Stalingrad - the turning point
This is a scene set in october of 1942. Stalingrad. The first hints of winter are being felt by the Sixth Army as they descend on the few remaining tenuous footholds left by Cheurokov's tenacious men.
The ill-fated 24th Panzer Division (whose unit history gives the impression it was designed as a punching bag), served as the first of two Pz divs in the Stalingrad area. Cities, furthermore, bombed-out ruins, are the worst environment for tanks. Stalingrad perhaps being the prime example. And with it, I decided to portray the complications they incur.
This scene is of the aformentioned 24. pzr div. The Panzer IV was actually researched, as turret no. 242, which had, infact a kurz model turret. As it makes it's way through the heap of rubble that once was the main arcade, a squad from the pioneer company offer protection from Russian snipers with flame-throwers; which became the German's most effective weapon in the city.
The panzer is negotiating the stew of rubble, which reflects that the street they've passed was the scene of a brutal melee. A captured Pak 38/9 was lying in ambush until the pioneers chased off the crew - [the irony is this was a French AT gun modified for German rounds, and was just recently used by Russians ]. As the panzer ascends the rubble, its belly stands exposed for the would-be tank-killer. The rubble underneath the panzer contains corpses, weapons, tools and even a motorcycle.
This diorama captures the claustrophobia and ruins of what was called the "gem of the Volga". Where death could be met by turning around the corner. Where even armor-plate wasn't a guarantee of safety, but a liability. Where to win a block of gutted apartments was to sacrifice the lives of a platoon of men. And lastly, why many regard Stalingrad as the turning point.
This is the first time I've ever scratch-built a house, minus the toolshed in my Caen diorama. I used Plastruckz brand poly-styrene designed sheets. This was a tip that was highlighed in the april issue of Fine-scale modeler. (the nashorn diorama). I finally worked up the courage to give it a go.
Normally, i make my own groundwork to keep up variation, but i figured there would be so much rubble, that I could use a pre-fabricated sheet, so using cobblestone pz sheet i got that in.
Another new material i used was Cork. I was over at Ikea a month ago and found a shit-ton of cork. Why? Cork has identical fissures and texture to granite. I carved the side-walk medians and a majority of the rubble with cork.
I made the sewer drains by digging into cork and the styrofoam ground, and then placing a photo-etched mesh over that.
Drain-pipes were made with unmitigated straws.
The interiors of the buildings were generally the same approach as the exterior. Except in some occasions I'd apply plaster. This was done during my traditional groundwork step when I apply hydrocol to everything. i'd smear the walls in hydrocol, then chip off the sides to reveal the stonework.
The panzer IV is the highlight and was nearest to completion since the time of writing. Tristar is pretty nice, and the instructions were deceptively complex. It was completed way before the groundwork was laid out so I decided to go as far as I could without applying the tracks, so I could articulate them later. I was tempted to apply a whitewash, but for the Germans, the few snowflakes are too few, too soon.
The markings on the Pak identify it as from the Grossdeuschland regiment, who are in an adjacent sector as Fall Blau is petering out. 16th Panzer's Panzerjaeger company was down to one door-knocker (pak 36), while facing the relentless T-34s in the outskirts of town was endowed with GDs spare PAKs. As 16th made it deeper into the city, they began equipping the Pak with HE rounds and using it for infantry support with reasonable results. Being a towed gun in the rubble, its future wasn't bright, and as the panzerjaeger team was wheeling it into a bombed out library, a group of quick-thinking Russian riflemen cut them down and nabbed it. The platoon supported by the Pak were held up by a sniper at the Tractor works, and had no choice but to die, leaving around 4 AT rounds (including the one in the barrel) and 13 HE rounds for the Pak for the Russians. Intending it as a throw-away weapon, the Russians moved it up the street to watch over the main boulevard; one of the few streets in the neighborhood wide enough for tanks to traverse. A few days later, they knocked out a patrolling half-track, a Zandapp motorcycle, and their crews, with two AT rounds to spare. A few hours later, they heard the roar unmistaken with tanks in the distance, and prepared for their final prey. About 15 minutes passed with the rumbling and smoke canisters were landing in their line of sight. Soon the ground trembled as the municiple building to their right was torn open. With ringing ears, the voices, distinctly German, sounded just as far as the panzer motors, then mixed with the snapping sound of rifle-fire. Then fire pierced through the haze directly in line with the pak. The crew cowered behind the blast-shield, minus the commander whom was struck in the eyes. The Germans descended in the block, the PO was down, the chance was missed, and the troops beat a hasty retreat.
The ill-fated 24th Panzer Division (whose unit history gives the impression it was designed as a punching bag), served as the first of two Pz divs in the Stalingrad area. Cities, furthermore, bombed-out ruins, are the worst environment for tanks. Stalingrad perhaps being the prime example. And with it, I decided to portray the complications they incur.
This scene is of the aformentioned 24. pzr div. The Panzer IV was actually researched, as turret no. 242, which had, infact a kurz model turret. As it makes it's way through the heap of rubble that once was the main arcade, a squad from the pioneer company offer protection from Russian snipers with flame-throwers; which became the German's most effective weapon in the city.
The panzer is negotiating the stew of rubble, which reflects that the street they've passed was the scene of a brutal melee. A captured Pak 38/9 was lying in ambush until the pioneers chased off the crew - [the irony is this was a French AT gun modified for German rounds, and was just recently used by Russians ]. As the panzer ascends the rubble, its belly stands exposed for the would-be tank-killer. The rubble underneath the panzer contains corpses, weapons, tools and even a motorcycle.
This diorama captures the claustrophobia and ruins of what was called the "gem of the Volga". Where death could be met by turning around the corner. Where even armor-plate wasn't a guarantee of safety, but a liability. Where to win a block of gutted apartments was to sacrifice the lives of a platoon of men. And lastly, why many regard Stalingrad as the turning point.
The Stuff
- Tristar - Panzer IV ausf. D
- Verlinden - German Flamethrower Team
- Warriors - SS Infantryman jumping over wall
- Tamiya - Signposts and accessories
The creation
This is the first time I've ever scratch-built a house, minus the toolshed in my Caen diorama. I used Plastruckz brand poly-styrene designed sheets. This was a tip that was highlighed in the april issue of Fine-scale modeler. (the nashorn diorama). I finally worked up the courage to give it a go.
Normally, i make my own groundwork to keep up variation, but i figured there would be so much rubble, that I could use a pre-fabricated sheet, so using cobblestone pz sheet i got that in.
Another new material i used was Cork. I was over at Ikea a month ago and found a shit-ton of cork. Why? Cork has identical fissures and texture to granite. I carved the side-walk medians and a majority of the rubble with cork.
I made the sewer drains by digging into cork and the styrofoam ground, and then placing a photo-etched mesh over that.
Drain-pipes were made with unmitigated straws.
The interiors of the buildings were generally the same approach as the exterior. Except in some occasions I'd apply plaster. This was done during my traditional groundwork step when I apply hydrocol to everything. i'd smear the walls in hydrocol, then chip off the sides to reveal the stonework.
Figures/models work
The panzer IV is the highlight and was nearest to completion since the time of writing. Tristar is pretty nice, and the instructions were deceptively complex. It was completed way before the groundwork was laid out so I decided to go as far as I could without applying the tracks, so I could articulate them later. I was tempted to apply a whitewash, but for the Germans, the few snowflakes are too few, too soon.
The markings on the Pak identify it as from the Grossdeuschland regiment, who are in an adjacent sector as Fall Blau is petering out. 16th Panzer's Panzerjaeger company was down to one door-knocker (pak 36), while facing the relentless T-34s in the outskirts of town was endowed with GDs spare PAKs. As 16th made it deeper into the city, they began equipping the Pak with HE rounds and using it for infantry support with reasonable results. Being a towed gun in the rubble, its future wasn't bright, and as the panzerjaeger team was wheeling it into a bombed out library, a group of quick-thinking Russian riflemen cut them down and nabbed it. The platoon supported by the Pak were held up by a sniper at the Tractor works, and had no choice but to die, leaving around 4 AT rounds (including the one in the barrel) and 13 HE rounds for the Pak for the Russians. Intending it as a throw-away weapon, the Russians moved it up the street to watch over the main boulevard; one of the few streets in the neighborhood wide enough for tanks to traverse. A few days later, they knocked out a patrolling half-track, a Zandapp motorcycle, and their crews, with two AT rounds to spare. A few hours later, they heard the roar unmistaken with tanks in the distance, and prepared for their final prey. About 15 minutes passed with the rumbling and smoke canisters were landing in their line of sight. Soon the ground trembled as the municiple building to their right was torn open. With ringing ears, the voices, distinctly German, sounded just as far as the panzer motors, then mixed with the snapping sound of rifle-fire. Then fire pierced through the haze directly in line with the pak. The crew cowered behind the blast-shield, minus the commander whom was struck in the eyes. The Germans descended in the block, the PO was down, the chance was missed, and the troops beat a hasty retreat.
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