Panzer Lehr Half-tracks

I have done quite a bit of online research and still have not settled on a painting scheme for my Panzer Lehr half-tracks. If what I have read is accurate, the half-tracks would have been painted Dunkelgelb from the factory and shipped with Rotbraun and Olivgrun paint to be applied by the maintenance section. As such, the pattern of application seems quite varied as can be seen in this article on Panzer Lehr markings: Panzer Lehr Division Sd Kfz 251 Markings.

I think I have settled on a hard edged, wide pattern shown in the first image. It's relatively easy to paint and looks good, but I want your feedback. The three half tracks with camo are not complete, lacking any shading or paint on wheels, tracks, guns, but they give a good idea of what the camo will look like. The other two half-tracks show the color change caused by using a 'magic wash' to create shading. It doesn't appear to darken the Dukelgelb too much, but it does make it a shade browner. Let me know what you think.

Smoke Markes

The pictured smoke markers were made following the Terrain Guy's instructional video. They're durable and will work on a King Tiger just as well as the Stuart's in the picture.

DAK back in the USA at Oklahoma City National Qualifiers!!! mkl

Well, I am back in the USA for a while and now have played my last 3 version 2 games. Just after cleaning up yet before the anouncements I acquired my soft copy version 3 rule book. I played 2 great players from Oklahoma City (OKC) whom are regulars. I had a great time and loved getting back into the tounament scene. The games were good (I went 1-2) (vp 2-5, 4-3, 2-5) and had tons of fun!! The last game was an accurate 21st Panzer versus 22nd Armoured Brigade on a desert board. Here is my 1625 point DAK Schutzen list. There are 3 objectives (Oasis, Suez Canal, and 21st Panzer emblem) and my more realistic flying stands. Can't wait for the next one!!

LRDG SAS Infantry complete mkl

The LRDG and SAS infantry is based and ready for the new Burning Empires raiding rules. I used the rocks and sand I acquired north west of Siwa. I first put on the rocks then added the sand. I thought it might make the rocks a bit more embedded in the sand. Also, I wanted to leave a border so I painted it all with GW graveyard earth and left a bit of a border. I started not liking the "sloppy" border but in the end was pretty happy. Let me know what you think.

LRDG SAS forces in the Western Desert!! mkl

The LRDG SAS forces are in the Western Desert. This is a bit of a WIP type picture as I did not finish some of the forces before I headed out to the Siwa Oasis in Egypt in June of 2011. This place changed hands throughout the Desert Campaign. It was a base for the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) while Siwa was in Allied hands. This picture was taken just a bit NW of Siwa and just to my right was the old road out of Siwa going west. This road was used by British forces. most probably some LRDG trucks rolled by carrying some SAS troopers starting their way on a long journey in the desert to harass Axis forces in Libya. There are enough forces here to make either a full LRDG force or full SAS force. Now just to finish up the jeeps and trucks and I am set. Oh yeah, the infantry is not based at this time because I am going to use the sand gathered here for the basing. Nothing like taking a bit of the ground your forces traveled and having it as your basing material on your miniatures.

DAK reinforcements in the desert!! mkl

The DAK force in Egypt just received some reinforcements. 2 Panzer IV F1, 2 Panzer III G and 3 Panzer III N. Along with the armour is most of the core of a Panzerspah company. 3 SdKfz 223 (radio), 1 SdKfz 231 (8-rad), 1 SdKfz 221 (mg) and 2 SdKfz 222. With the forces I already have I can make the core of a Panzerspah company and the 21st Panzer only armoured cars. Infantry now on the table and hopefully done by the end of the night. In the picture the hot Egyptian sun is making the shadows while I used the flash to brighten up the fronts.

Preparing for drop! FoW US Airborne - bandit@faltech

One month ago I played my first FoW game, received my first miniatures soon thereafter and began painting on or a bouts May 15th. Cranked through the first ~80 figures of my 101st US Airborne company in the form of two rifle/mg platoons along with some command teams and a pair of bazooka teams. Just now starting the terrain-ing of their bases.

Not a bad two weeks.

If you're inclined to see the progression of the figures to this point you can check out my personal blog at FalTech. I'll toss up some more photos here when I reach the next milestone!

Bocage

A group effort has led to the completion of our first pieces of bocage! It's only a matter of time before we have enough for a Normandy scenario! I'm tired, so I'll let the others update this post with more information...

LotRO Tuesday Nights

The Dale Wardens return to Eriador on Tuesday nights starting around 8:00pm (Central). That's around 4:00am Wednesday morning if you happen to live in Cairo.

Next week - Tom Bombadil. Rumor has it Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn...he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

FoW US Rifles

This is my first FoW Army, US Rifle Company! Many of the pieces are not complete, and I have plenty more to add, but I thought I would go ahead and post what I have (2 Combat Platoons, 1 Weapons Platoon, 5 Stuarts, several Bazooka Teams and a US HQ Objective Marker).

Here's a closer look at a command stand. I used basic block colors with a magic wash. It gives pretty good effects for the time invested. However, it does leave a little shine that the dull coat doesn't quite get rid of...