Can you see them yet - Blue Division at Krasny Bor 1943

The ones in my command halftrack had stamped stocks...they were matte black in color...

34's had both wood and bakelite.

Having seen several and dismantling one for molding

I think the 42 my friend owned had a wood stock.

I thought the 34 and 42's had bakelite stocks and some of the 42s  had wood laminated stocks.

Do you know when that photo was taken?

You can see the stamping "seam" in this pic:

Manstein's revenge

Yes. The MG 42 was mostly stamped metal, including the butt...most refs I have show the butt painted black...The early MG 34 had some real-wood stocks, I believe---but even they eventually went to man-made materials...they apeared to be in a red-brownish bakelite...

Yes. The MG 42 was mostly stamped metal, including the butt...most refs I have show the butt painted black...The early MG 34 had some real-wood stocks, I believe---but even they eventually went to man-made materials...they apeared to be in a red-brownish bakelite...

Cool little diorama. Nice work.

I know that the buttstocks on MG 34s were Bakelite, don't know about the MG 42, but a lot of the "wood" used then was mostly laminates or synthetic.

Are you sure? I've seen quite a few pictures of them with brown buttstocks with wood grain apparent

Reserve

...the buttstocks on MG-42's were wooden...

Usually I use plain paper that's been painted the right color but I've heard of guys using aluminum foil and lead foil (from wine bottle cork wraps). With paper just soak up one edge with paint and cut with a metal ruler guide and a new #11 blade to the appropriate width. Once length is figured out, a bit of super glue where the attachment points are and you're good to go. The chief disadvantage of paper is that it's springy but a bit of practice should point the way. Need to try the lead foil method if I can ever get my hands on some.

Mark

Thanks for the feedback Beav and Reserve, I will get onto those points outlined above. What material do you guys use for rifle slings?

Nicely put together, well laid out with good figure interaction. Apart from snow where it should not be, with which I agree, the buttstocks on MG-42's were wooden as were the scales on the pistol grip. Usually a dark brown or a dark reddish brown. A bit of very light drybrushing with a steel paint color may also be in order to give a seasoned look unless you wish to represent a brand new MG. Slings for the rifles are also missing...that is a job which I detest but the effect is good enough that I always try to do it. Note the word try.

Splendid looking work, please be sure to post it again when finished.

Regards,

Mark 

The Spanish Blue Division is one of those units that has always intrigued me-it wasn't like the other national contingents sent by Axis-aligned nations; but if I'm not mistaken fought as a part of the German Army.  I think its fantastic that you are exhibiting their uniqueness!

Only 'criticism' I would have is that the telescope would probably not have snow on it, unless it was really snowing at the time of the 'snapshot' or the officer had been careless and left it out in a snowstorm.  Same goes for the gun mount, unlikely especially since they've kept their MG clean.

Whoops sorry guys forgot to mention this is 1/35