Creating the Battle of the Bulge.....Wacht Am Rhine (1 Viewer)

[panda1gen]

Thanks, the actual dio and background I made from polystyrene packing, plaster bandage and some old cardboard from some electrical goods packing that made good trenches. The rest is household paint. It didn't take long and is actually quite crude, but seems to work.

The 'dios' are several ways of setting up the real quality, the JG Miniatures (and odd KC stuff) to make it look different. I have built up a large bank of photos over the past two winters, but only shrunk a couple of thousand.

 

[panda1gen]

They prepared to break the roadblock, taking cover from US small arms and artillery fire............

 

[sv288]

Your one heck of a good diorama person.

 

[panda1gen]

Thanks............

Here is a different diorama......................

 

[aujj65]

Kevin, a silly question, but how many photos do you have? You seem to have been very busy over the years.

Regards

Jeff

 

[panda1gen]

Several thousand, over 150GB, about 5,600 plus are reduced in size small enough to post

 

[aujj65]

Several thousand, over 150GB, about 5,600 plus are reduced in size small enough to post

Just a few then ......looking forward to watching for a few more years.

Jeff

 

[panda1gen]

I might not show you.......

 

[panda1gen]

A grenadier walking in a winter wonderland......

 

[panda1gen]

and more volksgrenadiers prepare to break the roadblock..............

 

[panda1gen]

A Hummel - 150mm artillery piece on an extended pz4 chassis - is prepared for action to support the attack.....................

 

[panda1gen]

Close support is provided by a t38 flak panzer - a 20mm AA gun on an armoured body based on the reliable Czech t38 tank..............

 

[panda1gen]

In anticipation, half track mounted troops are held in close reserve, ready to move in to support or exploit and breakthrough at short notice......................

 

[panda1gen]

the roads a little further back are still clogged up completely with traffic - all the way back to Germany....................

 

[panda1gen]

In amongst the chaos, an efficient officer corps is still in control and directing the battle.................here orders are given from an Sdkfz 250 half track command vehicle with distinctive frame aerial.

 

[panda1gen]

The sdkfz 250 is smaller than the earlier sdkfz 251. The 251 is designed to carry a squad of panzer grenadiers and was available practically throughout the war. The 250 was designed to carry a 'half squad' and was primarily but not exclusively used by recon units. Both came in many versions................here we see an sdkfz 251 in a traffic jam.............

 

[panda1gen]

another version of the 250 carried a turret, open but with a wire roof to stop grenade attacks. It carried a 20mm AA gun with a high angle capability, but the 20mm was a very useful ground attack weapon used against infantry, with the high calibre cannon that had a high rate of fire.......the highly mobile hull meant it was popular with recon troops, but was only really bullet proof and vulnerable to most types of anti tank fire...................here the vehicle has not been very well whitewashed. The gunner has an assault rifle.

 

[panda1gen]

Here is a similar recon vehicle, but with more whitewash applied....I would not like to have been around when the senior NCO's inspected the markings.....

 

[panda1gen]

The supply chain was stretched and food was still carried and cooked in limbered horse drawn kitchens that would have been recognizable by armies over one hundred years earlier at least..............Here some men get a hot meal whilst the army marches past...........

 

[panda1gen]

nearer the front, men advance to do battle...................