Captain Blood's Western Desert: P.125 - SdKfz10 half-track with 2cm Flak 30

[NurgleHH]

You surprised me again, Richard. I think these Perrys are not your favorites, too tiny. But your work with them is excellent.

[Captain Blood]

Thanks Dirk 
Lots more Afrikakorps to come. I have been busy gluing!

[Dr. The Viking]

Your painting is lovely and high stnadard as always.

I must say, though, that the DAK kepi looks very strange on these miniatures. I can't quite put my finger on it but something is off. I hope to see them with my fingers at some point.

The wagen is brilliant too!

[Hammers]

Making me think of how the Fallschirmjagers were misspent in common infantry roles. "Uboote batallion Karl Dönitz, Kufra Libyan Sahara, 1941"

[Captain Blood]

Making me think of how the Fallschirmjagers were misspent in common infantry roles. "Uboote batallion Karl Dönitz, Kufra Libyan Sahara, 1941"

Hahaha. Well let me tell you, Peder, this is actually southern Italy. I'm sure there was a U-boat base at somewhere like Sorrento... 

I must say, though, that the DAK kepi looks very strange on these miniatures. I can't quite put my finger on it but something is off.

Goddamit! I thought these looked pretty good. They required a bit of surgery to sit down right. If you look at some other pics of these models - where the cap has just been bonked on top of the head without any fitting - I agree they do look off. But I was quite pleased with these - ah Thorbjorn, once again, you have punctured my hubris 

[Dr. The Viking]

Goddamit! I thought these looked pretty good. They required a bit of surgery to sit down right. If you look at some other pics of these models - where the cap has just been bonked on top of the head without any fitting - I agree they do look off. But I was quite pleased with these - ah Thorbjorn, once again, you have punctured my hubris  

I am really sorry!

I know what it is now (other than me being pedantic as usual). I think the strange look from the side comes when the front of the kepi is not aligned with the line of the face.  



Might I enquire what colours you used for the DAK? I am painting some in 15 mm myself and your choice is brilliant! 

[Captain Blood]

I refer you to my previous answer

There's a little bit of mixing gone in there, but substantially, the three main colours used are Vallejo Russian Uniform Green, Desert Yellow, and Iraqi Sand.

[Hammers]

Goddamit! I thought these looked pretty good. They required a bit of surgery to sit down right. If you look at some other pics of these models - where the cap has just been bonked on top of the head without any fitting - I agree they do look off. But I was quite pleased with these - ah Thorbjorn, once again, you have punctured my hubris 

I see no wrong with them.

[Captain Blood]

Okay, well try these for size... More recent builds.

As you know, I am congenitally incapable of building a plastic figure without fiddling to try to achieve something other than the 'boshed together straight from the box' look.

These are a joy to play about with - so reminds me of my youth building Tamiya figures and kits (only in miniature).

First up - a couple of (actually straight builds, more or less) early period infantrymen in Solar helmets and gaiters.
I did have to do some minor reconstructive surgery and Green Stuff adjustment to the left arm of the left hand figure to make it fit properly...



Next, a radio op and infantryman.
The radio op is a straight build, although I've added a rifle and helmet to the top of the radio set.
The infantryman has had arm transplant surgery, with 8th Army arms in short-sleeve order grafted onto DAK hands carrying a Kar98K.
I wanted a few Germans in rolled up sleeves.

I've yet to work out if/how I can do a conversion involving DAK in shorts...



Then a kneeling group. Some chopping of arms, hands and heads here, to achieve the correct attitudes for the iconic two-man MG team pose (don't tell me it's not historically accurate - 'cos I don't care )



Three more, steel helmeted types this time... A Feldwebel with MP40 and binoculars, a chap in iconic 'Commando Comic' German pose; and another arm transplant on an advancing infantryman with fixed bayonet (converted from an 8th Army bayonet - I don't know why no bayonets are included in the DAK set. I'm assuming the Germans did use their bayonets from time to time, but they never seem to be portrayed with them. Whereas Brits in the desert are often portrayed with fixed bayonets... Odd... )



Don't ask me when on earth they'll get painted... Maybe in time for the next LPL! 

[Keith]

Ace work Richard - nice to see you digging into these some more. I've stuck a few 8th army rolled sleeves on mine too which I think looks great.

The sun helmet was still worn in Sicily, so covers the whole period nicely.

[Captain Blood]

Thanks Keith.
I'd love to see your versions of these figures some time, knowing what a great painter you are.

[Keith]

You flatterer you :-)
Mojo seems to be coming in fits and starts at the moment. Lots of starts, followed by a few fits!

[Captain Blood]

Well, have part painted a lot of the previous batch. Just need to finish basing... Meanwhile, have kit-bashed some heavy weapons teams...

A pair of kneeling figures - mortar loader and a feldwebel giving the order to fire...
The mortar loader has 8th Army shirt-sleeve order arms, with his DAK mortar shell case grafted on.
The sergeant has a side cap - easily converted with a sharp knife and a bit of poly cement from the regular DAK mountain cap.





Next up, prone A/T rifle gunner and mortar-man. The latter is a straight build apart from a bit of mucking about with pouches and so on. The A/T gunner has a Green Stuff haircut with his helmet slung from his webbing. I doubt many men fought bareheaded when they could wear a helmet. There again, I like to create a smuch uniqueness and variety as I can in my armies 





And finally, a couple of minor conversions from the 'official' lying loader figure...

One simply has a slightly rejigged stick grenade throwing arm and some extra pouches.
The other has had major surgery to remove the moulded-on rifle arm and shoulder, and replace it with a repositioned binocular-holding arm. I'm quite pleased with him. I actually think this figure looks better with the rifle in the right hand...





Anyway... Small steps. Just wait until the whole lot are painted and together 

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Brilliant builds! Very inspirational stuff as your work always is 

Can't wait to see them painted!!!

Cheers

SP

[Mason]

Ah! The plastic crack has gotten hold of you again!
 

Nice conversions.
Uniqueness is a good thing.
 

That mortar looks like it would make a nice microscope with very little work.
Must remember that, cos ya never know when you may want one.
 


(By the way: What are those gubbins that the figures are stuck on?)