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Foggy Morning at Krinkelt-Rocherath

Finishing the Figures

For the three GIs, I used Archer Dry Transfers for the 2nd Infantry Division emblems (I originally wanted to use the 99th Division, but I could not find those at my LHS). However, I thought it would be impossible to add them by rubbing, so I took advantage of the decal paper included with the transfers and placed the transfers on the decal paper and then placed them on the GIs. I used liberal amounts of Solvaset to help the decals conform to the figures. Verlinden decals were added to the leaning SS rifleman, once again with generous amounts of Solvaset to get the decals to conform to the figure. The eagles and epaulets on the appropriate Germans were painted using MM Steel.

To add shadows to the figures uniforms, I use oil paint washes. First, a Greenish Umber oil paint wash (mixed in mineral spirits) was applied to the GIs and this was allowed to dry for a short while. A thick wash of Raw Umber, Lamp Black and Sepia oil paints was applied to all six of the figures with special attention paid to the creases and folds in the uniforms and equipment. After a few minutes, I went over the high points of the figures with Q-tips dipped in clean mineral spirits. The figures were then set aside to dry thoroughly inside a plastic container.

The figures were then dry-brushed. The GIs and kneeling German first with Warm Gray and then all six with Unbleached Titanium. Once they had dried, I sprayed the figures with a light flat coat using MM Acryl. I applied 5 o’clock shadow to the figures using black pastel. I have found that pastel works better than pigments for this particular application. Finally, mud/dirt was added to the figures using MMP pigments and alcohol as a carrier. I then glued the tank commander into the Panzer IV turret hatch.

The Ruined Farmhouse

The ruined house is Verlinden's Ruined Ardennes Farm. The kit builds into a large structure and is completely lacking in details such as the window frames, front door and gate, roof ruins and interior flooring. The house and Kancali stone wall was assembled using Aleene’s Tacky Glue. The gaps in the house structure (joints, etc.) were filled using spackle. I was somewhat disappointed that the house kit did not include the decorative balls prominently featured in the photograph on the box. However, I found some beads at Michaels that were the right size. These were added in the appropriate locations. I added interior flooring, window ledges and frames, damaged roofing and a battle damaged front door using balsa wood and matchsticks. The front gate is a resin product from Bayardi.

At this point in the house construction, I got out my previously stained and sealed base and I test fit the house, tank and Kancali stone wall on the base and marked out approximate locations for each item.

I started the painting process for the house and stonewall by spraying the structures with spray can grey primer bought at Home Depot. Due to the quantity of paint needed, once I started the actual painting of the house and stonewall, I tried to use the cheaper craft acrylics as much as possible. I painted random bricks with Tuscan Red and then painted the remaining bricks with Red Iron Oxide. The concrete areas on the house and columns in the stonewall were painted with PS Old Concrete. The stone sections on the house were painted with Country Grey. The interior wood floor was painted with Nutmeg Brown. The interior walls were painted with English Ivy Green (top) and Country Tan (bottom). The front door and the gate were both painted Autumn Brown. After the paint had dried thoroughly, I applied acrylic washes of Raw Umber and Black to both the house and the stonewall. Here I diluted the paint with distilled water and also used DecoArt’s blending medium that is available at Michaels.