A theme for this challenge will be me finishing (or trying to finish) off the ships I need for my Narvik display and this is Destroyer 7 of 10 for the German forces.
The ship is Z18 Hans Ludemann one of six 1936 Class Destroyers which was named after a midshipman who saved the lives of a number of other sailors when a cylinder exploded on his Torpedo boat in 1913, like all the German ships at Narvik it didn't end well. After British ships had knocked out all her guns the crew tried, unsuccessfully to scuttle the ship. The British boarded the ship after which it was Torpedoed so that it couldn't be repaired.
With each ship I do I try and look for some subtle difference so they can be identified on the table without picking them up. The German Destroyers at Narvik were most likely all light grey and although historically accurate to that afternoon it would be rather dull and also impossible to tell them apart!
It was common practice for all the ships in a German Naval operation to paint their Turrets and Gun Shields in different colours to aid visual detection, so I've added some rather sumptuous red turret shields, the photos have really made them stand out but in real life they are quite subtle, honest 😀
The model is 1/700 Trumpeter and I claim my usual 40 points for a ship of this size. I've another ship on the go along with some 28mm French Napoleonic Artillery so lets see what arrives first. Team Kreigsmarine so far below.
TeemuL: I really like your 28mm minis, but these ships have something! I guess a big part is the diomara style they are represented, good looking water effects, breaking waves, foam and so on in addition of great photos. I like the way you have added wear and tear to the ships, emphasizing the diorama style.
As for scoring, we can really see the difference with the first timer DaniHG, who asked 2 points for his 1/285 vehicle and veteran KenR, who asks 40 points for 1/700 vehicle.... :) But it seems to be a tradition to award 40 points for 1/700 ships, I might need to try some of them, too. :)
Excellent painting and modelling as always, Ken! Well worth the points I’d say. Good job!
ReplyDeleteCheers mate, the points are a bargain for the work, these take me a full day to do a single ship 🚢
DeleteWonderful work again Ken -- those red turrets really make this one stand out and I can see how that would be helpful in a confusing encounter
ReplyDeleteCheers Simon, it was common for all the ships on a particular operation to paint their Turrets the same colour during a Misson for aerial recognition and they would be rapidly painted grey as soon as they left Friendly air coverage 😀
DeleteCheers Teemu, regards the scoring, these things are huge they are 22cm long ! That's a lot more acreage to paint than a 6mm tank ! The scoring is based on the time it takes me to complete the ship, which is the same as it takes me to do 8 x 28mm figures hence the total, by all means have a go at some, you'll be asking for 80pts a ship before you've finished painting the deck 😆
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know they are huge. XD I'm just wondering how any wargames can be played with those ships unless you have football field painted blue. :)
DeleteI don't just talk about Big Wargames 😆 the table for Narvik will be 32 x 8 with a 12 x 8 corner (L shape) for the port 😁👍
DeleteBig is beautiful. Well played with a 32' table. Great ships as always.
ReplyDeleteCheers, its what Yarkshire Gamer is all about 😁
DeleteStunner as usual Ken, great work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Greg 👍
DeleteAs stunning as the rest of this bonkers project. I like the red gun shields, they'd make great targets.
ReplyDeleteThey also make really clear to the German Luftwaffe which ships are theirs 😁
DeleteSuper work Ken :)
ReplyDelete