (my mantra's to buy at least one thing from him every time I turn up). The guy'd had his window put in on Thursday last week there, thus why I suddenly have a T-34/85 kit here in case you were wondering. :P

Aye, the guns are as long as the in game ones, so really long (one of mine's already been bent at a right angle from dropping it. Damn I hate pewter barrels - those Heer46 Kugelblitz ones are the worst). My thoughts on this is that the Ausf. M is what came a few years later as potentially a true standard battle tank to replace both the 50 and 75 - being lighter than the 75, but with a competitive gun for the modern era.

If you're using the spare turret on another kit (the Warlord one or Rubicon's?) I'd recommend filling out the turret's underside with milliput ...unless you want the thing falling off during games. Even with 5 pence pieces under the rears, and the stowage they still tip up at the front a little. I suppose if you're going for an 88 instead of the 105 then that'll be less of an issue at least.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on May 29, 2017, 07:29:04 PM: Replacing thin barrels (like on the Kugelblitz) with brass or aluminium rod/tube is fairly easy & gives you a much more robust model (it's also pretty easy to get hold of from art shops).
I was planning to magnetise both turrets (it's the most secure way - barring glueing it down). The Panther F will need a 1mm or so plasticard shim to the turret so it contacts the bottom of the Rubicon turret well.
I look forward to seeing how yours turn out :)
Replacement turned metal barrels do avoid the dreaded banana gun look, & they are usually pretty cheap, (the Gaso.Line 1/48 Jagdpanzer IV one I bought for the E-50 was less than €4 & the RB Barrels one I got for the Panther F's 75mm - a 1/35 50mm KwK39 L/60 from a Panzer III J was under €3) - unless you want a muzzle break, in which case they're a bit more (but neither of these tanks need a gun with a muzzle break).

(Were the track links from Tamiya's Tiger I or II?)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on May 29, 2017, 09:05:35 PM: Huh, ah they're from the Tiger I. I think the Tiger I's will be a bit larger.

They're off by a few mms compared to the E-50 tracks, but someone would only notice if they pulled out a measuring tape.

I tossed the instruction manual unfortunately. The tracks/ roadwheels are sprue A in the Tamiya Tunisian Tiger kit if that helps. IIRC all the Tamiya Tiger I/ II kits had a very similar track/ roadwheel sprue (presumably all sprue A as well), so it'd just be a case of sourcing the box number. Oh, though at the time in the shop the retailer was confused, as oddly Tamiya were quoting almost the price of the box per sprue on their site, so it might be easier to go through a retailer and have them contact their distributor to save any hassle doing it yourself - Rich H probably has a hell of a lot more experience dealing with Tamiya though.

Anyway, back to paint. Although I have stuff which is almost finished, I can never be bothered with highlights, so I'm painting the E-50s (my default painting queue is tanks then everything else). Kind of annoyed that I didn't give them infra-red, but well, I'm not in the mood for waiting two weeks on an order from Heer46 (I'll just buy them out of those things next time I order so I don't have to worry; they're coming out with more of those SS that I want).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on May 29, 2017, 10:53:12 PM: Only done it the once!
I contacted the Tamiya UK distributor with the sprue letter and kit number.
It was for KV-1 track sprues and they were only about £3 each.
The kit has to be in production though.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f127/richardhumble/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/20150329_102816_zpspzxqgvhh.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 03, 2017, 08:04:54 PM: Righto...

E-50 Ausf.M

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881343_md-E-50%20Ausf.%20M.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881344_md-E-50%20Ausf.%20M.JPG)

Beutepanzer T-34/85

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881345_md-Beutepanzer%20T-34%252F85.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881346_md-Beutepanzer%20T-34%252F85.JPG)

Schwerer Wehmachtschelepper

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881351_md-Schwerer%20Wehmachtschelepper.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881352_md-Schwerer%20Wehmachtschelepper.JPG)

Borgward IV Ausf.D

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881349_md-Borgward%20IV%20Ausf.D.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881350_md-Borgward%20IV%20Ausf.D.JPG)

NSU Springer

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881347_md-NSU%20Springer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/3/881348_md-NSU%20Springer.JPG)

...And I'm too tired to type right now, so well there's yet lot. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 03, 2017, 09:02:52 PM: Great job on the E-50 (& everything else for that matter), love the colour scheme & the stowage looks fantastic.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 03, 2017, 09:03:22 PM: Excellent as always.

The E50 paint scheme is great.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 04, 2017, 01:56:38 AM: That stuff's been dumped in the cupboard rest the rest of my armour. I'm already making something else. :)

(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120903202133/ruse/images/4/4e/Hori2.jpg)

I said that I'd make a Japanese Type 5 Chi-Ri a while back. Well I've had Warlord's plastic Chi-Ha sitting about for a few weeks now, and its shuffled itself to the top of the kit pile. I'm not in the mood for making a whole turret at the moment, so'll go for the Tank Destroyer variant instead. The Ho-Ri II variant specifically (despite not having even finished the Chi-Ri they were already onto the Mk.2 TD) which had the forward mounted casement.

The convenient thing about Japanese tanks is that they share only 2-3 chassis. They just lengthened them out with each new generation. If I add a roadwheel onto the Chi-Ha kit then that's the basis for a few medium tanks, add another and you get the heavier Chi-Ri. If I had all the time in the world I've just buy up a few of that Warlord kit and churn them out. Well my local shop does have one more in stock, so well, maybe...

I quite like the look of this monstrosity (a use for Rich's Bolt Action vehicle design rules... ;) )

(http://i.imgur.com/8uJgQg2.jpg)

...I really ought to just play Tank Wars games and drop the infantry entirely. Well, at least I don't foresee ever bothering making any Japanese guys at least (ooh, unless they're funky looking ones. I think the Man in the High Castle has IJA soldiers with assault rifles...). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 04, 2017, 09:54:22 AM: Awesome! Make it! 8)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 04, 2017, 04:04:30 PM: Why not indeed.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on June 04, 2017, 10:18:54 PM: I just spotted this over on The Modelling News and thought it might prove interesting.....

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T12abW1E94/WTQMUk9vD0I/AAAAAAACEJs/5WsePZcaafUhAkdGPvyIHqp17DTRbRa2QCLcB/s640/Modelcollect%2B72nd%2BRheintochter%2B1%2BLauncher%2Bwith%2BE-100%2BBody%2B-%2B%2Bpic%2B01.JPG)

More details here;
http://www.themodellingnews.com/2017/06/in-boxed-andy-goes-small-scale-with.html#more

Tony
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 05, 2017, 08:47:07 AM: I assume that is supposed to be a blast shield rather than a gun shield.

Interesting read, well spotted.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 05, 2017, 09:50:36 AM: Aye, Paper Panzer Productions make one of those in 1/35th as well. You could probably put on together in 1/56th, but the rocket would be the hardest part. Either have a pair of 1/72nd scale ones side by side, or one of the smaller end of 1/35th (but that'd still be massive).

The Germans did have plans for field deployable stuff like this, but just on big metal plates instead of on tanks. I guess the concept's similar to what came later, though a bit of a waste of an E-100 (perhaps due to how redundant the E-100 would have been they instead tested them as mobile launch platforms to justify their cost...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 05, 2017, 01:12:43 PM: Heer 46 do make a Rheintochter & platform in 1/56, it's not currently in their shop, but I imagine if you dropped him a line you could find out availability.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 05, 2017, 02:35:18 PM: Is that new, or just OOP? Heer46 are a bit hellish when it comes to stock levels.

One of those would be more of an objective marker or piece of terrain more than anything else. I don't see people playing WWII games like they do Warhammer 40,000 > so no ballistic missiles being used as direct fire weapons...

(I bet someone's written rules for that thing in Bolt Action regardless)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 05, 2017, 04:01:31 PM: Heer 46 came out with it sometime last year & I can't remember whether it ever went into the shop. Seeing the Modelling News article reminded me of it - I also thought a couple would make an excellent objective marker (along with a radar station - the Sarissa one's quite good as long as you add some detail).
As I said, it's probably worth dropping him a line, I don't imagine it's a big seller compared to his other stuff, so I don't imagine he'd keep a large stock of it.

(I think he also did a stand for it, so it didn't have to be mounted on a vehicle.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 05, 2017, 04:18:24 PM: I can see it being an objective, clearing a corridor through the AA ring for a bombing mission or para/glider assault.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 05, 2017, 04:31:59 PM: Wait, what's that its mounted on? Some sort of Tiger? Don't think they sell one of those on their shop (unless its an upscale of their smaller stuff).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 05, 2017, 04:46:43 PM: It's their 1/48 Lowe - there's two variants, gun tank & AA.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 05, 2017, 05:49:31 PM: Ah, if that's their Lowe then the mount will be 1/48th. Unless they're suddenly selling the Lowe in 1/56th (re: whatever happened to that 1/56th Lowe which was toting about). :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 05, 2017, 06:47:17 PM: I believe the missle is in 1/56, (I could be wrong, but I'm fairly sure) he put it on the Lowe because... well just because you could. Plus you'd need a pretty big mobile platform & the Lowe is the only thing he's got at that sort of size.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 05, 2017, 08:13:02 PM: Why do people keep prodding me and telling me to buy things? I need to buy food and ...stuff. Ah, I'll wait till Heer46 release something else shiny. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 11, 2017, 07:38:31 PM: Been a bit quiet, so here's a few of the WIPs which I have sticking about.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/11/883197_md-WIPs.JPG)

Ho-Ri II, Hungarian style Panther, Katzchen with Wurfrahmen 40.

The Ho-Ri II needs a gun (not the hull one, which needs to be cut down btw), but I'm stumped whether to make one myself, or if maybe there's something available commercially? The Panther's the result of me having an IS-2 kit sitting there which was missing its turret, so I stuck on some Rubicon Panther bits- the end result turning out something like a Hungarian 44M Tas or one of the original Panther Prototypes. Ah, and the Katzchen's been sitting for months awaiting a Stummel. Seeing as I decided to pick up the Heer 46 one (out of morbid curiosity), I had to do something with it (and I already have enough 251 counts as).

...I really need to paint some terrain. I have 4 ruins the size of the one I posted way back needing seen to.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 11, 2017, 08:25:23 PM: More interesting kit.

Look forward to seeing them finished.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 11, 2017, 10:20:51 PM: Leave the hull gun - it's an attempt to up the pen without changing too much.

Could make the main gun a large siege mortar? Like some of the last German designs
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 12, 2017, 06:35:00 PM: Good looking builds as usual - if you're strapping Wurfrahmen onto things, how about this? It's one of the suggestions for the possible uses for the 'mystery brackets' found on the Littlefield Collections Panther when pulled out of the swamp ;)
(It seems as reasonable a hypothesis as any - they're a bit large for the attachment points of any known spaced armour - interestingly there are also some pictures of a Tiger I sporting the same.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 12, 2017, 06:43:34 PM: @Rich H

I'll stick to the original gun that Japanese tank already had, I just need to find a lathed one somewhere (probably a 1/48th 75mm).

@Ballardian

The things you see attached to those damn brackets...

The E-100 had similar ones, though those were used for the track armour (which had to be removed for transport).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 12, 2017, 07:08:04 PM: Generally, turned barrels for 1/48 50mm guns are about right for a 75mm at 1/56 (the range is a bit smaller than those available at 1/35, but RB Barrels might have what you're looking for). You just have to find something with the profile you're after - Hannants in the UK has most of their range & they are cheap (unless you want something with a muzzle break, which tends to double the price or more). You could also order direct from RB Models if that's all you want (Hannants have a £10 minimum spend & the barrel is about £3)
(I'm using one of their 1/48 KwK 38 L60 50mm's for the steel wheel Panther F on the workbench.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 13, 2017, 10:06:06 AM: Quote from: Ballardian on June 12, 2017, 06:35:00 PM
(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=92873.0;attach=62937;image)

Damn, now that I look at that; I could always do with another Panther II... Four'd be overkill though.

Wait, I have a Maus sitting there. Pah, overkill. :)

...I do like that Rubicon Panther kit. I'll need to see if my local shop's ordered one in (they had their windows put in a few weeks back, so all orders have been on hold unfortunately).

Meh, I should have a Warlord order waiting for me when I get home. I've been reading Panzer Tracts lately and seen they had a Panzer II with a 75mm in a casement mount in there which looked cool... :D

Damn, I just used up my last spare 75mm on that Hungarian Panther thing. Guess I'll need to buy that Rubicon Panther after all. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 13, 2017, 12:10:57 PM: Side of the maus turret. THe rocket exhaust isn't going to worry the top armour
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 14, 2017, 12:00:17 AM: Heh, well, the issue with the Maus turret's that if you wanted to reload the damn things you'd need a step ladder. ...And well the rockets supposedly were heavy. :(

Nah, just go for a set of ATGMs or a multiple rocket pod instead like they wanted to fit onto missile interceptors (just as accurate...). ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 18, 2017, 06:30:03 PM: Hey youknow all those WIPs I posted over the past few weeks? Yeah forget about those, here's some other crap. :D

Katzchen

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884355_md-Katzchen.JPG)

Another Katzchen, this time by Die Waffenkammer. With the new UK retailer I wanted to dump some cash as support, and well have an order in with Heer 46 for their Katzchen as well. I'll compare the two whenever the other shows up.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884356_md-Katzchen.JPG)

Panther II

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884357_md-Panther%20II.JPG)

Yup, another of these. Not as heavily armoured as the first, though I like the look of the thing, so wanted another. ...Whether I make yet another is conjecture. ;)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884358_md-Panther%20II.JPG)

And finally. ;)

Maus Mk.1

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884354_md-Maus.JPG)

One of the few Super Heavy tanks to see production in any numbers, the Maus entered service under insistence of the Fuhrer himself. The history of the Maus was more politicing than engineering, as Hitler and Speer were at loggerheads over the viability of the whole project.

The Mk.1 was quickly replaced by the Mk.2, though neither were entirely practical. In the field they were nigh useless in open battle, liable to breakdowns and with their slow speed mitigating any protection the inch thick armour provided. Most were eventually relegated to defensive positions in counter offensives, or even turned into ad-hoc bunkers rather than being the unstoppable behemoths which Hitler had envisioned.
This is a particularly rare example of a Mk.1 which remained in field service, though it was quickly abandoned by the crew following the retreat from the besieged city of Kamenaka. Similar to other German heavy tanks, the Soviets typically didn't bother pressing them into their own service, the Maus being far inferior to their own heavy tanks in terms of general battlefield use, regardless of how formidable it was.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884353_md-Maus.JPG)

God I hate the Maus. The thing is very of its time, more of a propoganda piece and wishful thinking than something which'd ever had survived on the front lines. Its a staple of the period and the alt-history setting, so I had to buy one, I don't have to like it though... Maybe I should have just turned it into a bunker? :)

A Blitzkrieg 1/56th Maus. I was going to pick up one of these eventually; Warlord coming out with there's seemed like the right excuse. Warlord's looks like the better of the two models, but well, it was out of stock when I originally bought this. I lost some of the bits, so had to give it an autocannon instead of a 75mm for its co-ax mount, though I suppose that could be counted as a field modification. Stowage is by Diewaffenkammer. The commander is a 1/48th Tamiya Greyhound crewman, with a Warlord Tiger commander head and a winter coat added (looking like a battleship captain...).

Going from one of the largest German tanks, here's one of the smallest - the Panzerkleinzerstörer "Rutscher".

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884359_md-WIP%20Rutscher.JPG)

The Rutscher was a late war concept. Originally the idea was that the enemy's guns would always be becomming better, so why bother trying to protect against them? Instead how about sticking the most competative gun (twin PAW-600 firing HEAT rounds - only 250 of the crew served variant being built by the end of the war - which I intend to make as well) onto the lightest chassis possible? The concept later resurfaced as an alternative to the US Hellcat, though with the oversight that the Hellcat had a turret...

This one's made in the style of the 7-10 variant, being built off of a 1/72nd Panther. It was part of the E-series, so commonly misnamed an E-5. Rather the production model was supposed to be 3.5 tons - where built from custom parts, but this is the heavier model - made from existing resources.

Yeah, and it is tiny. Smaller than an E-10. :D

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884360_md-WIP%20Rutscher.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 18, 2017, 06:40:38 PM: Ncie work as ever - Treat the PAW-800 as long range Panzershrecks?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 18, 2017, 06:46:01 PM: Doesn't Bolt Action already have rules for HEAT weapons, or just Shaped Projectiles? I think the Germans were wanting to replace the PAK 40 with the the PAW, so I'd considered just counting it as a Hetzer or something - though it'd be preferable to write some custom rules. It'd be really bent of I actually played a game with it though...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 19, 2017, 07:58:12 AM: That is cute.

Shaped Charge is an effect in Bolt Action (no range effect on penetration, penetration reduced by side skirts - I think).

Otherwise it is deciding on range. I know nothing about the weapon.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 19, 2017, 08:00:24 AM: The other models are excellent.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 19, 2017, 08:01:24 AM: Paw 600 on Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_cm_PAW_600 (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_cm_PAW_600)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 19, 2017, 04:39:42 PM: Yes the Shaped charge in BA means no loss of penetration for range (that's all now)
The PAW was a Hi-Low weapon resulting in a low muzzle velocity.

This limited their range but still better than a PS.

I'd go for a Light AT gun (48" range) but +6 pen and a 1" HE template. Probably 75+ points?
Very dangerous...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 19, 2017, 10:36:58 PM: Probably Hetzer stats, with some morph of the thin armour rules, along with that gun. Whether the point that there's two guns is relevant or not, or if it just counts as a faster reload/ has no effect is probably moot. That gun is already broken enough.

Just stick the thing hull down in a bush at the edge of the board and await a mortar shot...

Oh, and whenever my Warlord order shows up (damn, over a week and not shipped...) the plan's to make one of these:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBmOp9EUoAEvr3D.jpg:large)

A Luchs with a 75mm gun. They'd intended to give the Leopard a casement gun like this, but went for the Luchs instead after the Leopard was cancelled.

...Yeah, another bent light tank with a massive gun (I may be running out space on the shelf...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 20, 2017, 12:11:10 PM: PAW-600 - Medium AT gun but range reduced to 48" Gunsheild, 2 man crew, regular 70 points
As for the twin mount I'd say this:

Special rule - overworked crew.
Each barrel starts loaded but only one can be reloaded per turn.
The gun can therefore fire twice on the first turn and then once per turn after that or can forgo a turn of firing to reload the second barrel.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 20, 2017, 12:25:34 PM: Nice work, I love the Rutscher :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 20, 2017, 01:08:06 PM: The Bolt Action rules allow a vehicle to fire at multiple targets right? Hmn, for the cost of the vehicle being able to fire twice on one turn at two different targets could be beardy. As a light tank it wouldn't be expected to live, but players could bring that thing on, blow up two of the most expensive units on the table, then not disregard it. :D

Having it fire at a single target would be preferable, though that'd also mean that if it destroyed them with the first shot, the next turn another target would have 2 chances at destruction, and so on. Meh, I guess that's the point though.

...Maybe I should have stuck with the version which had a single gun. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 20, 2017, 05:54:32 PM: Not from a twin mount, both have to fire on the SAME target - hence it's that great a weapon. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 01, 2017, 08:00:03 PM: (http://d2ev13g7cze5ka.cloudfront.net/rsm/rsm92197_0_1492653606.jpg?v=1492653606)

This kit can go die in a well. More updates pending me taking a hammer to that damn model.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 02, 2017, 08:43:52 AM: That under cart is weird.

So, are they a manufacturer to avoid?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 02, 2017, 02:53:19 PM: I managed to put on one part of the wings the wrong way round as the instructions have details which aren't there on the models, and whilst they numbers, the actual sprues do not... At a point I just gave up working out how some of the pieces fit, and'll just milliput in those areas.

Bonus points though, I'd imagine the same company makes the original ME.309 which this the Me.609 was based on (literally just strapping two of the 309s together). Barring the odd part you could get two planes out of this kit instead of one.

I gave up on that thing and started building some more tanks instead. Doing some actual inventory, and not counting the infantry, I'm seeing that I have this lot as WIPs at the moment (all like a few hour's work each from finishing, if that):

4x Brick ruins
A table's worth of muddy roads
Some deciduous trees

Pak 40
10.5 Howitzer
PAW 600
sPzB 41

Bergepanther
Jadtiger
Sturmgeschütz Panzer II Luchs
Beutepanzer T-34/85
Panzer IV APC
Ho-Ri Tank Destroyer
Lowe
Katzchen with Wurfrahmen 40
Sd.Kfz 251 with Panzer III tracks
E-25
E-100 looking thing
IS-2 Panther thing
AMX Chasseur de chars

(these tanks are mostly painted, but not been bothered to finish them)
Jagdtiger I
E-50 Ausf. M
E-75
Beutepanzer T-70
Kettenkrad
Rutcher
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 02, 2017, 05:22:50 PM: Enough to keep you busy then? :D Do we get to vote on which one we'd like to see finished (I'm intrigued by your 'IS 2 Panther thing' - was that the Hungarian Tas you showed is a little while ago? - I'd also love to see the 'E-5' Rutscher with some paint on.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 02, 2017, 05:40:24 PM: Aye, the Hungarian style Panther I made from that IS-2. I'm not sure I really like the turret on that. I might eventually swap it out for a completely new one.

Heh, and well, I'll finish off whatever I'm in the mood to touch that day. I CBA painting stuff, so just build another tank most of the time then stick it in the pile with the rest of the unpainted stuff. I ought to make a roster of just what I have painted actually...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 02, 2017, 06:00:30 PM: Checking through the boxes of tat this is what looks painted. ...There's probably a workable 1000 points army in there. ;)

--------------

Infantry -

1x Heer Officer
1x SS Officer

1x Flamethrower

1x 8 man squad with Assault rifles
1x 8 man squad with rifles
1x 8 man squad SMGs

4x 8 man Kharkov SS squads with rifles

1x 8 man SS squad with Assault Rifles
1x 8 man SS squad in Power armour with Assault Rifles

1x paratrooper squad with Assault Rifles

-----------

Vehicles -

Light Tanks -
Sloped Armour Panzer II

Medium Tanks-
Beutepanzer T-34/85
Sloped Armour Panzer IV

Heavy Tanks-
2x Panther II
1x Czech Panther II
1x Sloped armour Tiger I
1x E-50 Ausf. M

Super Heavies -
Maus Mk.1

Flak Vehicles -
Kugelblitz 38(t)

Self Propelled Guns -
Hummel

Tank Destroyer
2x Jagdpanzer III/IV mit 75mm
E-15
Jagdtiger II
Jagdpanther II

Armoured Cars -
Cougar

Demolition Vehicles -
Borgward IV
NSU Springer

Trucks-
SWS
2x Armoured Opel Blitz
Sd.kfz 251 with Panzer III tracks
Mammut

APCs-
E-25 APC
3x Katzchen
T-34 APC
Panther APC
Panther LVT

Walkers -
Spinne

--------------

I have a crap ton of unpainted infantry, but well 5 squads of riflemen seem like enough for the average game. Tsk, I'm short on Panzerfausts and standing LMG teams for a few of them though (I don't like having squad level weapons teams on the same base - I prefer keeping them separate).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 02, 2017, 07:21:49 PM: Wow, that is a lot.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on July 02, 2017, 09:01:31 PM: PICS !?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 02, 2017, 09:18:21 PM: Huh, wait what like all together? Eugh, but I have so much unpainted crap...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on July 09, 2017, 08:26:24 AM: More inspiration?

http://www.themodellingnews.com/2017/07/dual-build-modelcollects-v-i-vs.html

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ur0Q8NBGhk/WV9ML6GLadI/AAAAAAACFVU/goDepfhUk7g3tI8FdaTBe9cFYqxbencNwCLcBGAs/s1600/Modelcollect%2B72nd%2BRheintochter%2BV-%2B1%2BLauncher%2Bwith%2BE-100%2BBody%2B%2Bbuild%2B%2B%25281%2529.jpg

Tony
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 10, 2017, 02:55:41 AM: As objective markers perhaps... So many projects, so little time...

On that note, an interesting read (and well potential modelling opportunity):

(https://scontent.flhr4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17190909_403596203323684_740627890997565948_n.jpg?oh=c453ea2746ea39b1b1b020af2d113262&oe=59CE1A2E)

(http://www.phpshopxml.com/client/blamod/tmb/BL35041K-H-325-W-500-S-120354.jpg)

"Accidental Journey," by Mark Lynton, who served in 3rd RTR, 11th AD.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Journey-Cambridge-Interns-Memory/dp/0879518480/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204720599&sr=1-2

"We moved from Neumuentser to Bad Segeberg that same day - an idyllic little resort town by a lake and surrounded by immense pine forests...some of our divisional patrols reached both Luebeck and Flensburg without encountering any resistance, and Eleventh Armored had effectively cut Germany in two. west of the dividing line, on the British side, the German forces were dissolving in a relatively orderly fashion; neither side made any attempt to fight, and the Germans, sometimes in large formations, at times in small groups, all of them frequently still armed, were trudging off in various directions, most of them presumably heading for home...O)n our second night in Segeberg, the first in a while on which we all had baths, a change of socks and underwear, and a concomitant attitude, one of the tank sentries reported a German officer outside, who was insisting on seeing someone who spoke German. That was how it all began.

Hauptmann Geiger was a short, swathy, twinkle-eyed man, about my age, massively self-assured and no wonder. A Knight's Cross was not unusual onm a Panzer captain, but the 'hand-to-hand combat clasp' in gold was. (Hitler invented the weirdest nomenclature for decorations.) This particular bauble meant that Geiger had fought hand-to-hand at least twenty-five times, which, for a tank person, is either heoric or careless. He was wearing a full German tank uniform, a rather stunning ensemble based, I always suspected, on some road company performance of Lehar (a composer who could fairly be called a Hungarian Gilbert & Sullivan), which Hitler may have seen as a young man. Jet-black all over (tankmen were frequently confused with Waffen SS, which upset both parties) with a profusion of scarlet and silver pipings, black half-calf boots ending in some nifty black plus fours (rather like a golfer in the morning), and a liberal sprinkling of death head insignas (another SS-related gimmick that made for misunderstandings), the overall impression was faintly ludicrous, but German tank crews were nothing to laugh at.

Geiger had informed me that his unit had had us under surveillance for the past few days and gave me a totally accurate report of our itinerary to prove it...his commanding officer had come to the conclusion that we would be the people he would surrender to, provided we observed his conditions. these simply were, that the unit - with all the men and equipment - should be handed over directly to a British team of technicians and scientists, and go with them to England, rather than be detained in any local prisoner's cage.

Geiger went on to explain that his was one of two tank units that had been in operation on the Russian front using equipment so secret and so effective that it represented another era in tank warfare. Their sister unit had been wiped out, but not before destroying whatever the gadget was (which clearly had limits to its effectiveness; otherwise how come?)...Geiger assured me that our scientists would be simply ecstatic at the sight of whatever they had...So I joined Geiger in his Kuebelwagen (the military forerunner of the Volkswagen and almost as good as a jeep), and we drove for about twenty minutes out of Segeberg and along various forest paths till challenged by first one sentry, and fifty yards beyond, another, and yet another; the kind of security you associate with guarding the Coca Cola formula! We ended up in the depths of the forest, in the middle of a tank leaguer, all of them Tigers, Panthers, and Jagdtigers (A Jagdtiger, like a Jagdpanther, did not have a rotating turret, but carried an extra-heavy gun mounted on a fixed platform and was principally used to destroy other tanks) - about as scary a sight as I had seen since Normandy. everything and everybody looked alarmingly competent, tough and neat, and if anyone was playing at soldiering around here, I was the only one. The officer commanding the whole lot, a Count Dohna-Strelitz, littered with decorations just like Geiger, was impeccably courteous but managed to convey the evident disparity in our ranks, experience, and social backgrounds did not warrant idle conversation. It took five minutes to establish 'ground rules,' and another five for the entire unit to be on its way, and out we came again from the woods, Geiger and I leading the convoy in his Kuebelwagen, and a 88-mm gun of the first Tiger literally ten feet behind us, the closest I have ever been to a moving Tiger. Do not let them tell you any different - it was scary.

There must have been about twenty of these monsters and perhaps thirty half-tracks and trucks, and the whole lot came thundering into Segeberg to the bafflement and apprehension of the locals, who had very much an 'enough already' attitude as far as the war was concerned. To their evident relief, this did not turn out to be some last ditch counteroffensive; instead all the Tigers, Panthers, and trucks formed up in a leaguer on the local football field, tightly guarded by their own crews, and we, in turn, had a guard ring around them - real Chinese box fashion.

...Geiger and Count Dohna, evidently convinced of our zeal and our discretion, promised us a tiny preview that night, just a glimpse, rather like throwing a single fish to a seal.

It was a moonless night, and I was once again heading out into the countryside. Geiger was at the wheel and Teddy and I were in the back of that Kuebelwagen. First he drove at a speed which dimmed-out headlights allowed, then he switched them off and really hit the accelerator. It was so dark a night that we could barely see him in the front seat, and while he had not given the impression of being nuts, I guess you do not have to be Japanese to go kamikaze. Before we could think of some way of saving ourselves, Geiger just as abruptly slowed down, stopped, and suggested that Teddy take the wheel and watch the road through a particular portion of the windscreen. Teddy did, said, 'well, I'll be damned' and proceeded to go even faster than Geiger.

Then it was my turn, and there it was: if you looked through a rectangular area in the windscreen, maybe six-inches-by-four, the entire road ahead was clearly visible in a pale greenish light for perhaps fifty yards or more. That was it - the 'black searchlight,' as some garbled press reports called it many years later. Geiger told us that every tank and vehicle in his unit was fitted with it, that the tank beam was considerably longer and had enabled them to mount numerous successful night attacks against Russian armor. I have no idea how it worked, and I doubt whether they knew; the fact was that, if you threw a switch, you got that beam, which was totally invisible unless you looked through the screen.

So we drove right back to the mess and called our masters then and there, told them all about it and expressed the conviction that if they showed no interest the Yanks would, which was one sure way to get some reaction out of them. Needless to add, the Americans got it in the end, but at least we tried.

By the morning the place was swarming with eggheads and security wallahs, one peering and poking about and the other making us swear all kinds of blood oaths that we had not seen what we had seen, and by mid-day everybody was gone...I never saw any of them again nor heard anything about the gadget , until sometime in the 1960s, when there were press reports about night-fighting equipment of extraordinary efficacy, which British and American tanks had been using in Korea, and of which prototype was a German World War II development."
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 10, 2017, 09:35:02 AM: Very good.

Are they the same AIR scopes as the ones on tanks?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 10, 2017, 11:58:43 AM: I don't think they had the time to mass produce any other type...

The actual pictures of vehicles I've seen usually had the scope and light on individual mounts like that - as opposed to how Heer 46 do their's. However having individual ones for driver/ gunner make sense as they'd be looking at different things (that and the single mounts make things easier to cast).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 10, 2017, 03:41:48 PM: I put a link to your post here on the Rubicon wishlist thread on IR gear.

We live in hope they put them in the next stowage/accessories set.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 10, 2017, 06:01:26 PM: Rubicon's life cycle is something like nine months minimum, so I wouldn't hold out on anything unfortunately. :(

Anyhow, catching up on other projects here. I have a load of stuff which I could finish without too much effort, but I'm re-prioritising bits and bobs instead (as I can live with 6 less tanks for a week). The Lowe's been pushed up the WIP chain seemingly just so I can have a Super Heavy tank for every month of Warlord's pledges... :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 10, 2017, 11:40:27 PM: Finished putting together this pair -

7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70 mit Kugelblende auf VK903 (...Panzer II Luchs with a 75mm gun)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/10/889953_md-WIP%20Luchs%20with%2075mm%20.JPG)

Re: that late war German concept of sticking as large a gun as possible in a light chassis.

And the Lowe.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/10/889954_md-WIP%20Lowe.JPG)

Which isn't a 100% faithful recreation, but its as much as I could be bothered to do. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 11, 2017, 08:58:41 AM: Wow!
I am reminded of the gun from "Men In Black". Does it get a free retreat move after firing?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 11, 2017, 05:27:26 PM: Wow indeed, gunnery in that vehicle would have been exciting, though probably not in a good way. Nice work on the Lowe - based on a 1/48 Ferdinand/Elefant?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 11, 2017, 10:43:51 PM: Yeah, its the Tamiya Elephant kit. Putting together those 1/48th scale tracks is godawful. :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 12, 2017, 12:17:19 AM: Link & length aren't they (I've never made any of their 1/48 stuff), at least it's not all individual links (did a couple of 1/35 Pz II L's a few years ago, my last large scale models & the tracks were an arse-ache). At least nowadays providing a jig to assemble the tracks on is becoming more common.
(That said, I love the Fruil metal tracks.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 12, 2017, 12:35:20 AM: I winged about the track links when I bought it, assuming that the kit was ancient, so allowable. Apparently its pretty new. The individual links give more detail, and are good for conversions, but you always wind up with one link which is out of place.

Anyhow, painting terrain right now. I'll get around to posting junk tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 13, 2017, 09:12:58 PM: Crap dump time :P.

Edit: not sure if the images are blurry on your end, but they look weird to me. Using a different source with some of the tank pictures to see if that fixes it, so they'll probably look different.

E-75
(http://orig15.deviantart.net/0495/f/2017/194/6/f/e_75_by_frufruhm-dbg6y7u.jpg)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890499_md-E-75.JPG)

A Warlord Tiger II with pretty minimal changes. I just slapped a bit of plasticard on the front and changed out some of the engine deck bits for a Panther's. I'm not happy with the mantle; I change it over to look a bit different, but it needs more detail. I'll swap it out for something else on the next E-75.

Beutepanzer T-70

(http://orig05.deviantart.net/a9d6/f/2017/194/7/3/beutepanzer_t_70_by_frufruhm-dbg6yk9.jpg)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890503_md-Beutepanzer%20T-70.JPG)

I can't remember what the official German name for the Soviet T-70 was. Just a Warlord model with Die Waffenkammer Stowage. What? I need something to count as a Panzer III; I can't just play games with a load of Tigers...

Yeah, I should have a T-80, but my heart wasn't into scratchbuilding a turret.

Panzerkleinzerstörer Rutscher
(http://orig02.deviantart.net/6431/f/2017/194/1/a/panzerkleinzerstorer_rutscher_by_frufruhm-dbg6ynj.jpg)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890501_md-Rutscher.JPG)

Look who pasted that name off of Google... The road wheels are cut down from a 1/72nd Panther. The lower hull's off of a 1/72nd Tiger II. Tracks are Die Waffenkammer Panzer IV's and the rest's plasticard and loose bits. That's supposed to be factory red primer with a slapjob camo on top.

I've bothered my arse to paint up some terrain as well, so I can actually get around to playing a game at some point. Still a few bits to go before then.

More ruins made from Mars Attacks kits. Panzer III by Rubicon (this is what I stole the tracks off of for that tracked Sd.Kfz 251)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890505_md-Ruins.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890506_md-Ruins.JPG)

And a resin ruin. It had Armorcast's name on one side, so I think it was originally for retailers or something.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890504_md-Ruins.JPG)

Trees. ...Trees are cool. By Woodland Scenics. I have a dozen, probably will need to buy some more (who am I kidding, they'll just get knocked over all the time).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890507_md-Trees.JPG)

And some muddy roads. Basecoated brown dirt with varying browns + water effects smeared over them. Its probably not super obvious, but there's loads of puddles on these.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/13/890508_md-Roads.JPG)

On the terrain front I've another brick ruin to paint (its beneath the tank pile), plus tank traps and railway tracks. That'll be about what I can manage by this Tuesday (I'll fill out the rest with whatever scatter terrain I have in the other terrain boxes). Tanks wise my painting table still have the same stuff on it > Jagdtiger (on the Tiger I chassis), Regular Jagdtiger (nah, nothing fancy like the 150mm whif), E-50 Ausf. M, Luchs with a 75mm, Lowe, Kettenkrad and a captured KV-I with Panzer IV 75mm.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 15, 2017, 03:23:21 AM: And well seeing as my last post got lost down the page, here's some more crap. :P

Lowe

(http://pre11.deviantart.net/fcc6/th/pre/f/2017/195/4/2/lowe_by_frufruhm-dbgcpqb.jpg)

The Lowe was one of Germany's earlier attempts at a Super Heavy Tank. Intended to support Tiger I units as a command vehicle as well as a breakthrough Tank. The Lowe was supposed to integrate parts of the Tiger and Panther designs, though it never left the drawing board. Rather the Fuhrer cancelled further development in favour of even larger tanks.

This represents the command vehicle of the 4th Company, thus the simplified numbering system.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/15/890681_md-Lowe.JPG)

(yes the cross is at an angle on the left side. Shut up)

A Tamiya 1/48th Scale Elefant kit was the donor for the tracks and lower hull - the rest's plasticard or milliput. There's a lot of inconsistencies between this and the original proposals, though seeing as nobody's commercially making one of these in 1/56th I feel like I can take liberties. Its a bit bigger than it should be I think, but not like anyone will care ("hey, that's a weird looking Panther...").

Beutepanzer KV-1

(http://pre07.deviantart.net/d8c3/th/pre/f/2017/195/8/a/beutepanzer_kv_1_by_frufruhm-dbgcp72.jpg)

Yet another Soviet vehicle seeing use in German service. This one is perhaps a bit more involved from a mechanical standpoint; having been upgunned with the 75mm gun from a Panzer IV. By the late 40s this would have been a thoroughly obsolete vehicle when facing off against most modern vehicles; being too slow and under armed to compete.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/15/890679_md-Beutepanzer%20KV-1.JPG)

A Warlord KV-1 with the gun, mantlet and cupola off of a Rubicon Panzer IV (I have a load of those spare). The commander's by Warlord, the stowage and guy hitching a ride are by Die Waffenkammer. I saw the original vehicle which this is based on a while ago and with Warlord's plastic KV-1 kit coming out thought I'd give it a go. Not that radical conversion (nor completely accurate - the real one had the gun recessed into the existing mantlet), just something I threw together whilst making more road sections.

Eugh, and screw painting Balkenkreuz on white backgrounds...

(https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/thumb/5/5c/Kv1-beute-pzkw7561-1.jpg/435px-Kv1-beute-pzkw7561-1.jpg)

VK 903 Mit Pak 42

(http://pre02.deviantart.net/fba4/th/pre/f/2017/195/a/c/vk903_mit_pak_42_by_frufruhm-dbgcp8l.jpg)

There's not much to go on with this one besides just some pictures in Panzer Tracks I found. A Panzer II Luchs mounting a 75mm gun out of a Panther. I can't make comment on the viability of this concept, and well it didn't make it further than a wooden mockup. The Germans tried sticking massive guns in all kind of light chassis, so something must have made sense for them to keep trying it. Post-War the French did something similar, though featuring auto-loaders; so perhaps the concept was just ahead of its time.

...That or just incredibly stupid. Lemme stick a 128mm onto a 38(d). Wait, I think they tried that.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/15/890683_md-VK903%20Mit%20Pak%2042.JPG)

A Warlord Panzer II Luchs with a spare Panther 7.5cm gun and a load of plasticard. Another easy one to build. I like how this thing looks; like a Late-War Marder. :)

I still need go out and buy some more brown paint to finish the rest of the terrain off. Once that's done I'll hopefully get around to painting the three tanks I have left on my table then I can get back to throwing some more together.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on July 15, 2017, 01:22:10 PM: Nice work.

That KV would still be a nasty surprise for a Sherman. Can pop holes in them at 1.5km and is largely impervious to return fire at that range. Just very slow...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 15, 2017, 02:53:39 PM: More nice work, I love the Rutscher & the Beutepanzer looks great :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 15, 2017, 03:15:57 PM: Well, the Sherman doesn't exist in this setting. I wonder what the US would be making instead...

...It is kind of annoying not being able to use late-war Allied stuff here. I could easily justify it, but that's what's kept me off of buying one of those Super Heavies by Die Waffenkammer. I might get away with a T-14 British tank just for the hell of it. :)

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dd93d55f348c82cbd3572b8a8bbb656e.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 15, 2017, 03:25:13 PM: There's a second option using elements of the T-14 hull with a bit of Churchill thrown in, the Excelsior (they've got one awaiting restoration at Bovington).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 15, 2017, 04:19:19 PM: Well there's a plastic kit of the Sherman... ;)

I wasn't aware of the Excelsior though (if its not on Tank Encyclopedia it doesn't exist), just the Black Prince. Claymore on the Beyond the Sprues forum made a strange one, though its entirely easier to make this sort of stuff in 1/35th as you're not want for kits.

(http://i.imgur.com/8oZeHYs.jpg)

Eugh, damn all the people who live down South who can go to the Tank Museum without having to rent a hotel overnight. ...I suppose we have loads of castles up here instead (and if you're into ships and subs there's plenty of docks and naval bases up here).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 15, 2017, 04:45:29 PM: Making the T-14 would be an interesting project, I think you'd have to bin most of the Sherman kit (if you were to use the Rubicon one) bar the E8 tracks, transmission housing & maybe the rear deck. It's quite a simple shape though, all flat surfaces & fairly shallow angles, so should be doable without recourse to too many swears (the skirts would hide a multitude of sins - having to use the vertical volute suspension in the HVSS tracks - you have to make some extra wheels to widen the bogies' footprint). It seems reasonable that the 75mm turret could be replaced by the T23 76mm one - or even the turret off an M26 - if they could stick one on an M4.
I look forward to seeing how this goes - good luck :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 15, 2017, 05:36:04 PM: Yeah, probably more work than I'll be willing to do at the moment seeing as I don't have a British force. I've enough of a backlog already.

I woke up too late today to buy any more paint, so I guess making more tanks it is then. I either finish something off, or make another new one. ...The second's my default option.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Mick_in_Switzerland on July 15, 2017, 07:06:27 PM: On page 23 you have the CP Models Kharkov SS in Winter Smocks.
How tall are they compared to Artizan and Crusader?

The red stripes on the sleeves were for recognition. They were introduced because the Russian and German white winter uniforms looked identical from 200 m away.
There were black, green and red ribbons that could be exchanged like a code to ensure that the Germans were recognisable to other Germans.
i.e. This week is two red ribbons. Next week will be two green ribbons etc.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 15, 2017, 07:14:05 PM: They're too tall, by about 2/3rds of a head. If you have 1/48th scale vehicles then they're ideal scale wise, but that's exactly what they are - 1/48th, not 1/56th.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/24/872895_md-28mm%2C%20Comparison%2C%20Germans%2C%20Scale%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

Achtung Cthulhu, Clockwork Goblin, Warlord Games, Wargames Factory, CP Models, Heer46, Secrets of the Third Reich - The Clockwork Goblin, Warlord Games and CP Models miniatures are on integral bases - though the CP models soldier is about a half head taller than most.

If you need Kharkov guys then Heer 46's range fit in with the chunkier 28mm stuff much better.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Mick_in_Switzerland on July 15, 2017, 07:19:41 PM: Thank-you
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 16, 2017, 10:29:25 PM: I accidentally ordered a few Panzer IIIs instead of IVs. Seeing as the IV would have been a limited platform by the Late-War the III's entirely obsolete. Chalk these up to being for export or some upgrade kit I suppose. I'm always needing more lighter tanks. :P

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/16/891006_md-WIP%20Panzer%20IIIs.JPG)

Idea nicked from Claymore on the Beyond the Sprues forum.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on July 16, 2017, 10:56:59 PM: Nice save. Where do you store all these tanks?!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on July 17, 2017, 01:18:16 AM: Quote from: von Lucky on July 16, 2017, 10:56:59 PM
Nice save. Where do you store all these tanks?!

I'm sure he's got an army depot at his house ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 17, 2017, 02:11:14 AM: Ah, stacked up in a random cupboard along with all the other crap. Its the models I haven't painted that're just laying around everywhere. Those boxes Warlord package stuff in are handy - you can fit a dozen vehicles in each (the big tanks are all in another one though ...which I'm out of space in).

I'll give those Panzer IIIs a quick paint job and have them done for Tuesday. The 3 Tiger things on my desk can wait.

Now do I go ahead and order the Panzer IVs like I wanted to anyway? I was going to give them sloped armour and the simplified style of turret from Panzer Tracts, as I'm not happy with how the one I made a while back looks (its turret's dumb).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 17, 2017, 12:06:21 PM: They look good, Rubicon I guess from the mantlet/turret gap.

If they are Rubicon's, did you leave the extra cowling on the rear deck? Part of the upgrade package?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 17, 2017, 08:36:19 PM: Aye, their Rubicon's. The rear of the tanks are extended our and look similar to the Panther's. You can see the exhausts poking out at the back.

I'd considered giving them Panzer IV turrets, though Doyle's notes indicates that was shopped, though found impractical. That and I can't find my spare Panzer IV bits for some reason.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 18, 2017, 05:11:11 PM: Before I go out, here's a quickie.

Panzer III SII Ausf. A

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/18/891339_md-Panzer%20III%20SII%20Ausf.%20A.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/18/891340_md-Panzer%20III%20SII%20Ausf.%20A.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/18/891341_md-Panzer%20III%20SII%20Ausf.%20A.JPG)

* need to go back and tidy up the crosses.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 18, 2017, 05:30:50 PM: They are very good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on July 18, 2017, 08:28:49 PM: Nice work :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 19, 2017, 03:06:07 PM: Nice job on the PzIII's :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 24, 2017, 01:16:17 AM: I've been short on time this week, but here's what I've managed. Nothing's been painted, just another round of new stuff.

A Leopard Scout vehicle. Warlord put up an article on how to make one of these a while back, though its innacurate and instead shows you how to build a weird Luchs with sloped armour and Puma turret hybrid thing. This one's a proper sized Leopard.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892389_md-WIP%20VK16.02.JPG)

Yeah, I was that annoyed by that tutorial that I went and made a tank. Problems. :P

Another Beutepanzer T-34 (r); because well the shop had one. I'll paint it in German colours with the bolted on front armour and slabs along the sides all rusty to look like they were added later in the field. I might try sticking an 88 from the below Tiger on another T-34/85 for the hell of it (though yeah, even if that would improbable in the real world. Tank Encyclopedia has an article on the subject under Fake Tanks in their Goodies section)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892387_md-WIP%20Beutepanzer%20T-34%252F85%20R.JPG)

VK 36.01 (H) Ausf. D - or "what the hell is that thing?". One of the early Tiger prototypes. Its not completely accurate as I couldn't be bothered rebuilding the tracks, though close enough seeing as its not that common. Its my first Rubicon Tiger, and damn that kit's great. You get 2 variant set of tracks and 3 styles of turret in one kit (though only enough bits to make one). All I seen that was missing was different exhaust styles for the desert. I'll keep the late war tracks for some loose roadwheels for the E-75s.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892388_md-WIP%20VK%2036.01%20H%20Ausf%20D.JPG)

Something for people wanting to recreate an early war Sea Lion style scenario I suppose. Its a bit differeny for me seeing as its a prototype which led to something which was actually built and improved on, instead of just existing on paper - so its kind of redundant. Meh, it looks weird, so that's OK.

A second E-75. I left the mantlet this time around. Its not been changed in a major way, barring maybe that gas turbine engine at the back. There's not much I can do with the E-75 to differenciate it from a Tiger without being too radical. This one looks different enough I suppose whilst still being practical.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892390_md-WIP%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892393_md-Gas%20Turbine%20Engine.JPG)

And a StuG E-75. Most of the design's stolen from Paper Panzer's 1/35th conversion kit. Yes, as with the previous Jagdtiger the style of casement's silly, though we're living in a world where the front torsion bars are made of admantium. This one has a gas turbine engine as well, just in a different style.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892391_md-WIP%20StuG%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/24/892392_md-Gas%20Turbine%20Engine.JPG)

Oh, both the Tiger's are by Die Waffenkammer. Shame to waste all that engine deck detail. The StuG's the one with the "Porsche" turret. I'll keep that for another Tiger, emplacement or something I guess.

That's what I flung together this week. The T-34 was already sitting there from the start of the month; the rest was started Tuesday.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on July 24, 2017, 07:10:28 AM: You are a machine. :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 24, 2017, 02:59:38 PM: Lovely job on the Leopard & the VK36.01 :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ragsta on July 24, 2017, 03:49:46 PM: Fantastic thread, always loved your stuff and this project is no different. The manipulation of so many varied parts is very impressive, both for your vehicles and infantry. And great painting as ever.

Okay, gushing fawnification over now
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 24, 2017, 07:31:55 PM: In other news, I've picked up a few of those E-100s which I posted in the new stuff thread. They won't turn up for a while, but I'll post a review and comparison with Blitzkrieg's and Warlord's Maus when they show up. As they're 3D printed I've had them scaled to the existing Maus models.

Price wise they're $47 a piece and $30 shipping for three. ...Yeah, I may have bought three of the things. Yeah, I'm aware that I could print them locally, but meh, effort.

When Die Waffenkammer eventually comes out with one (Jeff said he'd considered one, so it must be true) I'll pick up one of those (I mean four) too. :)

Tsk, and what thread are you reading Ragsta; I can't paint for crap. Thanks man. ;D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 24, 2017, 09:04:28 PM: More amazing tanks.

For the add on armour T34 have you considered using cannibalised armour, showing bits of the original vehicle (view ports, hatches etc) like the US Shermans?

What did you use for your leopard?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 24, 2017, 09:59:33 PM: By cannibalised armour do you mean literally plates from other tanks? Well in the real world the Germans stuck the Schürzen from Panzer IVs and Panthers onto T-34s; as did the Soviets have addon spaced armour for the turrets similar to what the Germans were doing. The Germans stuck tank tracks on captured vehicles as well. I went for a bolted on front place (though not in the factory Soviet style), angled slabs on the sides (similar to what they did with StuGs. The Soviets considered making something similar standard, though as ever it was too costly), along with the other tat. I'll probably stick bits of a Panzer IV's Schürzen onto one eventually.

The Leopard's a Rubicon Panther Ausf. A with a widened Puma turret. I the tracks down before the rear sprocket and removed two road wheels. The engine bay's not exact as it should be identical to the Panther's, but I couldn't fathom how that would work whilst retaining that number of roadwheels (the turret's still overlapping the front hatches. They had the same problem mounting a Puma's turret on the Luchs).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 25, 2017, 06:03:27 PM: I have seen, but of course cannot find, photographs of Shermans with recognisable panels of other tanks used as add on armour (including German donors).

Of course the only one I can now find is the one that used the equivalent panels off another Sherman (and showed the donor) - improvised Jumbo:
http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a3e2jumbo/m4a3e2.html (http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a3e2jumbo/m4a3e2.html)

I have used the spare track from the Rubicon Tiger plus the track from a number of Rubicon German stowage sets for my Sherman VC - Hercules build:
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.fr/2017/06/labours-of-hercules-sherman-vc.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.fr/2017/06/labours-of-hercules-sherman-vc.html)

That needs more track added ^__^
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: CompanyB on July 25, 2017, 07:31:04 PM: Several of our kits have add-on armor fit you need more image reference. These kits start with standard sherman hulls, and the armor is add-on metal pieces.

Creightons Easy Eight
Two front Glacis plates, one with bolts, two side plates with spacers, and two turret plates
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1141/1784/products/Thunder_IV_1024x1024.jpg?v=1487745273)

Jumbo is similar. Two side plates that mimic the hull lines, front glacis plate, and front transmission cover
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1141/1784/products/Tanks05_1024x1024.jpg?v=1480736416)

And of course the Panther F has armor plating on the turret:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1141/1784/products/FullSizeRender-7_1024x1024.jpg?v=1489425733)

I have the same plating on the 88mm turreted E50M I'm building. I need to update that thread. I also have an Uparmored M51 sherman using the similar armor from the Abrams kit.

I was thinking about coming out with an armor update of the E50M that could be used on the E75 rear engine deck.

Sigh, more stuff to add to the finishing quest...

-Brent
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 29, 2017, 05:26:46 PM: And another thing.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/29/893485_md-WIP%20Marder%20T-34.JPG)

A T-34 in the Marder style. The concept was more of an early-war thing, so this is made to look like T-34/76 which was captured early on- used for a bit, then converted over, before continuing to see service for a few years yet. Yeah, the Pak 40's maybe a little small for that chassis as a waffentrager, but you use what you have. An 88mm would start to look a bit silly I suspect, not that people haven't tried jamming massive guns onto T-34s.

The model's a Rubicon T-34/76 with a Pak 40 off of their Sd.Kfz 251 upgrade set. The commander's from that Pak 40 kit, the other's mostly Wargames Factory bits.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 29, 2017, 05:55:07 PM: Neat.

You could always do an Egyptian T34/122 SP gun style vehicle.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 11, 2017, 01:31:25 PM: Yup, more new WIP stuff. I've actually painted some things too ...but can't bother myself to base them with that snow. :)

Here's another attempt at a sloped armour Panzer IV. I don't like how the other one which I made way back turned out, so had another go. This one's a mix of the early war proposal, the simplified turret variant and the Panzer III/ IV engine (though not the road wheels). Each of those elements come from different parts of the war; so its not really feasible that they came together in one design (especially seeing as the Panther was already around). I suppose this could've been sold as an upgrade package or something - maybe for the other Axis Powers as a cheaper alternative to the Big Cats.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/11/896312_md-WIP%20Panzer%20IV%20Ausf%20K.JPG)

I'm a bit late with this one after the first package was lost in the post, but here's something for the Soviets. A T-44 based on Blitzkrieg Miniature's new T-54. Its not a complete recreation of the T-44A; but close enough. I'd considered turning it into the T-44/100 (with the larger driver's compartment), though think I should have the basic variant off my plate first. It'll probably be painted in Soviet colours as yet another German tank's becoming silly. :P

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/11/896313_md-WIP%20T-44.JPG)

The Konflikt '47 book actually has rules for both production variants (though not the T-54, as that's too late; the /100 rules are functionally the same). ...Ah, even if someone gave it a hull MG. ::)

And yeah, I slapped about as much stowage on that thing as actual Soviet tanks usually had on them. ...Well, just maybe a bit less (no spare mattresses or refrigerators).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 18, 2017, 02:10:21 PM: I've had a go at pushing some more infantry out. Nothing fancy about these ones - just Artizan models in Trenchoats (with another from Auchtung Cthulhu and a few Warlord guys thrown in). Those're are just about all the German models they make with reasonably sized guns (the feet on some of those are really tiny oddly)
.
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897401_md-Infantry.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897400_md-Infantry.JPG)

I've had this other E-50 Ausf. M sitting about for a while now; well here's it painted. :P

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897414_md-E-50%20Ausf.M.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897415_md-E-50%20Ausf.M.JPG)

And the weird Tiger I Jager thing with the oversized gun.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897410_md-Jadtiger%20I.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897411_md-Jadtiger%20I.JPG)

Background wise my thoughts are that it was an alternative proposal for the Jadtiger. The gun's far too oversized, not just in comparison to the actual Jagdtiger (presumably that'd be one of the reasons why it'd be rejected - with how cramped the gun compartment would be it'd take ages to reload). Picture the Bar or Ferdinand I suppose. A silly looking thing regardless.

Plus something vanilla, just a Warlord Jagdtiger with some extra armour at the back.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897412_md-Jagdtiger.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897413_md-Jagdtiger.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 18, 2017, 08:57:29 PM: The infantry models look great & despite its small stature, the AC mini fits in really well. Another great job on the vehicles - I really like the rust effect you achieved on the sheet metal infantry shelter on the Jagdtiger, what did you use?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 19, 2017, 01:13:30 PM: The rust's just Games Workshop paints. IIRC its a base of Rhinox Hide then a drybrush of skag brown and some random oranges followed by orange ink. Keep drybrushing in orange, maybe smudge the colours a bit a little and add the odd streak. ...Its not a science really. I think the Panther II I did a while back looks better personally.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/6/18/884357_md-Conversion%2C%20Germans%2C%20Panther%2C%20Panzer%2C%20Tank%2C%20Winter%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

Here's more toss I finished off yesterday.

Some sort of supply Kettenkrad. I bought the bike to make the NSU Springer, so had to do something with it. Later I found out that they made a direct explosives vehicle conversion of the Kettenkrad which I could've made, oh well.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897408_md-Kettenkrad.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897409_md-Kettenkrad.JPG)

The (close enough) VK 36.01 H Ausf D. The tracks are too wide and some of the details on the turret are wrong, though as ever, who else is making these things/ even knows what they are? :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897404_md-VK%2036.01%20H%20Ausf%20D.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897405_md-VK%2036.01%20H%20Ausf%20D.JPG)

None of that particular model ever saw service; rather the chassis were scrapped and the turret presumably re-purposed for the Panther. Perhaps in an alt-history world they did make a few, which wound up being dumped with some unit till they eventually broke down. With the lack of armour and smaller gun compared to the production Tiger I suppose this'd be a Panther in BA rules terms.

Another T-34/85 in German service. Originally it didn't have the tracks along the sides, just the slapped on steel plates. The whole thing's a hodge podge of armour (the track armour's painted in different camo schemes btw).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897406_md-Beutepanzer%20T-34%252F85%20%28r%29.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897407_md-Beutepanzer%20T-34%252F85%20%28r%29.JPG)

And the VK16.02 "Leopard". In its shortened hull guise, rather than the other one which was just a new turret on the Panther chassis.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897402_md-VK16.02.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897403_md-VK16.02.JPG)

Cutting down that Rubicon Panther wasn't too bad. Warlord's would have been easier as the track assemblies aren't (mostly) all one part. The better detail, along with Rubicon offering a proper Ausf.A Panther (which I stole the turret from for that Tiger) clinched it.

Oh, and to be a git, here's a comparison between the Leopard and a Panzer II. For ...reasons. ;)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/18/897441_md-Leopard%20Comparison.JPG)

When ordering the T-54 from Blitzkrieg Miniatures they happened to have a Panzer I Ausf.B on sale. The spare turret could be useful, but I didn't have much idea what to do with the actual tank. So here's something fictional for the early war (as far as I can tell there was never any recovery variants), a Bergepanzer I.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/19/897636_md-WIP%20Bergepanzer%20I.JPG)

The closest thing of the sort I've seen were some converted driver training vehicles that were used in Czechoslovakia. I'd imagine that the chassis would be too light for much use, but, well, there you go. :P

I'll probably give making a larger plough a go at some point for a Panther or something. One'd be practical for all that snow (and well this one's a bit piddly if its supposed to be clearing roads for Tigers...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 19, 2017, 01:41:13 PM: Nice models.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Anselm van Helsing on August 19, 2017, 04:13:52 PM: Now I feel really odd.

I was into the WW2 militaria in the 80's and build & painted maybe a hundred German war machines. One thing I really liked were the experimental things, dead ends and late war machines that never made it to the front. Read books about them, drew pictures of them, made plans of how they might have improved...

And now I come across this thread, where all these familiar experiments are suddenly incarnated in scale plastic!

It seems I still have those books on the shelf. Gotta read them one day.

Thanks for this thread, and the flush of memories it bought to me!

Great models too, very good scratch building and fitting painting.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 19, 2017, 04:48:47 PM: Your Bergepanzer I is a cool little thing, I think a few chassis were converted to munitionschlepper - an easy conversion but it probably wouldn't make for a very interesting model - more a diorama or scenery piece.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 19, 2017, 05:36:04 PM: @ Anselm van Helsing

I'm not really a historical modeller, I prefer to stick to fantasy games or if it comes to it modern battles. This thread's about the closest I've been to a historical setting, and well the weird stuff's the degree of separation that keeps it from being too dull. Maybe I'm just too young for the period, and can't help but want to use modern concepts, and the only way around that's all the cutting edge prototypes that never went anywhere (well till a decade later when the French stole them).

That and very people are shitting about this quantity of crap in the scale, so its fun to be different. I've threads on Elder Scrolls, Fallout and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. models as (at least at the time, its been a while since I visited them), there wasn't much on the subject. Woo, attention seeking. :)

Heh, but aye, if its an excuse for you to waste some time going back to old books then feel free to come back and point all the stuff I messed up on. :D

@ Ballardian

Ah right, yeah they converted loads of that lighter stuff into munitions carriers. Ironclad Paul actually showed be a Borgward IV conversion which was interesting where it'd just drop the supplies off the side and keep driving (crunch). Aye though, that sort of thing may work for regular collections, but isn't that exciting when there's Maus and other nonsense on the table.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 19, 2017, 05:42:51 PM: A model I'll have to go back and re-do. The StuG 88. This guy has a much better look to the plates than mine (though I suppose I can get away with that pair being fictional III/IV 75mm things).

(https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20770140_323782781399555_5672590761099493838_n.jpg?oh=9631379003c78e8ae93a74a966639984&oe=59ECC149)

(https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20841857_323782931399540_5655137487968840687_n.jpg?oh=b974bdca033b3f393deaf9ebc3f17fa0&oe=5A1ECDEE)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/2/5/855095_md-Germans%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/4/14/870448_md-Germans%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)

Ah well, any excuse to revisit that design. I'll just need to fetch the widened tracks from somewhere.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 20, 2017, 04:49:31 PM: It looks like he's used Tiger tracks, Ive got a similar pic of someones large scale Bergepanzer III.
Thinking further about 'what could you jam into a Panzer I chassis' the Alecto came to mind (based on the Harry Hopkins) but it would involve removing most of the superstructure & creating a fighting compartment to fit the gun - if a plastic PzI ever becomes available it might have to be done :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 20, 2017, 06:20:31 PM: Aye, people seem to be fans of sticking wider tracks onto their whifs. Saying that whilst the German tracks were wider than what others were using at the time, Soviet tank tracks wind up being twice as large. I'll filch a set out of my spares as practically field conversions adding the wider tracts would be a good idea; though I've no idea how they'd mate the teeth to the road wheels (I was thinking about swapping out those on that StuG 88 for the III/IVs larger set).

Huh, I wasn't aware of the Alecto; though my knowledge on the Allied stuff is pretty sparse. It looks a bit like the Rutscher. To build something similar with what's available right now you may as well start from a pair of track assemblies. Blitzkrieg's tracks are molded on, though Warlord's will likely come separate. I suppose a concept could work if anyone's doing a Sealion campaign with the expectation that maybe some of the larger stuff hadn't come in yet, and there was a desperate need for SPGs. Hmn, saying that I wonder if many people are making British prototypes for their Sealion games yet?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Anselm van Helsing on August 20, 2017, 07:32:46 PM: Oh no, didn't mean to start nitpicking about scale or details! Back in the day, I happily combined 1/87, 1/76 and 1/72, and those older models were not very accurate to start with. The difference between 1/87 and 1/76 is roughly the same as with 1/56 and 1/48, so they're actually substantially different scales. No problem for me at all! :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 20, 2017, 11:13:42 PM: Heh, nah, I was just joking. :D

I started making the StuG 88 there, but wound up going ahead with the strengthened Panzer III/IV track assemblies (with Tiger tracks) to accommodate the weight a little bit. The 88 predates those though, so whilst flicking through Panzer Tracts I noticed that the Jagdpanzer IV Lang Ausf. E used the system I was going for oddly enough; so I'll go ahead and make one of those. The III/IV's front glacis is weird, but doesn't look quite so out of place with the casement.

(https://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints-depot-restricted/tanks/ww2-tanks-germany-2/sd_kfz_162_jagdpanzer_iv_lang_e-78206.jpg)

Those roadwheels were a pain though. If I had the Rubicon kit I'd have just plunked them down instead of the originals, though with Warlord's I had to tear it all off unfortunately. Meh, its done now, just the casement to work on. I'll need to look out and see how many Tiger tracks I've left as that's all the spare Die Waffenkammer ones I have left; so I'm not sure I can manage a second tank out of them. I'm still wanting to make the StuG 88 that is. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 21, 2017, 11:56:45 PM: Um, so this started as a StuG IV mit 88, ah, then turned into a Jagdpanzer IV Lang Ausf. E. Its now something else...

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/21/898228_md-WIP%20Stupa%2044.JPG)

The casement must have been subliminally based on some Soviet prototypes a bit, as it wound up looking different than I intended. Instead the plan was to turn it into a raketenjagdpanzer, though the issue with that was there wasn't enough space on the roof after I stuck that rangefinder there. So I wound up sticking a howitzer in there instead and making it into a Sturmpanzer III/IV ...or a Stupa 44, whatever you want to call it.

A bit of a Panzer IV on steroids. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 22, 2017, 07:27:11 AM: Looks great!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 22, 2017, 10:14:46 AM: Another neat bit of kit.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 22, 2017, 04:20:05 PM: A very nice looking scratch-build :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 22, 2017, 11:48:07 PM: When searching about the internet for more crap to build I came across this.

(http://www.panzer-modell.de/berichte/dampfschlepper/f01g.jpg)

Steam powered tanks people. :)

http://www.panzer-modell.de/berichte/dampfschlepper/dampfschlepper.php
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 23, 2017, 08:17:57 AM: Neat.

So you need a couple of Rubicon JPzr 38ts for the wheels.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 23, 2017, 01:52:28 PM: I wouldn't want to build one of those. The engines would be a nightmare. Just the odd things that you find on the internet occasionally. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 23, 2017, 04:47:59 PM: Intriguing, pity my German's not up to the task of reading the commentary.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 23, 2017, 06:47:24 PM: I run Chrome. That gives you an option to auto-translate all sorts. Its pretty good with most German (though the syntax can be awry).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on August 23, 2017, 07:14:12 PM: A few pages back, there's sort of an abbreviated swastika motif on a couple tanks (the "Tiger I Jager thing" and the Jagtiger)... what's the origin for that? Was the Wehrmacht moving towards a different version of the symbol for use on armoured forces or other things?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 23, 2017, 08:28:34 PM: Caught... Actually its taken from this month's issue of Military Modelcraft International magazine. I don't usually buy those, but it happened to have a picture of a Bar on the cover (with an E-50 inside as well), so I picked it up for a future project. The Bar's creator cites "Panzerwaffe 46 colour profiles" for its origin (which I'm assuming is something to do with Paper Panzer Productions).

(http://www.guidelinepublications.co.uk/mmi/mmi-21-10.jpg)

I suppose it could be used as a unit identifier, especially there in the original blue, if you wanted it to be. Some of my tanks (where I can be bothered) have a little orange knight's shield on the right of the turret as their insignia. :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/1/13/849813_md-Germans%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/3/14/864104_md-Germans%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 23, 2017, 08:42:35 PM: Quote
I run Chrome. That gives you an option to auto-translate all sorts.
I suppose I could run it through Google translate, for the comedy value if nothing else of what it came up with.
FramFramson - It's an interesting question, I'm only aware of three examples of this 'broken' swastika; most famous is the 'octopus' camo patterned Tiger II from Kassel (more or less at the war's end) - this one though may well have been added after the fact, as it's fairly crudely applied to the vehicles upper glacis & isn't actually present in all pictures (in fact it seems to have had a 'normal' swastika also at some point).
The other two examples are a refurbished mid-production Tiger I of the Muncheberg ad-hoc division destroyed during the defense of Berlin - it has the broken swastika painted on its sides as well as a balkankreuze (it may also have been in an unusual colour - yellow & was in outline only).
The third vehicle was also involved in the Berlin defense, a Panther Ausf G from the Kather Kampfgruppe. It also appeared to be unusual, being blue with a yellow outline & yellow numbers.
Perhaps it was a recognition symbol for the defense of Berlin, after all, in the confused fighting, inexperienced Volksturm may have had trouble distinguishing friend from foes' armour & nothing offends like a hail of Panzerfausts. OR - it was added to the knocked-out vehicles (probably by the Russians) after the fact.
If anyone has any info to clear this one up I'd certainly like to hear it.

EDIT: 24/08/17

Having spent a bit of time looking for concrete evidence of the 'broken' swastika (Panzerwrecks etc) I've still to turn up a convincing actual photo - there are quite a few pics of Berlin defense vehicles (including another Panther G from the Monhke Kampfgruppe - I might have spelled that incorrectly) with large swastikas in outline painted on them. I'm still no wiser as to why it was put there other than the conjecture already voiced (as a recognition symbol for inexperienced & trigger happy Volksturm). So it may be more an artifact of colour book plates (there are a couple in the Mig 1945 German Colours book) - either misinterpreting the actual photos or sheer invention o_o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on August 24, 2017, 06:56:18 PM: I think with three extant examples it must've been a real thing, although we can only guess why. "Once is an oddity, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern", as they say.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 25, 2017, 01:18:52 AM: "Let's make a Jagdpanzer 38 (d), I have all these spare 38 (t) bits laying about" he said. I've literally used 4 bits from the Hetzer on this thing. The design's completely different. ...Pictures tomorrow, or that other thing I'm making ...depends on whether this "quick side project" doesn't wind up taking up the rest of my week. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 25, 2017, 08:28:33 AM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on August 25, 2017, 01:18:52 AM
"Let's make a Jagdpanzer 38 (d), I have all these spare 38 (t) bits laying about" he said. I've literally used 4 bits from the Hetzer on this thing. The design's completely different. ...Pictures tomorrow, or that other thing I'm making ...depends on whether this "quick side project" doesn't wind up taking up the rest of my week. :)
Is that today now?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 25, 2017, 03:39:59 PM: Oi, shh, I may have been out all day. No pictures of anything till they're ready to paint. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 25, 2017, 10:35:05 PM: Going to the Dark Side ...or yeah, this blog's reached that point all alt-history threads aspire to; making one of Queeg's Sd.Kfz 350s. :P

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/25/899036_md-WIP%20Sd.Kfz%20350.JPG)

I wanted to use some wider tracks on another Panzer IV for something, then noticed one of those 350s had some. The automated weapon system on his was a bit too advanced for me, so I simplified it a bit. This is a sort of field command post (I think his was just an APC, but meh, the cab's large enough for anything), again in a world where Panzer IV production carried on in some guise, presumably where the chassis was relegated to specialist duties.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 26, 2017, 04:19:44 PM: Nice job, (bugger, now I want one) :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 26, 2017, 04:57:35 PM: Quote from: Ballardian on August 26, 2017, 04:19:44 PM
Nice job, (bugger, now I want one) :)
Rats, so do I.

As you say, a nice job.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 06:27:23 AM: The Hetzer's larger cousin.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/28/899495_md-WIP%20Jagdpanzer%2038%20d.JPG)

Its about 0.8cm wider and 0.5 cm longer (including mudguards, without the Hetzer's its 1 cm longer). With the increased size and supposed stronger suspension hopefully the chassis can now carry the longer gun (proposals for the same gun on the original chassis weren't considered feasible). It is coming out around the same size as a Panzer III at this point. Bear in mind that the Germans did come up with this monstrosity. :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/7/15/890682_md-VK903%20Mit%20Pak%2042.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 28, 2017, 08:09:39 AM: So is the Super Hetzer a long 75 of an 88 (I am guessing a long 75).

I have forgotten, is the monstrosity an 88 on a Lucy's style chassis?

Brilliant models.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 08:21:34 AM: Both long 75mm from a Panther. The 88s I have tend to have shorter and thicker barrels. Aye, the second picture's on the Luch's chassis. It oddly made it as far as a wooden mockup, though so did other silly ideas (as we look today at artillery pieces shoved on the back of pickup trucks...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on August 28, 2017, 06:32:47 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 06:27:23 AM
The Hetzer's larger cousin.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/28/899495_md-WIP%20Jagdpanzer%2038%20d.JPG)

Almost looks like a SU-85.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 07:23:22 PM: I quite like the Soviet's take on the Hetzer concept.

(http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Images/1-Vehicles(bis)/USSR/Files/5-TankDestroyers/RussianHetzer/GAZ-75.td.jpg)

The SU-76 was cheaper though, so they canned it.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 28, 2017, 07:40:35 PM: Ooooooooooo!

Whats that?!?! :-*
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on August 28, 2017, 07:55:11 PM: Is that a KV-1 / KV-2 chassis in that photo?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 28, 2017, 08:19:53 PM: I'd say a longer T-60/T-70?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 09:55:01 PM: T-70. Its one of a couple proposals on that chassis for a light Tank Destroyer. They built some prototypes, but the Red Army being the Red Army, went for the cheaper alternative. I've a load of pictures of them as a potential project, as well, they look pretty cool (and a bit like the post-war tanks which fulfilled the same role). The plan's been to slap some together mostly out of plasticard, spare T-34 parts, and Panzer IV tracks (because nobody'll notice the difference under the mud).

(http://alternathistory.com/files/users/user1088/-76%20vs%20Hetzer.jpg)

(http://alternathistory.com/files/users/user1088/%20%D0%A1%D0%A3%20%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%B7-75.jpg)

Post-war ASU-85 (used by the VDV)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/ASU-85_6_Dywizji_Powietrznodesantowej.jpg)

Here's some articles:

http://henk.fox3000.com/Hetzer.htm

http://ftr.wot-news.com/2014/11/24/su-74-su-76d-and-su-57b-gaz-74-series/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 28, 2017, 11:03:05 PM: Don't for get it's little brother the ASU-57
Cardboard armour but a very tasty 57mm ZiS-2 derived gun.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 28, 2017, 11:04:16 PM: Perhaps something more your forte for those Early Cold War Russians Rich? :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 29, 2017, 12:47:44 AM: Nah, too late for me, pretty sure it's all 60's
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 29, 2017, 03:32:34 AM: I suppose if you look hard enough there'll be some blueprint by a random defunct bureau about. Though in the 50s there may not have been an immediate need to innovate in that area much (or it just took ages for any plans to make it through the bureaucracy).

This has been sitting about ever since I picked up that Die Waffenkammer E-25. I thought I'd tidy it up a bit and finish building the damn thing.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/29/899739_md-WIP%20E-25.JPG)

Its a set of Rubicon Panther tracks on Tamiya 1/48th Tiger roadwheels. The drive sprockets and gun are from a 1/72nd Tiger II I think. Doyle's blueprints are fairly barebones with the details, so I wound up copying the JTFM or making some of them up. It has some extra armour on the sides and roof to set it aside from the existing model I have as well (if you're wondering what all the random bolts are for).

Oh, and for comparison with the 38 (d), it comes about around about the same size. Its not as tall and the casement looks a bit shorter (though wider). The roadwheels are interleaved and a tad larger, so maybe it could have coped with the gun a bit better, though if size alone's the factor I don't see why both tanks wouldn't be viable - they were sticking the same gun on Marders. :)

Die Waffenkammer's original:

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/5/1/874121_md-Germans%2C%20World%20War%202.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on August 29, 2017, 07:23:30 AM: You, sir, are a one man tank machine. lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 29, 2017, 07:41:28 AM: Four in one week. :'(

Meanwhile I have three squads of infantry chucking about. Endlessly relegated because I CBA with all the greenstuff (that and the guys in the NBC suits look weird).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 31, 2017, 06:00:07 AM: Panzer IV Ausf. K

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900335_md-Panzer%20IV%20Ausf.%20K.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900336_md-Panzer%20IV%20Ausf.%20K.JPG)

Another attempt at one of these. Its still not accurate to Doyle's pictures as I said; a mish mash of sloped armour, a simplified turret and a modified engine deck. I'll have to make a Panzer III/IV (with the enlarged roadwheels) at some point as a comparison to see which one I like better. Actually, this has me thinking whether or not re-arming the IV with with a PAW 600 like in the 38 (t) proposals is something anyone's ever done.

Panzerjager 34 (r)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900333_md-Panzerjager%2034%20%28r%29.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900334_md-Panzerjager%2034%20%28r%29.JPG)

Some sort of converted Bergepanzer, or just an older T-34/76 with the turret removed. The gun's inset a bit into where the turret used to be to lower the profile a bit, though this is still hardly practical. They must have been desperate for a gun platform instead of just using this as a recovery vehicle (to go pick up actual tanks with big guns...).

T-44

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900331_md-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/31/900332_md-T-44.JPG)

Or "oh, if the Germans had continued in the war they could have held on for a while yet". Sure... The Soviets had 600 of these in the Far East at the end of the war, along with their IS-3s and hordes of T-34/85s (of course we'll ignore the lack of spare parts). If I had all the time in the world I'd made a couple of these and the upgunned variants with different armour layouts. Out of all the stuff in this thread its probably the least fictional thing I've posted. :)

I wouldn't mind Rich H making one for Jeff to cast for his own Sov stuff (yeah I know its a Motor Rifles company). ...Re-positioning that turret and replacing the mudguards on that brick of resin Blitzkrieg sells was a right pain in the arse. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on August 31, 2017, 08:35:05 AM: Nice.

The Panzer IV looks very good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on August 31, 2017, 01:02:27 PM: Excellent stuff, love the PzIV K & the T44 :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on August 31, 2017, 08:47:26 PM: Damn, that Panzer IV Ausf. K's actually a Ausf. H. They dropped it for the real world variant. Um, so I guess I better re-name it to H and claim its a late model with the 1944 turret. Ausf.K's presumably a modeller's name, though if they'd ever reached the K then they'd have already been onto the Panzer III/IV. :P

And yeah, in retrospect if I ever make one of those turrets again I'll go for the PAW 600 instead rather than a 75mm gun. Its no larger than the original turret, so unless they went for the smaller French 75mms its just too small to mount a competitive gun for the late war. The PAW 600's a bit more advanced, and whilst it may not have turned out to be any better in the real world, it'll give the tanks a bit more character.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 01, 2017, 07:28:19 AM: PAW 600 is an excellent choice for late war. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 01, 2017, 09:08:17 AM: They'd be ideal for infantry units, possibly along with the Pak 50. I actually have a PAW 600 artillery piece that's been languishing for ages.

Red Primer. I've painted up that StuG E-75 in it, but don't know whether to leave it in that bare state or apply some camo over it. I'm considering just leaving it plane, possibly to show just how new the E-series stuff is, though practically you'd think someone would have thrown some paint at it.

Were bare tanks that common near the end of the war? Even when running out of paint the factories must have been able to apply some camo at least. ...Though some plants must have been in a Stalingrad Tank Factory situation at times; just rushing stuff out of the door.

People seem to paint their bare tanks with factory markings. I'm a bit confused over these, though they're probably just a modeller's thing. Unless they were painting these on, I picture them being applied with chalk. If that's the case it'd be weird to see them on something in the field, however they probably make the tank look more interesting.

Anyway, rambling. I'll probably leave it just in the red primer with some basic unit markings. The regular E-75 has a replacement bare turret as well (its almost like I painted the pair once already- hated the camo scheme, and just slapped some red paint on them...), which looks sort of fetching. Hmn, though a whole Zug of primed tanks may be a bit overkill.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 01, 2017, 12:07:29 PM: They painted camo leaving primer as one of the colours at times.

Bare primer tanks were not likely, Leningrad perhaps where they were completing tanks and factory workers drove them to war off the lines.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 01, 2017, 12:20:33 PM: With colour pics of WWII armour being the exception rather than the rule, it's hard to say if modellers beloved red primer look was actually common (or just restricted to replacement bits).As Rich says, it seems likely that some attempt at camo would probably be present - Bovingtons Panther is a reasonable guide - though it was asssembled from left over parts by the British at the wars end for evaluation purposes, it represents schemes that were present at the time, in this case Dunklegelb (probably DG aus 44 no.I or no.III) patterning over the primer.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 01, 2017, 01:58:12 PM: I'm only really asking in this case as I'm not too into painting more camo today, and applying it will mean I need to repaint the stowage. I'll leave that one as it is, along with the sloppily applied balkenkreuz and insignia to make it look like it was rushed to the front for whatever reason. As soon as the battle's over and there's time for some maintenance the crew'll probably be out with a pop of paint to apply some form of camo (the fight must be pretty near to the factory, or the crew's priorities elsewhere, as come on, it doesn't take that long to paint something. Anything. It'll stick out like a sore thumb in the snow).

Yeah, bit of a stretch to find a situation where a tank would fight in the bare primer. Red ones go faster? :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 01, 2017, 02:39:59 PM: Its been asked at points that I post everything that I have. Well, sans the infantry, 14 unpainted ones, 2 Japanese tanks, 1 walker and 3 trucks this is about the lot (...I swear at least one's fallen down the back of the couch).

(https://scontent.flhr4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21246263_1793412304032961_7078899374363282029_o.jpg?oh=5a7a87f016d6f01225425e9fb427acc4&oe=5A5861E7)

I make that 53 in the picture. Right, now to cry in the corner.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Rich H on September 01, 2017, 03:44:27 PM: first thing it to admit you have a problem.

The problem I see if there is space that is not filled with more armour.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 01, 2017, 04:09:59 PM: Wow, how do you store them?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Rich H on September 01, 2017, 04:34:30 PM: *hope for 1/56 scale vehicle park and workshop*
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Predatorpt on September 01, 2017, 04:43:46 PM: *cries with envy*
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 02, 2017, 12:02:16 AM: Warlord and a few other companies seem to use the same cardboard boxes, so they're all stuffed inside the packaging they shipped in. Not idea for the taller tanks though, so the bigger stuff is filling up a larger one (by filling up I mean has filled). Better than buying a proper carrying case which'll only fit four of the damn things.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: von Lucky on September 02, 2017, 01:13:04 AM: You could hang them from the ceiling on fishing wire. I remember as a kid it was the best way for my aircraft collection.

Might look a little weird all through your house but. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 02, 2017, 03:25:43 AM: For the first time in a good while I made myself some more armatures. As I wait for the current greenstuff to dry here's a quick Panzer crewman (like 30 minutes worth).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/2/900672_md-WIP%20Panzer%20Crewman.JPG)

His head's just a placeholder to lay out a gas mask's proportions, so ignore it being massive. The same goes for the feet being plain, arms needing a bit of filling and general lack of little details (he's not posed yet; they'll just get in the way). He'll probably have either a pistol or a bullpup SMG. He already has the pistol holster, so I guess that's already decided.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Ballardian on September 02, 2017, 02:39:22 PM: A fantastic collection, I'm sure you can find space to squeeze in the other E series & maybe a Ratte? ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 02, 2017, 05:51:24 PM: Quote from: Ballardian on September 02, 2017, 02:39:22 PM
A fantastic collection, I'm sure you can find space to squeeze in the other E series & maybe a Ratte? ;)
You can put the collection in the Ratte.

Now how is that Ratte project progressing? No news for a while.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 02, 2017, 08:17:17 PM: Rich not say its on the back burner right now? He's been doing his Finns, and before that the Soviets. Something that big's probably not a priority, unless its taking up half your workspace. :)

Here's the Panzer crewman done.
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/2/900735_md-WIP%20Panzer%20Crewman.JPG)

I'll paint him in SS camo. The helmet's an M1956, so looks a bit weird. Body armour and headset's taken off of Paper Panzer's own 1946 crewman. He should probably have a more modern pistol, but I had the Luger and thought nobody's going to look that closely anyway.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Rich H on September 02, 2017, 08:20:02 PM: Yep Ratte won't move for a while...
I've got a huge backlog, mostly because I keep adding things to the front of the queue without finishing anything...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46: Hey, that's a lot of Tanks. Pg. 36
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 02, 2017, 10:23:28 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 02, 2017, 08:17:17 PM
Rich not say its on the back burner right now? He's been doing his Finns, and before that the Soviets. Something that big's probably not a priority, unless its taking up half your workspace. :)
I have been admiring his work on the Finns.

Quote from: Wyrmalla on September 02, 2017, 08:17:17 PM
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/2/900735_md-WIP%20Panzer%20Crewman.JPG)
Excellent.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 03, 2017, 03:59:38 AM: And done.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/3/900778_md-Panzer%20Crewman.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 03, 2017, 06:59:51 AM: Good stuff!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 03, 2017, 07:47:55 AM: Well done.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 04, 2017, 03:39:52 PM: StuG E-75

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901208_md-StuG%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901209_md-StuG%20E-75.JPG)

Originally this was painted in that two tone winter camo I've been applying recently. It just wasn't looking right though, so I couldn't bear to finish the thing. Well, I decided to give up with that and give it a repaint. Now its a bit more interesting looking, sitting in the factory red primer. That gives a bit of narrative, along with the E-75, inferring just how new the model of tank is; with the Germans pushing them to the line as quick as possible (or maybe the factory they were being finished in was really close to the front lines).

The gun's ridiculous of course. Its something like a 150mm. Perhaps this is a prototype (going the way of a lot of 150mm tank destroyers of the era), in a fantasy world where the suspension is made from titanium or that stuff they made Starbug from (puppies I believe). Fuck, a rear mounted casement would've been so simple as well seeing as I wound up tearing off all of the deck's detail. Damn, that's annoying, guess I'll just have to make another one. :)

Its one of Die Waffenkammer's Tiger IIs - the one with the early model turret specifically. As the turret ring wasn't flush with the deck like on the other model, along with the turret itself being too early to use for a regular E-75, I decided to make a StuG instead. Everything's either plasticard or milliput, including the gas turbine engine (the idea stolen off a guy on Facebook).

E-75

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901204_md-E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901205_md-E-75.JPG)

As I've said before; I wasn't very happy with how the first E-75 turned out. The mantle looks a bit daft (hell it might even come to me going back and taking a knife to it). Here's my second attempt with the traditional mantle. As I mentioned this started out with the same camo as the other E-75, till looking at how it turned out made me be sick in my mouth and I repainted it. I picture the tank having been sitting in a repair shop where they shoved a spare turret on quickly to get the tank back into the fight (whether or not this actually happened, or the tanks were just sent back to the factory in the real world is beyond me). Despite not having the time to paint the turret they managed to fit some infra-red sights for the commander. ;)

Again, a Die Waffenkammer Tiger II. A great mini. Whilst the tracks outside faces don't have the detail of Warlord's, overall I prefer this one. A shame then that I wound up covering up a load of it with the new front glacis plate and engine. With Warlord releasing their plastic Tiger IIs I'll be picking up the Zug. The plan with that's to make other stuff (which isn't so easy to do with a resin brick), like a Bar, E-50, and maybe an APC. That'll give me the chance to look at the kit and see if I want to use it, or stick with Die Waffenkammer's one for any future E-75s.

Damn, a missed opportunity. I could have painted the whole thing in red primer like the tank in this thread's header post. :)

Maus

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901207_md-Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/4/901206_md-Maus.JPG)

Yup, another one. This is Warlord's go at the shoe box on tracks. The proportions are a bit different from Blitzkrieg's, though there's only millimetres of difference. The details are superior however, along with there being more pewter parts for robustness. I'd been picking something else up from Warlord's site at the time and thought, fuck it I may as well go for another of these as well (they were supposed to operate in pairs).

...Probably the same attitude which has landed me with three E-100s on order and god knows how many vehicles at this point.

I've painted it in the same scheme as the first- the "we didn't bring enough paint to do the whole thing look". Ah, though with some variantion - mostly larger insignia for personal taste. Though I picture the Maus pairs being serialised, the two manufacturer's kits have different details, so I went ahead and painted the obvious divergent bits in a bare red primer (seeing a theme here) to hint at them being replaced at a later date.

And hey all the barrels are bare metal with this batch as well. You just get an idea in your head...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 07, 2017, 02:36:49 PM: Initially I'd thought Warlord's plastic Tiger II were due out on the 8th. Apparently that's not the case, with three of them showing up today.

I'm working on some more stuff at the moment. Particularly today I started on an E-50, courtesy of that new kit, and a Panther Waffentrager (ah, it was just the Panther, till the post man appeared).

The E-50'll be the simplest to finish. I've found that so far the zimmerit isn't a major pain to remove on most of the plates, though the rear was a bit of a pain, and I'll probably just go ahead and make the sides from plasticard. The roadwheels are a bit of a mess, as annoyingly they're in the same style as Warlord's other kits (single piece and with the inside's being hollow), so lots of gap filling will be necessary.

The Panther on the other hand is going to take more work. The hull was fairly simple - just cut out a gap in the middle and fill it with plasticard. The turret's going to be a lot more work. Specifically I'm going for the one below, mostly as it appears to lack the silly removable turret. That and its mostly enclosed, so I don't have to go out and buy a whole artillery piece just for the gun mechanisms.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cBl-m9XGU5o/maxresdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 07, 2017, 05:57:44 PM: Something else to look forward to.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 07, 2017, 06:58:23 PM: That looks like an interesting project :) Pity about the hollow wheels on the WG Tigger II.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 07, 2017, 07:22:34 PM: Hopefully Rubicon will see the light and release one in a few years (...if they start today that's how long it'll take them). When I asked last year they said it wasn't going to happen as they don't want to focus on late-war tanks. :/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 10, 2017, 06:00:08 PM: E-25

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/10/902337_md-E-25.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/10/902338_md-E-25.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/29/899739_md-WIP%20E-25.JPG)

Here's my scratch built E-25 all done up now. I went for Octopus camo with the armour plates being added at a later date. Those wheels and tracks look beefy enough to take all the extra weight (we'll assume the engine is all right too).

Jagdpanzer 38 (d)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/10/902335_md-Jagdpanzer%2038%20%28d%29.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/10/902336_md-Jagdpanzer%2038%20%28d%29.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/28/899495_md-WIP%20Jagdpanzer%2038%20d.JPG)

This one's done up in a plain white wash, no fancy camo here. ...Mostly for ease of copying it if I want to make another later on. Looking at it I wonder in the real world if they'd have favoured this or the E-25 (I doubt they would have fought in the same units). The E-25 has a lower silhouette, though overall profile wise they're quite similar. I kind of like the look of this one. A Hetzer that's just a bit "off".

Here's my go at some guys in early NBC suits. Probably uncomfortable to wear (...though that's par the course with those things), and overly bulky. The design's not really based on any real world suits from the period ...as well I couldn't find any pictures of those. Specifically he's wearing a smock beneath a ballistic vest, trench coat (purely for the aesthetic) and a gas hood. This particular one's armed with a Wimmersperg Spz, though the rest of the squad have StG-45 lookalikes.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/10/902339_md-WIP%20NBC%20Trooper.JPG)

I'm thinking of painting them up in tan colours; not sure how well camo would look. The actual model started as a Wargames Factory Special Forces soldier, with a Crooked Dice SAS Gas Mask head. Is he too anime looking? :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 10, 2017, 06:49:10 PM: Excellent Jagdpanzers.

The NBC guy looks good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 10, 2017, 07:25:48 PM: :-*
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 14, 2017, 09:31:31 PM: Sturmpanzer III/IV "Stupa 44"

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/14/903165_md-Strumpanzer%20III%252FIV%20.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/14/903166_md-Strumpanzer%20III%252FIV%20.JPG)

Here's this one done. I went for a winter camo scheme over a hastily applied paintjob from the factory. The mud's not on it yet as it takes forever to set, so here's this one naked. I'm into the wide design, so once some spare Tiger II tracks come along I'll have a go at a StuG on the chassis at some point as well.

And the WIP in case you forgot.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/21/898228_md-WIP%20Stupa%2044.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 14, 2017, 09:34:12 PM: that looks really business like. Nice work!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on September 14, 2017, 10:16:45 PM: Very good.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 15, 2017, 02:00:54 PM: More lovely scratchbuilds, I like your addition of the big co-incidence rangefinder on the E-25 & Stupa, your NBC-suited guy is great too :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 26, 2017, 10:22:27 PM: Well look what turned up today.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/26/905908_md-E-100%20...s.JPG)

That image is kind of this thread in a nutshell. :-X

Hmn, did I order three of these? Ah right I did. There's some sound judge right there for you. :D

Now you're possibly wondering just how does the Special Artizan Services E-100 compared to Warlord's Maus? Well...

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/26/905907_md-E-100.JPG)

Yeah, its a bit big. I asked for the model to be scaled down a bit, but the seller said that thing became complicated when printing ah well. For the curious though here's the measurements in centimetres (including turrets).

Maus - real world values converted to 1/56th:
18.2118- 6.6294 - 6.477

Maus- Warlord model:
15.748 - 6.35 - 6.096

E-100 - real world values converted to 1/56th (presumably this includes the skirts):
18.3388 - 8.001 - 5.8674

E-100 - model:
17.2- 8.8 - 6.1

So not wholly accurate, but meh, my Lowe's too big as well (ah wait, that'll be fixed ;)). Who cares, with these three I think that's about all the E-series got models now. :D

Detail wise well ...its passable. The turret has rivets along the top, but I'm going to have to obliterate most of the surfaces with glass paper to give them a smooth finish (there's print marks all over which will be apparent with a dry brush). Other parts are as detailed as the print will allow - i.e. will need to be replaced. I'm fine with the work though. If I hadn't bought three I'd have built another from scratch out of spare 1/48th Tiger II parts. :)

The plan's to make one into a Krokodil, and the other two as regular variants (at least one with a replacement streamlined turret). The spare turret from the StuG can be turned into a Flak variant as well. Ooh and then maybe I'll turn one into an APC. ...No!

*edit. FFS. Just noticed that the turret's missing the lip the Maus one has so it clear's the engine deck. Hah.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on September 27, 2017, 01:01:16 AM: Your a crazy person. I love it!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 27, 2017, 09:37:41 PM: Madness ;D

I approve :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: wolivant on September 27, 2017, 10:44:35 PM: Cant wait to see the Croc and the AA :o

Wolt
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 29, 2017, 01:29:53 AM: The first E-100's still being touched up, with most the details needing replacing (I'm just going to cover the non-existent tracks with mud at this point. No idea what wolivant did with his). It'll be great to stick some paint on it, but I'm being side tracked from another heavy tank project which I'd like to finish first - which hopefully I'll find the time to post an unpainted picture of this week (an AA turret with tracks attached is how I'd describe it).

In other news, here's a load of infantry which I've had around for a while now. I've been side tracked with real life so much lately that it took me two weeks to add grass tufts to the bases to take pictures of them... (and yeah, clearly I was lazy this time as I couldn't be bothered giving them a white background :) ) .

SS Stormtroopers

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/27/905998_md-SS%20Stormtroopers.JPG)

(https://orig00.deviantart.net/75b7/f/2017/271/2/e/ss_stormtrooper_by_frufruhm-dbov10r.jpg)

A second squad of these fine chaps. This time I went for all gas masks for that cliche look. Originally they were wearing M1956 helmets (from The Winter of 79 range), then I noticed Warlord had those gas masks. Paired with the rifles the M1956s may have been more appropriate. The guns themselves are a mix of G3s and FN FALs. They're supposed to be a generic rifle in the style of the CEAM Modèle 1950 (itself based on the StG-45 and beginning development in 1946), so these soldiers are for more of a late 40s > setting.

As with the first lot which I posted a few months ago these are Mantic Games OOP human soldiers with Wargames Factory arms, just done up in WWII uniforms. Clockwork Goblin are coming out with similar looking SS Shocktroopers at some point conveniently, so I may manage to throw another squad or two together seeing as there's not a hope of finding that Mantic stuff anymore.

They'll look great along with Clockwork Goblin's own similar looking Shocktroopers (I'm totally picking up at least two squads of them). Maybe then I'll be able to throw together a proper modernized force of SS - mounted in Katzchens with 38 (d) support. :)

Luftfaust Team

(https://orig00.deviantart.net/bd81/f/2017/271/2/4/luftfaust_by_frufruhm-dbov1y5.jpg)

Some AA support. A dedicated infantry carried AA weapon may be a bit impractical, but well at the end of the war when the enemy had air superiority they're worth a shot. I can picture a squad carrying one in their Katzchen, or given to one soldier to carry for the eventually it'd be used. Though once you start thinking about secondary weapons like this we're getting into modern squad organisation territory.

They're both Warlord Games soldiers from the Defenders of Berlin set, again with the same gas masks as the SS. I went with the winter scheme as ever as it keeps them apart from most of the other paint jobs you see on this pair. The Luftfaust specifically looks really simple to build (I bought them in the first place just to copy the measurements), so hell, maybe making enough to kit out a proper small Motor Rifles style force mounted in Katzchens could happen one day. :)

SS Nachtjaer

(https://orig00.deviantart.net/da28/f/2017/271/d/1/ss_nachtjager_by_frufruhm-dbov2v0.jpg)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/27/906001_md-Nachtjager.JPG)

Now these I've had for ages. Finally infantry to go along with all the night finding tanks. :D

Warlord only makes five individual sculpts, and felt generous by giving me three duplicates of two of them between two blister backs... Again with the gas masks. Hey they keep the cold off the men's faces.

I painted the ZG 1229 Vampir Scopes up like their counterparts used on vehicles. This isn't historically accurate (I've seen the light painted yellow, and scope gunmetal, or both gunmetal), but let's say production changed eventually. Nah, no MG-42 with the scope kit unfortunately (because the one bloody model I found with one in 28mm is OOP!).

Yeah, they ought to have a Katzchen UHU following them about too. ;)

So... The aim for the week's to have the first E-100 in a paintable state along with that second tank. I'm doing the E-100 in a realistic setup, though the other two will be a Krokodil and simplified turret/ AA variant.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 29, 2017, 05:57:56 PM: I look forward to seeing your Krokodil & Ausf B conversions :) Great infantry models! (How did you find using the WG gas mask heads - I found the size of the masks filter made creating firing poses trickier - they look good though.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 29, 2017, 07:37:00 PM: Some of the guys who have the same pose on the Nachtjager also happen to have their heads pointing the same way for that reason.

I was thinking of doing some Soviets, though with them I'd go for a hose coming out of the gas masks instead for some versatility. Hmn, I've no idea where to buy that type of wire however, as I'm not sure if Black Cat Bases are still unreliable. :/

Edit:

Hey look Black Cat are still operating and have a sale on. 100 random pieces accessory packs you say? :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 29, 2017, 09:03:59 PM: If you're looking for something to represent a ribbed hose, electric guitar strings are pretty useful. Music shops generally stock all gauges in singles (always handy to have a couple of spare top E's) - you'll probably need a wound third (G string) - a little unusual (G's are usually plain wire) but they do exist. Probably about a .14. That'll give you about four feet of convieniently cored wire to play with.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 29, 2017, 10:07:20 PM: It's a bitch to cut though!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 29, 2017, 10:19:24 PM: Yeah, I was going to say. The pewter wire I've used before caters for my own lack of precision when cutting stuff to length. Um, I'm not sure the cable crimper I have for Ethernet cables will work on guitar wire. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 30, 2017, 01:12:34 AM: Whoops, that should have said 14, not .14 (senior moment there) - or even a 13 if they've got one (fairly light for a wound third but they do exist).
As to cutting them, while they're certainly tougher & springier than an Ethernet cable, a standard pair of hardware shop wire cutters should manage without trouble.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 30, 2017, 05:47:57 AM: Ah well, buying the wire from Black Cat Bases was the excuse to spend way too much money on their random accessory sets. :D

Here's the state of the E-100. No paint yet, just making the thing ready.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906452_md-WIP%20E-100.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906453_md-WIP%20E-100.JPG)

With the model I've gone ahead and sanded every surface along with using millput to smooth out all the stepping on the underside (which was pretty bad). The plastic's super hard, so I wasn't willing to replace all of the details that I wanted - particularly in adding a rim around the driver's hatches.

The exhausts are now off of Warlord's Tiger II, along with details from Die Waffenkammer's being used on the engine deck (spare from giving the original vehicles gas turbine engines - something I'm seriously considering giving the second E-100). The barrel also needed replacing, both due to stepping on the underside and being completely solid.

I went ahead and added some spare T-55 fuel barrels to the rear (courtesy of the T-44 project) which personally I think look really good. Stowage is maybe a little overboard, and well based on when that Black Cat Bases order shows up I may add even more (mostly just scatter stuff like loose beer bottles I mean). Anything for a bit more detail. Most of the tools come again from the Warlord Tiger II plastic kit.

The plan formulating for the second turreted E-100 is to modernise the vehicle. I'll give it a Tiger II style turret with a fancy rangefinder and maybe telescoping periscope (like the Paper Panzer models have). As I said the gas turbine engine's likely, though I'll probably give the Alligator/ Crocodile the same engine as this one - just with extra armour.

Then I need to work out what to do with two spare E-100 turrets... Heh, for the detail level in these models I could probably just scratch build another too (without the damn moulded on side skirts...).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on September 30, 2017, 04:19:17 PM: Nice job, the added detailing on the rear deck makes a world of difference :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 01, 2017, 03:55:51 AM: I've started on the paint job now. Predictably I've run out of white paint. :D

When search for some bits for another build (never found them), I came across a child's toy which I'd picked up years ago for Post-Apocalyptic conversion fodder.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/1/31/580255_md-Fallout%2C%20Post%20Apocalyptic.JPG)

It was initially dismissed then for all its weird angles. Tearing off the tracks helped a bit; replaced with spare 1/48th scale Panther ones, before I then set about obliterating the oversized details.

With its sloped casement (if you can call it that) I was reminded of the Jagdpanther a tad. Extending this out with some plasticard and sticking dual 128mms in turned the toy into this.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906454_md-WIP%20Flakkanonpanzer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906455_md-WIP%20Flakkanonpanzer.JPG)

I'm calling the the Flakkanonpanzer at the moment, after the post-war tank series. Specifically its tangentially related to later German prototypes of a dual gunned main battle tank (the VT series, which predictably went nowhere). I imagine this is maybe something similar; a competing project to whatever mainline battle tank was being used, though predictably impractical.

Its pretty much an E-100 Flak turret jammed onto a set of tracks. Working out where all the vents, hatches and vision slits would go was a right pain in the arse...

Yeah, you get this instead of that Panzer III/IV thing which I couldn't find the right road wheels for. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Predatorpt on October 01, 2017, 09:24:57 AM: Damn, I've got a couple of those in my stash ;D

(http://images.australialisted.com/nlarge/havok_miniature_tank_mauler_20778231.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 01, 2017, 11:11:23 AM: Damn, I've had it so long that I threw away the box and forgot what it actually originally looked like. A Games Workshop Vindicator knock off with a realistic amount of pressure on the front of the vehicle for such a massive gun. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on October 01, 2017, 05:10:15 PM: Another very cool kitbash 8) I notice Amusing Hobby's just come out with a Pz38D range (in 1/35 sadly), but the 38D with the PzIV turret & PAW800 looks like it has to be done ;)
(Oddly, AH have listed it as having a PAW600, while the relevant Doyle Panzertracts lists it as the 800.)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 01, 2017, 07:46:47 PM: Aye, something to make one day. Too much on my plate. :)

Its the PAW 600. If Doyle's calling it the 800 then that's a misprint or lack of research as every other source I'm aware of calls it the 600. Yes though, I'd be arming any tanks which typically came with short 75mms with PAW 600 post 1944.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on October 01, 2017, 11:49:47 PM: My mistake, checking back with the book reveals it to indeed be the 600, that'll teach me to go off the top of my head.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 02, 2017, 12:27:11 AM: I think if I looked back enough in these pages someone's called it the PAW 800 before. ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Slayer on October 02, 2017, 04:28:17 AM: that E100 is looking just..... :-*:o :-* :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: rabenga on October 02, 2017, 09:08:32 PM: Do I hear paw700?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on October 10, 2017, 04:58:20 PM: The PAW is a hi-low weapon like a modern baton gun or grenade launcher.
They flung large HEAT warheads and were built but not deployed as AT artillery.

That E-100 looks great - it would look great as a last levy style Berlin defence covered in kit and battered paint :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 10, 2017, 10:52:58 PM: I'm distracted right now with restarting my modern stuff (3 buildings thrown together in one week...). The first E-100's mostly painted, though its already had one repaint as it is after I went overboard with the weathering.

We'll see where my priorities lie, though my track record is one which errs on the distractions winning out.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Slayer on October 11, 2017, 12:19:32 AM: No finish the E100...... u must lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on October 18, 2017, 04:57:29 PM: I have just seen this guide over on the Modelling News and thought of you;

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5730zE2tqos/WedCetr_-oI/AAAAAAACKiU/SJzJ2fkHWdUmWvbsSEAKnMz0c2qQfpyXQCLcBGAs/s1600/Panzer%2BAces%2B55%2BSpecial%2B-%2BPaper%2BPanzers%2B%2B%25281%2529.jpg)

For more details see this link;
http://www.themodellingnews.com/2017/10/read-n-reviewed-issue-55-of-panzer-aces.html#more

Tony
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 18, 2017, 09:46:34 PM: I don't think I've seen that at WHSmith. Bah. :(

I do like having magazines over looking at images on the internet. At the moment I'm set to read through a backlog of Military Modelcraft Internal issues, though they're for my modern project. At the moment that's my focus, to break up all the winter tanks I've been painting.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on October 18, 2017, 10:12:58 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on October 18, 2017, 09:46:34 PM
I don't think I've seen that at WHSmith. Bah. :(

I do like having magazines over looking at images on the internet. At the moment I'm set to read through a backlog of Military Modelcraft Internal issues, though they're for my modern project. At the moment that's my focus, to break up all the winter tanks I've been painting.

I've just given a load of Model Military International magazines to Rob at Hysterical Games. Old military modelling magazines never loose their appeal for me. My favourite and the ones that I keep hold of are the older editions of Finesale Modeller, there is always some hint or trick worth searching out in them. For example pages 16 - 20 of Model Military International from May 2008 that I have on my desk as I write. It features a modified Trumpeter E-25 by Luke Pitt.

I'm sure you would like it.

Tony
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on October 31, 2017, 11:21:34 AM: Yeah, that was an E-100 sitting in the background of my modern thread. No, I'm not addressing it. ;)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/10/30/912624_md-WIP%20BMP-3.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on October 31, 2017, 12:00:57 PM: You talk to your tanks?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FramFramson on October 31, 2017, 06:50:15 PM: He's the tank whisperer. ;D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: dampfpanzerwagon on December 12, 2017, 08:32:13 AM: Three interesting articles;

(http://www.modellversium.de/kit/bilder/1/4/7/12147-deckel.jpg)

Details can be found here;
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=12147

and

(http://www.modellversium.de/kit/bilder/2/2/5/12225-deckel.jpg)

Details can be found here;
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=12225

and

(http://www.modellversium.de/kit/bilder/2/1/3/3213-deckel.jpg)
Details can be found here;
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=3213

Tony
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on December 12, 2017, 02:46:27 PM: Heh, I have a load of 1/35th scale magazines from the past year. Alt-history stuff seems to be a favourite in that scale, to the point that I think I have three issues on just that rocket launcher platform... :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on January 31, 2019, 02:14:46 PM: Wow! Had to check out your stuff again Wyrmalla! I did have a look way back when I didn't have an account, but now the collection grew!

Very impressive and lovely work and scratchbuilding. I envy the speed at which you put all these together!

Also, you mentioned the red arm bands on the figures on page 22. They are actually for identification, I believe as both Russia and Germany had white winter clothing, the two factions adopted red (for the germans) and green (for the soviets) or none at all. But on the german side the red thin armbands were so Wehrmacht and SS units could tell friend from foe.

I'm unsure of the Soviets and their identification, or if they had any, so take that tidbit of info with a grain of salt. I believe it is mentioned in a few books, such as Osprey's collection on german camo, as well as signal publications work. J.Borsarello mentions it as well methinks, to name a credible source.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on January 31, 2019, 06:55:01 PM: Thanks Freaky. Yeah, as far as those identification bands. I believe that they circled out the bands (as someone probably said somewhere in these comments), varying up the position, colour and number of bands to confuse the enemy. As most models don't come with them I didn't really bother to stick them on the figures, but painted them where they existed (I guess someone forgot to take his band off).

For the moment we are planning on using Mantic Games The Walking Dead rules for a Weird War II game at some point. So I may post up some of that here whenever that happens. German soldiers coming across a horde of zombie German and Soviets on the Eastern Front or something. Other than that, there's not been much call to do much with this collection lately. I mean I have a load of other stuff which is barely used as it is.

Still, I had been thinking about doing some Soviet stuff, as I happened to come across material when working on my current modern projects which had prospects (I'm mostly looking for an excuse to do more T-44s and T-54s in a WWII setting). Underfire Miniatures Cold War Soviets look kind of appealing as well to use, with a bit of modification, as infantry too (or figures with SKS if someone does decent quality ones).

...But I have so much stuff to work on at the moment that most of this is just ideas. My list of outstanding projects which I already have models for would probably cover me for the rest of the year, let alone including ones I've considered starting.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on January 31, 2019, 11:47:11 PM: Hrm, speaking of SKS's, probably looking foward to Warlord's Korea range at the end of this year, huh?

I'm really curious about that one!

I will also have to give your modern thread a look.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 01, 2019, 01:27:36 AM: I'd be into the Korea range more for the weapon sets, more modern artillery and perhaps their metals (which have better proportions than their plastics). Though problematically Modern miniatures companies typically produce their vehicle kits in 1/50th scale, as opposed to 1/56th, so I won't get much use out of the Korean War vehicles.

Clockwork Goblin have said that they're doing a T-44, so there's hope that some vehicles of the Korean War period not covered already by Warlord sneak their way in. However, for my own collection, there may not be much on offer. Rather the North Koreans and Chinese were using WWII era Soviet stuff as far as I'm aware, which is already mostly covered by Warlord (what a coincidence...).

As of my earlier post I've forked out some of my WIPs. My modern projects so far have been focused on Soviet and Post-Soviet equipment, which has given me a bit of an appetite for those style of vehicle. If I can find the time I'll maybe see about working on some things. For the moment I'm considering a Soviet force with the following (and not just because I happened to just place an order with Blitzkrieg Miniatures for a few things too..).

T-44 > Make a second one (with a better paint job)

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/T-44-ridden1.jpg)

T-44/ 122 > I like the different driver's compartment style. Failing this another T-44 or T-44 100

(https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/0/04/T-44-122_and_Panther.JPG)

SU-122/44 > the Tank Destroyer variant of the T-44. Had a Jagdpanther style casement, as opposed to the more angular one of the SU-122/54 (which actually saw (limited) production)

(https://i.redd.it/61h5ib8dsv201.jpg)

Panther II > I already have another of these. With all the heavy armour my Germans have, it may be more interesting to do one up as a Soviet vehicle (calling it the T-5/2 or something)

(https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/7/70/Soviet_Captured_Panthers_T-V.jpg)

Uralmash-1 / SU-101/2 > T-44 based tank destroyer (won out over the SU-122/44 for production > still, didn't see service). Designed to replace the T-34 based SU-100, which had problems with its gun ramming into the ground on inclines.

(http://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/photo/ussr/su-101/su-101_1.jpg)

Object-704 > KV-2/3 hybrid Tank Destroyer. I already started building this. The casement's pretty weird.

(https://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/3/2074/Object_704_1.jpg)

SU-57D/ 76D > T-70 based Tank destroyer with an enclosed casement. Similar to post-war ASU-57. The Soviet "Hetzer".

(http://ftr.wot-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gdWe0VEpK8g.jpg)

Gaz SU-85 > Another T-70 based Tank Destroyer (a coincidence that chassis was used post-war for other vehicles...) which lost the bid to the T-34 based vehicle which used the same namesake. Same chassis length as the SU-76 production model.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/68/4e/89/684e89abb5bf07ea6347d71958d2f573.jpg)

If I were to add infantry then I'd have to do something other than just using the Warlord Soviet figures. Something with either an SKS or AKM would be more the look I'd want.

Though searching through Soviet uniforms, they wouldn't really see more modern stuff in service for a few decades post-WWII as far as I can tell. So using say Under Fire Miniatures NVA line may not work and their Russians are in Summer uniforms.

Some models in Trench coats with the appropriate rifles. Though there seems to be a drought of models armed with SKS. All I found were some Eureka African fighters. I guess I'd need to hunt down maybe some Vietnamese figures or something if I wanted this rifle (but I'd need something, as I can't have everyone armed with AKMs for balance :P). If anything Warlord's Korean War range could remedy this issue, as long as the guns aren't massive.

I have the models there for the tanks at least. Though it isn't set if I'll do much in the immediate future, as well I do have tonnes of other stuff to work on besides this setting. We'll see what happens I suppose. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on February 01, 2019, 09:33:14 AM: Definitely a enthusiastic start and a massive project, but I'll keep my eyes peeled! 8)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 02, 2019, 01:48:19 AM: We can hope. :)

Doing a bit of research for this, I'm finding myself at a loss somewhat to do with a few of the kits which I already have.

Now, without resorting to making fictional variants, so far the amount of interesting late-war versions of certain tanks seem light on the ground. Presumably as the Soviets were committed to certain chassis and unlike the Germans not prone to whims of fancy. Or rather not all the old Soviet archives have been opened up, and we don't know about the stupid and weird stuff yet.

Which is to say that I'm at a loss for what to do with a pair of T-34 and a IS-2 kit. I already have an Object 704 in progress from another IS-2 kit which is too much of a pain to duplicate, and at a push I'd stick an AA gun on the back of a T-34 ARV. However, I'm not really too into any of those ideas.

I'm partial to some of the T-34 and T-70 successor vehicles. Like he T-43 and LTTB, neither of which saw production (The T-43 was integrated into the T-34/85).

(https://i.imgur.com/947z8Nh.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y2NUT_8otos/maxresdefault.jpg)

Though also problematically, it seems like for whatever reason the Soviets were into replacing the drive systems of their prototypes. Most of these vehicles failed, and their successful elements merged into the T-34, so this wouldn't be an issue if I was building the vehicle which actually saw service. However, for my own alt-history needs this would mean scratch building a good deal of these models ...barring the parts cannibalised for the T-34. The alternative of course would be sticking T-34 components onto these prototypes and making some fictional "production models".

As far as the IS-2 goes, well, I'm dealing with a similar issue which I found with a 1/48th scale IS-2 for my modern project. This chassis was quickly discarded and upgraded into the IS-3. The IS-3 however has some integral differences, and Warlord already make one of these, so converting the plastic kit to be one of these later variants may mean unnecessary work. Tsk, and again those damn designers just loved replacing the drive systems on the IS-2 era variants, which with all the hull differences in these prototypes would wind up being another almost complete build.

(http://www.dom1n.com/wp-content/grand-media/image/IS2M_zps5ea93e84.jpg)

Whilst there seems to be plenty of options for the T-44, I'll need to have a think about what to do with those other two vehicles. There'll hopefully be a book out there somewhere similar to the Encyclopedia of German Tanks or Panzer Tracts. Though nothing seems to be as popular when it comes to WWII prototypes as German ones, so I don't hold out hope.

Secondary to all of this, the Soviets didn't seem to be that into field conversions. You don't see Marder style vehicles for instance (well not as often), so inspiration isn't heavy on the ground. However, in my own canon the arms capacity of the Soviet Union is diminished, which is excuse enough to come up with my own conversions. I'll maybe have to look at later Eastern European improvised armoured vehicles for some ideas, but that's seeming like a solution here.

...Which is to say that there's a lot more planning involved in this project than just finding a cool tank and building it. Oh well. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 02, 2019, 03:18:51 PM: As has been mentioned elsewhere, the T34 had problems with its transmission (hence why they carried spares early on), maybe that explains why the prototypes had a different drive system.

I had wondered what a T34 would look like if the Americans had mass produced them (similarly if the Germans had built them instead of the Panther). I know, just as likely.

My thoughts would be an M3 90mm gun and a revised engine deck and exhaust ( a use for those Rubicon M10A1 engine decks?).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on February 02, 2019, 03:22:02 PM: Hrm, I agree, if you were for flights of fancy with a T 34 you can always go down the AA route. There was a conversion by the Totenkopf Brigade methinks, that used the chassis of a T 34 but used a quad flak on top, which should be easily made from plasticard. Only an idea though!

The field conversions were often, in lights to something similar to a Marder, on smaller vehicles. Like the cosmolet tractor conversion that is readily available. There is a fictional variant of a T 34 on claymore's thread, where we both took inspiration from, with rocket tubes fixed to the side of the turret.

As far as Is2 versions go, I'd perhaps look for french articles on the topic, usually the militaria and war history is well researched over there. Caraktere Press might hold a book or two on it. :D
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 02, 2019, 04:52:02 PM: There's this article on British assessment of the T-34 and KV-1 during the war. Though I'm going for a world based on the novel A Kill in the Morning, where the British have bowed out of the war, and America never entered, so neither may be an option. If I were to make some British tanks, it seems likely that one of those two pictured in that article would be built though. Call it a trial to assess the viability of other nation's vehicles.

http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2013/04/bovington-t-34-and-kv-1-impressions.html

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm_x7ouu0ZE/UV0HyRQXWpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/NkPnxtj3ve0/s1600/brit-clone-3.jpg)

Yeah, with the T-34 unless its a mid-war prototype, I may go for some field mod. As otherwise it seems that I'd need to replace the roadwheels. I was looking for some early box cabbed command vehicles, bud couldn't come across any. Rather the way to go with that may be to look at one of the T-54 based tractors and just lop off the rear cab and stick that onto a T-34. Perhaps a T-34 artillery tractor with an armoured cab could work. And I say armoured, as there's already a few options for actual T-34 tractors out there.

Regardless, I'm looking for something for Soviet use to bulk up their forces. I could easily just stick a German gun on these things and call it a day, but already have a handful of captured Soviet tanks, besides the few dozen other German vehicles.

Hmn, so some sort of armoured tractor conversion with the cab sitting over the engine. That may be an excuse to make another troop transport (and vaguely have it look like the BTR-50), or stick an AA gun on the flat bed. Spectre Miniatures do sell ZPU-AA guns, which entered development in 1945. Ah, if they ever actually have them in stock that is. Hmn, I could do something with one of those guns, and mirror what German usage of the "Drilling". Tsk, too many ideas. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 02, 2019, 09:46:35 PM: Well here's some progress since my earlier post.

I've decided to go for a T-34 based artillery tractor. Inadvertently in trying to arrange the engine in such a way to allow for a rear mounted cab its coming out looking like a Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ki. Which I suppose isn't too much of an issue, as its definately from the right period.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/2/996974_md-WIP%20T-34%20Tractor.JPG)

(http://k08.kn3.net/A9FF50437.jpg)

The cab's going to look like half of a BTR-50. I could have gone just for a BTR-50 layout on the T-34 chassis, with the passenger compartment at the front and engine at the back, but this looks anachronistic enough to be a less developed design I suppose.

(https://static.turbosquid.com/Preview/2018/02/05__17_21_40/sig_w1.bmp00070CEF-D5D3-4436-A34D-9094F3442572Default.jpg)

Here's the vehicle with a ZPU-2 in the back. Its a bit of a tight fit (I'd assume they'd take the sides down for firing), though I'm not sure if I want to increase the width of the cargo area. It may look better if I take the sides down and add some crew and gear. (Edit: Yeah, its going to have the panels down. Looks less silly with the tiny cab).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/2/996975_md-WIP%20T-34%20Tractor.JPG)

This is where Object 704 is at too (hmn, probably should come up with a more practical name for that. ISU-152/2 or something).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/2/996973_md-WIP%20Object%20704.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 03, 2019, 07:55:50 AM: Nice start on those.

The article is interesting, though it appears to have been translated from English (which does seem a bit odd). I had seen mention of the T34 being evaluated elsewhere, I will check my limited references.

I had not thought of adding a 17 pounder to one, though the howitzer is unlikely (one or two man crew?). The 17 pounder would spoil anyone's day.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 03, 2019, 10:38:10 AM: I did find this:https://www.scribd.com/document/241820378/Preliminary-Report-No-20-Russian-T-34 (https://www.scribd.com/document/241820378/Preliminary-Report-No-20-Russian-T-34)

Of course, YMMV.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on February 03, 2019, 02:05:10 PM: I like both the transport and the Object yet to be named! Wyrmalla, do you use Warlord kits only or also stuff from Tamiya and others manufacturers?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 03, 2019, 07:49:44 PM: To be honest I never really delved into British evaluations of the T-34 and KV-1 beyond that article. Though I'd imagine that they weren't the only country doing trials with them. Seeing as the Germans had a similar project in the works which resulted in the Panther. If I were working on a setting involving the British more then one of those T-34s would be simple enough to do, perhaps doing something with the fuel tanks as that article notes.

Tsk, though with Tank Encyclopedia just putting an article up on Chinese modifications to the T-34, and the blog WWII After WWII having a new post up too, I'm awash in articles to read. :D

As far as the kits I've been using FreakyFenton, I take Rubicon as a preference. If Rubicon doesn't make the vehicle then I'll turn to Warlord's kits. However, the amount of spare parts and better detail Rubicon offers makes them much more useful. Besides those when it comes to resin vehicles Die Waffenkammer have the largest selection, and some 1946 vehicles too (though a bit more expensive than their regular stuff). If they don't have something I may turn to Warlord, however I've also bought from Blitzkrieg Miniatures in the past too (however I've found that their detail is chunkier).

There's companies like Company B and Heer 46 too, both of whom again offer alt history stuff. However in the latter's case they aren't great as far as stock levels go (they can have something in stock for ages, but when you want it its gone with no ETA for restocking). Which is a similar issue as to what I'm having with Spectre Miniatures at the moment - who seem to run out of AA guns rather quickly, likely due to all the modern technicals their customers want to make. :/

Last night another build was also started. This one's a T-34 with a lengthened chassis and frontally mounted engine. I'll mount a casement at the rear with a gun in it. So visually it could be compared to a SU-76 I suppose, but I was thinking more of the German Hummel and the Panzer III/IV chassis that was based on. Ah, background wise its going to depend on the gun, though so far it could be an alternative to the SU-100/122 I guess. There were some Soviet rear mounted casement prototypes, however like Germany they never really seemed to take off during or post-war.

Oh, and as far the IS-2 which I posted about in my modern thread a while ago. Well, I have an IS-2 which I've not been sure what to do with for my moderns. As I said here, that's a vehicle which seemingly came into existence then was quickly replaced, with little (that I could find) done with it in terms of variants. The 1/56th IS-2 which I have is still sitting with a dearth of ideas what to do with it. However, this other kit's a Tamiya 1/48th one. To follow on from my response to you FreakyFenton, I've used 1/48th kits in the past for kit bashing (i.e. the Tiger I roadwheels do well for an E-25), and that's what I'm pondering with this one. The road wheels look like they could work for one of those prototypes which didn't have parity with the T-34's drive system. Meanwhile I'm sure I could do something silly with the rest of the kit (and the gun in particular I suppose could do for a larger calibre).

We'll see, though I'll avoid starting yet another project for now...

Edit:

Since this post I managed to stumble upon this. The SU-2-122. A lenghtened T-34 chassis with twin howitzers. Well I guess I'll need to move the engine to the back again. :P

(http://warspot-asset.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/pictures/000/019/310/content/su2s112s4-36962c259345522fd23909fedce94f38.jpg)

And I also came across this silliness. I guess the Soviet version of the Dicker Max. :P

(http://www.maschinenkrueger.com/joomla/images/stories/u19/20180516/u-19_10.jpg)

https://forum.ipmsusa3.org/topic/19078-kv-u-19/
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 03, 2019, 10:59:02 PM: Both of those are suitably weird (though I would have expected a more sloped armour on the casement of the stretched T-34).

I have to admit to having difficulty getting my head round the Russian fascination with using (diesel) fuel tanks as part of the armour. Intellectually I understand it does not explode like petrol, but even so.

Have you thought about those Egyptian self propelled guns sitting on the turret ring of a T34? What was the largest Russian AA gun?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 03, 2019, 11:59:40 PM: In that British report on the T-34 they'd made comments about the external fuel tanks positioned about the engine being a bad idea. Presumably the Soviets wanted as much interior space as possible (Soviet tanks being known for being cramped, and tankers being smaller than average soldiers), so they had to attach them outside. Where having them at the rear of the vehicle, albeit besides the engine or passenger compartment was more feasible than another area or attaching an additional armoured cab to fit them. The way World of Tanks has handled its Soviet prototype vehicles is to liberally cover them in fuel tanks, so maybe it is just a Soviet thing.

I'd looked at post-war foreign developments. However, my current opinion on alternative history vehicles is that fictional vehicles have an issue of being muddied by modern design decisions. Something which today would be a given, back then may have been alien, or even if the idea did exist there may have been too much bureaucracy to implement it. So whilst I could make say a BMP-1 analogy out of T-70 parts, in reality that was a concept which was decades away. I mean, how long did it take the Soviets to add an enclosed passenger compartment to the BTR-60 for instance?

Its not a subject I'm well informed on, however I believe that the Soviets kept parity with the Germans in terms of AA guns. Wikipedia lists them as having a 130mm cannon in service during 50s equivalent to the German Flak 40. Though as far as what's available in 1/56th scale, you're lucky to find medium calibre field guns, let alone anything better than a Maxim of DShK in terms of AA for this period. I'd get away with a ZPU-2 or 4 though, as they entered development in 1945. Or some fantastical multi DShK mount if it came to it.

For the moment though, that SU-2-122 looks all right for that extended chassis T-34 I have. I'd imagine the lack of sloped armour was down to similar design ethos as the British and Germans had with their heavy tanks. That they'd rather have the increased interior space, and the armour was thick enough to deal with the majority of enemy guns at the time (minding that this vehicle was from 1942, when the Germans were only just using 7.5cm Panzer IVs too).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 04, 2019, 07:39:41 PM: You are right about trying not to bring our current ideas on tank design to these sorts of projects. It is like not deploying all archers in medieval armies ^___^.

I think the reference was more to do with the internal fuel tanks in the panniers either side of the turret and above the tracks.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on February 05, 2019, 12:39:14 PM: Interesting concepts, though I'd suddest looking at the SU-14 and SU-100Y the 'fit a big gun on a tank' game in Russia involved a lot of set-squares. Angles... not so much!

How about a Archer style reversed T-34? With a gun over the back deck? There are a few in WoT like that.

Also how about the low pressure or recoilless guns? The Soviets adn the Germans both had them, the soviets way back in 1940 (some captured on the Raate Road in Finland) and the Germans building the PAW800s late war - they offer a lightweight but heavy hitting gun with a decent HEAT or HE shell.

Finally (for now) how about rocket racks? I've seen pics of them ont he rear tack guards of KVs and the Hungarians slapped them on the Zirini Assault guns - they look ace (Accuracy... meh - more Rockets!)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 06, 2019, 01:13:12 AM: The Archer style T-34 had been my original idea for the vehicle I'm thinking about using for the SU-2-122. Just a larger version of the SU-76. The model's still sitting there in a front mounted engine configuration (I suppose as opposed to the Archer, which is just a reversed hull), that I could do something with. We'll see, its not like I can't be silly with these things, and I do have thing a thing for more angular casements.

Hmn, I have another vehicle (yeah, something will actually be finished eventually) which is looking like it could do with a smaller calibre gun as opposed to just sticking a 15cm monster in it. Though that's going to be French (how I explain away its weird and incongruous look compared to everything else that's been built so far). This thread's not really trying to retain much of an attachment to reality. If I was being realistic with all these vehicles I'd be designing stuff from scratch and adding real world developments in, rather than picking prototypes from random years and building them as is.

Those High/ Low pressure guns could be an idea for an analogy for the ASU series of vehicles. A Soviet counterpart to a Panzer 38t with a PAW 600, looking like a cross between an E-15 and one of those Soviet Hetzer like Tank Destroyers (like an acute angle ...but with tracks).

Heh, and yes, there's part of a Katyusha included in one of Rubicon's truck kits. Not a complete one, but maybe enough to salvage and turn into a set of launch rails. Perhaps a larger version of those light tanks which carried rockets, or like the T34 Calliope sitting on an T-34 or something. Though you mentioning those Tank Destroyers makes me think of German post-war conversions of Tank Destroyers. I could pick up a SU-100, plate over the gun, and stick some rails on the roof. I know post-war the Soviets tried out T-54s with low profile turrets armed with roof mounted turrets.

*Edit: Delving into Soviet Rocket tanks throws up this article with some fun looking designs.

http://ftr.wot-news.com/2013/07/20/soviet-rocket-tanks/

(http://ftr.wot-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/RT_RBT-5_01.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 09, 2019, 06:54:32 AM: (https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997847-Street%20Fighting.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997842-T-5%252F2.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997843-T-5%252F2.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997844-T-44.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997845-Casualties.JPG)

Since my first post here a week ago, here's what been painted. :)

The Soviet controlled Panther II's came along. Its done up in a fairly basic green with minimal damage. Insignia wise its also pretty basic, looking more like something applied in the field than with stencils. I could have been a bit more professional about that element, and I'm not too into how the big star on the front turned out (the rounded points as opposed to sharp ones don't look as good), but well, there's always more tanks.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997823-T-5%252F2.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997821-T-5%252F2.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997822-T-5%252F2.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997820-T-5%252F2.JPG)

This isn't a new build, or a new paint job. I've not been too into my past work as far as how tidy the paint is, so seeing as I'm doing Soviets, I went back and touched up the existing T-44 which I'd already built a bit. ...Just so it didn't look as crap. ::)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997824-T-44.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997825-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997826-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997827-T-44.JPG)

Oh, and the casualty markers which I'm using are from the Berlin or Bust range by West Wind. Having played some zombie games using corpses, they do bring a lot to a table. Whilst I may be playing WWII zombie games in future (I have a game arranged in 3 weeks in fact, hmn, which I'm short on models for. Ah, but including zombies in this thread may make things a bit too, well, silly :) ), these are just for a bit of table clutter. There's another two blister packs of these somewhere from what I can remember. Though I'm not sure if I'd want to be going full Stalingrad with the number of dead bodies on a table (not least with all these tanks around, otherwise I'd also have to be making some err, flattened ones).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/8/997846-Casualties.JPG)

I'm due to play a game on Tuesday using all of these tanks. For that I'd like another tank to be done, though aren't holding out on that. Besides the vehicles there's another of those Mars Attacks brick ruins set to be painted at least.

If there's demand for more games using that Winter terrain set then I could add more things like rubble piles and the like, as it isn't too developed in terms of clutter. However, there's that much terrain which I have already built for other settings still left to finish that starting more would just lead to a larger pile of unpainted buildings - besides the ones which are there currently being suitable for this anyway (there's about six or seven industrial buildings).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 09, 2019, 08:10:19 AM: Very nice tanks and the ruins look good as well.

Road kill casualty markers could be a bit graphic.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 09, 2019, 08:31:09 AM: Are you using the Studio Miniatures WW2 zombies?
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 09, 2019, 08:35:46 AM: Ah, yes, I already have some "Bloody Mess" markers from my Fallout miniatures collection to represent critical hits. And that comment may have been influenced a bit by the front page of Reddit yesterday being on the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989. Hmn, but that's perhaps too heavy a topic for this silly thread.

Currently I have that set of German Zombies from Studio Miniatures, another twenty Soviet Zombies from West Wind, and then if I'm desperate for more, a load of Warlord Games plastics done up as zombies (West Wind heads). Though I'm thinking of chucking the Warlord plastics and sourcing some Konflikt 47 German zombies on the cheap (they have better proportions). Only ten of the Studio Miniatures set are painted so far, but I have a few weeks to finish the rest. I'm trying to nail the right skin tone at the moment, and will probably go for something more pallid than what I've tried so far. Ah, more pictures forthcoming as I actually finish them. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on February 09, 2019, 03:17:43 PM: The Panther 2 and the T 44 both looks superb! :o

Took your advice and ordered some goodies from Heer 46. Nice to see the stuff in scale though! And looking forward to the zombies, if you end up posting pictures despite them being very 'ridiculous' alternate history. :D lol
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 09, 2019, 05:54:06 PM: Quote from: Wyrmalla on February 09, 2019, 08:35:46 AM
I'm trying to nail the right skin tone at the moment, and will probably go for something more pallid than what I've tried so far. Ah, more pictures forthcoming as I actually finish them. :)

I did mine using Humbrol 90 as a replacement for rotting flesh (I sprayed the lot with PSC Field Grey first, flesh in Humbrol 90 then Citadel Drakenhof Nightshade.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/02/zombies-hundreds-of-them.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/02/zombies-hundreds-of-them.html)

However after seeing Opponent Theory's tutorial:
https://opponent-theory.blogspot.com/2017/04/zombies-painting-tutorial.html (https://opponent-theory.blogspot.com/2017/04/zombies-painting-tutorial.html)

I tried his method on a freebie from Salute and then redid my Prelude to Woodbury walkers.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-walking-dead-salute-figure.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-walking-dead-salute-figure.html)

An alternative is to use Citadel Rakarth Flesh, lighten with Citadel Wycth pallid flesh and shade with Citadel Carronburg Crimson (that might also be the recipe for Cave Goblins(tm)).
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2018/03/punk-zombies-resurrectionist-minion.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2018/03/punk-zombies-resurrectionist-minion.html)

I hope this might be of use.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 12, 2019, 04:08:18 PM: Hmn...

(https://www.track-link.com/forums/attachments/research_postww2/f0c139487eba6edba8e4b53c4939b013_1.jpg)
(http://cdn-live.warthunder.com/uploads/e4/4f161af52a953711a0a0398b8d1bea96808e5f_mq/IMG_0778.PNG)

The things that you come across on the internet. :)

A Bulgarian pillbox made out of a T-34 with a T-62 turret. Enough foresight went into this for them to increase the size of the turret ring. Though as its a pillbox they removed the engine as well (which would get in the way of the turret. ...Not that I already tried fitting a T-54 turret to a T-34 and came across this issue).

Speaking of engines though, perhaps there's a solution to that problem...

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2d/9d/4e/2d9d4e87146018276711051ff6779750.jpg)

Oddly enough Blizkrieg's T-54 turret fits Warlord's IS-2 turret ring perfectly too. ::)

Hmn, so there's an idea. A prototype modification to bring the T-54 turret to the T-34 as some ill advised modernisation project. Obviously doing something about the turret ring and engine so it can actually support the thing. Probably not any extra armour though, as I suspect the new turret would already be messing with the weight distribution.

...Or is this idea just too silly?

Edit:

Also from Bulgaria. A Panzer IV with a Zis-3. Again a bunker, so not an actual tank - not that this has stopped other what if modellers. I do like Panzer IVs... :)

(http://cdn-frm-us.wargaming.net/wot/us/uploads/monthly_06_2013/post-378543-0-00297100-1371824207.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 12, 2019, 06:31:11 PM: Your first image does display as a complaint from Track-Link.

More interesting denizens of the 'net.

Okay, what is the source of the tank/lorry hybrid?

You do not see enough Panzer IVs in post war service.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 12, 2019, 10:44:34 PM: The first image is just another angle on that T-34. As for the Hellcat, the caption I found was "M-18 Hellcat Bijeljina Republic of Srpska April 2000", pictured in some open air "museum". Presumably (hopefully) a training vehicle similar to that T-54 with a Hellcat turret from those regional conflicts.

More images here: https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=201540

Syria was the main user of the Panzer IV post war. Some of the Eastern bloc countries had them for a time as well, though I suspect Romania was a user as they had repair depots for loads of German vehicles, and Bulgaria just used them as static defences. The blog WWII After WWII's articles on WWII vehicles in the Arab Israeli wars doesn't paint many of them in a good light, and they were quickly removed from inventory to again be used as pillboxes.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 13, 2019, 08:12:25 AM: The Osprey "Modelling the T55" book says that the T54 with the Hellcat turret (one of the projects) was due to the restriction on ammunition above a certain calibre, they could obtain the 90mm ammunition for the Hellcat but not the 100mm ammunition for the T55 gun. Hence the turret swap (and the replacement engine of your example I guess).

YMMV.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 24, 2019, 01:34:02 PM: In the past err ...weeks since my last post things haven't been too glacial, but well, you may think that by the amount of stuff I'll be posting here today.

I did manage to paint up another ruin, which is now sitting happily in a box in a cupboard after playing a tank battle a few weeks ago. See, I can even post a poor quality image of that game here. Its the ruin in the top right ...I think.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000165-WoT%20game.JPG)

Ahem, I'm now wondering if that's the first time I've posted an image of a game in this thread. Is it? Damn, well points for the low effort I guess. Ah, the incongruity of that board was in part due to not having all the terrain. ...As one of the other players thought we were playing on a Summer board instead of a Winter one, which explains why there's a big green puddle in the middle of the table. :)

On which note, this week we'll be playing another game with my figures. This time on a smaller board (though likely with the same amount of terrain. Note to self: add more Winter terrain to your ever expanding list of projects which'll never get done). Oh, and with zombies. That brings me onto the point of the lack of progress elsewhere, as I've been in the process of painting around fifty of the things. I'm still short another twelve for a game this Tuesday, and the rest are in one of those aforementioned boxes, but I suppose expect a post on that subject in future. ...Sorry to be a bit of a tease. :P

What has been done? Well this week was supposed to be more Soviets. And it was. Just not as many as I'd have liked though. I'll get onto that in a bit, but let me post some pictures first before you go running off on my for whinging about stuff too much like I usually do...

I needed some more Zombies to fill out the horde a bit more. Looking for options which fit the style of the existing figures (Studio Miniatures and West Wind) Clockwork Goblin's range from Konflikt 47 had suitably gangly proportions. When ordering those I had to add some other bits in to justify the postage of course. So I decided to throw some money at another set from that Weird War range. I'd looked at the SS Shocktroopers, but their exoskeletons and stockless rifles were a sticking point for me (or rather more importantly, that they're posed in a way which would make adding stocks difficult. You can have super human strength, but having something to brace a gun against would still help...). Instead the other elite infantry set "Daughters of the Motherland" seemed to have more going for it.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000169-Daughters%20of%20the%20Motherland.JPG)

Well, I mean after I modified them a little. Namely getting rid of the original heads and giving them some more reliable steel pot helmets for one (from Statureque Miniatures. The gas masks are from West Wind - have fun finding those on their store...). I also went about adding stocks to their AKs where I could. Either just sticking on spare stocks where the poses weren't too bad, replacing the guns entirely (using a set from Crooked Dice - which is why some have larger barrels), or in one or two cases just giving them new weapons.

Other than that the big Hammer and Sickle emblazoned on their chests met Mr Craft Knife pretty quickly, barring one on the leader figure (who'll be happy to know she's can be both proud of the Motherland and a massive target for the enemy concurrently). Oh, and they all had their backpacks removed too. Which I was relieved to find were separate pieces unlike on those Paratroopers which I'd posted earlier in this thread (they also oddly don't seem to have straps on them, so look kind of out of place sitting on top of those trench coats as they would normally).

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000184-Daughters%20of%20the%20Motherland.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000170-Daughters%20of%20the%20Motherland.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000182-Daughters%20of%20the%20Motherland.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000183-Daughters%20of%20the%20Motherland.JPG)

The new heads for one and removal of those Hammer and Sickles give them a look which brings them a bit more down to Earth into the setting I'm going for. They're still kind of a step away from being Imperial Guard figures, but hopefully will fit right in with those SS Stormtroopers in body armour which I'd made way back (who're already made from sci-fi models anyway). I'm chuffed how they turned out, and if it weren't for the price may have gone for more. Maybe they'll appear cheaper at shows in future. Otherwise potentially I may be looking at Statuesque Miniatures range of figures, who have a similar aesthetic to them (sans armour) - and if not, at least perhaps finding that old Commissar model I'd bought from them for my Fallout miniatures collection and giving her a repaint.

As for the rest of my Soviet infantry, that's stalled somewhat. I'd bought a load of Warlord Games Terminator Geni... sys (¬¬) plastic figures intending to replacing their guns with AKs (more from Crooked Dice) and do them up wearing WWII era Soviet Steel Bibs. Ah, unfortunately that's run into one major issue for now. See the gas masks which are on two of those above figures aren't the only ones I bought from West Wind. Nah, I have like forty. Problem is, they're "true" 28mm. As in more like something you'd see on a 25mm figure. And the Warlord figures, well, they're a bit too big for them. This isn't too noticeable on the Daughters of the Motherland figures, but runs into "shrunken head guy" syndrome when stuck on one of those Terminator models.

(https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/image/cache/catalog/PZ%20Mech/3d%20heads/3d-SHS-4-Russian-Gas-mask-heads-800x800.jpg)

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=195_198&product_id=1298

I know there's a load of 3D printed options out there, and companies do make appropriate heads with gas masks. Its just problematic that many of them are aimed at 40K, so finding ones which are suitably scaled is an issue. Germany and the modern period are also seemingly much more popular than the Soviets back in WWII, which was why I was into the West Wind heads so much (and disappointed to find out that they weren't the same size as ...damn near every other head that company makes). I want something which doesn't look quite as dated for the period as their other Soviet gas masks do (basic details, with an obtuse snorkel the front). A GP-5 or something.

Or seeing as they're going to be based around sci-fi models, I may as well do what I did with my Germans and go with period heads to reel back the silliness.

Right, meanwhile...

As far as WIPs go a few things have been worked on. But we don't talk about those, because in the state they're in they look like a 12 year old's Leman Russ kit bash to me. Here's a pair of things for talking points at least. :)

I don't see it being mentioned here, but it takes me so long to post stuff that I could have just forgotten talking about it. So bare with me if I'm repeating myself. When rifling through the old half built things I'd come across another of those "Eber" Sd.Kfz 251 mounted on Panzer III chassis. Here's my second shot at the concept.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000162-WIP%20Eber.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000163-WIP%20Eber.JPG)

This time around I went for a beefier armament instead of just a machine gun and did away with the roof passenger hatch. ...Because screw infantry even thinking about jumping down from there and not breaking a leg in a firefight. They'll make do with a rear door (and presumably a ladder). Originally it was going to have a T-34/76 turret and be in Soviet service, but that improvised turret on this already silly chassis was overkill on the "weird" war angel.

In retrospect the Panzer III chassis aught to be reversed (the exhaust remain at the rear) and something done about the Sd.Kfz 251's engine compartment. Though it remains based on that one video game vehicle, so liberties are taken when it comes to the practicality of some design decisions. I really aught to look into how the engines are placed in those Soviet tank/ truck hybrids and work out if they're moved at all in the conversion process, but meh, I have that stupid Panzer II with a 75mm gun on it, so shouldn't be making a point about how well conceived these monstrosities are. Its a truck bolted onto a tank chassis for Heaven's sake. ;)

(http://thumbnail.egloos.net/600x0/http://pds21.egloos.com/pds/201602/20/60/e0032460_56c7343f0bb3b.png)

With that rambling over (till the next time I post that thing), here's the state of another of my WIPs.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/24/1000164-WIP%20T-34%20Tractor.JPG)

The T-34 based Artillery Tractor thing's had a bit of a redesign. Its cab and engine area are a bit more refined now, having gone through a few iterations (it was looking practically German at one point). Now its inspired a bit more by Soviet designs, just from a later period, as relying on the BTR-50 for this resulting in it looking like it had a massive forehead. Obviously I'm still working out things, which is why its a bit of a mess in the image (re: 12 year old's conversion projects).

With those changes the rear bed was also widened. It was just looking too piddly compared to the cab using the existing dimensions of the donor truck. Now its perhaps a bit more realistic (the sides can fold down to be flush with the vehicle) and there's no longer wasted space on the track guards. As for the armament. Well for the moment I'm not sure about that. I did but a ZPU-4 from Spectre Miniatures to use with this vehicle, but I wound up finding out that the gunner figure comes attached to some of the major pieces on the weapon, and I just don't see the value in the amount of work tearing the figure off and rebuilding those areas would take (especially when I can just use the gun for my modern Middle Eastern project).

Rubicon sells a quad Maxim Gun on an AA mount via their web store which may be an option. I've tried stick a Zis-2 and a Zis-3 on the back as well, but they won't fit without removing their carriages, and if I went that way I'd like to have some sort of cradle (I suppose I could build something appropriate myself). Other than just using this in its intended artillery tractor role, which its maybe a bit heavy for - and likely also wouldn't see much use as in the types of games we play (though I'm kidding myself if it'll be touched with an AA mount either) -, I'm not sure of what other options there are. It could do as an APC I suppose.

That's all which is in a state I'm willing to show off for the moment. Ah, hopefully all the guff between the pictures padded out the post a bit. There's other dumb vehicle ideas which have been started since I last checked in. Though some of those might need to be taken around the back of the barn and get shot for being a bit too asinine (that Vichy French tank destroyer which I think I mentioned began as the Hungarian Panther that was posted yonks ago). A Sd.kfz 250 mixed with a Puma's front end and lengthened tracks from a Sd.kfz 251 to give it full tracks instead of wheels was last night's project. ...But that's looking more like something you'd see in a game like Dishonoured than a WWII setting. Its a step away from having an Imperial Aquila bolted to the front. Maybe more on that later, otherwise its being called Old Yeller and you'll never hear about it again (I did mention it'd already began as a fully wheeled Sd.kfz 250 and a Puma based walker before I tore those up for this right?).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on February 24, 2019, 04:36:12 PM: You have certainly been busy.

Are the Empress Modern Russian heads with helmets and gas masks too modern?
(http://www.46680.mrsite.com/USERIMAGES/RUS10.JPG)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 24, 2019, 09:59:42 PM: Great looking game! Wonder who won and who lost? And is that a destroyed Maus in the middle of the picture? Surely not..wonder who could manage to lose a Maus ;)
Looking forward to seeing some close up shots of the ww2 zombie '46 game, to make me wish I was there..
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 25, 2019, 02:06:11 AM: @Ultravanillasmurf

Aye, those Russian heads would at least be having their helmets replaced. Ah, and well considering that the Soviets were using the GP-5 in this era, they'd be definitely a step up from those (less lung cancer).

Secret Weapon Miniatures do a head which has prospects. They're made for Games Workshop figures, and is perhaps a bit too German styled however. Its a problem of finding ones which are both in scale, and fit the look I'm going for.

(http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/images/CB1025.jpg)

@ Ironclad Paul

Oi, you can slink back to your garage Paul. Tsk, here's me going out my way not to mention your name three times in case you showed up. :)

Its all right. I'll go out of my way to "forget" to bring the zombies along again. Jard and I will just sit there playing a game of town planning for the night instead. Yes, that sounds much more my style of game. Hmn, why don't I have any lamp posts in 28mm scale...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 25, 2019, 11:06:17 AM: I don't know who would win a game of post apocalypse/'46 town planning between you and Jard! You're both evenly matched I suspect in that department.
Anyway, carry on with this great thread (the best I've seen, but I do lean that way, as you know) and I will watch from afar with interest, but remember watch out if you say my name 3 times... I've returned to Glasgow before unexpectedly !

and behind all the fantastic tanks I will expect to see '46 lamp posts when I come back ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on February 25, 2019, 11:35:44 AM: Perhaps if I can start a project in every one of this forum's sub boards that will rouse you from the Garage to come back up here and ...I donno, dress yourself in a Kaiju costume and stomp about destroying all of my dollies. Can't say that I've checked what the building's owner's policy is for club members acting like prats that much. :)

If I had more lamp posts then it wouldn't be post-apocalyptic town planning. Nah, then we could manage untouched urban areas to finally give up the pretence of this wargaming silliness and sit down to a proper city building simulator. Hmn, someone must have rules for connecting up the facilities and making sure we have the right zoning.

On an unrelated topic. *looks up from painting table* Hmph, none of you believe me when I talk about the "piles". Bodies in the basement sure, but... Ah, here's some of those buildings I was talking about in that modern thread of mine.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/2/25/1000301_md-Terrain%20...pile.JPG)

Right. There's your look. I'd rate it that there's an optimal chance that some of that stuff will be painted at a point in the next decade or so, assuming that I'm not killed by one of the larger piles of crap (which the site inspector I had out seemed to be concerned about. Once they were snuggly buried under a few layers of toy soldiers though you can hardly hear their moaning anyway).

::)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ironclad Paul on February 25, 2019, 12:19:23 PM: if your basement is ordered anything like your model storage boxes then it may well be dangerous to the unwary lol poor models need looking after and some love too :-*
maybe one day I can visit your basement and you can visit my garage, are we talking order vs chaos here? the cosmic balance at work maybe..the universe moves in strange ways sometimes.
I guess that's the strength of going to a club, you can blithely play and never know just how 'involved' your wargame friends are in the hobby, until you visit their home and get an insight, and maybe a shock sometimes.
Carry on with the fantastic terrain building, yours are some of the best I've seen, photo evidence below from a recent game with your terrain (and a pic inside one of your buildings!). I rest my case.

And yes, sadly, once I did consider making a few mecha suits for a big game. glad I didnt really o_o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 07, 2019, 09:58:52 PM: Here's me dropping in again to this project, as it takes my fancy to work on some more tanks. :)

I've been working on bits and bobs for my WWII collection in the past while since my last post, though progress tends to be sporadic as its split between this and the dozen other things which catch my interest at that moment. Recently then I have managed to paint a few things fairly quickly, though many other projects remain a work in progress obviously.

Here's the handful which're done.

E-75 in Soviet Service (T-E-75?)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013357-Soviet%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013354-Soviet%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013356-Soviet%20E-75.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013355-Soviet%20E-75.JPG)

After an order arrived from Die Waffenkammer I hadn't expected I found myself landed with a few kits which I'd otherwise reorganised my plans for. See I'd wanted another E-75, but with this order falling off the map for the better part of a year I had bought and made a pair after this hadn't arrived (Jeff at Die Waffenkmmer was able to resend it – twice – even in the troubles he'd been having recently, so I can't slight him for the muck up).

Which meant I was landed with a kit and no idea what to do with it. The thought of doing something weird crossed my mind, though Warlord's plastic Tiger II makes for a better platform for conversions. Instead I was boring and turned the Tiger II into an E-75 (of a sort) and just painted it up in Soviet colours like the Panther II.

Its not too outlandish a conversion of Die Waffenkammer's model. These E-75s are becoming a bit mundane to be honest. Take off the hull MG, add on a rangefinder, and then do some other weird stuff if you feel like it. I didn't bother replacing the engine deck this time as there was enough going on, though did give it the gun from Heer 46's Schmaltrum kit to make it look a bit different. Otherwise with it being in Soviet use there's some of their modifications – with a pair of bins and fuel drums from a T-34 at the back, and a replacement headlamp at the front.

I could have been more adventurous, but it seemed interesting enough with the new paint scheme. It'll be another in a line of foreign tanks in Soviet service as I find excuses to give them more vehicles from models I've already built (i.e.a crap tonne of German stuff). Just slapping on Soviet colours to these already alt-history vehicles keeps them unusual enough for my liking, without delving into the gas turbine engines and other oddities that I find myself adding to the German kit.

Soviet E-10

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013364-Soviet%20T%252FE-10.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013362-Soviet%20T%252FE-10.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013363-Soviet%20T%252FE-10.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013367-Soviet%20T-E-10.JPG)

Speaking of captured German equipment...

This time its less of the green splurge, and I instead mixed in a repainted turret on top of the original German paint scheme. Otherwise it remains pretty basic - with all the grime covering up for the lack of any camo scheme.

Regardless, another light tank for the Soviet forces- as I know I'm going to be inevitably as short on those as I have been for the Germans, as even with a few lighter vehicles being built, the heavies are always so much more fun to play with. :)

Chi-Ha / T-70 Hybrid Recce Vehicle (Y/T-70?)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013358-Soviet%20Y%252FT-70.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013361-Soviet%20Y%252FT-70.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013360-Soviet%20Y%252FT-70.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013359-Soviet%20Y%252FT-70.JPG)

The dumb things you do when you buy a kit, forget about it, throw it together into a dumb vehicle and say "meh, good enough".

My Japanese alt-history project remains where it was from the last time I posted anything about it. With Warlord releasing their plastic Chi-Ha kit, that made the resin vehicle I'd bought from them less appealing for conversions. There was other ideas (like sticking a Zis-2 on the roof), but this seemed like the most suitable for the resin kit without needless tearing it apart.

Not a lot of thought went into the background when throwing this together. I think it'd suit as a glimpse into the war on another front. Perhaps with things not going so well for the Soviets leading to the need for conversions like this. Or maybe its in service with local fighters somewhere in China – in a similar workshop to the one the Germans had in Romanian for converting captured vehicles to their standard? The Japanese front tends to be overlooked in alt-history media centred on Germany, so who knows what the state of the war over there is with Britain bowing out of the war in Europe (who knows, the Colonial powers could be duking it out the Far East, or around Oceania/ India).

Whatever, as I said I need more light tanks and this was a simple build. Just a widened turret plug to fit the Blitzkrieg Miniatures T-70 turret and some spare parts from a T-34 to Russiophy it. I've no idea how practical this would be as a real vehicle, but it looks neat. Like some parody of post-war cinema making mock up enemy vehicles from whatever tank they could get their hand on.

Chelovek iz Stali (Soviet Soldier in Captured German Panzermensch Suit)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013347-Soviet%20Men%20of%20Steel.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013348-Soviet%20Men%20of%20Steel.JPG)

Clockwork Goblin's German Power Armour suits have a nice dieselpunk look which suits the era perhaps a bit more than their other stuff. They're good and chunky. Once some of the sillier details are removed (like the spare magazines on the power plant - how is the wearer supposed to reach them with those shoulder pads?) they're pretty nice models.

With the squad of German Panzermensch I made (in need of a new paint job...) the idea was they were some super secret experimental program. Hidden away in the German heavy water treatment plants or deployed rarely in the field from E-50 based Heavy APCs. This Soviet example then would have had to be a rare capture (perhaps more common as the Panzermensch trials escalate), though indicative that at least a few had been captured, and this was one suit being field trialled to record the results.

It didn't take much to turn these into a Soviet figures. I just got rid of most of the StG-44 magazine pouches, replaced their heads with a Soviet ones with a sculpted on ballistic mask, and gave them a modified DP-27 LMG and AK. The DP-27's in the style of post-war modernisations, so I guess top of the line for the time. Just a bit of silliness to probably use in Zombie games or whenever I actually use infantry (I think we've played maybe one game involving infantry, otherwise we just use this stuff for World of Tanks style games – pretty fitting given the subject matter obviously)

Zombies

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013352-Zombies.JPG)

I suppose now would be the time to show off some of the zombies which I'd rushed through for a game a few months ago,so hadn't had the time to post any pictures of.

These have been used the once for a The Walking Dead game set in WWII. Where a group of Soviet special forces were sent out to discover the fate of some secretive Nazi weapons program, only to find the site overrun with zombies and a group of SS remnants fighting for their lives.

...At least on paper. All of the zombies wound up being killed by turn two or three and it turned into a shooting match. Um, because The Walking Dead doesn't seem to balance itself well for every model having a gun. Hmn. We'll have to rework things more in future so there's more zombies, but that'll mean painting more of these things.

Here's some snippets of the some 60 Zombies I now have. Depending on whether we run a WWII zombie game again I'll probably have to keep my eye out for more suitable figures at shows, as I suspect another 30 wouldn't go unused the next time we play .

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013349-Zombies.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013351-Zombies.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013350-Zombies.JPG)

The figures are a mix of Clockwork Goblin, Studio Miniatures and West Wind. With some of the Studio Miniatures models having West Wind heads for a bit more variety. There's a mix of camo in use by the Germans to give them more variety (if I paint more I'll add more patterns), as are the West Wind Soviet zombies a nice addition to break things up a bit.

I do have some 40 Zombies made from Warlord Games plastics. Those are chunkier and less animated however, which is why despite having made all of them, I rushed out to buy models from those three other companies instead. I could maybe salvage 10 or 20 to mix in with the zombies which are already painted, but the dedicated zombie models look better (I did sculpt over a few of them, but they just look too animated compared to the sluggish poses on the other figures).

(From left to right - Clockwork Goblin, Studio Miniatures, West Wind)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013353-Zombies.JPG)

The Unpainted Tat

As for the state on the still yet incomplete vehicles.

Things have progressed somewhat on previously discussed models -though not to an extent particularly worth showing currently. ...I tend to work on too many things at once, so yes as those who follow my threads here will find individual progress can be slow. I'll relent and post some images of a few unfinished projects, which yes, I don't tend to like to show models off before they're ready for paint either, so these aren't at as complete a state as I'd like.

T-34-54

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013343-WIP%20T-34%252F54.JPG)
(http://cdn-live.warthunder.com/uploads/e4/4f161af52a953711a0a0398b8d1bea96808e5f_mq/IMG_0778.PNG)

This crept up on me a bit as I was looking for a spare T-34/85 turret for a T-44. I didn't intend to make this vehicle from an existing model, but having stolen the turret from on of the German captured vehicles I'd made previously, I had to do something with the chassis. Of the T-34 Beutepanzers I have it was the least visually interesting, and with any long project you look back on older work and see their flaws (I want to repaint half these models...), so it was for the chop.

As for the actual conversion. It hasn't been too bad. Its based on another scale model representing the Bulgarian T-34/ T-62 hybrid if it were a functional vehicle. In particular with the engine deck being set back to allow space for the turret (unlike the real one where its removed entirely and plated over), giving the vehicle a bit of a M48 Patton look with its extended engine – and perhaps a bit more modern a style than the T-34.

The T-54 turret obviously still needs work. I've torn off the details on the original model which were overly simple to recreate them later. That's largely what's left to be done with this, other than rebuilding the front a bit where I'd removed details to add some extra armour on the original model.

LTTB

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013342-WIP%20LTTP.JPG)
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/b6/24/6fb6240f083c7a8e8e8c3a7b192f137d.jpg)

Another thing which has been on and off my workbench as it slips between flights of fancy. The underlying model is a 1/72nd scale IS-2. Working from an existing kit, albeit a modified one, makes builds simpler – even if of course that may mean the resulting vehicle isn't as accurate as it could be. ...I just hate building running gear.

The initial shape of the hull is lain out, but work on tidying it up and adding detail is still to come. Its not as accurate as I'd like – with the rear section being too wide due to the donor engine deck I used being larger than on the real vehicle. Though I'd like to think that was a simplification caused by using existing parts rather than manufacturing new ones. Which with a decent chunk of this vehicle being fictional due to the lack of complete blueprints, is something which can be overlooked.

Otherwise its also in need of a turret. The one it has on it right now will likely find its way to another T-44. The turret this vehicle has in World of Tanks is basically off of a T-34/85, meanwhile the T-44 variants can be a bit modified, making this plastic turret more useful for those than one which I can find in another kit. I may just buy a spare turret from Die Waffenkammer and pop that on. Nothing's a priority then.

Oh, and the road wheels are stand ins. I just needed something round to work from. Those will be redone later.

T-44

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013341-WIP%20T-44.JPG)
(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/restored-T-44-kubinka.jpg)

Still early days on this one. Ideally the plan is to produce a bit more period accurate a model than the T-44 which I already have. Adding in some details which I otherwise missed (like the extra vision block on the side of the hull for the driver – not found on later models), bulges on the turret, etc. As I have another two T-44s after this to build ideally this one will be a basis for what to change, though obviously the real vehicle were made over a number of years, so there will be some differences between models.

The idea for the moment is still to do the Assault Gun and a T-44-100. Which will have one vehicle using a static casement, and the other would be a modified T-34/85 turret – which is why I'd rather keep the plastic turret for that. I'd been looking at early T-54s (Object 137) as well as an alternative to the T-44-100, creating a turret from scratch to save the T-34/85 turret for the LTTB, but I think I'm more inclined towards the WWII era prototype rather than its post-war child.

(http://i.imgur.com/PkVpLIC.png)

German Armoured Car

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013344-WIP%20Ocelot%20.JPG)

The last thing with enough work done to be worth showing is something else German. ...I have to stop myself from making more Axis stuff instead of giving the Soviets a competent force, but I keep finding new ideas I'd like to build...

This one is a cross between a Puma and a post-war Spähpanzer Luchs. I think conceptually an attempt to make the Puma chassis more suitable for modernisation (it was difficult enough sticking a 75mm gun on it), in the style of Post-War French armoured cars. This isn't the base variant of this armoured car, rather its some weird offshoot mounting the Kugelblitz turret. With the original idea being to create vehicle with that turret styled after the BRDM which then evolved into this. The base vehicle would instead be using a large calibre autocannon or gun in an oscillating turret, but this is still fine as it is.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/1666/26654636036_1b5e61753c_b.jpg)

The underlying model is a widened Warlord Puma kit, with part of the engine deck from the Panther at the back (just to keep things period consistent, rather than creating a more realistic one from scratch) and a turret by Heer46. Its a hybrid of those two German designs I mentioned – like a post-war vehicle made from WWII parts -, with some contrivances to fit this concept (the separate mud guard) which otherwise would have had it looking too modern for the setting. I'm chuffed on how it turned out; its modern enough looking for some games set in a later period "Man in the High Castle" style. :)

Mudguard wise they're based on a mix of both vehicles – though they don't reach all the way to the front as that's how they are on the Luchs. However the Luchs has a trim vane, which seemed a bit too advanced for the era so was left off. I may extend them further in the style of the E-10 with some thin sheet metal – there just to stop and dirt – something would then be removed in later models perhaps to allow for a trim vane.

Terrain

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013345-WIP%20Ruin.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/7/1013346-WIP%20Ruin.JPG)

Segwaying into other things (is this the half way point of this post yet...? I had to add bloody headings to keep things from becoming just a word mess in this essay). Here's another ruin also in an unpainted state.

I may have shown off the one with this one before, as its been sitting around since I started building the ruins for this project over a year ago. It was bought to steal its tracks from for one of those Hanomag/ Panzer III hybrids I made. Looking back I could have used it for another conversion, but having wrecked tanks as part of your terrain is a nice feature (even if it does limit them to just WWII games ...unless your games happen to be taking place on an old film set).

----- End of part 1 (because LAF has a character limit? Who knew? :D -----
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 07, 2019, 09:59:15 PM: See part 1 on the previous page. :P

Other Project Options?

Elsewhere I've been doing some research into the T-70 as a platform for conversion. Earlier some variants were discussed, and I've since found some more which may have potential.

My current intent is to have a go at making some vehicles which used the T-70 (or similar vehicles like the T-80 as a base, typically through extending the chassis). Currently I have two T-70s, one by Warlord games previously painted as a German vehicle, and another by Blitzkrieg. The German one an serve as a donor with a repaint.

As far as these variants, here's a few more which seem like they have potential.

VT-42 t-70

(https://i.redd.it/frcz2uz3mcv11.jpg)

An attempt to increase the longevity of the T-70 chassis – a concept seen on a few vehicles. Done by replacing its main armament with a 45mm long barrel gun with excellent armour penetration (purported to be able to take on German heavy tanks).

This would be a simple conversion – just replacing the barrel on the existing tank. Obviously this project ignores the realities of the real vehicles (which sites such as the Tank Archives go into in more detail, as to why these projects failed (http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2018/04/t-70b-light-modernization-of-light-tank.html)), and in the fashion of World of Tanks or War Thunder which I'm somewhat aping, I don't tend to modify these prototypes to be a bit more suitable. So yes, the tank with the one man turret would get a larger gun and not address its other shortcomings. :)

T-80

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ff/b7/35/ffb735a1372164167c4a8579814c3428.jpg)

This one is perhaps less outlandish a model, being a vehicle which did see serial production. The T-70 had numerous flaws, which the T-80 attempted to address. Particularly in increasing the turret to two men so the Tank Commander didn't have to deal with three separate jobs including operating the gun. It saw limited service, as the time for light tanks was over.

A bit more involved than the 45mm gun tank, but not that extensive a conversion. I don't believe that anyone makes a 1/56th scale, but I could be wrong and Die Waffenkammer may have it in their archives somewhere. This could also feature the VT-42 gun, though that may muddy the concept a tad. Regardless, the background of the T-80 and its obscure nature would make it suitable for this project – even if it actually being real docks it some points.

ZUT-37

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a4/d8/b6/a4d8b6874ad1199c4be3240013894fe2.jpg)

One concept to use the chassis for an AA gun. Perhaps more competent than the dual DShK armed prototype, though maybe not as able a platform as those vehicles using extended chassis. It was armed with a 37mm gun and intended for usage against both air and ground targets – though didn't see production due to its cramped interior.

Another potentially simple conversion of the T-70. This would involve creating a new turret from scratch and be open topped – something I'm not too fond of as that means making an interior and crew. I'm more inclined towards the 45mm armed vehicle, however if I had the time the turrets could be interchangeable between these models.

IS-10 SPG

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0fBTINluRQ/Wca-_TqqiNI/AAAAAAAAPBg/y8RsQ1ddTVgXgDrTV9Fwg1xWUNp__W66gCLcBGAs/s1600/zik7s12-c388e79fc766cf3544f60fdaa117105f.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-97GBC-NLiXk/Wca_ADqRbUI/AAAAAAAAPBk/MMEYZ7ZwxnU3hJk8FwnlsntF-NvJOUyxgCLcBGAs/s1600/zik7s14-8765b0c2a4b1ce75de41e2cdb6240a50.jpg)

When a request was made for a new SPG based on the T-70 chassis, two plants were tasked with the project. A third plant volunteered its own design, being the Grozny concern which had developed the Zis-3 gun. Their design was fairly simple – a casement on the T-70, with hardly any modification to the rest of the vehicle. Concerns were raised on the limited access to the engine due to the casement extending a bit further than the turret's plate at the back, which among other concerns caused the project to be shelved (I'd note however that this is an issue on the original T-70, where you have to remove the turret and its mounting plate for the same task).

Among all the SPG on the chassis, of which there were a few (even more than the hand full I mentioned in my earlier post ...really, there must be a dozen), this one seems like the most expedient to make. Which is saying something for the nature of Soviet tanks. I like this vehicle as it would suit the Blitzkrieg T-70, which is now lacking a turret, and be something similar to that Panzer II Luchs SPG I made in concept. Just a casement built over the chassis.

There are those other SPGs on the table for conversions as well, though those will come once I can settle on how to do the tracks. I'm still inclined towards the vehicles with the more Hetzer style casements than the variants on the look of the SU-76 (and there were a few of those as well... honestly the amount of attempts at using this chassis for SPGs is silly, though given that we were still seeing conversions Post-War its not unexpected).

For one however, I am always in need of lighter vehicles for actual games. I find my collection filled with heavy vehicles which whilst nice to look at ...don't always offer the most balanced force for playing games with. I'm not want for concepts at least, its just finding the time and inclination to actually build them – and for the moment at least my To Do pile for the Soviets seems to be filled with heavier vehicles as usual...

(Other) Other Project Options (not T-70s)

Otherwise I have came across some other ideas for vehicles not on the T-70 chassis which may be worked on down the line.

IS-2U

(http://i.imgur.com/x74Yjq8.jpg)

My continued effort to find something to do with this IS-2 may have finally ended. ...Its like the Soviets just jumped from the KV-1 to the IS-3 in terms of weird prototypes. I managed to find this prototype which seems to fit the bill – an IS-2 with progressed towards the pike nose of the IS-3.

The vehicle seems to be largely an IS-2 just with a modified armour layout similar to the later vehicle. Presumably being a prototype which was rolled into a bunch of other improvements to create the IS-3. Luckily a good chunk of the IS-2 seems to remain intact (engine deck/ turret/ running gear) unlike on the IS-3, so seems like a viable conversion compared to just buying an IS-3 kit.

Sd.Kfz 222 in Soviet Service

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Armored_Cars/Sdkfz-221-222-223-4rads/Sd-Kfz-221_Spz_B41_HD.jpg)

(Uh, this, but with big stars on it I guess)

I'm also kind of inclined into making one of these. Yes, it would mean more German stuff – but that's just a short term problem. As I finish more of the half built stuff I'll have plenty of actual Soviet vehicles and the captured German kit will be a minority.

Anyway, I like the look of the 222 and Rubicon now have their plastic kit. I was thinking of one armed with a PTRD Anti-Tank rifle done up with the usual green paint job and Soviet insignia. It could be interesting (and again I'm picturing some propaganda film – where lacking actual enemy equipment older vehicles are used done up in their colours instead).

BMP Prototype ...Things

(http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2017/07/1487211708-k-90-tank-in-patriot-park.jpg)

There's a 1/56th BMP-1 somewhere in my collection which isn't being used. Whilst this is more wistful thinking than something which will likely be turned into anything – it is a thought.

Similar running gear to the BMP-1 appears on many earlier Soviet vehicles. If I could use the tracks from the kit which I already have (Sloppy Jalopy I think) then that could work for some of those vehicles and prototypes to complement the T-44s period wise – giving the Soviets some more post-war equipment in opposition to the lighter E-Series I suppose. Just a musing. :P

[size=18]Closing (yup, seriously I had to add bloody headings as this was getting too long)[/size]

Here's another of my usual "I've not touched a project in a while, deal with this content dump" posts. Um, I could ask if more shorter consistent posts are preferred, but I know I can't keep to a schedule, so well, deal with it. :)

For the moment I'll try and wrangle some of the guys at my club to run another tank game at some point. The main thing putting that off is that I want more vehicles for the Soviets so that its less of the "German Civil War" battles we've been playing with all my Axis vehicles, so I'd like at least a few more painted before that happens. Another zombie game ideally will be on the table too, which may be less involved depending on how things are balanced (i.e. Not a repeat of the last game where we just unloaded AKs into the horde and it turned into a shooting match).

In either case more terrain is in order, namely those ruins, more soldier corpses and tank traps (the latter two being stuff I'd lost in a box and only painted a portion of). As we've been playing mostly tank games the sparse boards are all right, and I have enough terrain from the rest of my collection to fill in the gaps on your average board, but my preference has always been to fill my boards with about twice as many pieces as every other board in the club that night put together, so there's always more work to be done...

Anyway, more crap to paint. :P
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 08, 2019, 08:28:16 AM: Wow, that is a lot of creative stuff.

Interesting about TWD:AOW having problems with mass firearms. I would have thought it would cause the threat level to reach "Game Over Man!" very fast
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 08, 2019, 09:11:49 AM: :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 08, 2019, 10:18:01 AM: Ah, yeah, TWD doesn't like guns. We found that with a squad of 8 or so models on each side armed with a mix of Assault Rifles and Bolt Actions the threat level didn't reach the Herd point even with everyone shooting every turn. Some models did begin to break near the end, but most seemed to hold out even with middling nerve (the Leaders had better stats).

Though to be honest, TWD's nerve system can be exploited. There's one character who has the highest nerve and can give it to any survivor within a certain distance. In one game I just stuck him and the rest of my survivors on a bus roof and shot at random Walkers - increasing the threat level every turn. The other player's Survivors panicked, mine just stood about with their meagre loot then escaped before the Herd showed up. ...That no name character breaks games. :P

There's a larger version of the game coming out apparently which may be worth a look. As the base game doesn't seem like it wants to scale beyond a dozen at most survivors at a side and a handful of guns without breaking itself. We tend to only play with a hand full of pistols and bolt action rifles in our games so players are forced to be sneaky - but once enough guns have been secured we're still able to start blazing away at the zombies without much concern.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 15, 2019, 12:24:44 AM: Meanwhile... I've had less time than I thought this week to work on things. Meaning that bits from last week which have been painted, or mostly painted aren't really a focus as I try and come out with more tanks for a game this Tuesday.

Currently the plan's been to give the Soviets more models so they have a bit more choice for figures in this World of Tanks style game we're playing. The Germans have dozens of options (though oddly only one artillery piece...), the Soviets are stuck with 3 Heavy, 2 Lights, and ...that's it.

Which is fine, I've not worked on them for long. Still, its come down to adding three more vehicles to that list this week (I hope).

IS-10 SPG
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/14/1014151-WIP%20IS-10%20SPG.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/14/1014152-WIP%20IS-10%20SPG.JPG)

Here's what's become of this idea. The details are guesswork, as the real vehicle didn't make it past the rough blueprints stage. So they make look the part at least, but could be wildly impractical. Which is fine. Outside of that one blog post I found this thing in nobody probably even knows what this is...

LTTB
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/14/1014153-WIP%20LTTB.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/14/1014154-WIP%20LTTB.JPG)

This has come along further, now with extra details. Its not perfect, but I'm calling it good enough for some paint.

One of the pair of Maus I have is receiving a repaint too. The turret's been stripped and will be done in Soviet colours, and the hull's having the German insignia painted over with black rectangles & red stars. Along with a general update to the painting, like with the T-44, as I'm not happy with how it looked (too much dry brushing).

These three vehicles then count as a SPG, Medium and Super Heavy Tanks. The first two are going to receive the same all green paint job as every other Soviet vehicle I have (maybe slightly different - I'm running out of a particular shade of green paint...).

I'd rather keep things simple and have each side easily identifiable. The Soviets will be a simple Green, the Germans coming in White or Tan. We had enough issues identifying the living soldiers from the dead in our Zombie game this week. ;)

There'll be a post up at some point in the future with those things I painted last week, probably some shots of the Zombie game's table, and it'll likely run on into what we play this Tuesday as well through all my rushing to paint these last two models.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on June 15, 2019, 03:49:31 PM: Always interesting to see your scatchbuild/kitbashes, they often provide inspiration :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 15, 2019, 05:44:05 PM: Another great batch of weird war vehicles.

Very creative. I look forward to seeing them painted.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 17, 2019, 11:43:15 AM: A game's still set for tomorrow (um, I think. ...Better send an email), and I now have these three done for then. Yup, ideally (if I remember) I'll take some shots of that. Then post them here with last week's Zombie game, and perhaps some more painted stuff later in the week. ...There's a load of images on my hard drive in need of editing, ah, what few are actually focused. Some of them even aren't blurry shots of random shots of chairs or Irn Bru bottles. ;)

(https://instagram.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/vp/653de8416863cafe660c6134b2015de5/5D8D5E31/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s750x750/62133839_148559692864821_2346897435549269892_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014479-Soviet%20Tanks.JPG)

Maus

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014465-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014466-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014468-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014467-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014469-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014470-Soviet%20Maus.JPG)

The Maus now repainted in Soviet hands - now with a dirty big Hammer and Sickle on the side of the turret. God I hate painting stars.

This was an opportunity to repaint the original hull a bit - this being the Warlord Maus I had, rather than Blitzkrieg's kit. I tried to reign back the dry brushing I'd done first, before adding the usual grime. In future I'd like to work on my dust effects - though its always a process of improvement (I already hate this thing. It'll have another repaint in a few years...).

This will fill in the Soviet's Super Heavy category for the moment. I can't say I'm a fan of really large vehicles - in part because they're an arse to store - but it just wouldn't be proper to not give them something they actually made. That's for another day. ...Maybe it'll be an opportunity to use that bloody Tamiya IS-2 kit I still have. :P

LTTB

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014475-LTTB.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014476-LTTB.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014477-LTTB.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014478-LTTB.JPG)

"Light Tank Heavy Armour". 1944's idea of what a light tank was supposed to be, before the Soviets gave up on the idea and just kept their lighter vehicles on with the airborne troops.

This thing looks like a smaller T-43 or later Sheridan, though isn't that far off of a T-34 size wise. Which I guess showed just how obsolete things like the T-80 were by that stage in the war.

With it being made from a 1/72nd IS-2 kit - just widened and with the suspension sitting higher - it isn't perfect. There's a noticeable gap between the drive sprocket at the back and rear mudguards. And the engine deck wound up being too wide, so it lacks diamond shaped hull profile when viewed from above. Um, hopefully none of you are World of Tanks players who'll be jumping on me over that. :P

Out of the three tanks today I think its my favorite. Its not perfect, more of a wargaming piece than a proper scale model, but that's what all of these things are for. ...And its not like anyone else has built one of these in this scale. At least its away from the build pile finally.

IS-10 SPG

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014471-IS-10%20SPG.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014472-IS-10%20SPG.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014473-IS-10%20SPG.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/17/1014474-IS-10%20SPG.JPG)

A less elegant example of the Soviet practice of sticking a box on a tank chassis. ...Their conversions of Panzer III looked less crude.

Blitzkrieg T-70 has less detail on their tracks than Die Waffenkammer's Tiger II, so received the usual mud treatment to cover up how poor some of these 1/56th scale tracks can be. ...Just nobody call me out on all the mud again; at least its toned down from how much I used to apply (see the Maus for reference). :P

This leaves a T-44 and the T-34/54 thing in my immediate build area. Not that they may actually be what's worked on next (I could dump the lot and go play with my Elder Scrolls figures...). For the moment the T-34's in need of having its turret rebuilt (the original details were crap), which is what's holding me back from finishing it. The T-44's looking like it may be turned into the T-44/100 model. I'll get to another 85mm armed T-44 eventually.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 17, 2019, 09:26:18 PM: Nice work.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 18, 2019, 11:14:54 PM: Just a small follow up tonight. I started working on another vehicle this morning. This one will be a more suitable "Tank Destroyer" as far the rules I'm using are concerned -rather than the smaller T-70 based SPG (though neither really were built for the role in their original design briefs.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5Z7o5xZd0s/UquP9TgM2gI/AAAAAAAACCo/TYsN75B8oXM/s1600/sg-122-1.jpeg)

The SG-122 was another attempt at converting captured German vehicles into something usable by Soviet Plants. Similar to the SU-76i it involved building a new super structure over captured StuG IIIs. This one would serve as a self propelled Howitzer rather than a Tank Destroyer like the SU-76i, but it will look the part for my needs.

(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/su-76i-spg-moscow.jpg)
(SU-76i)

Only a dozen or so were built. They were issued to field units, though soon replaced by Soviet built vehicles. Eventually they'd see service and mostly be destroyed, with from the scant research I did only a replica surviving to this day (presumably as the Soviets were building the SU series fast enough to not need them any more). So this is another case of a vehicle actually being real, and seeing service, however its still something obscure; fitting the design brief of this blog. :)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9tG23SUIAAHeeP.jpg)

I'm in the process of making this vehicle out of a Panzer III kit I'd already used for another conversion. One of a treo of Panzer IIIs with sloped armour which I'd put together after buying them by accident instead of Panzer IVs. The models are over used in games, and I'm not a fan of the design, so one was for the chop.

So far I've stripped the model back to the Panzer III and built the basic casement. Now its onto adding the hatches, gun and large stowage items before going into the details. The real vehicles seem to be missing some of the smaller Panzer III parts - likely when it was being turned into the new vehicle - so there isn't as much rebuilding necessary from where I had to removed things in my original conversion.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 19, 2019, 06:40:05 AM: Cool - I've used a force of SU-76is before - I built and cast them.

Never seen that one though! 122mm I guess?

Shows how many PzIIIs they captured!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 19, 2019, 04:57:37 PM: From the Tank Archives article: http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/07/sg-122-assault-gun-on-foreign-chassis.html

"Factory #592 was tasked with rearming the Pz38(t) with the 20 mm TNSh autocannon or 45 mm gun, the PzIII with a 45 mm gun, and the PzIV with the 76 mm F-34 gun. As for the StuG III, the GAU wanted to install the 122 mm M-30 howitzer.

In reality, the last item on the list was the only one worked on."

With the requirement also to increase the height of the StuG III's fighting compartment, the opinion that they could mount a larger gun on the chassis, and an earlier call for a 122mm armed vehicle in 1941 - which at the time they weren't able to mount on the T-34 - presumably led to this project. Eventually they did come out with the SU-122, so the SG-122s were replaced in their first deployment and moved to another artillery unit lacking vehicles.

...It goes to show how many StuG IIIs were captured, and how much the Soviets (engineers at least) disliked them. Though the main issue was them running out of ammunition, so like the SU-76i fitting their own gun and doing some other improvements seemed logical till they were making more T-34 SPGs.

If you read through that website's articles there was a few calls for tanks mounting various guns. Which is where all those T-70 prototypes came from as they tried to do anything to justify continuing producing the chassis. Most weren't achieved, or at least there isn't information out on them.

Yeah, there are models of the SU-76i out there in 1/56th, which is why I went for this instead. There's enough fodder out there for similar conversions of German vehicles which were never built to have a go at what ifs inspired by these two SPG.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on June 19, 2019, 10:40:53 PM: Love the tank archive.

Looks a bit nose heavy!
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3keuSfRxHYE/WXPKRqIRmXI/AAAAAAAAOKo/rC_NuokMbSQSxXU8_sF8ELktzjDiWpHlgCLcBGAs/s640/sg122s07-9342fa6c05a58948d71e4ecaffd60830.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 19, 2019, 11:01:50 PM: If its going to drive 100 miles and be blown up, the transmission collapsing at 150 isn't a problem. 8)

The actual usage listed on the Tank Archives seems to imply they used them till they broke down or were lost in action. Which seems to be the same as the SU-76i and other captured German tanks. Presumably through the Soviets being desperate at the time, and eventually pumping out more of their own stuff that they could be replaced. Not that I would want to be landed with something which would eventually fall apart. Though its not like the original German vehicles were all amazing to begin with in terms of maintenance.

Tonight's project has been something different. I'm having a go at making a Panzer IV armed with a Soviet 76mm gun. Not an exact copy of that post-war Bulgarian conversion as its using T-34 parts instead of the gun off an SU-76. Its a pity that most of this model's been salvaged from the bits box. So ah, I have barely touched the weird looking turret. Instead the cut up parts of a Panzer IV are now bodged together, with a load of plasticard recreating the rest. ...I guess this will be an opportunity to hand wave some bits not being 100% the same as the real vehicles as the Soviets replace broken parts with whatever they could throw together.

...This may be my first Panzer IV which actually looks like the original tank and not some sloped armoured mess. :)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on June 20, 2019, 08:36:18 AM: Creative as ever, I look forward to seeing what you make of them.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on June 20, 2019, 08:24:01 PM: Here's the state those two WIPs I mentioned are in.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/20/1014966-WIP%20SG-122.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/6/20/1014967-WIP%20T-4%252F76.JPG)

The SG-122 so far's coming along - with today most of the time spent on it being marking out the layout of further parts. Annoyingly the number and quality of period images isn't great, and models and replicas get them wrong. So I may have fudged them a little, but considering people probably think this is just a weird looking StuG or something I don't think its a major issue. :P

So far the Panzer IV ...is at least now in one place. A bit more filling to go then I'll add on the smaller bits. I won't bother with much more rebuilding at the front; instead it'll just be covered in sandbags and tracks.

The muzzle brake was replaced with the Panzer IV's one, but I think it'll look better without it as it makes it look too German - or add one of those barrel extensions the Soviets tried out for their 76s. Something. ...
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on June 29, 2019, 12:50:14 AM: Nice conversions and painting. I actually like the Maus as it is.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on June 29, 2019, 02:12:31 AM: Amazing work, but I do have to ask where the purple grid/mesh is from. :o ???
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 05, 2019, 02:01:09 AM: Sorry about the delayed response. My laptop decided to die and I've not had a computer since to do much with (...in particular upload pictures). That's not rectified itself, but I can at least respond here. I'll risk tasking this thing's poor Wifi card for a post with pictures at some point. :P

The plasticard with the grid was bought from a local crafts store, so sorry, no luck on an actual source. Its the sort of vacuform material you find smaller outlets producing themselves - I bought a tonne of it a while ago for terrain. It doesn't take much to make so shouldn't be impossible to find online in a similar pattern.

As for this thread and progress on things. Last week I mostly worked on modern things, pretty much all just more terrain - and yes will eventually get around to posting images of the games we've played using that stuff. With that its been an effort to work on existing figures I have. There's been two wargames shows lately where I've bought little after I realised how much stuff was at home to work with.

Yes, for the WWII collection however things have been a bit more glacial. At least with the weird figures. I've been rooting through my infantry collection as we debate at my club using the Star Wars: Legion rules for other settings, besides the modern cludge we've tried so far. So I've been slowly organising and painting up figures for that. ...Its only when you start sifting through things that you realise you have four platoons of Germans which you've never played with (and that's just the historically accurate figures). Maybe expect pictures of one of those games. ...Or we'll forget about the concept and just play with space ships or something. :P

There's an update from me anyway. Not dead, but nae pictures.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 06, 2019, 08:46:27 AM: Good luck with the technology.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Splod on July 06, 2019, 09:48:10 AM: This is such an inspirational thread. I've had a squad of Empress Volksgrenadiers undercoated on my workbench for far too long. I feel some 1946ery on the way!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Splod on July 07, 2019, 03:08:49 AM: Quote from: Predatorpt on September 20, 2016, 12:58:17 PM
And Queeg did this:

(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/House-of-Queeg/Project%2046/Project%2046%20wip/P4w2.jpg)

Also, sorry to dig up an ancient post but I find this build SUPER-inspiring. I'm not a massive WW2 tread-head, but is that a Panther front glacis and hull welded to a Pz.IV? I realise it isn't your work, but you seem to be alright at this hack-and-slash business ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 08, 2019, 06:20:54 PM: Splod - the kit bash is a representation of the Krupp design for an 'updated' PzIV (W1462), actually dating back to 1942, where Wa Pruef 6 decided to move to a more effective sloped glacis. The problem being that doing so increased the vehicles weight (to 28.2 tons), which would have required a re-design of the steering and braking systems - it was also concluded that the rubber tired roadwheels would fail. The idea was abandoned by Feb of 1943, where demands for higher production numbers for the PzIV meant there wasn't really time to complete the design work or necessary re-tooling for production.
It wasn't the only PzIV re-design, in January of 1944 the Panzerkommision met to decide on specifications of a vehicle which used both PzIII and PzIV components (the snappily named Panzerkampfwagen auf Einheitsfarhgestell III/IV). The glacis slope wasn't as extreme, but by July of that year it met the same fate (Gaso-Line do a nice pre-painted model of one).
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Splod on July 09, 2019, 12:38:31 AM: Quote from: Ballardian on July 08, 2019, 06:20:54 PM
Splod - the kit bash is a representation of the Krupp design for an 'updated' PzIV (W1462), actually dating back to 1942, where Wa Pruef 6 decided to move to a more effective sloped glacis. The problem being that doing so increased the vehicles weight (to 28.2 tons), which would have required a re-design of the steering and braking systems - it was also concluded that the rubber tired roadwheels would fail. The idea was abandoned by Feb of 1943, where demands for higher production numbers for the PzIV meant there wasn't really time to complete the design work or necessary re-tooling for production.

Thanks for the info!

What I was after however was more a practical 'how would I make the thing' rather than the quasi-history behind the design ;)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on July 09, 2019, 10:44:47 AM: There are a few build examples back through this thread, I cannot remember how detailed they were.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Ballardian on July 09, 2019, 01:49:30 PM: Here's a pic which reveals the extent on the plasticard work to make a sloped armour PzIV. I'm not sure if the original kit is the old Rubicon PzIV (they've recently replaced their Pz IV range - they're now excellent) or the Warlord plastiv version, but it shouldn't matter much either way. As you can see, it's a significant amount of work, but far from impossible.
(this is a Kugelblitz AA version, but the job would be the same for a standard tank)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on July 09, 2019, 02:31:27 PM: My own builds of each design aren't that in depth or in places wholly accurate.

Of the two the design which had the single piece front glacis was the easiest to replicate. On the real vehicle the crew hatches at the front were modified a bit, but on a 28mm model nobody cares. This one mostly was just sticking plasticard over the existing vehicle instead of a load of cutting. I did add a new turret and engine at the back as well - though those aren't necessary.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/11/896312-WIP%20Panzer%20IV%20Ausf%20K.JPG)

With the other design I haven't actually made a Panzer IV based on it. At least not properly. Though the front portion did appear on this vehicle (which I'll eventually repaint - the paint scheme is far too complicated). You have to rebuild the front instead of just sticking plasticard over it, so its a bit more work.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/8/21/898228-WIP%20Stupa%2044.JPG)

As Ballardian said there's other changes on these designs than just the sloped armour - like the road wheels to deal with the weight. Practically I went with that heavily modified Panzer IV design for the second vehicle to be a fictional and probably highly impractical example of pushing the chassis to its limit.

...And kind of want to get around to repainting that damn thing brown now so it looks less stupid. Eugh, too many projects.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Skullhamma on July 11, 2019, 10:12:18 AM: My god... your kit bash fu is amazing! :o
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 11, 2019, 01:32:35 AM: Keeping the updates fast and consistent as ever. :P

Tonight we played another alt-history tank game at my club, so for the past week I'd been painted up a few vehicles to give some more options for the Soviet player. Along with pushing off a pair of older projects from the "to do" pile (one of them) which have been sitting around for far too long at this point.

I'll lead with pictures of the models and end with a dump of some images of the board. So first up here's the German stuff.

Super Heavy Tank Destroyer

Starting with something silly. I'll post the images below of this unpainted to show how little of the children's toy this is based on was left over. ...This more being an effort into using that toy which I'd had left unused for ages than looking for something which could ever be used in a game. Though perhaps one day the Soviets will have more large tanks for this to actually go up against.

Its pretty much an E-100 Flak turret on tracks (most of the bits coming from a 1/48th Tamiya Tiger kit). I'm thinking used as a Tank Destroyer on the Russian steppe somewhere. Ah, its more in the style of something you'd see in a video game than in reality, but all the angles look cool. ...Even if it is a bit daft. :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026109-Super%20Heavy%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026106-Super%20Heavy%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026107-Super%20Heavy%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026108-Super%20Heavy%20Tank%20Destroyer.JPG)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906454-WIP%20Flakkanonpanzer.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2017/9/30/906455-WIP%20Flakkanonpanzer.JPG)

Bergepanther

Originally this started out as a regular old Bergepanther using Heer 46's conversion kit - albeit with extra armour and a cab added. It just wasn't working out for me and my alt-history tastes though, so I stripped it back a bit and went for a different route.

Its partially based on a few real vehicles. The plow isn't a 100% recreation, but its a "good enough for wargaming / I have a game in a few days, screw it". The real one with a plow was a salvaged Panther made from a hodge podge of bits with a stripped down turret. Though here I went for the random bits, but the turret wasn't doing for me so instead I went for an autocannon. Which with the armour hopefully will keep it kicking if anyone shoots at it whilst its clearing some rubble.

It'll probably do for just a piece of terrain (which is what it was used for tonight) or perhaps a scenario vehicle - clearing as many roads as possible to help the Germans get off the board in a break through.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026111-Bergepanther.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026110-Bergepanther.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026113-Bergepanther.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026112-Bergepanther.JPG)

T-44

Now onto the Soviets. First from the pair of vehicles is a second T-44, going with the first vehicle which I already have made from the Blitzkrieg Miniatures T-54 resin kit.

With this one I wanted to be a bit more accurate to the real vehicle than my first attempt. With the game coming closer and general fatigue of having this sitting unfinished for so long I rushed some of the details, but its a fair representation I think.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026098-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026101-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026100-T-44.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026099-T-44.JPG)

T-4/ 76

One more German tank in Soviet service. I mentioned this is based in concept on a pair of real vehicles - a post-war Bulgarian bunker made from a Panzer IV fitted with the gun from an SU-76, and a request during the war to convert captured German tanks to mount Soviet guns which wound up not really going anywhere.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026105-T-4%252F76.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026102-T-4%252F76.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026103-T-4%252F76.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026104-T-4%252F76.JPG)

And just an update on that other Soviet tank I've been working on. Nearly done, but I haven't pushed myself to finish it off. I'm not happy with how the rear stowage area looks and will probably do my best to cover it up with some cloth or something.

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026097-WIP%20SU.JPG)

Finally, some images of tonight's game. Or rather a few of the 3 we played ...as the first two were rather short (on account of me being a my usual gitish self).

Over the past few week's I've redone all of my winter terrain with new snow and mud effects. Hopefully things look a bit more realistic now. I'll eventually go through my tank collection and update the paint jobs and effects on those too. The pictures aren't the clearest, but hopefully you'll see the difference between these and the "before" pictures I'd posted earlier.

There's also a few new bits. Another ruin (the one with the StuG) and flooded craters. With plans to add a load of tank traps and rubble piles in future. I'd also like a proper winter mat (instead of the flipped over regular one we use ...which is completely untextured) so we play with a less stark white and instead something which mixes the snow and mud together a bit better. I've seen home made ones which look all right, its just finding the time to make one. :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026118-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026114-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026123-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026119-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026120-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026122-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026121-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026126-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026125-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026124-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026129-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026128-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026127-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026130-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026117-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026115-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)
(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/10/1026116-10%252F09%252F2019%20Tank%20Game.JPG)

As a last point (...yeah I know I just said "finally" a minute ago), elsewhere I've started (yet another) project. Or at least an off shoot of this one. The infantry side of my WWII stuff hasn't really been the main focus of this thread. I've decided to split off the less obviously alt-history figures into their own thing - which whilst realistically would still be suitable for post-1945 games, may as well be a bit more historical for the sake of being able to play regular WWII games with them.

Lately then its been a work in progress to repaint and add models to that SS collection I have. Mostly made from Heer46 and CP models figures with those winter parkas the SS had. With a decent number of other figures - largely Perry - done up with the same uniforms sculpted from clay to fill in whatever roles those companies don't do models for (heavy machine guns, radios, more sergeants etc).

This will also mean perhaps a few vehicles too. I'm not into the main German tanks much, so if there are many they'll be stuff like the Marder series and other converted or captured tanks, or things like armoured cars or recce vehicles (I was thinking of doing one of those Panzer 38ts with the 20mm gun turret used on Sd.kfz 222). A Marder III has already been started, and is just awaiting a pair of crew figures to be converted.

Expect a thread on those to be started at some point. Depending on how much interest there is at my club for the Eastern Front setting it may be ongoing, or I'll just keep it to the initial post and things will be more sporadic from there as I work out how to actually play with the figures. I was considering doing a Soviet force - either all in Snow Suits as Siberian Veterans, or as some sort of Engineering groups wearing armoured bibs (I know two companies doing both suits and bibs, and could easily sculpt either on other figures). That's probably way down the line however, and up in the air based on what's going on around here.

Anyhow, there's an update for this ...trimester (?). I'll see about getting around to posting pictures of the terrain more specifically - showing off the snow and mud a bit more. For a last image though here's some arty farty stuff done for the sake of ...arty fartiness showing off some Soviet elite infantry on patrol in some "dead" city (...hah, zombies :P). :)

(https://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2019/9/4/1025131-28mm%2C%20Alternative%2C%20Armor%2C%20City%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Female%2C%20Historical%2C%20History.jpg)
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Rich H on September 11, 2019, 05:47:22 AM: Nice stuff as normal!
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: von Lucky on September 11, 2019, 12:20:31 PM: Yeah - don't worry, create at your own pace.

Love the last shot.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: Wyrmalla on September 11, 2019, 01:47:59 PM: I do like how the guns look in that last shot. I've been using a pencil on metallic areas to bring them out a bit more. Its a bit more subtle than just a metallic paint.
Title: Re: The Thaw of '46
Post by: FreakyFenton on September 11, 2019, 09:30:29 PM: Like the use of the german heavy infantry and the heavy visor helmets you made, they look the business. :D :o

Much better than the hammer wielding ones that look to be straight copies of that one Pacific Rim mech.