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View Full Version : Mk3L 24th PANZER DIVISION STALINGRAD


brokeneagle
01-07-2006, 09:54 AM
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/badge.jpg

Mk3L 24th PANZER DIVISION STALINGRAD
in early German grey cammo scheme.

Color Photo's are from the Norton book 'THE ONSLAUGHT'.
Black and whites are from BARBAROSSA by P.Carrell
Map is from 'STALINGRAD' by A.Bevor

The setting
Barrikady area, North Central Stalingrad.
Mid October 1942 and the 24th and 14th Panzer divisions are committed to supporting the infantry in the area around the Brickworks, just North of what was to become known as the 'dreaded' Barrikady Gun factory. This whole area had presented itself as a major roadblock for the Germans in the Northern Industrial sector of Stalingrad. It contained the Red October Factory, the Barrikady Gun Factory and the Tractor Works. See map.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/map.jpg
The remaining Russian workers had been repairing tanks and anti-tank guns there in the factory under fire and sending them straight out into the battle. Once the push was on they were either drafted into the ranks or sent across the Volga if they were Trade specialists. The Germans objective was to clear the southern sides of the Tractor factory and the Brick Works and secure the Volga bank at those positions.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/soldier.jpg
The battle was ferocious with massive casualties. The shells landing in the factory workshops would shower sparks through the smoke and the brick dust as they struck the solid iron machines and girders. The tanks crawled through the decimated buildings, tracks clanking and grinding, until they would stop and fire at point-blank range at groups of Soviet soldiers crouched behind debri.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/factory.jpg
In the tractor Plant the Mk3’s smashed their way right through the walls of the factory sending glass shards and iron before them as their dust covered hulks rode over machines and men alike. Here the front lines blurred and the Soviet troops would attack the tanks from the rear, as they hid amongst the debri within.
The Russians continued to fight within the tractor plant but were slowly squeezed out to the Barrikady Gun Factory. Here the Soviets had T-34’s dug into the rubble and Katyusha rocket launchers ‘a plenty’. The bloody fighting and the delays here would determine the fate of the Germans in Stalingrad.
*An interesting detail at this stage that I would like to point out is the completely yellow stug 3 [June '42 build] in the background. As I will mention in the model write up dark yellow was being used as an overspray color in late '42 but the factory applied dark yellow base was not authorised officially until feb 1943. Here is a completely yellow paint job in Oct '42. Interesting! see further down for another photo of this vehicle.

The Model.
Well my scene is not nearly as dramatic as all that but the taste of the dust and the utter destruction can hopefully be felt. I have used a Tamiya Mk3 L and built it straight from the box. I was originally attracted to this model by this photo from 'The Onslaught, The German drive on Stalingrad.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/mk3.jpg
I thinned out the guards and bent an’ broke stuff here and there but did not use any brass. This Kit came with PE rear screens and a ‘turned’ barrel as a special issue. Sorry ,no other PE because I wanted to see how well I could bring up a scene using the basics. It’s nice to do this to occasionally to avoid the dreaded AMS. The next Mk3 I do I will add all the goodies again [which happens to be my winter J].
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1545.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1543.jpg
The scene is set during a lull in the initial part of the attack. The tank has found a nice defensive position and is refuelling and replenishing for the next thrust. I imagine the commander here to be saying something like ‘ just fill her up, I don’t care if the fuel is all gone! Find a way Siegfreid! :lol:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1549.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1556.jpg
I used the decals from the Kit so the markings are intended to be generic in red and white for the 24th Pz Division. They will not be exactly right and I do not have the divisional insignia either. I was a bit lazy here but I did not want to wait for ordered decals.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1542.jpg
The base was painted using the methods described in my ‘Painting small bases’ tutorial [in 'Finishing' under the GENERAL forum] and constructed using DAS modelling clay, real crushed brick and ‘bits’ of VP buildings. I also used VP bricks and barbed wire. The figures are from the old VP tanker set and the drums and other accessories Tamiya or Italieri.
This is a very high quality kit from Tamiya and I highly recommend it. If you are interested in a good read on Stalingrad that will not bore you try ‘Stalingrad’ by Anthony Beevor. Fantasic. Then read his ‘Berlin’ which is unforgettable and I would challenge any WW2 buff to put it down. He explains the battles with great detail without getting bogged down and provides an over view at the same time like he is telling a fictional story. Another good Stalingrad book is ‘An infantyman in Stalingrad’ which follows a single soldier right through the battle via his diary. Provides maps and photos as well as dotted lines on ariel photo’s to show the changing battle lines. Very good.
SEE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL SHOTS ;)

brokeneagle
01-07-2006, 09:54 AM
I thinned out the guards and bent an’ broke stuff here and there but did not use any brass.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/Models050.jpg
This Kit came with PE rear screens and a ‘turned’ barrel as a special issue.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/Models046.jpg
ENJOY!
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1554.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1555.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1559.jpg
I TOOK A PUNT ON SOME DARK YELLOW JERRY CANS. Dark yellow was being used as an overspay in late 42 on the dark grey bases in some areas so I used as a counter color to the grey as well as a point of interest.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/Models052.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/colorexample.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1551.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/IMG_1541.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/Models108.jpg

Sheeds
01-07-2006, 02:50 PM
Great work Hilly, thanks for giving us the story behind the dio as well. :thumb:

Bill.

Sticky
01-07-2006, 04:42 PM
Man that IS one dirty tank. Great job! One thing does bother me, a small thing really, if the Pz III's are smashing thru the walls do you think the fenders would be more destroyed?

brokeneagle
01-07-2006, 09:51 PM
Sticky,
thanks for your interest. :) Your right, but as I said in the intro this is based in the intial stages of the attack for exactly that reason. ;) I wanted to model a fairly intact Mk3 (thats not like me!) so the setting is before the factory penetration attacks, while the open ground rubble was still being crossed. I would like to do a factory scene though one day but there are so many great topics I want to do, that I know i won't get through them all. :(

brokeneagle
01-07-2006, 10:19 PM
Here is the other photo of the yellow Stug 3 F , June 42 build, from another angle and closer. There is another following as well. This paint job looks that good it may as well have been a factory one. Note the very dark barrell color - probably still in the German Grey. I find this really interesting because most references you read do not really talk much about yellow paint use until 1943 and here we have a base coated yellow at least 4 months before the change over, maybe more, though the paint looks to be in very good condition.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/colorstug.jpg

Sticky
01-08-2006, 09:11 AM
Ian, I wonder if this is a rebuild. To me the barrel looks like red primer. Could it not be possible that is was rebuilt, repainted, then rearmed?

panzerfist
01-08-2006, 02:03 PM
Panzer III Ausf.L in Stalingrad :o I only find Panzer III Ausf.H and Ausf.J in photos.

brokeneagle
01-08-2006, 11:42 PM
Originally posted by Sticky@Jan 8 2006, 09:11 AM
Ian, I wonder if this is a rebuild. To me the barrel looks like red primer. Could it not be possible that is was rebuilt, repainted, then rearmed?
Sticky,
Could be a rebuild, especially with the paint that good. Still doesn't change the weird occurance of the early yellow base coat though. The barrel could very well be in red primer but the whole photo has a red tinge so this could be adjusting the grey color, could be either I think!

brokeneagle
01-08-2006, 11:58 PM
Originally posted by panzerfist@Jan 8 2006, 02:03 PM
Panzer III Ausf.L in Stalingrad :o I only find Panzer III Ausf.H and Ausf.J in photos.
panzerfist,
I do not have any specific photos of Mk3's in the 'Grad' but lots of documentation/reports of them involved. However none of these refer to specific models. All I know for sure is that the 24th are registered as having 5cm Mk3's in their inventory at the time . The Mk3L should have been delivered to the Russian front by this stage as it was produced from June 42 to Dec 42 and overlapped with late model J's at the start of production for the first month or so. After having said that I cannot produce a photo that I have but this does not mean there were none there.
I wanted to do a Mk3 L, and at the time I was reading the Bevor book, so I checked the timing, looked at photo's of 3's in general [for the area]and here it is. A J would have been safer but lets live on the edge ;)
Thank you for the interest and taking the time to look into the subject ,as this tells me that it is being read and thought about :)
Ian.

Sticky
01-09-2006, 09:58 AM
Originally posted by brokeneagle@Jan 9 2006, 01:42 AM
Sticky,
Could be a rebuild, especially with the paint that good. Still doesn't change the weird occurance of the early yellow base coat though. The barrel could very well be in red primer but the whole photo has a red tinge so this could be adjusting the grey color, could be either I think!
Ian, couldn't this Stug be white insted of yellow?

brokeneagle
01-09-2006, 10:32 AM
John,
I don't think they are white for two reasons.
1. Look at the running gear, the wheels are definately a yellow rather than a white. I think that the sun is reflecting off the new yellow and making it quite bright!
2. It is definately not winter. Look at the photo at the start of the thread that has the soldiers outside the factory. It still looks like conditions are reasonably mild and dusty so there is no reason for painting winter camo. I have never heard of the Germans using wintercam other than in winter! Plus the paint is too good anyway, winter cam is never that good.

Tuna
01-11-2006, 08:15 AM
The Building itself almost looks like a Modern Parking Garage.. no sign of 'broken windows' just no windows...

Maybe it's post WW2 and a restored Stug


**** Oops nevermind just looked at the 'top' pic..

Larry Bates
01-11-2006, 10:40 AM
Charlie,

Off topic a bit, but Modern architecture began previous to WWII, with the Bauhaus school. It, and the new modern art were imported to the states and became all the rage. When Hitler took over in Germany, many of the architects came to the US to escape the Nazis.

Larry

brokeneagle
01-11-2006, 08:24 PM
There are other examples of this 'modern architecture in some books you might already have.
This one is from the same book on Stalingrad. Karkov centre 1942.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/photos/Untitled.jpg
Another good one is from 'Berlin , then and now. p. 228'. That building on the right could be in a modern city today. Almost makes the Tiger look out of place.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/photos/kingtigerberlin.jpg

lucatolo
01-26-2006, 08:51 PM
Hi Ian,

Fantastic little diorama! I really love your way of representing rubble and the overall dirty tone of the scene is just perfect!!! You blended perfectly every detail in the scene!!

I know that it is not really important, but I believe that Krasnogwardeisk should be in the Leningrad area, so if you want to be 101% correct, you should change the sign ;)

brokeneagle
01-27-2006, 06:02 AM
Luca,
thanks for the info ...always important to get it right ;) . I am always taking a punt with these road signs and I got caught. I could not find the name on any map I had so I thought that it must be small enough to not show on any thing but a road map. And I am a qualified Cartographer! :lol:
Thank you again but I can't change it now as I no longer have it.
I am glad you liked the scene and thanks fot the words.

brokeneagle
02-17-2006, 07:17 AM
:o I came across some interseting stug data to do with these perfect yellow stugs. The History of 653 from Fedorowicz shows 3 stug photo's on page's 42 and 43 that are a dead ringer for our yellow fellow. They are black and white but are definately from the same batch.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/3dbattleart/stalingrad%20mk3%20L/stugstalin.jpg
It quotes 'The first long barrelled stug's for the 197th battalion arrive at the combat trainsin Semlyansk on 17th August 1942. They were sprayed with sand coloured primer at the factory.
MYSTERY SOLVED I think. :lol: Thats early for yellow from the factory.