Blitzkrieg Miniatures 1/56 Resin JU 87 Stuka

As soon as Blitzkrieg Miniatures released their 1/56 JU 87 B2 Stuka, I had to get it.  I built it straight away for my DAK project however the canopy really turned me off.  Painting was another thing which I put off however the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge gave me the motivation I needed to get it done.

Consider this article a minor review of my thoughts on the kit.  Any specific questions or details you want to know, just ask!

This was my first gripe with the model.  The canopy has lots of separate panels and the panel frames aren't the sharpest and I just didn't have the patience to mask it all off.  I was contemplating putting the Perry Miniatures 28mm Crew inside if I was to mask it off however the canopy isn't that transparent.  Additionally I wanted to use the model as ground terrain or for in game flying and if the crew were permanently in there it would look a little silly if ground terrain.  My solution... paint the canopy!  I'm glad I did this as the canopy isn't the best fit anyway.  A painted canopy gives it more of a "Wargaming Feel".

Blitzkrieg Miniatures 1/56 JU 87 Stuka

The model goes together easily, needs minimal cleanup and is of solid construction.  I used an airbrush to paint it, constructed my own stand and the decals I used are not historically accurate (after market separate purchase) which brings me to my second gripe with this model.  The decals incluided are absolute rubbish! They may be historically accurate however they are the worst decals I have ever worked with.  If they didn't dissolve when preparing them they either tore or shriveled up like a dead spider!  I went for some after market 1/48 and 1/72 decals.

This was my first ever entry into the Analogue Hobbies Annual Painting Challenge.

Perry Miniatures Luftwaffe Crew scrambling to their aircraft

Those two gripes aside, I am happy with the model and I can't wait to unleash it in Bolt Action and Battlegroup.

I would really like to see Blitzkrieg Miniatures release more aircraft in 28mm and the 1/56 scale. 1/72 is too small for ground terrain but looks nice in the air and 1/48 heathen scale is just too big! Canopy and decals aside it is a solid piece of kit and looks amazing!

Early War German Panzers

My latest offerings are some units that I wish to use in my Blitzkrieg German Forces for both Battlegroup and Bolt Action.

These Panzers will be used for the Battlegroup Scenario "Orlik's Cockroach" (page 47 Battlegroup Blitzkrieg - Iron Fist Publishing 2015).  I also intend on writing a solo scenario for Bolt Action in the way I interpret how the action went down.  This is a work in progress.

On September 18, 1939, in the Kampinoska Forest a Panzer IV Ausf B accompanied by 2 x Panzer 35Ts were ambushed by Edmund Roman Orlik in his 20mm TKS Tankette with two MMG armed TKS Tankettes.  The Panzer IV was commanded by Lieutenant Victor IV, the Duke of Ratibor.  All three Panzers were destroyed however  I will give more background to this engagement when I write the Solo Scenario regarding this in the near future.  It is a fascinating engagement.  

The Panzers were from Panzer Regiment 11, 1st Leichte Division.

The models depicted are from Warlord Games.  The Panzer IV is actually a Panzer IV Ausf D, however I can be forgiven for this.   The crew are from Warlord Games and are the early variant.

The Panzers were painted with an Airbrush using AK Interactive paints and weathering products.  The crew, stowage and details were done with Vallejo Paints.

A Platoon from Panzer Regiment 11, 1st Leichte-Division, Poland 1939

Warlord Games Panzer 35ts

Warlord Games Panzer IV Ausf D

28mm Panzer Crew from Warlord Games

The second Panzer 35T I painted up recently. I painted the IV and 35T together.

DAK Panzer II Zug

I have finally painted my Panzer II Zug for the 8th Panzer Regiment, 15th Panzer Division, Deutches Afrikakorps.

The models used are from Blitzkrieg and they are Panzer II Ausf F for the circular hatches however the base of the tank is no different to Blitzkrieg's Ausf C model.  The crew are from Perry Miniatures.

The 15th Panzer Division tank companies all displayed their company number on the side of the turret.  I decided to make these guys from 1st Company, 8 Panzer Regiment, 15th Panzer Division.  The decals are from Company B and Rubicon.

Blitzkrieg Miniatures Panzer 2 Ausf F modelled as an Ausf A-C

Perry Miniatures Panzer Crew

I particularly like this Tank Commander

Rubicon Decals are nice but leave a slight outline.  The " is from Company B

A commanding presence

Some damage to the side railing - Not intentional but looks good

Rear View

Tank Commander has swagger

The Panzer II Zug

A nice angle showing the Panzers

The invasion of Poland Begins

To invade Poland, one must have Panzers... I chose Panzer 1s!  Already considered outdated for the invasion, they were used and in large numbers.  Usually I would go for no more than 3 of a kind for some tanks but the thought of 5 Panzer 1s and a Panzer 1 Befehlswagen was too much of an opportunity to pass.  Being a bit silly I decided to paint them all at once in addition to a Panzer 35T and a Krupp Ammunition car.  The Panzer 1 horde is primarily for a scenario in Battlegroup Blitzkrieg however they should also make their way into a Bolt Action Armoured Platoon some day.

I have also been working on a table.  I will post my terrain separately but here is a nice sneak peek.

A German Armoured Column passes a Polish Farm

The German Armoured Column rumbles on

The Regimental Commander takes in the view

JTFM Krupp Ammunition Car

Smile for the Camera.  More BTD Painted up and Warlord Camera Man

BTD MMG Team

Warlord Games Panzer 1 Befehlswagen

A good Regimental Commander Sees Everything

Warlord Games Panzer 35T

Panzer 1 Platoon Commander, he too likes to Heil things

The Panzer 1s are from Blitzkrieg Miniatures and crew from Warlord Games

JTFM Krupp Munitions Carrier - Crew are JTFM

Unedited troops

The Fleet (horde)

Coming Soon...

The invasion of Poland Solo play mini games developed by myself...

and...