SdKfz 251/7 - KG Peiper, Ardennes December 1944

This is the DML SdKfz 251/7 (Engineer variant), painted as a late war, Ardennes campaign vehicle. It was inspired by a colour plate in "Duel in the Mist 2" and features a factory applied late war paint scheme. I added Archer balkenkreuz, an SS number plate to the front and a shipping stencil.

It's pretty much OOTB - it's a superb kit - but I stuffed out the interior with engineer gear - boxes, explosives, mines and tools. The figures are a mixture of resin and styrene; DML, Cromwell and an unidentified resin standing figure in cold-weather trousers, panzer wrap and Hornet head (wearing cold weather cap). I added Archer SS collar titles where appropriate. Anyway, here it is:

Steyr 1500A - 1st SS Panzer Division, Wacht am Rhein

This is the old but very good Tamiya Steyr with the equally good Black Dog resin update set. The Black Dog set also includes some excellent replacement tyres with snow chains, which fit straight on to the Tamiya axles with no dramas. For those of you who think that the stowage might be a little over the top? In 1944, even the highly mechanised German Army still relied on it's infantry marching from A to B, and for me, this looks like a few section's worth of Stubblehopper's gear piled into the Zug's transport. Anyway, that's my theory! The crew is the Evolution Miniatures Schwimmwagen crew. It fits pretty well - I just had to increase the length of the steering column by 2mm or so to match the moulded on steering wheel in the driver's hands.

SdKfz 234/2 "Puma" - Kampfgruppe Knittel, Ardennes 1944

Here is my KG Knittel Puma, coded "028". It's the excellent DML Puma, with the addition of metal RB Models antennas as the kit ones weren't really that robust. I also added metal tool clamp handles, and gave the tyres a good sanding to give them a worn look. 

For anyone contemplating any of the DML 234 series kits, but who are put off by the extremely complex looking suspension - don't be. Get stuck in, but take your time and it soon becomes very clear. Don't forget to remove the small "nub" on the end of the suspension arm ball joints, as this will allow you to move the wheels. Otherwise, they'll all be dead straight.

Pz Kpfw IV Ausf H - Russia January 1944

Here is the new DML Pz IV ausf H with moulded on Zimmerit. It's pretty much out of the box, with a few extra additions such as track-link frontal armour and stowage items etc. It was inspired by photos of a 7 PD machine (coded 546) in the Trojca book Pz IV Ausf G/H/J, but it's pretty generic, and the figures are WSS. The figures are a mixture - Cromwell Models, Hobby Fan and an unidentified tank commander figure that I had in the spares box. 

King Tiger "222"

Here is King Tiger 222 and crew in relaxed poses. The KT is by DML, with metal barrel and etched brass engine deck screens etc. I added / amended:

• Karaya tow cables
• Turret sighting vanes
• Bosch headlight conduit
• Etched brass tool clamp handles
• Periscope lenses using 35mm film
• Hollowed out barrel rods

The side skirts were also thinned out at the edges - they are perfectly acceptable versus photo-etch that way, and a lot less fiddly. Note that the left hand side front mudguard is positioned "back to front" -- see the photo of the real thing. The only thing wrong that I can hold my hand up to/know about is that Kurt Sowa still has his arm! I didn't have the heart to model the TC without it. The crew are by Tristar, DML and Miniart, with a few Hornet heads.