Wrecked Sd.Kfz 251

This is my first attempt at modelling a knocked out vehicle, so please be gentle with the criticism! And no, it isnt kit-bashed from an intact vehicle, its the resin "Wrecked Hanomag" kit from Warlord built straight out of the box.

I used a combination of airbrushed rust base colours around the damaged areas, and then a series of pigments over that to deepen the effect. It wasnt a project where I ever felt fully in control of the final result... I just had to keep experimenting until I got to a point where I felt it "good enough".

German Garrison Troops (and some local ladies)

Here is what has been on my painting desk for the last little while...

I figured I needed some targets, err, opponents for my partisan forces, and these fellows looked the part. I can imagine them seeing time on the table in a range of scenarios involving partisans - not only as part of a garrison force, but also as deployment zone and objective markers.

Caption Competition: Answers on a postcard please (or in the comments section below...)

While working on the Kubelwagen, I decided Oberst Landbrot and his 'acquaintance', Consolata Gramsci, needed a third figure to really tell a story...

Enter Violetta Gramsci, leader of the local communist partisans, and sister to Herr Landbrot's friend. Its an open secret in the village that the Gramsci sisters took very different paths following the death of their parents. Many locals wonder how Violetta can tolerate her sister's dalliance with the enemy, and marvel at how Consolata has managed to keep the truth about her sister's activities from the Germans.

However, those who know the two sisters better, will point out that despite many, many partisan attacks on German supply columns in the area, not one has ever struck the Oberst's convoy, and the Hitler's notorious "10 for 1" anti-partisan order has never been actively implemented in these parts. "There is no black and white in these matters", they say, "only many shades of grey..."

Then there is Leutnant Sturmflut, another figure destined to be an objective marker...

The sentries are from Foundry, with their officer from the Artizan Late War German range. The Kubelwagen and driver are from Warlord, with the passengers from Company B. The downed Luftwaffe pilot is part of a Foundry pack. Violetta Gramsci is the limited edition  figure sold with Warlord's Bolt Action Armies of France and the Allies title.