My Germans pt 4 Gepanzerte Panzer Gren Platoon

Ive been slowly adding units in order to be able to field a fully armored panzer gren force.  Recently I finished the HQ with schrecks and my second combat platoon of Grens with half tracks.

 I decaled the vehicles with Grossdeutchland markings.  

 These halftracks turned out a little darker than I like.  Ill have to trim back on my black wash next time.  

 Company Commander and Panzer schreck.  

 I used a combination of different flock, static grass and clump foliage.  Also I added some broken fencing and posts using square match sticks.

 Couple good shots of the whole platoon with CO, 2IC and Shrecks leading the charge.  The 250 in the back ground is not apart of the platoon.  Its just doing a drive by.

I also finished up a pair of sdkfz 251 cannon halftracks.  I seem to have misplaced the pictures.  Ill add a few later.  

Its also worth mentioning that the above platoon is a mix of old Panzer gren figs from a blister and the new plastic guys from Open fire.  They seem to fit nicely together and offered up some more variety in poses.

British Para Review

Well Ive been adding to Sierra's Para company. Picked up a ton of blisters.

Got her a Airborne royal engineer blister, 4 recce jeeps, Frost, Sosabowski and Urquhart.  As well as 4 Howitzers.  Now I have to say I am rather disappointed with the contents of some of these blisters.  Specifically the Engineers.

The Engineer blister (BR806)  seemed severely lacking.

• It only contains enough figures to field 3 squads not the full 4 offered in the Briefings (minor irritation)
• It does not come with any Piat figures
• It does not come with a supply jeep. (not surprised)
• Worst of all is the complete lack of unique figures.  My german pioneers are very unique and easily distinguished from their comrades carrying Mines, Sachels and knackers gallore.  Where as the Brit paras only really get one noticeable unique fig.... This one carrying a coil of barb wire.

 The blister only comes with 6 medium bases.  But enough figures for 3 more.  So I used some spares I had.

 The lack of diversity in the figs is really bad.  Over half the figs look like this.

Normally Im very pro Battlefront.  And with good reason. Its hard to find  faults with the vast majority of their product.  This blister is the exception.  If your planning a Brit Para Company I recommend budgeting to include BSO 120.  Which is an assortment of Command team, Staff, Piat, observers and flame throwers.  You will need them!

Wargaming Table

The Crew from the game shop has been coming by to play some games and as often happens when a bunch of dudes get together and have some adult beverages we got to planning larger battles.  This ofcourse ment that my single table was simply not big enough for our plans!

So We set out to build a second matching table.  Daniel had some 2x4s kicking around his house and I had the plywood.  A quick stop at Home depot and I had the rest of the lumber and 4 wheels.

Supplies needed:

• sheet 4'x8' plywood.  (5/8") (1 Required)
• 2'x4' lengths of lumber.  (4 - 8' lengths required)
• 2'x4' lenghts of lumber 45" long (8 required)
• 2'x4' lenghts of lumber 31-1/2" long (8 Required)
• 4 wheels.  rotating with locks is best.
• Wood lag screws for securing wheels (12 required)
• 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" wood screws
• 4 pieces of plywood approximately 8"x8" (5/8")

Tools required:

• Drill
• Bit for wood screws 
• Driver for lags
• Measuring tape
• Framing square
• Chop saw with sliding arm or Radial saw (A hand saw will work as well.  And is much more manly)

Optional supplies:

• Another full sheet of plywood for the base.  Its an excellent place to store stuff. (I skipped this for now)

1. So first thing you need to do is cut all your pieces.  
2. Once you have everything  cut its time to make your table and base frames. They are identical.
3. Taking the uncut 8 foot lengths of 2x4 screw the 45" pieces between them.  This will give you a 4'x8' frame.   
4. Measure 32" from either side and make a mark.  
5. Slide in two 45" pieces (2 for the top and 2 for the bottom) Secure them.
6. Now that both frames are done you can take the four small pieces of plywood and attach them to the corners of your bottom frame.  These serve three purposes.  1- they will hold your frame square. 2- they are what you mount your wheels too. 3- your table legs will sit on them)
7. Go ahead and mount the wheels using the lags.
8. Flip the base over onto the wheels.
9. Now you can install your table legs.  They will sit right in the corners ontop of your wheel supports.
10. Almost done!  Take your table top and secure the full 4x8 plywood sheet to it using the shorter wood screws.  During this step you can square up your frame if its a little out.
11. Now with a buddy or by using Egyptian leverage techniques you can lift the table top up onto the legs.  It will slide down right over it and then you can fire some screws in!  
12. Roll out the grass mat!!

 Patton oversees the Engineers

 The base frame

 The table top

 Legs installed

 Ready to rock!  You can see my original table with the base plywood installed.  Ill add one to the new one as well eventually.  Oh And I go full 4x8 feet because it gives you a foot on either end of your table for things like books and minis.  A nice laydown area.  Plus less cutting of lumber!

***We played an awesome Total War battle on two of these tables.  Heres some pics***

 ya my newly painted 88s were ready to rack up some kills until Sierra decided to hand them some rockets.

Market Garden

Ok Im going to veer away from my Germans for a bit and focus on what Im currently working on.  With our impending FireStorm Market Garden campaign Sierra and I thought it was high time to pick up a box of British Paras.
After our Tanks giving event at the Local Game shop  we used our winnings to grab the box set!

Once I got it home and stopped crying about the 106 dudes I would have to paint I unboxed them.

I like to pull them out and clean them up one by one.  And place them in teams.  This is a good idea to make sure you have everything you need to make all the teams you require.  It also really helps to get you acquainted with what types of equipment and gear you will be painting.  You will need to make sure youve got all the proper colors.

 Once they are all cleaned up and organized I mount them onto golf tees with a dab of glue and stick em in styrofoam.  The next step is to prime!

 While the primer dries Ill do some research on the uniforms.  Trying to remember what book has the Brit Para guide in it...  Think its A bridge too far?

UPDATE:  Well I went for the glory and knocked out the Green Ochre Dry brush and all the Reflective Green and Flat Earth camo!  Im liking how its going so far.  Glad to have all that camo behind me though lol.

Havent decided how to base them yet.  Probably just simple static grass.  But Maybe Ill do a platoon on Rubble bases.

UPDATE 2:
Finally completed these guys!  And I think Im converted to Brits.  Really happy with the results and the basing I went with turned out better than I expected. I ended up going with 3 different basing themes.

 At this point the figures are complete so I set about labeling the bases and scoring them.

 Once they were all labeled I glued the figures on.

I decided to do one platoon on rubble bases.  I also made sure that one of the three HQ piats matched each of the platoons basing themes.  I primed the bases without the figures on them first.  Then used a mix of fine and extra fine basing grit around the figures.  After it all dried I primed the grit.

 Heres the completed Rubble based guys.

 These ones I wanted to try out my new snow flock.  I went with a early winter look.  Grass is dead and theres a light dusting of snow here and there.  I really like this look. My favourite of the three.

 Finally the Autumn guys.  I did the CO and 2IC in this theme as well.  Sierra loves orange so she will want these guys to be here #1.

 All the bases are labeled to show platoon.  Also Mortars, Piats and command are labeled.

Once they were all based I gave the whole company a generous shower of Testors Dullcote to seal them up nice.  Onward to Arnhem!

My Germans Part 3 88s!

I just added these guys to the collection.  Almost every single German list has them and I only just painted up mine!. My wife got me this box set for christmas last year.  Man time flies.  Anyway finally done so here are the pics.  :)

 Ive never actually played with or seen anyone play with these locally so I have no idea what to expect.

Arsenal

Gun Teams

Weapon	Mobility	Range	ROF	Anti-tank	Firepower	Notes
8.8cm FlaK36 gun	Immobile	40"/100cm	2	13	3+	Gun shield, Heavy anti-aircraft, Turntable.
8.8cm FlaK36 gun (8 crew)	Immobile	40"/100cm	3	13	3+	Gun shield, Heavy anti-aircraft, Turntable.

 For 185 points you get a ROF 3 though.  Which seems pretty awesome!

 I have to say these scenic basis are pretty sweet.  I tossed in a rubble base for the CMD team.  I went with a wet well trodden fresh earth look.  So everything is dark.  Started with a Flat brown and then drybrushed it lighter with a layer of German Camo med brown and then Iraqui sand.  The IS really brought out the detail especially on the lumber.

All the crew has red Waffenfabre.  I think thats accurate.  :)

We also started work on a "Firestorm Market Garden" campaign.  So Ill be posting some batreps next I think.

Cya later!

Rob

My Germans PT 2 Panzer IV H

The Panzer IVH has to be one of my favourite German ARVs.  And Version III added to that by reducing their point cost and making turrets more effective.  Prior to Version III they were a tuff sell vs the extra AT and armor of a StuG.

Bringing a respectable AT of 10 and a front armor of 6 to the field the Panzer IV can hold its own against any western ally's tank.

 All of the pictured tanks are Battle front.  And they are a great looking model.  The only negative to them is assembling the posts that hold the Schurzen.  

 These guys are all painted the same except for on my latest box of 5 I did not go all out on weathering.

My original 5 are decked out in soot, scratches and rust.  But the effects are really only visible if you pick the mini up and inspect it closely.

 I love this Red german recognition flag on this one.  Probably not so common in Late war!  lol  But it added a nice touch.

 The commander in this box has awesome details.  Normally Im lucky to get the shoulder piping picked out.  But this guy I was able to see the ribbon and the cross and get it all showing.  Really happy with how he turned out.

 Leaving the odd schurzen off one or both sides is also a neat way to add variety.  Even cutting some of the panels off to leave gaps in the schurzen.   I really like the non schurzen look actually.  These minis are so well detailed I hate to cover half it up with those flat plates!

 Here they are all ready to roll out.

Ive been busy working out of town the last couple weeks but have managed to get started on some more Germans.  A King tiger, some AA and 4 SP Infantry guns.  They should be ready to roll by next weekend.  I also finished up a JU 87 with Finnish markings and another HS 129 for my friend Daniel.  They turned out really good and I cant wait to get them to him.