A rag-tag pack of Fallschirmjägers

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi all,

after a longish hiatus, I got back into WW2 gaming in October 2012 after buying a Bolt Action release deal at Spiel in Essen. Getting a box of Fallschirmjägers, I found the quality of Bolt Action figures to have diminished compared to when it was a separate company, but overall, I quite liked the figures and painted them up in a rag-tag fashion for skirmish games in an Italian setting, possibly incorporating Nazi Gold stowed in local monasteries as well as belligerent priests and future communist mayors leading guerilla groups.

Again, after finishing the Fallschirmjägers, I got distracted and didn't follow it with terrain and partisans, but I may eventually return to that project if I get the time and space.

Fallschirmjäger Commander, Signaller and Medic:



Understrength Group #1:



Understrength Group #2:



A Leichtgeschütz and a mortar to provide support:



And a battered SdKfz 251C from Die Waffenkammer, presumably "on loan" from a Heer unit:



Thanks for looking! Comments and suggestions welcome!

[M Blakey]

Great stuff there mate I haven't got the confidence to attack my fallschirmjagers .. I to found the castings aren't as crisp as they were when it was an individual company.

[gamer Mac]

I bought these the other month still to finish one though
But yours will show mine up. Cracking work

[Amalric]

Very nice gruppe of FJ.
Thanks for posting it.
I look forward to seeing their gold hunting AARs.

[Helen]

Lovely work Chris, well done.

Helen

[BattlewagonBruce]

Have a look at our Fallschirmjager







http://www.offensiveminiatures.com/catalogue.asp?RID=11&CID=2

Our figures sit well with BAM. The quality is, we are told very good. We do a lot of support weapons.

[moiterei_1984]

Nice painting. Personally I prefer the Artizan Fallschirmjäger but your's really look the part.

[Goosegog]

They look really good. Should have read your intro better though. I couldn't work out why the FJ were wearing med uniform when the Bolt Action FJ seem to be dressed more for winter (with the scarfs and all) so I always picture them on the Eastern Front or the Bulge. Must pay attention, since you've painted them for Italy!!!

[Westfalia Chris]

They look really good. Should have read your intro better though. I couldn't work out why the FJ were wearing med uniform when the Bolt Action FJ seem to be dressed more for winter (with the scarfs and all) so I always picture them on the Eastern Front or the Bulge. Must pay attention, since you've painted them for Italy!!!

Well, winters in Northern Italy can get pretty chilly, or so I've been told. I must admit, though, that I didn't really pay attention to that (although I skipped painting the officer with the full headscarf, come to think of it). That said, I wouldn't consider them out of place for the autumn of 1943 to the winter of 1944, and maybe spring - I wouldn't want to run around and have to fight in full gear south of Rome, either!

As a final thought, I don't really go for below-theatre-level historical accuracy when painting figures, mainly trying to avoid glaring inaccuracies (e.g. blue parachutist helmets except on dedicated pulp figures), and these FJs were also painted this way to try my hand at various camouflage patterns - there's swamp pattern, Zeltbahn and Italian camo print in there, or rather my attempts at these patterns. The sand-coloured trousers and helmets primarily serve to tie the figures together as a single force.

[Goosegog]

The camo looks really good, in fact it would be nice to have some close up/individual photos of the figures. My gripe is with BA. I bought a few of the FJ to use for my Normandy themed projects, but had to be careful with choice of figures due to the scarfs etc.. For me they looked out of place in France in summer.

Though having been in Normandy a couple of years ago in June, maybe the scarfs wouldn't be out of place.

Can't speak for northern Italy itself, but having visited Rome in January for a Brit it was great being a barmy 15C. Though the Romans were walking around in overcoats and scarfs.        

[Westfalia Chris]

Can't speak for northern Italy itself, but having visited Rome in January for a Brit it was great being a barmy 15C. Though the Romans were walking around in overcoats and scarfs.        

And that's the real reason the Romans left the British Isles (and took all their culture and civilisation with them ). 

[Goosegog]

And that's the real reason the Romans left the British Isles (and took all their culture and civilisation with them ). 

Cheeky