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| 20mm WW2 German Infantry Platoon |
My second entry for the Painting Challenge is a set of opponents for my first entry - here is a platoon of WW2 German Infantry. With one exception, these figures are all from the Plastic Soldier Company's 1/72 Late War German Infantry box sets. Some of these figures were painted prior to the challenge starting, but I finished most of them after I powered through the Russians.
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| The fellow in the front is a 20mm casting from Warmodelling - everyone else is plastic from PSC |
There are enough figures for a full regular infantry platoon, three squads of 10 men each, each with a two-man LMG team. This PSC set has the same challenge as the Russians, in that the LMG figures are either prone (sigh) or marching merrily (useless). But it is lacking in a figure that looks like a proper platoon commander/officer, so I ordered a metal one from Warmodelling.
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| One LMG per squad in this platoon of foot sloggers |
The figures are based as the Russians, with NCOs on square bases and senior leaders on hex bases and everyone else on round bases.
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| Prone LMG gunners - a disappointing sculpt, but better than marching! |
I find painting German uniforms to be the hardest part of collecting figures for WW2. Even getting the basic green/grey correct is tricky (at least for me), and once you advance past a certain period of the war a wide assortment of camouflage smocks and helmet covers start to appear. Painting camouflage is tricky at the best of times, and with the Germans their 700 different versions of camouflage, I go bonkers trying to figure it out.
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| Different base types visible in this shot |
In the case of these figures, they are wearing later war boots/pants/gaiters, and many of them also have some sort of camouflage cover on their helmets. On most of them I attempted a weak copy of the most "standard" German camouflage that I could find, and on others I imagined that perhaps these covers may have been improvised at times, and I painted them a dark yellow.
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| Decent modelling of the German kit on these PSC figures |
For their overall uniforms I used a few different types of green, grey and green grey to try and vary the appearance a little bit, and washed liberally with GW's Agrax Earthshade, with a few highlights picked up again following the wash.
There are a total of 27 foot figures and three two-man LMG teams. Of this, eight foot figures and one LMG team were painted prior to the Challenge, leaving a net of 19 foot figures and two LMG teams, which I think works out to 84 points.
From Curt:
Greg, I feel your pain with painting WWII German infantry as their uniforms were bewilderingly nuanced and complex. This being said I think you've done a fantastic job on this platoon. Like your previous Soviet platoon the shading is very nicely done.
Figure-wise, I know Greg hates prone models but I must say it's nice to see such crisp modeling on the MG-34, especially the bipod - with many other manufacturers it's often a vague triangle, or you discover that one 'arm' is missing or misshapen. It looks like another good offering from PSC.
This mid-war German platoon will give Greg 84 points. I looks like you're building up some good steam Mr. B!
Beautifully painted and based. I would never of known they were plastic, or only 20mm. Top work!
ReplyDeleteGreat painting work. They are perfect!
ReplyDeleteVery nice work, Greg, and some excellent shading on the uniforms. I've also pulled my hair doing later war camo patterns, which I sometimes think are overrepresented on the gaming table, but these guys look like regular hard slogging landsers, very good entry.
ReplyDeleteI think the camo pattern came out just fine for the scale. After sharing your pain regarding prone figures in your last entry, I'll play devil's advocate here and say that prone LMG teams certainly eliminate the problem of identifying at a glance who the squad machine gunners are. There's something about the uniformity of your basing that's very pleasing to my eye.
ReplyDeleteAnother nice platoon Greg. I feel your pain about the camo - a couple of years ago I had to paint a squad of British Paras for AlanD and it was a pain to do the Dennison smocks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tamsin - and yes, Dennison smocks are even worse than the German patterns!
DeleteEvery bit as good as the first set Greg. German camo is a right pain as you say but you've done a cracking job IMHO.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought your Russians were good - these are outstanding! And the camo looks spot on. A far better painter than myself said that at this scale it is better to go for a representation that captures the effect, rather than try and slavishly reproduce the pattern - I think you have nailed it with these figures.
ReplyDeleteYour building a fine collection, and you have a talent for these, grand job.. What's next then!
ReplyDeleteFabulous entry again! I think you hit the nail with the Feldgrau you used. They'll be worthy opponents for your Russians.
ReplyDeleteI like painting German camo! But I have none for this years challenge to do! Not saying I am good at it but that I do enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteA very believable and realistic job on these. They look the Nuts.
again a good job, skill and speed worthy of respect
ReplyDeleteNice looking troop and beautifully done. They will be a worthy adversary for the Russians....armour forces next?.. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice work Greg! Looking forward to another CoC game. Hoping to get some 20mm PSC tanks going myself...
ReplyDeleteI think I like these even better than the soviets. Nice detailing, even on the collars and epaulets. I just try to go for a generic splinter muster and call it a day.
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