German Marine Special Forces - Some LAM Figures, RHIB, AIP Attack Sub

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi all,

I finally got around taking some decent shots of the marvellous Lead Adventure Miniatures "German Marines", which I got at this year's Tactica. Then they had to wait three months for Round 10 of the LPL for their first outing, and now they have their own thread. I've decided to post them here as they are more "ultramodern" rather than Postapocalyptic, although I will most likely use them in PA "n+1th Russian Civil War" games, e.g. raiding the Tyrant of St. Petersburg's stronghold, containing the ravening radiation zombie hordes of Bornholm, etc. pp.

Here's the Marines in camo gear first. I didn't paint them in an "exact replica" of a proper camouflage scheme, but instead aimed to get one that looks reasonably like a modern pattern.



Next, the set of Waffentauchers in wetsuits. Again, I settled for a rather nondescript, greenish-grey look.



Moving on, an RHIB to carry the Marines on their mission:



A bit on the larger side, for the long-distance leg and to act as a "spawn/exit point marker" on the tabletop, a fuel-cell attack submarine loosely based on German designs. It's supposed to be a small craft for littoral and commando operations.



To finish, a "mood shot" of a rendezvous off Kieler Förde.



Hope you like them. If I can keep up the motivation, I may also build some more ships and maybe crew, especially a Kaleu for the sub as there doesn't seem to be a set of Post-War submarine crew on the market (hint hint to those who might be able to produce figures matching the LAM Marines, hint hint ).

[Captain Blood]

Excellent Chris 

[FunkyBrush]

Very cool stuff

[Prof.Witchheimer]

well done, Chris, fine work on the camouflage!

[Predatorpt]

And is that a scratchbuilt sub? 

[Westfalia Chris]

And is that a scratchbuilt sub?  

Yes, indeed - unfortunately, as is my usual problem, I built it too quickly to take any informative WIP pictures.

Basically, there are two horizontal slabs of 3mm PVC hardfoam, with a longitudinal spar and three supports as spacers. This is covered in a layer of .5mm plasticard, cut to fit and sanded smooth. The panel lines are engraved, although I decided against riveting them - while the actual Type 209, 212 and 214 submarines (which were the inspiration) have some rivets visible, I thought it wouldn't look "right" with the model, especially for the slightly "futuristic" look I wanted it to have.

Painting is a black spraypaint undercoat, onto which I sponged thin layers of Black Grey, Grey Green and slight weathering with a pale blue-greenish tinge. Mainly algae, as the sub is likely coated in some anechoic plastic material which will not rust.

As an aside, the turret can be removed and is held in place by two pegs. I did this for storage reasons, and to be able to place it in an "ice slab base" for "Ice Station Zebra" style scenarios. I'll take some more pics once I get the camera battery recharged.

[Predatorpt]

Reading your description of how you did it, it sounds so simple that I'm eager to try it myself (even though I have no need for a sub for my games). Thanks for the explanation and congratulation on an overall great work!

[Legion1963]

I really like that sort of thing. Very well done. Especially the camo, it might not be totally correct but it has got an excellent 'feel' to it.

[Raxxus]

Awsome stuff mate!

[Brummie Thug]

Nicely done love you sea vessels. Love that last picture awesome 

[carlos marighela]

Wow  Chris, those are just lovely. I just ordered some last week so, that's some real inspiration. Just out of curiosity is the RHIB, the Propagand Kompanie one? I've been looking for one for ages and I think theirs is OOP at the moment.

Fantastic sub btw.

[Westfalia Chris]

Wow  Chris, those are just lovely. I just ordered some last week so, that's some real inspiration. Just out of curiosity is the RHIB, the Propagand Kompanie one? I've been looking for one for ages and I think theirs is OOP at the moment.

No, the RHIB is scratchbuilt as well, and again, I got so caught up in building it that I forgot to take WIP shots. Basically, it's a very simple slab-sided hull made from plasticard, with two steel springs which I got at a crafts store. I chose that one for rigidity and regularity, but you could also build the float body from putty or carve it from balsa wood or PVC foam plates. I wasn't aware there was a model on the market when I built it, apart from the fact that sometimes, scratchbuilding is so much more fun for me.

Fantastic sub btw.

Thanks, and thanks to all others for the kind words!

[Commander Vyper]

Both of those should be cast up Chris, massive potential for selling those vessels I reckon.

[Westfalia Chris]

Both of those should be cast up Chris, massive potential for selling those vessels I reckon.

Not so sure about the submarine - it's 40x7cm (~16x2.5" for the metrically challenged ), so that would be a huge lump of resin, a killer in material cost and possibly shipping if one was to use alternative casting materials.

As for the RHIB, I'd considered it, but it has so many undercuts that my mould-making skills aren't up to it. Also, the proportions are off quite a bit for 28mm figures, and a proper model would need to look better and cleaner.

[Steve F]

Not so sure about the submarine - it's 40x7cm (~16x2.5" for the metrically challenged ), so that would be a huge lump of resin, a killer in material cost and possibly shipping if one was to use alternative casting materials.

Could it be cast in hollowed out segments, I wonder?