Somewhere near Stalingrad - Winter Germans

[Fire at Will]

Started on my Axis forces, my Russians were painted years ago.

A rather bedraggled unit for my first battalion of German winter infantry, Intended to depict some Stalingrad defenders or other troops ill-prepared for winter fighting.


The majority of the figures are the Strelets German Army in Stalingrad, plus some Zvezda German MMGs and Mortars in greatcoats, HaT greatcoated German gunners, a few Italeri German elite infantry and a single Revell Afrika Korps figure.

A couple of close-ups

Zvezda MMG, S Model 37mm AT gun with Hat crew


A Zvezda 81mm Mortar (you get two poses in the set) and an Ace 75mm Infantry gun


Plus some German armour, these are left over Italeri Panzer IIIs and a S-Model Panzer II. They are painted as normal then heavily drybrushed white to look like worn whitewash. I couldn't decide whether to add the decals with the tank numbers, but decided to omit them for now.


Apologies for the groundwork as it was all I could find, somewhere I have a couple of old "white" sheets.

[Greg77]

and a single Revell Afrika Korps figure.

He'll be the first one, who freeze to death...

jokes aside, I like the variation of the the civilian item clothes on them,
and the overall look of your painting on 'em

the pzIII's can serve as the remnants of the 24th Pz.Div.?

Greg

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Impressive force and I also like how you painted the civil items.... Revell's DAK is an excellent addition while he wears greatcoat... I love that figure, for many years stood almost alone as mass-production WWII Germans in greatcoats...

[Fire at Will]

Another Rapid Fire German winter battalion completed, this time they represent a better prepared unit, almost all with the reversible jacket. The figures are mostly the Caesar German winter infantry, reasonable sculpts for the most part, but with horrible chunky bases. Mixed in are a number of Italeri Elites and some Armourfast figures.

The AT support is only a 37mm Pak36, manned by HaT figures and this will need upgrading if used for mid/late war game. Note I have already made some provision by including a Panzerschreck. At the back are four command figures from Odemars German Commanders.

[Fire at Will]

Keeping up the theme, here are the Italians

My first batch covering the rifle companies for a Rapid Fire battalion

Then the heavy weapons, these are made up of some conversions and some bits from Early War Miniatures. (20mm ATR, 47mm AT gun and brixia mortar)

[Beano Boy]

Nice work putting this army together Fire at Will. The German Tanks look A OK to Me. Good to see the Italian army included here too. Did the Italian army use Renault R35 during this period of fighting in Russia? I know by 1941 the Germans had up-gunned captured Renault R35 from Poland and elsewhere into the FCM 36 PAK 40.
Anyway splendid to see your army taking shape. BB

[Ochoin]

Amongst other things, great bases.

donald

[Bluefalchion]

I was just logging on here and hoping someone had painted the Strelets Stalingrad Germans today. Looks good and nice variety. What are the red bands on the left sleeves in the second figure picture meant to represent?

[Fire at Will]

The red or black bands were identification to avoid friendly fire incidents. The colour and position varied to avoid enemy copying them

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Great work on a qutie impressive force, a real pleasure to see these figs from various manufacturers...

[Fire at Will]

Slowly adding some more troops

a Zvezda 20mm Flak 38 with a MMS crew and some reworked sdkfz 251s


Hungarians (painted a while back but hadn't posted)

[Peter]

Great addition to your forces Will!

[Fire at Will]

After several months on their painting tray I've finished my Romanians at last, so now hopefully I've got enough Axis troops for a game. The figures are mainly the Strelets Romanians in greatcoats, plus a few Hungarians and Italians added to make up the numbers


The First to Fight Bofors 37mm AT gun is a lovely little model, but so low that I could only use lying figures to provide a crew.

[Peter]

Great work again Will!

[Hellboy]

Thanks for the great photos. The figures are painted beautifully.
My favorites are the sets of Zvezda. I love this figure sets! Many of them I see now painted for the first time. Great!