LATE WAR GERMAN INFANTRY PAINTING GUIDE and GERMAN GUARDS

This was a spur of the moment project I did, this long weekend, I woke up in the  morning with a crazy idea that I needed to build some guards for my Germans even thought I was already working away on my US Marines. 

I had been working on my US Marines for a while and sometimes, its good to work on another project in between, to get the inspirational juices going again.

I raided my left over parts bin and selected four Warlord games plastic German torsos and proceeded converting their body parts into a guard like posture.

These troopers will be utilised for specific Chain of Command scenarios, such as the ones found in the TooFatLardies specials.  

I also included a painting guide for Late war German Infantry.

Completed conversions figures ready for priming. 

Both of these figures had their right arms sliced in a couple of area to reposition them grasping the rifle and the base of the right figure was trimmed at the base connection to the shoulder and Green stuff putty added. Rifle straps were added with Milliput.

Back view of the figures show how the right legs with sliced and repositioned with the help of some Green stuff putty.

These two figures had some adjustments to the area which connects the arm to the shoulder and again Green stuff putty used to remodel the shoulder area.

The right figure also had his right legs sliced and repositioned.

Primed Black

Painted figure with flock added to the bases, forgot to paint the white stripes on collars of the first two figures, which have been added.

I had no gas mask canisters into my parts bin so the figures are without them.

Changing of the guards at a road check station.

LATE WAR GERMAN INFANTRY PAINTING GUIDE

The painting sequence I use for the German infantry is as follows:

• Black prime 
• paint the figures' base
• paint  flesh parts with flesh base colour and apply wash to flesh parts
• paint the uniform completely 
• using Black Grey or black primer to go over any areas that you may have covered while painting the uniform
• paint the base coat for the Helmet, Gatters, boots, Bread bag, gas mask canister, water bottle etc and then coat with the wash and move onto  finishing painting each item.  
• finish off the flesh parts.
• optional to use VMC Flat Earth with a small dry brush to very lightly dry brush areas that would normally rub against the ground if the figure was in a prone position, elbows, knees. 
• once all the painting is finished coat the model with a gloss enamel varnish 
• apply a  couple of coats of Matt varnish
• apply flock to the figures' base.

Just a note this is a rough guide I used to paint my figures but you may want to alter the ratios as you see fit as you can note from the above image the German uniform varied in colour.

HELMET

Base: VMC German Dark Green 979

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: Dry Brush: VMC German Dark Green 1:1 VMC Iraqui Sand

2nd Highlight: Dry Brush: add a bit more VMC Iraqui Sand 

Details: 

Top of the helmet add tiny wear spots with VMC Black Grey,  

Around the sharp rim of the helmet add tiny amount of gunmetal to simulate wear.

UNIFORM

Base: VMC German FieldGrey 830

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: VMC German FieldGrey 830 avoiding cresses 

2nd Highlight: VMC Green Grey 

3rd Highlight: continue by adding  a touch of VMC Iraqui Sand to the Green Grey

Optional highlight: very light drybrushing with VMC Earth targeting the knees, elbows, edges of uniform near the waist , can also some top portions of the uniform to give the uniform a slight brown tinge.

GATTERS 

Base: VMC Khaki 

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: VMC Khaki avoiding cresses 

2nd Highlight: VMC Khaki  1:1 VMC Iraqui Sand

BOOTS

Base: VMC Mahogany Brown 1:1 VMC Beige Brown 

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: VMC Mahogany Brown 1:1 VMC Beige Brown avoiding cresses 

2nd Highlight: VMC Mahogany Brown ,VMC Beige Brown, VMC Iraqui Sand, 1:1:1

BREAD BAG

Base: VMC Green Ochre

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight:  VMC Green Ochre avoiding cresses

2nd Highlight: VMC Green Ochre 1:1 VMC Iraqui Sand

3rd Highlight: add a bit more VMC Iraqui Sand to the above mix

WATER BOTTLE

Base: VMC Beige Brown 

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: VMC Beige Brown

2nd Highlight: VMC Beige Brown 1:1 VMC Iraqui Sand

3rd Highlight: add a bit more VMC Iraqui Sand to the above mix

GASMASK/ DRINKING CUP/ MESS TIN

Base: VMC German Dark Green 979 

Wash: Agrax Earthshade

1st Highlight: VMC German Dark Green 979

2nd Highlight: VMC German Dark Green 979  1:1 VMC Iraqui Sand

3rd Highlight:  add random spots of  VMC Gun Metal to simulate wear 

WEBBING 

Base: VMC Black Primer

1st Highlight: VMC Black Grey  with a touch of VMC Iraqui Sand

2nd Highlight: VMC Black Grey  with a touch of VMC Iraqui Sand

3rd Highlight:  add a bit more VMC Iraqui Sand to the above mix

Cheers John 

US MARINE SUPPORT

My "bits bin" contains a variety of left over vehicle parts, which include a variety of weapons, some of them Machine guns. I decided to put  them to good use and scratch build support weapons for my US Marines. I also converted some of my Warlord games plastic figures to crew the support weapon.

M2HB 50cal Heavy Machine Gun 

The 50 cal is from Sherman Tank kit, I scratch built the tripod from paper clips and soldered the bits together, the firer arms are slightly modified to grasp the weapon.  

The 50 Cal with 5 crew members.

M1919 A5 30cal Machine Gun 

The  machine gun from a left over from a kit, once again the tripods are made from paper clips.

30 cal with 3 crew members.

I constructed 2 x 30cal machine guns.

M1917 A1 MEDIUM Machine Gun

M1917 A1 Machine Gun with 5 crew.

I cut off the barrel of the MG and replaced it with a piece of plastic sprue from the Infantry kit and added a few bits to turn it into a M1917 MMG.

The tripods were once again made from paper clips.

I made 2 x M1917 A1 machine guns.

60mm LIGHT MORTAR

The mortar tube is made from a thin metal rod, the supporting bipod is made of paper clips.

I  make 2 x 60mm Mortars.

60mm Mortar with 5 x crew

60mm mortar with 5 crew.

BAZOOKA TEAM

The only modification I did with the bazooka team, was to the loaders arms, positioning them to  accommodate the loading of the weapon.

Image shows the cut down portion of the warhead to create the illusion that the warhead is already within the tube.  

FORWARD OBSERVER

The Radio is made from a basic piece of plastic sprue with small plastic items added to give the appearance of a radio, the aerial is made from a paint brush bristle. 

Added binoculars 

FLAMETHROWERS

The Flamethrowers are scratch built from sprues, paper clips and plastic sprues and cut down M3 grease guns found in the US Infantry plastic kits. 

I used this image to roughly modelled the upright figure. 

SNIPER

Standard poses supplied in the kit with a sniper rifle.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR CONVERTING PLASTIC FIGURES 

This images roughly shows steps to convert upright figures into kneeing positions, you can also modify figures into a lying down position. 

Cheers John