Death Korps Commander
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| OZf. Hans Heinrich von Tiesenhausen, Commanding 4. Kompanie |
It's been a while since we had an update on the Death Korps, so I'll share a couple of outstanding projects. The main one is my FW DK Commander - one of my favourite models of all time. I decided to convert him into a 'command stand' like a historical game, since he won't be doing much actual combat. This is something I did for my old HQ diorama - a 60mm base with three men on it.
I also remembered to take step-by-step photos! Hurrah! Take a look below to see the diorama take shape.
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| Built and ready for standing up. The two HQ types have green-stuffed arms to make them 'salute', and I took the crest off the officer's helmet, as I thought it looked a bit daft. |
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| And in position. I aimed to make the commander look like he'd just emerged from a dugout, as the HQ snaps to attention. |
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| These aren't glued on yet, just blu-tacked. I used a tiny dab of superglue to attach each one to a 20mm base for painting, allowing me to snap it off once all was finished. |
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| The base itself. I used the same techniques as for my previous infantry squad, but made the mud flatter and used duckboards made of card to suggest that they're further behind the lines. |
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| And painted! I deliberately kept the palette identical to the basic infantry squads, and resisted the temptation to give the officer a fancy uniform. The basic idea is brown tunic with cuffs, facings and trims in arm-of-service colours. |
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| Aaach-TUNG! |
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| And the orderlies... I've just remembered, there's supposed to be a phone wire between the junction box and the phone, I'll do that now. |
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| I've been tinkering with some OSL recently - I'm a bit concerned that, in isolation, it looks like he's bleeding heavily but when you stand back it looks okay. |
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| Phone for you sir! |
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| And the commander's tunic, oddly one of my favourite parts to paint. |
This is a trademark HW team layout now. In fact, my first ever post had a very similar dug-in lascannon. The mud is all 'no-more-nails' glue, which is a lot tougher than builder's filler and dries rock solid. The sandbags are made of little sausages of Green Stuff squashed flat.
Ed
Once again Colonel your work; both is modelling and painting is superb - rather jealous your skills! Also loving the diorama for top officer idea, it really helps to make him eye-catching and a centrepiece to the Kompanie.
ReplyDeleteThankyou kindly, yes I do like to do this for my command models. I supposed it evolved from making command stands for ECW units and others.
DeleteVery nice conversion work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt! I wanted to keep the conversions fairly simple, since the FW models themselves were already rather nice.
DeleteAbsolutely outstanding, fantastic simple but effective idea, and bloody brilliantly executed. The colours and mud work really well without bleeding into each other, the little effects like the wood grain really round it off nicely. Incredible work. Can't wait to see them in the flesh.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot - I think I've learned the hard way that keeping things simple is the easiest way to make sure they're carried through successfully. I forgot all about the wood grain! Hopefully these chaps will be ready for our Third Edition games.
DeleteI think the odd tuft of grass here and there would make that command stand pop a little more. Not all of it would be a churned mess surely?
ReplyDeleteRegardless sir, I like it very much. I stepped back from my monitor to see what the OSL looked like from afar and you're quite right, though at first (up close) glance, I assumed he was a medical orderly or just injured. :P
I might have a very over the top grimdark picture of a muddy hell hole of a trench network in my head.... but having said that a tuft of that GW grass might add a splash of colour.
DeleteI think that's the consensus on the OSL - no false modesty here but I think we've had the discussion before about how cameras can be harsh at times. They're painted by human eyes and so they really should be seen in person for the full effect - having said that most people manage to take great photos. Maybe I should get a book on photography.
What a fantastic word - and thanks for your kind comments as ever. I was quite chuffed with the painting, but as a few people have picked up on the OSL doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, although it looks okay on the tabletop. I suspect that's what caused the pink cuff effect.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely awesome! Love the little vignette, it looks fantastic. I think I may have to mimic your color scheme for my Deff Korps of Krieg! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks mate, glad you like it! Oh, what an honour, thanks! - well there's a basic tutorial on the infantry squad post, if you need any more into then just drop us an email.
DeleteJawhol. Interesting look without the crest on the HSO's helmet. Wholeheartedly agree with previous comments about your choice of colour scheme, they'll fit in nicely ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd sort of yeah with OSL - I hear what you say re:looking at them in the flesh, but your comment about him looking as if he's lost three pints (in the photos) is spot on, haha har.
Glad I had the guts to ditch the old models and try something new - a bit of a wrench but worth it.
DeleteI might give the OSL a repaint then post up the results of the 'surgery'.
I'll give it a try!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely just what these minis SHOULD look like. smashing stuff, matey!
ReplyDeleteShucks, Drax - very kind of you to say so. There are some models you are inventive on, designing your own schemes and so on, and others where the models are so classic / well-sculpted that it's a joy to paint them inside the stereotype - here the muddy, natural tones that blend with the mud. Glad you enjoyed.
DeleteI love your mucky trench bases. The whole thing just makes me wish I was wearing a great coat to keep the rain and cold at bay. Always such good work from you Colonel.
ReplyDeleteSorry Chris, I thought I'd replied here! Gremlins in the machine, perhaps...
DeleteThanks, they really are atmospheric models, aren't they? After doing a few of those bases it makes you feel cold and wet. Thank you for the kind words!