From SimonM: German Beach Defence Grenadiers (Death Star)(50 points)

For my fifth post I thought I would move on from Skaro and visit the nearby Death Star. This meant painting something involving Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence, and I immediately thought of the opening to “Battlefront Miniatures” D-Day German Forces in Normandy, 1944 army book which I have been using so as to assemble a Beach Defence Grenadier Company.

In it (the somewhat controversial author) Holger Eckhertz is quoted as saying “The Concept Of The Allies actually invading Germany seemed unimaginable…” and this phrase quite neatly reiterates the conceit of the Third Reich’s leadership during the war when the likes of “Marshal Goering proclaimed that our industrial areas would not be subjected to a single enemy bomb,” and Adolf Hitler declared “It makes no difference at all which place [Churchill] chooses to land [on the coast of France] because it will only be a matter of luck if he remains nine hours ashore!”

Resultantly, I decided to pigment the beginnings of a second 15mm Beach Defence Grenadier Platoon for “Flames Of War”, consisting of a (three-figure) Unit Leader MG42 team with Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon (as I do like my "WYSIWYG" whenever able), and three (four-figure) MG42 & K98 Rifle teams.

As with all my other “FoW” German soldiers, the figures were initially super-glued onto wooden strips, before being primed in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were then ‘picked out’ predominantly using “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal, Buff, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

I also pigmented a couple of camouflaged helmet coverings using a “Vallejo” Heavy Brown base layer, followed by some sporadic splodges of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna. These were then washed with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, and then highlighted back up with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, of Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

Hopefully this latest AHPC entry will provide:

15 x 15mm German Grenadiers – 30 Points

Death Star – 20 Points

Total – 50 Points

I wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding 'Holger Eckhertz', if that is even his real name, and Battlefront getting involved as well. Your selection here at the Death Star is perfect. I can't imagine what it would have been like to garrison the beaches- as secure as you are, it is only a matter of time...

Barks