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Okay so I've only recently got in to FoW. I bought the Open Fire boxed set and immediately wanted a German Army, not because I am cheap but because well the German Herr and SS were pretty brutal and absolutely tenacious and capable soldiers.



After priming with Black, my 1st efforts on Tanks were perfecting the "Dunkelgeld". I used Iyanden Darksun and then a Burnt Umber (liquitex acrylic) homemade wash.

I used dark green and the Burnt umber for the camo striping, I then washed it again. A dry brushing with deneb stone and then with fortress grey. The tracks had some gunmetal drybrushed on. I then did an Ink Wash using Smoky Ink from Vallejo.



My final steps were to use Quickshade Soft-tone (diluted 3 parts QS 1 part white spirit) in a jar and painted on the varnish. After drying I then applied decals and then finally sprayed it with Testors DULLCOTE.

I have then bought the Plastic Soldier Company Panzer iV (5 in a box) and the Late War German Infantry. So with the Tanks I repeated the above steps and this is the result.



I have decided not decal my army with specific Divisions as it makes it harder to skip from book to book, like if I want SS Panzer Grenadiers or just Herr ones, I can use the same models and 251's.

My next stage is Prime my infantry, buy some Skdf 251's and finally some motorised Artillery and I'm set.

Now changed to PANZER LEHR DIVISION (the 130's), they are superb and have brilliant options compared to the SS and the points go a hellava alot further!.

I found this tutorial on Panzer Lehr. I followed it to the letter and they have turned out brilliantly. Pictures to follow once varnish is dry...

Okay an Update to my Army. Thanks to Owen at this link, I have some very satisfactory looking infantry;

http://www.farfaraway.org/blog/2009/08/08/panzer-lehr-gepanzerte-panzergrenadiers-painting-guide/







and a nice ZVEDZA 251 which i bought as a test for £2.75 and with a few minor mods I think it fits in the FOW Miniatures very well. The Jagdpanzer will remain in the Dunkelgeld colours as I will go with all my future armour having that rushed directly from the Factory to the front look.







This has been QUICKSHADED with Dark Tone, once Dry I will DULLCOTE and then drydrush some very light highlights to counter the dark shading. Yes I glued the Schürzen in the slight wrong position they are too high, hey ho, I am not fighting with ZAP-A-GAP to remove them. The Commanders on this came out of the PLASTIC SOLDIER COMPANY PANZER IV's so that all my Infantry and command Teams on all things look the same. (I don't like the Cartoony nature of BF models, there is nothing remotely comedy about the SS or any of the Military forces in WWII).

MY LIST

PANZERGRENADIER LEHR COMPANIE
1 x HQ (ic + 2ic) + 2 x Anti-tank teams = 130pts (3 x 251’s)
2 x Platoons (3 Squads) = 280 x 2 = 560pts (8 x 251’s)
3 x JagdPanzer IV = 285 (3 x Jagd)
4 x Panzer IV = 380 (4 x IV’s )
3 x 7/2 (3.7cm) = 150 (3 x 7/2)
3 x 21cm NEB = 125 (3 x 21cm)
1630 pts = 120pts spare

Okay I have 120pts, should I upgrade the Jagd to 4? I don't think I can take another Weapons or Corps Platoon, as I cannot have more than Double the number of Combat Platoons (I am sure i read that somewhere but cannot find a reference!). I can easily re-jig my Nebs to 4, in either 15cm or 21cm. Should I take the single Pak40 that the battery offers? I am also interested in the PANZERWHERFER as with extra crew the x4 for 210 points as each weapon counts as double in bombardment...Thoughts?

Well I would trim down points and another platoon. The panzer shreck teams haven't done that well for me overall. The 12cm mortars are great all around, as well as you get to re-roll the 1st attempt to range in. The panzer IV's I have mixed feelings about...you could drop the command shrek teams and get 2 tigers instead on the PZ IV's.

You reckon 2 Tiggers over 4 Panzer IV's. I really want some vehicles on the ground, the 3 Jagdpanzers should come out ontop of any armoured platoon, but up against the Russians and US/Brits they will tank rush me surely?

Maybe I could look at getting 3 Panthers instead of the Panzer IV's and dropping the Command Shreck team. 3x Panther A 560 pts

Okay well, to back up Jagdpanzers, I have a 4 x STuG Platoon I cannot really use with the Panzer Grenadier list. I will go for a 12cm Mortar Section, I will experiment and bare your advice on the Tigers.

Alternate Medium Tank list

1 x HQ (ic + 2ic) = 75pts (2 x 251’s)
2 x Platoons (3 Squads) = 280 x 2 = 560pts (8 x 251’s)
3 x JagdPanzer IV = 285pts (3 x Jagd)
4 x Panzer IV = 560pts (3 x Panther A )
3 x 7/2 (3.7cm) = 150pts (3 x 7/2)
3 x 21cm NEB = 125 (3 x 21cm)

1745 - Think this is quite a balanced list, not too much of anything.

I have played about 20 something games with the Lehr List...here is my take on it;

a. Your infantry is MG/ with great anti-tank. Dig them in or like I do assault.
b. your never gonna get enough tanks to face Russians / Brits / or even a US 3rd Armor list. use anti-tank guns, 88's, and arty to soften them up.
c.use range and cover to your advantage....also "stormtruppen" the hell out of them.
d. Jagdpanzers and tiger last longer...the tigers all the way round. they have range on most other tanks.
e. Lehr Panthers are so dang expensive as to waste points on 3 tanks.
f. when I face the US 3rd armor list it has a ton of armor...I just have to sit back and pick off platoons and force that morale roll.

just from my experience....1 or 2 good armor units and use your infantry to assault....and the list will work

Okay expand Jagdpanzers to 4, and grab some tigers.

Heavy hitting Tank list

1 x HQ (ic + 2ic) = 65pts (2 x 251’s)
2 x Platoons (3 Squads) = 280 x 2 = 560pts (8 x 251’s)
4 x JagdPanzer IV = 380pts (4 x Jagd)
2 x Tiger 1E = 480 (2 x Tiger 1E )
2 x Flakpanzer (38t) = 80pts (2 x 38t's)
3 x Panzerwerfer (Extra crew) = 180pts (3 x Maultier)

1750 pts

Looks good, although I am lacking in AT Guns, maybe an 88 instead of Flakpanzer?

Here is the list I take with my tigers:

65 HQ

185 CMBT 2 SQUADS (CMD PF / SMG TEAM)

185 CMBT 2 SQUADS (CMD PF / SMG TEAM)

150 4 12CM MORTARS

105 2 PAK 40 SECT.

480 2 TIGER 1E (SS ALLIES)

285 3 JAGDPANZER IV

185 2 8.8 CM HEABY AA GUN TEAMS WITH EXTRA CREW

*105 3 15CM ROCKET BATTERY*

* (ALT)

90 1 SECT. HVY MG'S (2 MG 42)
20 UPGRADE COMMAND TEAMS TO PF/SMG

STILL HAVE A LOT OF TANKS BUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AS WELL


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also did you get that 15mm PSC figures? How do they look, are they sturdy, what is your impression?

They are nice actually, they lack the Panzerschrek or Panzerfaurst. They look very slim, compared to BF models because of the Heroic Scale (e.g. stupid sizes).

They take paint well, and some of the models look very dynamic, my favourite is the MG Gunner and Assistant Gunner lying prone. The draw back is that you only get 1 per Sprue (5 sprues total) the other Machine Gunners (you get 3 per sprue) are just walking with it on their shoulder and lacks Dynamism. Another minor annoyance is that gluing the MG Gunners heads on is an exercise in Dexterity and patience.

The Officers and NCO's with SMG's are superb. The gestures and Hand Actions, indicating directions looking like they are issuing Orders. Add in the Kneeling Radio Op, on a CMD base they look very "Command Like". Also I really like the Riflemen, lots of Sighting down the Rifle, in various standing positions. The Radio Op and the Kneeling SMG with a Field Cap make a good Observer unit, or alternatively a CMD unit for an AT or ARTILLERY unit. The Kneeling SMG Gunner with a Helmet makes a good NCO, or Frontline Officer who likes to get in the action (Honestly Officers have been the same for hundreds of years, let the NCO's do the fighting! You manage the larger picture and makesure they don't bite off more than they can chew and keep the whole thing moving forward!)

Overall, good value for money and I can have a PSC Battalion of German Infantry for the Price of a Full 3 Platoon Company in BF. But they look stupid next to BF models so you need to carry the theme throughout the Army. Hence my Jagdpanzer Commander is one of the many spares you get from the PSC Panzer IV's. My next challenge is to cut up all the spare infantry to make NEB Crews and PanzerSchrek using various arm poses and Green Stuff.

Okay so I wanted the details on Michael Wittmanns Side numbers. I have found out he was Commander of the 2nd Company of the 101st Schwere Abt. So it must be 211?

http://www.downloadmunkey.net/2008/08/military-tuesday-tiger-i-renders-by-kyoshi-harada/



The 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion had arrived in Normandy on 12 June, after a five day, 160-mile (260 km) drive from Beauvais.[69][72] Mustering 45 Tiger I tanks at full strength,[nb 7] the battalion had come under severe air attack near Versailles and been reduced to around 17 serviceable tanks.[72][73][nb 8] The battalion's 1st Company was situated 5.6 miles (9.0 km) northeast of Villers-Bocage; the 2nd Company, under the command of SS-Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann, was just south of Point 213 on the Villers-Bocage ridge; and the 3rd, with only one serviceable tank, was near Falaise and would not reach the front for another two days.[70][74] Wittmann's 2nd Company nominally consisted of 12 tanks,[nb 9] but through a combination of losses and mechanical failures only Tigers 212, 213, 214, 224, 231, and 232 were present on 13 June.[11][18]

So from Wiki I reckon 212, for Wittmann.



I am not paying £11.50 for a Tiger and Kubelwagen...Seriously do they think me slowed. So i took a spare Tank Commander from my Panzer IV's and viola. Michael Wittmann.



These tanks have just been Varnished, so in 24 Hours I will DULLCOTE them. Then I will put a final dry brush highlight on, and if necessary put some more wash shading (It goes on batter when a model is varnished, for some reason).



One of the advantages of my Job is I can pop down the "Sick Bay" and grab out of date stuff off the "Doc". I have 100 of these Pee Test tubes to let me mix paints and do my own washes and paints in batches.

Nice, post some of the finished products when you can...also let me know how your doing your wash...I tried that stuff but really didn't like the consistency and the over dark color...but looks good so far....


P.S. We have been really busy last couple of days but I am working on and will post a bunch of new pics...

I am working on Falaise scenario for two tables butressed together with 4 - 5 players. With Allied Forces North and South converging on the centre. The Germans players defend the centre as German Army retreats from A . East to B. West along a road. A 5th Player maybe needed to control the flow of German units along the road in their retreat.

The German forces roll off, for each unit and get the Dice Roll -1 for each platoon to determine how many units. The Two German Players can then roll against each other to transfer units & combine units (Evens they can give the other the unit, odd lucked out and they keep it) This will hopefully start to show the improvised defence of the Falaise pocket. German Reinforcements arrive on one side and drive directly across the board if they pass within 8cm of a iC or 2iC they get to roll a "Pressed in to service" die. Evens this unit joins the German Player, odds it carry's on running along the road.

This is to represent the Colonels and Mid-level Officers organising the Junior Officers and NCO and forcing them at Pistol point into coducting a defence. I think a roll before each turn would be good e.g. What Germans come along road.

1. Infantry (foot)
2. Grenadiers (In Transports)
3. Light Armour (recce)
4. Medium Armour (Tank destroyers etc)
5. Artillery (SPG)
6. Heavy Armour (The bad stuff)

The allies would get their Army completely untouched and deploy as directed. This would use the Grand Offensive rules, plus you could add in a system of calls for fire with dice off, for the Divisional Assets each turn e.g. Who has priority for fire missions.

On the subject of Washes, I will do an indepth post on Washes and Varnishes. ( i accidentally deleted the wash post! I follow Les Bursleys making washes tutorial on the Awesome Paint Job.com website)

I have finally Dullcoted and drybrushed my tigers, I am pleased. I know they look bad when you Varnish them, but the end result is always quite different.





I now need to buy another Jagdpanzer IV and another STuG III.

Nice ...I like the even flat look. Have you ever tried the weather powders? I finally broke down and ordered some. I think it would really set off your models. Keep the pictures a rollin' in.

I will pick up the weathering powders at some point, any particular advice (I have only seen Tamiya ones).

I went vallejo cause that is what the company I buy from sells...YOU have to use an activator...to keep the weathering powder on the model. Mig sells a good one...I cheated and you can see the results and judge for your self.

1 part white glue
1 part flat matte varnish
1-2 parts water

lightly brush on area for weathering and then liberally sprinkle on the weathering powder...lightly brush for desired effect. Let dry....finish with dull coate.

Cheers for the Advice. I found this website, paid $1 for access to the Earth & Steel Book. It is awesome, it is a click and tickbox affair, but the Graphics are quite good, despite the clumsy interface.

http://www.easyarmy.com/

It is so much better than Army Builder and is specific to FoW, the Print Outs are good and allows you to have 6 or 7 setups printed out and therefore you can change your force quickly. Cannot recommend this enough, although, legally I'm not sure he is right to be doing this, and whether I should be using it?

Yep I am already using it...and apparently the guy has BF support...

Excellent looking army. Nicely detailed

Okay my latest list is the following.

HQ = 65pts

Full Platoon = 280pts

Full Platoon = 280pts

Lehr Heavy Platoon (1 x Machine Gun Section + 1 x mortar section)= 175pts

2 x TIGER 1E = 480pts

3 x Jagdpanzer IV = 285 pts

3 x Panzerwerfer Maultier (extra crew) = 180pts

= 1745pts

An alternative (vs Tank heavy lists) is to drop the Heavy Platoon Mortars and add in

2 x 88mm with extra crew

Or Drop the heavy platoon and grab a 2 AT guns for 105 pts and upgrade the Command section with an AT team.

Run the list a few times and let me know how it goes...I am running a 1750 battle tonight, I will post the battle report.

dreager96 I have spoken to MALFRED [MOD] for the Army Profiles section, if we create our own ARMY PROFILES he will create a FLAMES OF WAR Section within it.

I will start mine and then update with new pictures as they come in.

Cool not sure what the process is but I am game!

Its basically a specialist article, you create an Article and use the ARMY PROFILE template. You will need to have the pictures uploaded into dakka and use the ARTICLE link on the picture to post it in. I made one for my SM chapter, it takes about 30mins (if your pictures are already on it).

What the Heck does the German Radio truck do...besides nothing?

That looks really good. I love the camo pattern you did on the tanks.

Cheers for the compliment, but I'm now repainting them to look like my other armoured units.

On the subject of the AT Gun you can attach to an Armoured Panzerwerfer (Maultier) Platoon. Is it worth taking? 5cm or 7.5cm? It costs 50 points! If i change things around I could save some points and buy a mortar section or AA Flak Panzers.

Neblewerfers! they are cheaper, they are light guns so when dug in get concealed....better stats then the Panzer werfers...and you can have them plus the AT gun + AA or Mortars. Its a number games sometimes and tweaking ever so slightly to get that one extra punch. Also check out the Mortars....120cm

Got the 12cm Mortars, they are drying on my table. Give me 10 mins and I'll have a Photo here.

Okay got them yesterday, I have glued them, based them, and spray primed them.





I have all my Command Units to do, should all be done by Monday night.



Here are my Panzergrenadier Platoons, now with extra static grass, and little details.

Okay here is my Army Profile.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Panzergrenadier_Lehr_Regiment_902_-_I._Battalion

Draeger if you need a hand, start your article by Giving it a name.... Draegers Lehr Division or whatever and I can go in and edit to link in your Pictures if you wish.