While watching the American election results yesterday, thought I would also try and clear a hobby project. In my spares box I had a dozen Airfix and Matchbox Africa Korps figures which were dressed in a style that could be painted up as very late war Germans in Europe. This idea is not mine, WWII PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS blog (see my research sites) gave me this clever idea. For my part, I've added some camouflage items of clothing, based on four patterns recorded being used by standard German infantry units. In addition to ten extra infantry, have converted two more as artillery crew. Next step is to base them.
MGB
Good idea , Airfix make some very good figures and occasionally some strange poses .
ReplyDeleteCheers Tony, I do think the idea to use these figures for late war Europe has worked. Just noticed a few casting circles, the good thing with varnish and acrylic is, its easy to repair and alter, gloss paint would be more messy.
DeleteMichael
Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteAirfix WWII featured prominently in my first major 54mm wargaming in the late 90's. Always a pleasure to work with them, esp conversions. A number of Afrika Korps joined my Yugoslav partisans.
Ross, for my part, I'm doing something similar converting Airfix Soviets into communist partisans, they will also be taking on my Zubrowka army (Grand Budapest Hotel). Most of my Zubrowka troops are German mountain infantry or Japanese.
DeleteMichael
Very nicely done! I love the camo. I am completely intimidated by the thought of even trying to paint it!
ReplyDeleteJohn, to be honest, it was easy. Paint the background, add two colours, now paint the belts. Add some shading and highlights, use the background colour to paint over anything that just doesn't work. But thanks for the comments. I'm thinking of scratch building a German mortar, to save my funds.
DeleteMichael
They have come out very well Mike!I can see that some of the smocks have come out resembling the Sumpftarnmuster and Erbsenmuster which were very popular from 1944 onwards. The material was designed to fade over time with use so the colours blurred and broke up the shape of the man wearing it. Really well done again.
ReplyDeleteCheers George, I have no plans to war-game the Desert campaign so I had nothing to lose seeing how these figures looked in European camouflage. With hindsight, I wish I had painted six of the 1936-40 figures as Airforce guards, in blue, just been watching the Great Escape, and a couple of rifle sections would have added interest to the collection.
DeleteMichael;
As you will know Mike, interesting and obscure uniforms are a real interest of mine. For the desert campaigns you can paint the Luftwaffe figures in the same style as you would the Afrika Korp (Different breast eagles etc.) but it would be nice to have some figures in the air force blue with red collar tabs (Denoting ground trades/field division). I had the same idea after watching 633 Squadrons so some of Airfix British infantry were painted to with red helmets with adapted poses to serve as RAF fire fighters, this was over 12 years ago probably.
DeleteGeorge, I think most wargamers need to see more battle returns, it doesn't take long for units to have little connection to their establishments, and detachments are always present too.
DeleteMichael
Quite agree.
DeleteSee WW2 for recent posts.
ReplyDelete