Finished: 15mm Battlefront Sdkfz 251/1D Panzergrenadier Company Transport

Hi folks,

Happy holidays!

As is traditional at this time of year, I have started the first week of the new Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge painting something which isn't for the challenge... but finishing off models I was already working on. 

I lost my mojo for painting German half-tracks for a few weeks, mainly while I prepped models for the next phase of the project - to be painted over the challenge. That was particularly unfortunate, as I didn't have much to do to finish them off. 

Still, with a need to move on to challenge task, progress has been forced and the last four half-tracks have been completed. 

These models are again all 15mm Battlefront metal and resin kits. The hull numbers for this platoon are 231-234. I've gone with a lighter camo pattern for this group, meaning that the models look lighter than those completed previously, who had more hull space taken up by camo areas. I also went light on the foliage. 

Crew figures will be painted and added at a later date. The unit paint planner currently looks like this:

With the accumulated vehicles for the HQ, 3 platoons and HMG platoon:

Given how insurmountable this project had seemed (one of the reasons I had been putting it off for so long), I am pleased to have gotten at least the transport done. These can be used with my existing painted German infantry to act as Panzer grenadiers for any games we manage to put on. It's also given me a bit of an insight into what painting my German Armoured Recon force will involve, and made that a little less daunting. 

I'm fairly happy with my formula for painting these now. For my own future reference:

1. 50/50 Dark Yellow (70.978) and Dark Sand (70.847) base (could/should be switched for Middlestone, given later steps post wash)

2. 50/50 mix of black and brown wash

3. Drybrush MIG light sand drybrush paint

4. Tidied with dark yellow/dark sand mix to leave just edge highlights from drybrush

5. Tracks saddle brown, wheels, tools and MGs German grey, seats + exhaust beige brown/mahogany, tool handles/MG stock and grip mahogany. Soft tone wash to these items when painted. 

6. Camo: reflective green/german camo medium brown diluted about 60/20/20 with dark yellow and dark sand. 

7. Stipple standard hull colour over camo to dull down/blend in camo if needed. 

8. Highlight tracks, tools and MGs with dark rubber, tool handles/MG wood/seats beige brown. 

9. Internal 'wall' painted black around drivers seat. 

10. Add 'tree' branches for foliage, paint mahogany brown (late in process as it was a late addition to the models - DO NOT add foliage before varnishing). 

11. Gloss for decals. Decals - side hull Skytrex numbers and Doms cross, rear - PSC numbers, front and rear number plates, front 12th SS symbol. Further washes if required. 

11. Decal treatements then matt varnish, then ultra matt. Decals weathered using hull colour post varnishes (varnish application will wash weathering off). 

12. Weather vehicle with weathering powders, add foliage to tree branches. 

Painting efforts now turn to this years Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, and meeting my personal target of 250 points (equivalent of painting thirty one 15mm vehicles between now and mid March...). I've a few things lined up, as usual, but I hope to make progress with the rest of the Panzer Grenadier project:

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!