Kharkov, 1943: "Backhand Blow" *UPDATE 5-21: new pics*

Tankluver, the belt around his neck is actually molded on resin!!! It is a Warriors figgie and a good one at that.  The MG is a DML item (I replaced it for the resin one because of detail)...since that pic I added a PE sling as well...

Doog, thanks...I have been using a lot of Alpine heads on Warriors figgies for this dio (and some complete Alpine figs as well)...since Kharkov is close to my heart in terms of being my favorite battle I am really making sure that all of the figs are as accurate as possible...stay tuned!!!  

Kharkov is close to my heart in terms of being my favorite battle I am really making sure that all of the figs are as accurate as possible...stay tuned!!!  

just wondering why this is your favorite battle?

and

dostacos wrote:

"Manstein's revenge"SNIP Kharkov is close to my heart in terms of being my favorite battle I am really making sure that all of the figs are as accurate as possible...stay tuned!!!     just wondering why this is your favorite battle? and

Mansteins revenge wrote:

dostacos wrote: "Manstein's revenge"SNIP Kharkov is close to my heart in terms of being my favorite battle I am really making sure that all of the figs are as accurate as possible...stay tuned!!!     just wondering why this is your favorite battle? and It is my fav for several reasons: It was Germany's last major victory of the war...it was the first time SS units were committed in large numbers together and pretty much fought the Lion's share of the combat...it was one of the most brutal battles on the Eastern front...it showcased several very talented senior commanders, particularly Manstein and Hausser...it restabilized the Southern front after the shattering defeats at and around Stalingrad in late '42 and early '43---had the Ruissians not been stopped the war may have been over for the Germans in '44...it was a classic study in German combined-arms mobile operations (it is still studied today at West Point and the Army War College)...from that point on, the SS units were the "elite" formations in the German Army and gained respect form all who fought against them...a lot of junior SS leaders cut their teeth at Kharkov and then Kursk and eventually went on to command Regiments, Divisions and even Corps and Armies (Witt, Peiper, Meyer---to name a few)...

(I agree; it was a pretty significant battle!)

It is my fav for several reasons: It was Germany's last major victory of the war...it was the first time SS units were committed in large numbers together and pretty much fought the Lion's share of the combat...it was one of the most brutal battles on the Eastern front...it showcased several very talented senior commanders, particularly Manstein and Hausser...it restabilized the Southern front after the shattering defeats at and around Stalingrad in late '42 and early '43---had the Ruissians not been stopped the war may have been over for the Germans in '44...it was a classic study in German combined-arms mobile operations (it is still studied today at West Point and the Army War College)...from that point on, the SS units were the "elite" formations in the German Army and gained respect form all who fought against them...a lot of junior SS leaders cut their teeth at Kharkov and then Kursk and eventually went on to command Regiments, Divisions and even Corps and Armies (Witt, Peiper, Meyer---to name a few)...

looking back at history, it is probably a good thing that the Russians were slowed on the eastern front, a shame that more people died, however the end result may well leave the world a better place with the Russians only Getting half of Germany eek, I think I am treading close to a political post

dostacos wrote:

Manstein's revenge It is my fav for several reasons: It was Germany's last major victory of the war...it was the first time SS units were committed in large numbers together and pretty much fought the Lion's share of the combat...it was one of the most brutal battles on the Eastern front...it showcased several very talented senior commanders, particularly Manstein and Hausser...it restabilized the Southern front after the shattering defeats at and around Stalingrad in late '42 and early '43---had the Ruissians not been stopped the war may have been over for the Germans in '44...it was a classic study in German combined-arms mobile operations (it is still studied today at West Point and the Army War College)...from that point on, the SS units were the "elite" formations in the German Army and gained respect form all who fought against them...a lot of junior SS leaders cut their teeth at Kharkov and then Kursk and eventually went on to command Regiments, Divisions and even Corps and Armies (Witt, Peiper, Meyer---to name a few)... looking back at history, it is probably a good thing that the Russians were slowed on the eastern front, a shame that more people died, however the end result may well leave the world a better place with the Russians only Getting half of Germany eek, I think I am treading close to a political post

dostacos wrote:

now quit posting and get back to painting, this teasing is driving me bonkers

Bodge wrote:

These look like some ausome figures and should look great when youve done dio. Detail is outstanding and painting is very good.My only critasizm is why does the skin look very flaky and bumpy. It is not a dig at you  , im just  trying to understand  why they appear like that,is it the photos,and what technique do you use for skin. It may just be because photos are closeups and not to scale and if so just tell me to *iss of and do some modeling?

Oils ar used for skin on an enamel base...oils tend to be thicker, at least in using my technique---not to mention I use several layers of oils, starting with the darker ones first...looking at the pics, some of what you may be referring to is dust fibers from tissue that i will remove once the figs are placed on the dio...I actually couldn't see those with the naked eye before I took the pics...Also, I tend to post extremely close-up pics of my 35th scale figs---so close that they appear to be 120mm or 1/16th scale figs on the computer screen (closer than anyone I know of on this site)...

If I posted pics that were closer to their actual size you would never see those "bumps"...and you certainly would not be able to see them in person. Having said that, it has helped me in posting such close-up pics to better refine my technique...in thise line of figs I took a different approach w/ the eyes and most ppl seem to like it...thanks for the interest and feedback!

Bodge wrote:

Cheers for that Manny and not taking it the wrong way.I was bought a new light with a magnifyer built in the other week and it is great for doing faces but when i put some of my best already painted 1/35 figs under it i was horrified ,they looked cra*. But as you say to the naked eye they look well painted.There is a techique that works very well with oils which is wet on wet and you can get some auwsome blending with it , i might ask in a post if anyone is interested in a tutorial of it. Cheers bud , Andy.

Any thing that looks good to the naked eye is also fine with me,thats the only way i view any models. the wet  technique is jut a skin blending method . i originaly found the technique from the artist Bob Ross and use it on a lot of landscapes i paint for commisions see below some of my paintings using this technique,Cheers

Bodge, Bob Ross was amazing--and YOU are a true MASTER PAINTER as well!

That is seriously some of the best landscapes I've ever seen. Simply stunning, gorgeous, phenomenal. YOU are truly a master!!!

Bodge wrote:

Thanks guys,Doog you are too kind and Manny yes ive thought about doing back drops. Ive done full size murals on museum walls one being the complete route 66 from one end to the other with all the major points of interest painted and the whole journey filled with 50,s cars, also done cllassic cars full size on garage showroom walls and had numerious features in classic car mags and books, Some armour might be a nice change. Do you think i could do a post on my artwork?

Absolutely Bodge!

"Odds and Ends" is the way to go!

Looking forward to seeing them!!!! 

[IMG]http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/dblvisions2001/Dio491.jpg[/IMG]

Ok...I peeked....did you replace the Russian chic with the dog???

Well...I have been back in the hobby for about 3 years and still trying to get better and to grow!! My next step is to try a hand at figures and I wish I had 10% of your talent then I could be happy.

The usual outstanding, detailed, fantastic, etc., etc. I always love you figure work. I use it as my goal (some chance!!).

Great stuff.

The only thing missing is scale dog poop!!

Rounds Complete!!

Great work as usual, Manny!

Man, I love that unpainted figure with the coat--what excellent casting!

The rest of the figs rock too--and of course, the doog!

Thanks for the feedback redleg and doog.  So far I count that I have 9 figgies for the dio painted up: 5 crew for the tank and 4 "ground-pounders"...wouldn't you know it that Alpine released, just this week, the two new ones I posted that are unpainted!!! So I guess I'll add 2 more to the dio.

I agree, doog, that one fig with the coat is an outstanding piece of work and casting.  Only the head had to be attached. Both of those new ones are Alpine's latest Kharkov releases.  Couldn't resist. 

The guy in the long coat is supposed to represent "Panzer" Kurt Meyer, who played a huge part in the battle leading the recon battalion. So that makes two personality figs in the dio: Meyer and Wunchse. The dude sporting the funky fur cap and pulling on his glove (pictured earlier in the post) is Max Wunchse, A panzer battallion commander. Both of these crazy tankers were with the 1st SS PD.  The dog is Meyer's and there are actual pics of he and his dog paling around during the battle!!! One pic shows the dog barking at the gun of a Mk IV G just after it fired---guess he didn't like the noise...

The figgies are from Alpine, Warriors, Verlinden, Platoon and Yoshi.  Painted w. Humbrol enamels and W & N oils...  

More to come !!!

More figs: "Panzer" Meyer and grenadier...Alpine...

Manny, if it's at all possible, I think you're actually getting BETTER at your figures!

That dude in the fur coat might be your best yet!

Really tremendous!!!!  

  Manny,I was just thinking about this thread earlier today was wondering how you were coming along guess I got my answer.Outstanding.