A very interesting bunch Colin, none of the usual suspects either - I’ll be curious to know how you got on with the Masterbox figs, both their own proportions & compared to other makers’ figs.

For the time frame of late '44/early '45,, I'd go with the Sdkfz 140. You might also consider a PzII Lynx. Same size as the 140, but also better suited to your time frame.

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For the time frame of late '44/early '45,, I'd go with the Sdkfz 140. You might also consider a PzII Lynx. Same size as the 140, but also better suited to your time frame.

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Cheers for the advice. I have an upgrade set for the 140 so was maybe going that way anyway, but i'll keep an eye out for the Lynx as its an interesting looking little vehicle.

as an aside, would the 250/9 have been used in Eastern Europe at any time?

Don't know about the Eastern front (my guess is yes), but for that time period,if 250/9 it is, you should choose the 250/9 neu with reshaped Hull design, e.g. https://www.ebay.com/p/Dragon-1-35-6316-Sd-kfz-250-9-NEU-2cm-Reconnaissance/2256060518




Cheers

They look great & generally the most natural/realistic poses – hopefully the rough primer surface should help avoid the dreaded shiney clothes. Does Masterbox supply the ball & goalposts?

I’m confused where this is set - the Ardennes, eastern Europe & then the Eastern Front have been mentioned so far. But the only places I can imagine the local peasantry happily fraternising with the German army like this would have been Ukraine or maybe Latvia June ’41 to say October ’41 (most of the figs don’t look ready for winter), or within the German/Austrian border anytime. The folks in Belgium/Ardennes area weren’t exactly pleased to see these guys on 10th May 1940…

Hi Colin, I’ve got plenty of genuine leather off-cuts from my Merc limo seats for extra ball authenticity – red alas but probably dye-able brown...an interesting piece of origami to make it spherical!

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Hi Colin, I’ve got plenty of genuine leather off-cuts from my Merc limo seats for extra ball authenticity – red alas but probably dye-able brown...an interesting piece of origami to make it spherical!

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I'm not sure that it's viable to do in scale, but you could take an unwrapped soccer ball diagram, use it to cut the leather, then form it around a core. I suspect the leather you have will be too thick for that method to work, though.





(the above is an example of unwrapping a segmented ball; older soccer balls will have different segmenting, as in this example; I couldn't find an unwrap of the older style, and it may not unwrap flat enough to be useful.)

Hi Colin, I’ve got plenty of genuine leather off-cuts from my Merc limo seats for extra ball authenticity – red alas but probably dye-able brown...an interesting piece of origami to make it spherical!

Anyhow there must be other potential locations – maybe Croatia ’41-42, or Vichy (southern) France? Although I get you’re after the recreational aspect, adding a subtle sinister atmosphere might add interest i.e. an illusion of contented Occupation…maybe a German army photographer filming it for home consumption? I think Masterbox or someone else does a propaganda film unit, & a rare opportunity to put that unit’s tactical sign on the Kubel? Just a thought

Have you considered rolling a ball of Milliput (or other medium of your choice) and sculpt in the required pattern? The 40's era balls didn't look 100% round, so you have some margin for error.

i.e. an illusion of contented Occupation…maybe a German army photographer filming it for home consumption? I think Masterbox or someone else does a propaganda film unit, & a rare opportunity to put that unit’s tactical sign on the Kubel? Just a thought

This is progressing nicely, can I ask which set of farm animals you are using ?