Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Night Attack!! Stoumont Dec'44
jrutman
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Posted: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 - 08:40 AM UTC
Cool Chris!! Thanks for the intel. My guy has the regular signal pistol and the fig comes with a flare container that is carried on the belt. This guy also had a flashlight. Very nice set from dragon concerning the early war in the east.
Got a bit of work done today on this guy,between shoveling very heavy snow and trying to get aroebic excercise done to try and get healthy again.
First shaved away un-needed stuff and added ammo pouches,almost all of those will be empty.

The pouch flaps and straps will be added later.
First application of putty.



I see here that I scrunched up his smock at the crotch when the putty was still wet. &%)@&%!!!
Hate when that happens,
J
SdAufKla
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Posted: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 - 04:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

...

I would just like to know if the hand held signal pistil had a flare/illum. option for ammo? I know they had at least three color signal flares but what about illum.?

...



That was an interesting question, Jer.

I went and checked my copy of Angolia & Schlict's "Uniforms and Traditions... Vol.3" to see what they had to say.

According to them, there were over 40 (!) different types of rounds for the Luechtpistole. Unfortunately, they don't provide a complete listing.

They do show a photograph of a parachute illumination flare for the Kar98 Schiessbecher, though.

So, I think it's probably a very safe assumption that there was an illumination round for the Leuchtpistole as well.

Not a definitive answer, but at least an educated guess...

HTH,
Tiger_213
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Posted: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 - 05:47 PM UTC
Sounds like a book I need to get.

I bought Miller's book mostly for easy photo references of equipment. Most are of the actual equipment in the modern day but there are a few really nice black and whites in there. And if anyone ever starts releasing more Italian subjects I'll be ready.
1stjaeger
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 12:07 AM UTC
Hi Jerry,

the second photo from the bottom states that they were also useful to illuminate the battlefield, but that does not specify whether this means the coloured signal flares could do the trick in a limited arc, or they actually had illuminating cartridges.
The smaller calibre always seemed a tad tricky to me as the container must hold both the chute and enough magnesium to be useful, but general literature for schooling on "Gefechtsfeldbeleuchtung" states that infantry used/use signal pistols (explicitely) also to illuminate the battlefield!

So, don't worry and let the guy be part of your dio!!

Cheers

Romain
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 02:39 AM UTC
Mike Chris and Romain,thanks all,for the excellent info and for checking in here again.
Yes,I will still use the flare pistol guy as even if he isn't shooting illum. he could be signalling with colors for something else to be happening as well. Lift fire,shift fire,commence fire,all kinds of stuff.
This was,once again,a well planned and executed attack and it was so violent that one of the American company commanders from the 119th Inf Regt wrote in his book written after the war that he"refused to advance his company into that inferno".
One must wonder what would happen to a commander that said that in the German army?
J
SdAufKla
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 03:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Sounds like a book I need to get...



Angolia, John R. and Adolf Schlicht. "Uniforms & Traditions of the German Army 1933-1945, Volume 3." R. James Bender Publishing. San Jose, CA. 1987. ISBN: 0-912138-37-8

Bender-Publishing

There are three volumes in the complete set, but volume 3 is the one that covers "Special Uniforms" (series Chapter 22), Individual Equipment (Ch. 23) through "Signaling Instruments, Jingling Johnnies and Kettle Drums" (Ch.30). Volume 3 has a total of 640 pages.

It's a bit dated now with some new info becoming available on this or that item, but the vast majority of the info is quite accurate. Most of the photos and illustrations are black and white, and that's is major weakness. The 3 volume set has long been considered the "collector's bible" for all things related to the WWII German Army.

As far as I know, though, it's out of print. (At least I couldn't find it on Bender's website.)

Copies are easy enough to find though:

Abe Books::Search::ISBN 0-912138-8

Happy modeling!
Paulinsibculo
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 03:42 AM UTC
From the battlefield:

The use of these kind of pistols was mainly to signal troops about a certain situation. The side effect (which could be a purpose in itself under given conditions) was a temporay, vague illumination of the battle field.
These pistols allowed the use of various colors, all of them having their own meaning. As can be derivated from their name: signal pistol!
For a usefull illumination, both mortar and gun troops had ammo, which could provide a better battle field illumination since these grenades exploded higher above the area, were heavier and thus lasted longer, and hung on larger chutes. This meant by the way that the battery officer had to calculate the drift of these chutes to get light at the right spot, next to the time that the lightning should start and the duration.
I can remember an excerise where mortars stood next to a troop of Leopards during night time shooting to provide ' battle field' illumination for the tankers. These guys were so fascinated by the flashes of the leo's that they completely forgot to reduce the amount of gun powder rings at the mortar grenades, thus creating a complete day light effect over the city of Munster, Germany, way of the actual shooting range.





Removed by original poster on 02/06/14 - 16:33:46 (GMT).
1stjaeger
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 04:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I can remember an excerise where mortars stood next to a troop of Leopards during night time shooting to provide ' battle field' illumination for the tankers. These guys were so fascinated by the flashes of the leo's that they completely forgot to reduce the amount of gun powder rings at the mortar grenades, thus creating a complete day light effect over the city of Munster, Germany, way of the actual shooting range.







jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 09:46 AM UTC
Thanks all,once again for the cool intel. Historic or otherwise!! Hehehe.
Here is the mag changing dude again after the first putty was re-worked. I added a PE Y strap on the right side. From lead foil I made the foliage loops for the arms and the cover flaps for the open ammo pouches and then put thinner strips on those for the leather closing straps. These will be positioned better when dry. Also made the missing center belt from foil with a PE belt buckle.I laced his smock with thin copper wire from an extension cord or something,can't recal. This nice large pic lets me know where to improve this guy. I will add an ammo magazine getting pulled out of the left side pouch and also fill in the bumps in his right leg. Of course,he needs another hand!
Comin' along though....
kurnuy
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 09:57 AM UTC
Looking good already

Greets Kurt
Tiger_213
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 11:07 AM UTC
Your figures are so dampened ambitious, I love it.
1stjaeger
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 11:11 AM UTC
Looking good indeed!! Love the ammo pouches (among other elements of course)!!

Apart from a couple of minor things (flesh on the knuckles of his right hand and "craters" on his left thigh), the figure is coming along nicely already!
I wonder if the helmet could not sit a tad lower on the head!??!? I am aware that the contact with the wall lifts the thing up a bit, but still...

Looking forward to more progress!!

Cheers m8

Romain


Tiger_213
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 03:15 PM UTC
There's a PDF attached to this site with a short sample and on the second page they show a illumination round for the Walther 1928/ Leuchtpistole.
Tiger_213
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 04:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text

There's a PDF attached to this site with a short sample and on the second page they show a illumination round for the Walther 1928/ Leuchtpistole.



It would help if I added the link right?

http://www.abebooks.com/GERMAN-FLARE-PISTOLS-SIGNAL-AMMUNITION-Lorenz/8562826261/bd

Stickframe
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Posted: Thursday, February 06, 2014 - 09:10 PM UTC
Hey Jerry - one of these days I hope to be able to contribute to the actual content of your builds!! In the mean time, all I can do is comment on your skill with figures! Wow...certainly something to learn from! I really appreciate your step by step photos - very helpful and inspiring stuff!

Cheers
Nick
jrutman
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Posted: Friday, February 07, 2014 - 02:59 AM UTC
@Kurt-thanks for keeping with me brother
@Chris-thanks for the update on that intel(and for the linky)
@Romain-really?? You think I should fill in those divits on the leg? Heheheheh.
Seriously though,the upper divit will remain as it was put there as a resting place for the MP40 to avoid the dreaded "floating equipment" look.
I put the helmet in that position to make it appear as if he is pushing up against the wall as hard as he can. Since he has no chin strap on,a helmet will do just that....conform to the wall as much as it is possible.
Thanks for looking in bubba,
@Nick-no worries here brother,just looking at your dio makes me want to hang up my exacto blade and use my vallejo for paint by number sets.
@Mike-One of these days I will learn how to work this here interweb 'puter stuff like the grown folks. It would take me a whole day to figure out how to make the last post of yours.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 05:09 AM UTC
Smallish update. I did more on other figures as well but they are still top secret! Heheheh
Added the ammo mag. getting pulled out. I still have to fair in the y strap and fill in the ding on the leg.
The grenade guy got a water bottle and hanger and foliage straps and a tune up to the puttied areas. Still work to do though.
J
kurnuy
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Posted: Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 07:36 AM UTC
You're a wizard with figures Jerry !

Nice work !

I'm staying tuned

Kurt
panzerconor
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Posted: Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 03:21 PM UTC
Much apologies as I've been wtching intently from the get-go but haven't commented (internet issues, stuck with a tablet ssucks to type with). But I digress. Love the back story with this one. The reloading figure is by far my favorite. He's perfectly posed and it's as if you got every single aspect of him perfectly. The other guys look great as well, but everone else has made thaat perfectly clear. Looking forward to seeing how you pull this one off! It just now occurs to me that you've managed 3 great dioramas and begun a 4th in the space of less than a year. Bravo, sir.

I'll be watching closely

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2014 - 04:35 AM UTC
@Kurt-Thanks for the kind words buddy! Cool to see you haven't given up on this one yet!
@Conor-yes,it does seem like a record for me to finish anything,let alone 3 things in one year! Now...if I was building vehicles,it would take forever as I get so bogged down in minutia,like the interior of that halftrack.
Thanks for taking the time from your school/work schedule to check in. I like the ammo reloading guy as well. He is a fairly radical re-pose job. There are two more figs that are top secret that I like even more though!! Sort of a "rage against the machine" type theme.
I am trying to capture the violence of that night attack.
J
Stickframe
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2014 - 05:51 AM UTC
Show off! (Haha) Jerry, what paint do you use typically for your figures? And what do you use to get the nice matte finish you (always!) get? I ask specifically because you never seem to lose the details/add ons etc you glue, putty or carve into your figures, and as part of that the various components (resin, putty, styrene) don't look shiny unless you want them to -

I realize these guys are still being worked, but you will eventually paint them - and, inevitably they'll look great!

Thanks
Nick
jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2014 - 06:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Show off! (Haha) Jerry, what paint do you use typically for your figures? And what do you use to get the nice matte finish you (always!) get? I ask specifically because you never seem to lose the details/add ons etc you glue, putty or carve into your figures, and as part of that the various components (resin, putty, styrene) don't look shiny unless you want them to -

I realize these guys are still being worked, but you will eventually paint them - and, inevitably they'll look great!

Thanks
Nick


I use Vallejo acrylics for the base paint and you must make sure you mix it very well before use. They also have a matte additive you can use but I found after thorough mixing it is superfluous.
I tried going to all acrylics for the flesh stuff but couldn't get the hang of blending so I went back to oil paint. I still suck at it but it's at least better than my attempt at arcylic. I do paint the uniforms and equipment with water based paint though. The only oil I use on those are pure black for lower points as it seams to be "blacker" than water paint. I also use oil for some wood stuff. HTH
With all of your talent I am sure once you put your mind to it you will make it rock!
My good buddy Mike Roof never used to do figs but now he is so good he gives tutorials at the national amps show and tremendous blogs here as well.
Thanks for your kind words buddy,
J
Tiger_213
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2014 - 06:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Show off! (Haha) Jerry, what paint do you use typically for your figures? And what do you use to get the nice matte finish you (always!) get? I ask specifically because you never seem to lose the details/add ons etc you glue, putty or carve into your figures, and as part of that the various components (resin, putty, styrene) don't look shiny unless you want them to -

I realize these guys are still being worked, but you will eventually paint them - and, inevitably they'll look great!

Thanks
Nick


I use Vallejo acrylics for the base paint and you must make sure you mix it very well before use. They also have a matte additive you can use but I found after thorough mixing it is superfluous.
I tried going to all acrylics for the flesh stuff but couldn't get the hang of blending so I went back to oil paint. I still suck at it but it's at least better than my attempt at arcylic. I do paint the uniforms and equipment with water based paint though. The only oil I use on those are pure black for lower points as it seams to be "blacker" than water paint. I also use oil for some wood stuff. HTH
With all of your talent I am sure once you put your mind to it you will make it rock!
My good buddy Mike Roof never used to do figs but now he is so good he gives tutorials at the national amps show and tremendous blogs here as well.
Thanks for your kind words buddy,
J



Mike is doing a lecture on figures at IPMS Atlanta on the 15th. His build was very impressive.
1stjaeger
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Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2014 - 09:29 AM UTC

Hi m8!

Conor is right!! You are superfast!!! All the better....brings us more nice pics to look at!!!

The guy changing the mag is something special indeed!! Another great conversion à la Jerry!!

Congrats Sir!!

Cheers

Romain