Panzer Grenadiers - 6mm BKCII

In my last post, I started the process of painting some Panzer Grenadiers, and wanted to give the impression of an oak-leaf camouflage. In this scale, it's not easy, especially as I didn't want to spend an hour per figure. I thought I could get an impression by simply dabbing using an old stiff paintbrush. You can judge for yourself how successful it was. Personally, I think the brown I used was too dark for this scale, and looks almost black.

Comments, suggestions and criticisms welcomed... as always

BKCII Big Cats and a Cunning Plan

Well, some time ago, I posted a pic of some test paints I did of Late War German 6mm models for BKCII.

As part of my current clean up of stray lead, I managed to just about complete a BKCII battlegroup of British for North West Europe in less than a week. (I am just waiting for some decals to arrive).

In the spirit of a 'Battlegroup in a Week' challenge, (Yes, I know there is no actual challenge, but I challenged myself). I decided to go back to the Germans. Finished the basic paints, a wash, and basing of all the vehicles other than some Panzer Grenadier Sdkfz 251, so here they are:

The whole of the Battlegroup armour.

Big Cats on the prowl

More Big Cats

Panzer III

Hetzers and PzJg IV

And finally, made a start on some infantry. Now I thought that it wouldn't look right to have Late War German Heer in grey, so I have decided to attempt an oakleaf smock pattern. "In 6mm!" I hear you say - "utter madness!"

But in the immortal words of Baldrick, I have a cunning plan..  it involves, a very light base colour, virulent green dabbing with a very old, stiff and splayed brush, then a Devlan Mud wash..

Of course..  the smart move would have been to actually test this on an old figure, but no, that would be too sensible, so 9 platoons (bases) have received their undercoat and very light smock base coat.

Air Support - BKCII - NW Europe

So it is probably a result of too many re-runs of 'A Bridge Too Far', but I just can't visualise a British Late War force without serious air support..   and to me, that means rocket-carrying Typhoons in a taxi rank, just waiting for Joe Vandeleur to whistle them up... 

Ok, so it's 11th Armoured, and it is more likely to be Brigadier Harvey of 29th Armoured Brigade, but you get the picture. So here's the 11th's RAF chums. Just ready to take out that concealed AT gun.

Models are Raiden, but interestingly, their catalogue says 'Tempest' - and the pictures are labelled 'Typhoon'. I'm not fussy...  in 1/285, close enough for me. I did invasion stripes, as I just think they look cool.

Raiden Tempest/Typhoon.

I really like these models, they are unfussy, don't need assembly, and for me, capture the 'look' of the aircraft I remember from Commando comics. Looking at the closeups, I can see the fuselage invasion stripes are not quite right, but I am not sure if I can correct it now.

BKCII - NWE - Stage 3

And now, pretty much just decals (ordered) and divisional symbols to add...

Infantry Advance

Infantry HQ Units

Armour HQ

3" Mortar Unit

The PBI

BKCII - NWE - Stage 2

Stage 2.. some basing...

The whole Battlegroup

Shermans in the mud..  Infantry still need a lot of work

Recce, FAO and FAC

Divisional CO

CO & Supports

Left, Infantry HQ, Right Armour HQ

Sexton & Cromwell - 3" mortar units in the background.

Next thing is to add some crew, paint up the infantry figures, dab some divisional insignia, (red square on the left, yellow rectangle with squiggle on the right for 11th Armoured, and wait for the GHQ decals to arrive. Starting to get verry pleased with how these are now looking.

BKCII - NWE - First stage done.

So an evening's painting, and I now have the basic colours and basing done.

Now to do some experimental infantry paints, some camo..   and see how they look. I am very happy with the depth in the colour on the grey undercoat, I took a closeup of a Centaur on the Command base -

Mud, mud glorious mud! - next some flock etc.. 

Close up of the command base, I like the depth of colour.

BKCII - NW Europe - Painting time

You know how the casual conversation goes.. down the club, Dave mentions North West Europe, as there are a range of scenarios available on the Fire and Fury website..   one thing leads to another, and I recklessly say that I could probably get the Commonwealth forces from the shed ready for action pretty quick..  GHQ Shermans, Cromwells, Sextons, and various armoured cars and universal carriers. I am still short a whole lot of M3, but I will worry about that later.

I had always intended them as 11 Armoured Division, but for Operation Garden, it's all Guards Armoured. I reckon do them as 11th, and then turn a blind eye to the yellow bull.

I thought I would try something slightly different for this next lot of BKC warriors to see paint. So I decided I would try and work with some thinned paint over a grey undercoat.

Rummaging through the paints pile I found a large tub of artist's Matisse Olive Green Deep. First step..   glue the Shermans down, use some of the Gale Force 9 scenic 'grit' and spray primer grey..   cheap car primer.

So here's how the progress is to date.

Undercoat (some of the Shermans are already green)

Sample Humber with the Matisse Green applied thinly.

 Early days, but I am quite pleased with the effect so far.