Support Options for the Germans (Part 3)

The Germans get some long range AT support:

These figures are actually Warlord 75mm gun and crew.

I find the Warlord and BTD figures to blend rather nicely. The BTD figures have more raised detail and slightly better sculpting (IMHO) that make them easier to paint but when painted, it is hard to tell them apart. I think the figure in the background with binoculars is BTD but I'm not sure.

Here's the front view:

Support Options for the Germans (Part 2)

Here's some additional support options. I have two Panzershrek teams (previously photo'd but this picture is much better.

Here's three pictures of the sniper figure:

Support Options for the Germans (Part 1)

Yesterday, I posted the main platoon but that is only half of the figures that I have painted. Here are some of the support options that I have done.

First up, some engineers with some engineery equipment.

The backside show off their labels

 Next, a couple of LMG teams that I can use to convert from regular infantry to panzergrenadiers

Down range shot

 Lastly, an MMG, a mortar, and a flamethrower. I'll use some spare figures to flesh them out into full teams

From the reverse

Germans from BTD

They are finally ready (minus the Dullcote that I want to put on when the weather is a bit more hospitable because it doesn't dry very well at -8 C) for Hot Lead.

I bought these from Stephen after he picked them up from a Black Tree Design sale. They are easy to clean with very little flash. I had only one figure who was slightly mis-molded but other than a slightly off face, you would not know. I really appreciate the detail that the sculptor included because it made the figures easy to paint. I'd easily recommend BTD.

Anyway, on to the figures:




I've marked the leaders and given the platoons a coloured dot to make separating them easier for Hot Lead.



Let's get a bit closer




Everyone's favourite German LMG pose

From the back







































And the whole company (minus the Lt)




One last shot

Hot Lead 2016 progress

I have finished painting the BTD Germans but I still have to dip and highlight them and then flock their bases. I hope to do this during this week so that I can start labeling them and constructing terrain over the weekend.

Pictures when they have been flocked.

Hot Lead 2016

I've put my name forward to GM a game of Big Chain of Command. I have the horde of Russians ready to go (130 or so). Now I have to work on the German opponents. I have 55 done already but I have another 60 or so to go.

I have 8 weeks to prepare and it starts with a list of things to do:

• Complete the German infantry and support weapons
• Create more wood fences
• Shrubbery and hedges
• Maybe a creek or stream
• Design the scenario and terrain map
• List the forces
• Label the leaders 
• Use stickers to indicate different sections
• Create player packages
• Create Russian patrol markers
• Create more trees and repair the existing ones

I have made quite a bit of progress on the BTD Germans. I have the first coat complete. I'm now at the stage of fixing the overruns. Once that is done, I can apply the wash and then do some highlighting. Flocking is the final step. I think I need to complete this by the first weekend of February. 

Then I can use the rest of February to do terrain and the first two weeks of March to design the game.

Goals are good to have.

Book Review: Encyclopaedia of German Armoured Vehicles

https://books.google.ca/books/about/Encyclopedia_of_German_Tanks_of_World_Wa.html?id=JSStQgAACAAJ

If you are building a WW2 German army that has any tanks in it, this is the book to get (but beware the prices!). Every major vehicle has an entry with multiple photographs (1000+ black and white). Each model (ausf) describes what changed and there's often a photograph that shows the changes. The armament for each model is provided along with production information.

But there's not just the important tanks. You can truly geek out on the obscure stuff where only one or models saw service or some of the truly bizarre experimental stuff that barely got off the drawing board. There's pre-war stuff and some last month of the war desperation stuff and the story in between stuff where the Germans extended the usefulness of a chassis for far longer than they thought originally.

The book also covers halftracks, armoured cars, and important captured tanks. There's armoured vehicles used to control rocket launches and vehicles that worked on land and on water. There's even a vehicle that was both an armoured car and a tank.

If you see a copy in a used book store for a reasonable price, grab it. I have immense gratitude to Alain for giving me his copy when he was downsizing his library.