Waffen SS Grenadier Kursk W.I.P.

[panzerace007]

Hey Guys,

This is my 1st post in here. I need help identifying this figure. It was given to Me by a club member & he couldn't remember Who made it.

The torso is Resin & everything else is White Metal. I think it's Verlinden ? 120mm ?

I started a little late with th W.I.P. pix. .... sorry. Everything ha been base coated. The personal gear is pretty much finished unless I see something Glaring !

Here I have most of the camo on. I still need to add the dots & basecoat the pants in Field Grey. When I got it it was already primed. I shot some Tamiya Flat Black on it. All other paint is Vallejo. This Grenadier wears the Early Camo Smock , that laces up & has the elastic collars & waist. It is reversible & due to the terrain of the Steppe around Kursk he is wearing the Autumn colors even though th Offensive started in July '43.

The face was base coated with Citadel's Dwarf Flesh & washed with Raw Umber Oil ( Windsor & Newton)

I will paint all of the flash in Oil. The arms were also treated the same way.

I weathered the Map case with some Vallejo German Camo Beige & Oil - Unbleached Titanium. I also ,as a shade - washed it with a dark Violet ( 4 drops *Formula p3 Magenta + 1 drop Vallejo Games Black)

*I found this paint in a Gaming Store. The Games store I went to that allegedly sold Vallejo, Must've been a rumor. From what I was told it is smoother than Vallejo (how can that be) ! I put some of the Black in it to tone down th "Hot Pinkness" of it .

Here's th poncho & shovel. The Bayonet has been secured to the shovel via the shovel's straps. It is an Early one with a Metal Handle. The handle of the shovel was base coated with Vallejo's German Camo Orange Ochre & then I applied 3 dots of Raw Umber Oil & let it sit there for about 40 minutes & then I used an Eye Shadow applicator & slightly dragged the applicator down the handle toward th knob for some "wood grain". The bayonet scabbed was weathered with some Vallejo Natural Steel.

Now I'll hit th bench & add some dots to th camo & get a base coat of Oil to th Flesh !!


Stay Tuned ..... :dude

ERIK

 

[moon puppy]

What do you mean first post, we've been harassin' you for a long time?

 

[panzerace007]

Well ... My 1st. post in th Figure Forum...

I'm using primarily Vallejo, ie, Flames of War, & Model Color, & Panzer Aces colors & Formula p3 for shading (Magenta) & highlighting (Cygner Blue Base {in place of Royal Blue} the Black leather.

Painting:
The Early Smock (Autumn Camo)
Flames of War- 825 German Camo pale Brown (base),822 German Camo Black/Brown, & 929 Light Brown
There is a little sliver of the Spring/Summer camo showing on the lace up front
German Camo Pale Brown (Base), 979 German Camo Dark Green, & 833 German Camo Bright Green

The poncho got the same treatment.


ERIK

 

[AndyFettes]

Nice start Erik,....

What Autumn camo are you doing ?

here to help mate

 

[panzerace007]

ANDY,

Thanx for th kind words.

The Autumn Camo is of the variety that th Waffen SS wore from '40-'43. This smock is reversible. It has a Spring/Summer side - with lots of greens, Th reverse side has lots of browns. It's the Oak Leaf pattern.


ERIK

 

[AndyFettes]

Oakleaf, gotcha !!

The only reason I ask is that you have very large orange islands with brown spots and outlines and no base color as the island and spots were screen printed on top of the base

Have you got good camouflage reference to hand mate, as I`d like to help in anyway I can ?

But

I think you`re doing a fantastic job with the painting


PS

Heres a replica smock with Oakleaf Autumn either pattern A or B I cant remember which is which,..

Anyway thats a little help to show you how the Islands and outlines come together

http://www.zeugwart.de/shopE/index.html?d_WE10_M42_reversible_winter_parka_autumn_white__oakleaf_152.htm

http://www.artizandesigns.com/guides/new/painters%20guide%201943%20German%20Oak%20Leaf%20autumn.gif


Actually the link wasnt a smock but a padded jacket but if you click the smock link and elite camo you`ll see it,..still the camo pattern was the same whatever item of clothing they were making

 

[panzerace007]

ANDY,

Thanx for th links. AS far as referance of My own, I have the picture book by RZM Publications - Waffen SS Kursk 1943. Unfortunately I only have #1 in a 6 series set. I need to get on th Stick & get th rest of these before They are oop !

Yeah, I think I need to refine the Camo a little. The Examples I have looked at have varied, as far as the amount of Orange in th Camo. I decided after looking at a few that I would go a little heavy on th Orange.

This was one of the main inspirations for th scheme.

Here is another. You can see from the Chap in th middle that he has a fair amount of Orange.

One additional thing I thought about was adding the Sniper's Veil. But I've only seen it on well ... Snipers & M.G. teams.

Thanx for the kind words ... WE'll see what she looks like after today ...


ERIK

 

[moon puppy]

that looks like a challenging task, the veil. how would you pull that off?

 

[jknaus]

that looks like a challenging task, the veil. how would you pull that off?

I would use cotton bandage gauze. It is tightly woven. Then cut to shape, remove the center horizontal threads and then 3 or 4 vertical threads. Then you can run a knife between the other vertical threads to loosen the weave. At least thats what I did when I was a kid and made one of these.
James

 

[panzerace007]

Yeah, Damn Good Idea JAMES !! I thought of using some thin Foil , or tooth paste tube. It's that center part that's tricky. BUt I think you hit on something James !

ERIK

 

[AndyFettes]

Excellent

Only if I may point out something that the camo in the colour pic you posted is Plane Tree and not oak leaf, however the chap in the picture in the centre is wearing oakleaf ( I think )

Confused yet ?

I think James has given you an excellent idea to get on with its certainly something I didn`t consider

 

[Ken Abrams]

I would like to second what Andy has said, not all of those pictured are Oak leaf pattern.

Believe it or not, my other obsession beside the Allied half track is German Camouflage clothing in WWII.

There are a few patterns that can sometimes get confused for one another in small, blurry pictures. Quickly glancing through my Schiffer Waffen SS book there are 11 identified patterns of the SS alone, I have another huge Schiffer book on Heer patterns.

Block pattern '36-'38
Plane Tree SS-VT pattern '36-'40
Plane Tree SS-VT Lateral Variant '38-'40
Palm '40-'42
Plane Tree Polyspot Variant '41
Plane Tree Wartime pattern '40-'44
Blurred Edge '41-'44
Oak Leaf type A '41-'45
Oak Leaf type B '41-'45
Dot '44-'45
Leibermuster '45

On top of all that, each of these patterns also have variations of colors, screening types etc. and certain items like helmet covers, smocks, zeltbahns, etc. are available in some patterns and not others etc.

:gogo

Picking them out from pictures with good reference material is one thing, successfully painting them is all together different.

Best of luck man!

 

[AndyFettes]

A man after my own heart !!!

 

[panzerace007]

WoW KEN ! Thanx for th Heads-up ! I knew they had some different ones but not that much ! Does any of your Reference mention What th SS was wearing during Kursk ? I'm guessing it's th Oak Leaf.

Would it be easy to think that there could be different variations with in th Same Unit ?

For example ... - Claus goes through th line on Friday & gets th Oak Leaf, Karl goes through th line on Saturday & gets th Palm ? Where different patterns reserved for different rank i.e. NCO's etc ?

Most of My reference is just general pix of th SS in battle, as far as th Camo goes.

I did add some more dots to th mix. It's starting to shape up ! ? :idonno


ERIK

 

[AndyFettes]

Hi Erik,..

No different Camo for different ranks as far as I`m aware, but most certainly different schemes could be found amongst the same unit but usually they would wear the same colour side
Skip the Palm you most certainly don`t want to start painting that right now trust me !! :laugh:

As for Kursk I am not up with the Eastern Front battles but its 43 right ?
What time of year was it ?
As per Kens write up any of those different schemes within those timescales could be used but the most common ones would be Oakleaf and Plane tree.

Heres where I spent of lot of time studying painting techniques Calvin is a top man when it comes to camouflage

http://zyclyon.blogspot.com/

 

[Sharkmouth]

If it was in 1/35th scale, I would try a decal:

Click me!

Regards,

 

[panzerace007]

ANDY,

Yeah, I def. don't want to start all over. I've seen Calvin's stuff & He does Rock th Camo ! I love th way He paints !

Kursk started in July of '44. I think from where, I'm at I can get th Oak Leaf out of it.? I'll go through that Book on Kursk & double check th smocks. May be I can just keep it Plane Tree ?

Hey SAUL,

Thanx for th link. I've seen these & to tell ya th truth I'd rather paint th camo ! I can do it ... I just really didn't study My reference like I should have !

ERIK

 

[Ken Abrams]

Would it be easy to think that there could be different variations with in th Same Unit ?

Hey bro, Andy has pretty much already answered you but not only is it possible, it's something the Schiffer book takes the time to mention and even point out examples.

On page 73 there are three soldiers all wearing camouflage smocks, all three are different patterns. Plane Tree, Lateral variant Plane Tree and Block pattern.

As far as different patterns for different ranks, nothing like that is mentioned. There are however several surviving, custom tailored tunics and other items that were made for officers and such, items that weren't normally made out of camouflage material but were for these high ranking individuals.

If you like German camo man, I highly recommend this book

It's not cheap but it is well worth the price IMO.

B)

 

[panzerace007]

KEN,

I've seen that Book ! Now I gotta get it, but it's gonna have to wait. Schiffer's stuff is pricey , but definitely worth it !! I'll keep an eye out for that. I might be able to find it on Amazon Used at a good price ! Or ,maybe some one will have it on discount at AMPS .... I'll hold my breath ( )

Speaking of other Ranks getting Their stuff tailored... I have a picture of a Commander from th 654th Pz.Jagr.Abtl that has a Panzer Jacket tailored from Zeltbahn !! Also some guys had stuff tailored from th Italian Camo !


ERIK

 

[AndyFettes]

I have the very same book and if I recall I got mine used from amazon.com for about $25 buckaroonies

Well worth a punt !