Finished: 15mm Wespe and Hummel Gun Sections

Hi folks,

The last two vehicle units on my project sheet for my German Panzergrenadiers have been completed. After a week or so of sitting on my desk awaiting tufts, I've managed to motivate myself!

These two units do not form part of the Panzergrenadier force per say, but would be divisional support assets. 

First up, the Wespes:

My lack of motivation for these models meant I've not added any sort of foliage to them - something I'll probably fix when I come to paint and add crews. It was a bit of a cop out, but it's a time consuming step and I really just wanted to finish these off and start painting something else. 

From my research, these vehicles had no hull numbers, and few tactical markings other than the German cross. I've added a divisional badge sign on the rear (no easy place to put on on the front). Camo was done roughly using the same colours as the half-tracks and stippled to be a bit softer. 

I'll have two crew members to paint and add to these at a later date. 

Next the Hummels:

These are much bigger models than the Wespes, being very chonky (unsurprisingly, the same footprint as a Panzer IV, given they use the same hull). I've crew still to add to these, but as per above these will be done later. Also, no other tactical markings I could see historically in the period so pretty simple decal wise. 

These models also need foliage adding, which I'll do when I return to add the crew. I did make an attempt to paint the striped sticks - having first checked these were supposed to be striped. I'm still not convinced that there were not barrel cleaning poles. 

All six models are 15mm scale metal and resin kits from Battlefront. For the Wespes, this now gives me a unit of six. I doubt the Hummels will get much table time, but they were part of the divisional artillery for 12th SS as far as I can see. Also, something to worry players with during scenario games!

With these units done and off my table, I'm now moving on to painting something slightly more modern! 15mm Team Yankee Dutch!

Finished: 10 and 12 Kompanies, III Battalion, SS Panzergrenadierregiment 26 - Kampfgruppe Wünsche (7 - 8 August 1944)

Hi folks,

This is a bit of a follow up post to this one from September of last year, when I started this current project. While I've been mumping to myself about taking 6 months to get this done, in hindsight my previous painting projects seem to take a similar amount of time. I really should learn how to airbrush. 

However, in the past six months I have gone from this plan:

To this:

To be fair, I did make some alterations as I went - namely dropping the 2IC vehicle (not needed in v4 FoW) and the Pioneer vehicles (being expanded into their own kompanie). I've also painted limbered, not deployed, versions of the Pak40. 

I also still have a substantial amount of SS infantry to paint - however with my current German infantry collections I can field Panzergrenadiers now I've vehicles for them. 

Lastly, I've some self-propelled artillery on the painting table currently, which were on the plan. But they don't form part of the Kompanies the project was for, so I've left them out of the photo!

Hopefully, it won't been too long before I can get some pictures of these in action!

Finished: 15mm Sd.Kfz. 251/2 Ausf. D (Mortar) platoon

Hi folks,

With a final thump, and distant bang, the last* half-tracks for my  III/26. SS Panzergrenadier Regiment force have been completed. 

As per the title this is a unit of six 15mm scale Sd.Kfz. 251/2 Ausf. D 8cm mortar carriers. 

The models are mainly Battlefront plastic kits, upgraded with mortars from the PSC half-track upgrade sprue. Two of the models (on the left of the picture above) are 'proper' Battlefront metal and resin models, with 'correct' internal layouts for mortar halftracks. 

I've still crew to add - and possible some ammo crates and the likes for the more basic plastic kits. However the unit can be fielded on the table in it's current state. I may also add radio aerials, I'm just not 100% on the availability of those in the German forces. 

This unit is actually made up of half-tracks from three kompanies of the battalion. While FoW give the option to have the vehicles in more 'useful' larger units, from what I can find (and I have no huge in depth sources on this subject) these vehicles were attached two to a Panzergrenadier Kompanie as part of the integral heavy support. While the v3 FoW Atlantic Wall book states that the division received more of these vehicles, allowing them to field a battery of them, I've found no evidence of this. 

As such, I've marked these models up using the hull numbers associated with each kompanie's vehicles. 144 - 145 for first, 244 - 245 for second and 344 - 345 for third kompanie. 

Each pair has a slightly different camo scheme, and different placement and quantity of foliage. I've stuck to my standard basing of these, so they will match in with the other vehicles in the collection. 

As per the other units, I used some Skytrex decals for the hull numbers, and some old Doms Decals for the hull numbers on the rear. Doms also provided the registration plates and the division signs (bought a long time ago). 

Weathering was applied in the form of the usual dust and dirt effects, and the same foliage attached to seafoam sprigs was used as per the other models. 

As for the progress tracking sheet, it now has a lot more green, with just the infantry and some 'optional' units outstanding (in blue):

Work has begun on the last two units - the self propelled artillery - which isn't part of the unit, but more a support option for the army. I've also realised I have some SS 120cm heavy mortars, so may add an 'optional' entry for those to the sheet, as they would require half-tracks. I'm sure someone must do models of the mortars being towed...

Anyway, with my existing painted German infantry I can field this force - hence my focus on the vehicles for now. I do have some of the old metal SS infantry figures, so will paint these at some point. For my own purposes though, I think I can count this project as 99% done! Group shot to follow at some point!

*Last other than a kompanie of 250 scout half-tracks, British/Canadian/Polish half-tracks and various additions to the Panzergrenadiers vehicles I may add in the future - like a Panzerpioneer kompanie.