DAK Transport-Opel Biltz Trucks & Horch car

Latest editions to the Afrikakorp. Transport to run the troops round in.

Opel Blitz Trucks

and Horch Kfz 15 staff cars

These are all Battlefront resin models with integral bases. Which I had originally bought to use with my late war 15mm project, but since that as stalled they are now being pressed into service in the Western Desert.

They were also a bit of experiment, in colour. All were airbrushed Tamiya German grey XF63, and then over sprayed with Tamiya Dark Yellow XF60. I did consider leaving some of the grey showing through, since many vehicles arriving in Africa were still grey, but changed my mind. Mainly because it would have be slightly more complicated masking out/salt and hairspray method/re-painting the grey etc.. From there I used MIG filters from the Afrikakorp set, and then MIG brown wash which I highly recommend. Then a slight drybrush, battle damage and finally weathering powders. I also used for the first time the MIG pigment fixer. Will need to practice more with the fixer but overall good results. After applying the weathering powders I 'flooded' the area with the fixer using a clean brush It does dry with a satin finish, but give it time to dry,say 24hrs, and it will dull down. Touch up with Devlan Mud (R.I.P.) and job done. Of course then varnish. P.S. the tarp covers on the trucks were painted using Vallejo Khaki colours.

For my MIG products and Vallejo colours I've started using SnM Stuff. I do recommend, good service. My first port of call used to be Antenociti's but of late everything I seemed to want was out of stock, then I discovered SnM Stuff and haven't looked back.

Hopefully my Panzer III's from Plastic Soldier Company will be here soon, so guess what I will be painting next?         

DAK Infantry

Finished the first instalment for the Afrikakorp.

 
May not look like much, but in 'Rapid Fire' terms there is enough basic infantry stands for the infantry companies, command and recon company! I still need to add in the pioneer company and heavy weapons for the infantry company. Remember I'm putting together the 5th Light Division initially.

Figures are from Battlefront, and are based on 20mm plastic bases from Renedra, except the officers of course who are on 1p coins.

New project......revealed

Afrikakorp in 15mm. A slight diversion, but one I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into. So how did this come about? Well it all happened a couple of weeks ago when I found myself taking on the Royal Navy, and giving them a bloody nose I hasten to add, that salty sea dog action can be found here the secret wargamer. Now whilst passing round the bottle of port the Secret Wargamer (who is that strange masked man?) happened to mention he was starting a new project based around the Western Desert in 1941 using the  Rapid-Fire rules. This immediately sparked an interest, so I stepped upto the plate, asked if I could join in. Some ten minutes later I found myself plotting the conquest of North Africa and Egypt.

Now a while back I had an interest in Late War 15mm using Flames of War, and had intended returning to this scale, but using the TOOFAT Lardies rules I ain't been shot mom, for company level games. So a quick perusal of the Rapid Fire rules revealed that the basing for both sets could be interchangeable. With my arch-nemesis planning on constructing a British force, I could concentrate solely on the Germans for the moment, which will be a welcome change from building up two opposing forces for a while.

Here a couple of photos of a test base. (Apologies for the awful pictures, I need to practice my photography more, particularly of 15mm figures)

I have gone for the light olive green uniform, rather than a faded desert look. For the uniform I have used Foundrys Moss palette No29. For the rest Battlefront came to the rescue again painting DAK infantry. I haven't followed the FoW guide religiously but borrowed ideas from it.

I do enjoy painting these 15mm figures. Due to their small size I can be rougher with the application of paint (as can be seen in the photos), than with 28mm models, but from a distance I think they still look good (my opinion only!).

Anyway the plan is to build the 5th Light Division for use with Rapid Fire, since it is smaller than the other DAK divisions and will make a good start point to build on.