Flames of War: More Dianas and 233s

Finally completed another three Dianas to go with the first set I painted earlier this year. (yes, you can field up to six!).  Also three SdkFz 233s (left over from my version 3 back log).

I did these three in a striped camo scheme.  I'm not so sure about the historical accuracy, but painting everything beige gets old after awhile.

I had purchased these years ago for a MW armored car army.  In the meantime, V4 was released and these little guys aren't even in the new rules.  I've been slowly completing them over the last two years!

21. Panzer Beute StuG Batterie

Throwback Thursday

On my way back from Wolfkrieg 2014 I was playing around with easyarmy, particularly the Beute StuG Batterie.  It was a very unique list with a lot of character.  I spent the next year gradually collecting the miniatures I would need.  I began work on them in late spring of 2015 and had them ready just in time for Scotafest 2015.

PaK40-armed Beutestugs.  This is one platoon of three and the commanders' vehicle.

10.5cm howitzers.  The camouflage pattern was done using panzer putty.

Here's the other platoon.  I did these with a different camo pattern to make the two platoons armed with 7.5cm guns easy to tell apart.

Alternate command vehicle.  Shout out to Fingolfen for his help on this!

I modeled the extra crew on separate bases, making them optional.  This also leaves me the option to paint up extra crew on winter bases and use this unit with my other LW German Army.  Things you learn after painting 9 nebelwerfers and 10 8-rads...

I felt very proud of myself for painting two platoons in one day.

Pioneers!

The schleppers are one of my favorite units.  I did the camo pattern with strips of masking tape.  Time-consuming, but easy and came out looking great!

My Grandmother once told me, "If you can ever take a King Tiger in your list, do it."

Objective (and test model for the camo pattern on the schleppers)

I needed to cannibalize a beutestug for the treads in order to make the command vehicle.  I made an objective with the left over bits.

Waiting for a rescue.

Beute Stug fact:  That little nub in the left rear is for the radio antenna (many people erroneously mount the AA MG there)

One of my favoriate parts of this army is that almost every unit has a different camo scheme, but they still all match because they use the same colors.

I had a good time at Scotafest that year, even though I finished nearly dead-last!  Rounds one was my first or second time playing the list.  If I remember correctly, I somehow ended up playing against they guy who finished first in round two.  I think I did win "best painted" at least.

Star Wars Legion: More Commandos

The second squad of Rebel Commandos is now fully operational!

Realizing the second box gave me an additional rifleman I'll never field, I converted Prune-face into a sniper.  

I used hot water to reshape the barrel, but it still has a slight upward bend to it.

Unit Leader

Details of camo pattern 

Bomber

Commando

Commando

Commando

Now I'm able to field two full squads with either weapon option and one sniper strike team.

Snipers!

Creating Ferns for 28mm Bases

Updated 6/16/2020:
I've found a slightly better way to do this. When working on the base for my third AT-RT, I needed to produce more ferns, but found myself out of hot glue. I used green stuff instead. Because of the longer working time it worked much better. Add a little dab of superglue when your done to make sure the leaves stick to the green stuff base.

 * * *

Every time someone sees my Star Wars Legion figures, I always get the same question:  Where did you get those cool plants?

T-47 base

The Endor sequences from Return of the Jedi were filmed in the redwood forests of California.  Looking back over the scenes, I noticed the ubiquity of ferns all over the ground.  Well, that and giant trees, but there no way to show those on a 1" base.

I looked around online for a ready-made solution, but found none.  There are some nice photo-etched options, but these are both costly and better suited for a more static display.

The method I finally landed on was inspired by other tutorials I found online.

STEP 1:  MATERIALS

• Hot glue gun
• old magazine
• fine scissors
• clippers, wire cutters, or knife
• fake plastic ferns

The only thing here that you probably won't have laying around the house is the fake plants.  You can pick something up for cheap at your local store.  If you're on a budget you could try snatching one from that fake plant in the lobby at work.  

You're looking for something that has lots of small, detailed leaves you can use.  Don't worry about color if you're willing to repaint.  I did a little airbrushing on the first batch I made, but later decided it didn't really add much.  

STEP 2: TRIM THE LEAVES

I used standard modeling clippers to cut of the branches.  Next, trim off the individual pieces.  You will have some leaves that have bad flash or are misshapen; just throw these offending pieces out.  There should be enough material that you can afford to be picky.

On the next step you'll want to be able to move fast.  I lined up the individual piece to make them easier to grab.  They've also been sorted by size.  This will allow me to get them in place before the hot glue solidifies in the next step.

STEP 3: GLUE

This can be the tricky part.  I used hot glue to hold everything together.  It work well because it has volume to create a base for the plant.  It is also flexible, hopefully increasing the longevity of the plants when handled.  I'm sure there are some types of hot glue that are better than others, but I just used what was laying around the house.

Allow time for the hot glue gun to heat up all the way.  The hotter the glue, the longer the working time you'll have with it.  Lay down a drop of hot glue on the magazine cover.  Add three leaves to the dot of glue.  Try to angle the slightly up, if possible.  

This may take some practice before you get very adept, but that's OK.  The materials you are working with are cheap.  I threw out about half of my first batch.  

STEP 4: GLUE MORE

Now we'll do a second layer on top.  Add another drop of glue and add three more pieces.  You will want  to use smaller pieces than the first layer.  Try to angle them up slightly higher than the first time.

This second layer is optional.  You could also add more layers, but I find two is enough for me.

You'll eventually end up with something like this.  Notice there are lots of little stands of hot glue connecting everything.  This is OK.  We'll fix it in the next step.

STEP 5: REMOVE AND TRIM

If you used a glossy magazine, your ferns should pop off easily.  Otherwise, the paper may tear off.  This is not a bid deal as you'll just trim in off.  You also may end up with a tangled mess of hot glue stands connecting everything together.

Gently pull the ferns apart from each other.  Use the scissors to trim up the excess glue or paper.

NOTE:  You will probably loose some ferns during this process.  Some pieces may not have been securly glued on and come loose.  The is normal, a certain amount of attrition should be expected.  If a fern comes out with a branches on one side missing you can still use it around other objects on a base.  For example, if you have a large log or AT-RT foot you can place it up against that.  You'll also have some ferns that just look ugly or misshapen.  Go ahead and throw them out.  Materials are so cheap you should be able to make extra.

STEP 6: PAINT

As an optional step, you can do a quick coat green paint over the hot glue.  Now they're ready to use!

[insert pithy signing-off phrase here]