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So my Black Friday purchase from the War Store was a Gebirgsjaeger company and a mortar platoon and a HMG platoon. Been playing around with my Fallschirmjaegers a bit, but I really like the background and modeling opportunities for these guys. Between being able to have some fun with the bases and being able to use a lot of these guys for EW through LW it seemed like it should be fun. I will probably throw up a P&M blog when I get started with them, but I had a question while I am planning the project:

I have not looked at every mini in the boxes, but it seems like possibly all the minis have the GJ caps. I didn't see any other hats or helmets.

So I was wondering what might be the best way to get a small variety of models with different heads in the mix. Would I need to do head swaps with regular helmets or would some of the other models mixed in on the stands look alright? I have lots of FJ models, but I don't know if those heads would work or if mixing in a few models (painted in GJ colors of course) would look too crazy. Or would grenadiers look better? I picked up some Peter Pig models for mine sweepers and flame throwers in preparation for pioneer platoons (and some radio guys for observer stands), but they all wear helmets so I think they would look really out of place if they were the only models with helmets on.

The main difference with Gebirgsjäger uniforms are the boots. Pretty much all units were issued Feldmütze, it wasn't just a Gebirgsjäger-specific piece of headgear, it just seems that they wore them more often. You could just use regular Grenadiers, that's pretty much what everyone did before the Gebirgsjäger minis were released. You could also mix in a few of the Afrika Korps infantry, the ones with their trouser legs covering the top of the boots look similar in 15mm, but it really doesn't matter that much. Just don't use the ones with Shemaghs or scarves on their faces. A lot of the Afrika Korps minis already have Feldmütze on though, so if you're just after helmets, you could also use any of the LW German infantry with the short boots with gaiters. They're not technically the same but at 15mm you can get them to look fine.

There's no reason to do head swaps to get helmets in a Gebirgsjäger unit though, unless you just really love doing headswaps on 15mm minis.

A lot of Battlefront's "special unit" type packs, like Afrika Korps, Gebirgsjäger and Australians and things like that are more for flavor, which is nice, but regular infantry often works just as well. For my Afrika Korps, I have platoons made up of the Afrika Korps models, as well as platoons of regular Grenadier minis in Afrika Korps colors.


I would not use Fallschirmjäger though, their uniforms and helmets are different than the ones used by Gebirgsjäger and Grenadiers.

Just to be anal... The Gebirgsjager wore a Bergmütze, they also wore them long before the Feldmütze was issued to troops who before wore the side cap.

They also only ever wore short boots, never marching boots.

Depending on the theatre and period of the war, Gebirgsjager could look different.

While their tunic and trousers were the same, they were also issued an anorak and later in the war a set of over trousers to match.

Generally though, in combat the Gebirgsjager wore the Stalhelm... No one likes shrapnel in the head.

Big P wrote:
Just to be anal... The Gebirgsjager wore a Bergmütze, they also wore them long before the Feldmütze was issued to troops who before wore the side cap.

They also only ever wore short boots, never marching boots.

Depending on the theatre and period of the war, Gebirgsjager could look different.

While their tunic and trousers were the same, they were also issued an anorak and later in the war a set of over trousers to match.

Generally though, in combat the Gebirgsjager wore the Stalhelm... No one likes shrapnel in the head.

Yeah, some of the BF Gebirgsjäger minis have the anorak, but it's not a piece of gear that I'd consider completely necessary to represent Gebirgsjäger. Good call on the Bergmütze, I didn't realize there was a difference, but to be fair, it looks almost the same as the Feldmütze and I don't think there's any way to tell in 15mm.

Oh yer... Its is the same really! Just me being anal!

Anoraks were worn extensively during Weserübung, and on occasion during the winter in Italy. They crop up now and then.

Its not necessary, but as only the Gebirgsjager wore them, its a good thing to use to show what they are.

Had somebody else suggest using German winter troops, so I might look at them as well.

Spend the evening sorting out the minis from the company set and the HMG & mortar set. Once I get my hands on some helmet models I will get to painting.

Started working on the Company HQ & 2iC today, used some Grenadiers from the Open Fire set to mix in with the GJ models:



I think they fit in decently enough.

You're off to a good start. What colors are you using? I'm guessing that isn't the final color for the helmets? They look kind of shiny.

Used a gun metal, will replace that with German grey I think.

Field grey for the pants, a green/light brown mix for the coats.

Yeah, German Grey is the way to go for the helmets. Are the coats supposed to be the anoraks? That seems like a good color for them. The regular uniform blouses can be regular field grey as well.

I think I've decided that pumice is a pain in the rear, I might try to do a base with building up a few layers of sand, then litter, then gravel.

I use Testors contour putty. It's a lot easier than pumice, because you don't have to cover the whole base with it if you don't want to, and you can apply it straight from the tube. I usually squirt a bit around each of the miniatures' attached bases, and then I flatten and spread it a bit with a spatula or worn-out hobby knife. After it dries I apply sand or flock, with litter, gravel, or static grass as needed. It's easy and it gives you a similar effect to pumice without as much hassle.

Thanks, I will keep an eye out for it at Hobby Lobby.

Glad to help out a new historicals player. Got any ideas for a list yet?

Haven't done too much list building yet. I was thinking of running this at 1000 points until I get a better feel for the game:

Gebirgsjägerkompanie HQ
-2 Cmd Panzerfaust SMG teams

Gebirgsjäger Platoon
-1 Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team
-6 Rifle/MG team

Gebirgsjäger Platoon
-1 Cmd Panzerfaust SMG team
-6 Rifle/MG team

Gebirgsjäger Machine-gun Platoon
-1 Cmd SMG team
-4 MG42 HMG teams

Gebirgsjäger Mortar Platoon
- 1 Cmd SMG team
- 1 Observer Rifle team
- 3 8cm GW34 mortar

Assault Gun Platoon
- 2 StuG G or StuG IV
-2 StuH42

The HMG and Mortar HQ doesn't have an option for fausts. They can do Panzerknackers, but I'm not sure if they are as helpful on these guys. The HQ has an option for a Panzerschreck team but I don't have the models at this time.

 d-usa wrote:
I think I've decided that pumice is a pain in the rear

What I use to build up bases is Polyfilla (quick drying plaster filler). Its cheap, you can buy it anywhere that sells DIY stuff, its textured and its really easy to use. It also has the added benefit of making FoW infantry bases much more substantial. The only issue with it is that if you drop your bases, of the table for instance, the filler can chip/shatter.

Thats fine for a 1k list. You really need to bulk out that StuG platoon when you expand your army though

If you can combat attach your HMGs out to your infantry platoons (it will say in the unit description if they are allowed to). Support platoons such as the mortars don't really need AT upgrades.

I will either switch the StuGs to Tigers, or keep the 4 and maybe add 4 looted Italian StuGs to the mix as the points go up.

Looking at Reece options as well, but all I get for this list are some foot sloggers.

I like German scout platoons simply because they can have assault rifles. probably not worth the points (190 for 5 teams..) but they can do nasty things to enemy infantry, if your lucky.

In general recce isn't all that important to infantry lists though.

I always hear that Recce is an important counter to US tank destroyer lists, although I don't know how much of a danger they are to infantry lists.

The bare-bones scouts are 115 points in this list, so it's not that big a point sink.

The tanks are going to be a big decision for me. I love Tigers (and who doesn't), but of the same points I could either get

1 Platoon of 3 Tiger Es

or

1 Platoon of 4 StuG G or StuG IV
and
1 Platoon of 4 StuG M42 75/34

Just seems like 8 tanks are going to be harder to kill than 3, even if they have less armor, and they would have the ability to operate as 2 separate platoons and give some much needed mobility to the force.

Speaking of mobility: Is it worth to spend the points on pack-mules to makes all the gun teams man-packed?

I would go for the StuGs over the Tigers. Late war has a lot of things that will blow right through a Tigers armour so I prefer quantity over quality.

Recce isn't that important to an infantry list, they are just too slow. Personally I only take infantry recce teams if they also do other things (Finnish Jaakari, Soviet scouts etc).

I presume that the mules only make the guns move as man packed? If so its probably not worth it unless they are free/cheap.

The mules can make Heavy Mortars, Infantry Guns, and the Pak38 move as man packed, and some of the artillery options can move as man-packed as well.

They are free for artillery and 5 points per platoon for the other options I think.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Almost done with the Company HQ, just needs hit of the Dull Coate I think:

Idk, I saw a single tiger rip through half of my tanks, and only killed it because my opponent forgot about a tank I had left hiding in a building, and he needed to roll a one for me to get the chance to blow it up on a 3+...

 Alfndrate wrote:
Idk, I saw a single tiger rip through half of my tanks, and only killed it because my opponent forgot about a tank I had left hiding in a building, and he needed to roll a one for me to get the chance to blow it up on a 3+...

Thats because you have Shermans Fireflies kill them relatively easily though.

Palindrome wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
Idk, I saw a single tiger rip through half of my tanks, and only killed it because my opponent forgot about a tank I had left hiding in a building, and he needed to roll a one for me to get the chance to blow it up on a 3+...

Thats because you have Shermans Fireflies kill them relatively easily though.

I shall see the next time I play lol

Finished up:



I think I got a good routine down for being able to finish 1 squad each day I am working on them, while working on 5 squads at a time:

Each day:

1) Pick out the models for a squad 1, glue them on the popsicle sticks, while waiting for the glue to dry...
2) Paint the models for squad 2, while waiting for the paint to dry...
3) Take the painted models for squad 3 and base them with pumice/filler/sand/rocks/trees/etc. Leave that to set...
4) Take the dried bases for squad 4 and paint the base, leave to dry
5) Take finished squad 5 (from day before) and dull coate it.
6) The glue for squad 1 is dry so prime that.
7) The paint for squad 4 is dry enough so flock it.

That takes me between an hour or two each day. Every day the squads move down one position. That means it takes me 4-5 days to finish a squad, but it fits pretty good with the amount of time I have and it seems like a decent process that keeps me from being overwhelmed.

So today I painted the Platoon HQ and Squad 1, and glued the models for Squad 2 to prime.
Tomorrow I will base Squad 1, paint squad 2, and glue squad 3.

very nice.
I'm just starting FOW myself, I have the models but I'm waiting to get the right colors to prime with.

Progress shot of the assembly line method:



Left are the models that I based yesterday (couldn't sleep, so I jumped a step ahead), middle are the models I painted today (waiting to dry enough to base), right are the models that I glued for squad 3 (where you can also see the mix of Gebirgsjaeger troops and plastic grenadiers).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And finished 1st Platoon HQ and 1st Squad:

You did a great job! I love the scenic base, it really brings the minis together. Keep up the good work!

Been a slow painting week so far, but I finished Squad 2 and started on Squad 3:



Also did a progress shot of the whole force together. I wanted to make sure that the bases are consistent enough to tie the whole army together but not appear repetitive, and that the models seem varied enough to keep it looking organic.



Also placed an order for some Dom's Decals to get ready to work on the SuGs.

So, slightly unrelated question to the painting in progress:

How viable are all-infantry lists? I don't really have much available in regards to armored support in this list. I have the 4 StuGs, but I either have to track down some OOP Italian StuGs to bring the final total up to 8, or run a list with only 2 Tigers as armored support. So I was thinking about expanding this into an all-infantry list after I am finished with painting what I have.