Hello!
I'm working on these figures for some time, they're from "Hohenstaufen division" Gen2 set/ Dragon. Very nice details, although a bit difficult to assemble. I'm trying to represent different type of uniforms, the officer is with Dot pea, rest are Oak leaf. I'm using Vallejo Panzer aces and Model color sets. Still lot of work to do with faces, uniforms, equipment etc.
I like the kneeling soldier with the panzerfaust how turns out, I'll leave him as it is

























I've found very nice site about uniforms (not only German):

http://www.kamouflage.net/country/00136.php

Thanks!

Agreed. These Gen2 figs are quite fiddly to assemble, and there are some gaps to fill in the areas of the smock panels. And then you have to do some carving and dremeling to make their equipment fit snug to the body. But once primed, they could pass for resin figs, they're that good.

Hi Venelin,
This set is one of the best from Dragon IMHO. I wish they would re-release it. The smocks are some of the best in plastic around and very accurate.
Small point. I think your first two guys need their helmets slid forward on their heads. Visualize the helmet inside the cover and you can see that it wouldn't fit a normal guys' head? You may have to shave some of the back of the top of the head off to get the helmets to go forward. I run into this on some dragon figs.
The other point is there were no smocks made with the pea pattern. There were two basin types of patterns for smocks in the WSS. Early pattern and late. The late having pocket flaps on the bottom part and different cammo patterns. The helmet covers stayed the same thru-out the war though.
You could put the pea pattern on a few trousers though as those were seen worn with the smocks.
I think your kneeling guy is the best so far. Nice job on a very difficult paint subject.
J

Hi, Jerry, thanks for your comment!

I had doubts about Dot Pea for the smocks, but wanted some variety in uniforms, thanks for clarification. Other guys are with Oak leaf B pattern, and I want the officer to be with different camo. Maybe plane tree, is that correct for the smock?
I think will follow your suggestion for some of the pants. Position of the helmets will be corrected, on pictures is very noticeable, true.
And, yep, the kneeling guy is my favorite so far

Thanks again, Cheers!

Anyone can help me which SS patterns are used from '44 onward? I know Oak Leaf is very common, but not sure about Plane tree.

Thanks!

Smocks were still worn until the end of the war, but were being replaced by the 1944 non-reversible 2-piece uniform, which was produced only in Erbsenmuster (pea-pattern). The previous smocks were issued in the Plane tree, Oak leaf, Ringed Oak leaf, and smoke patterns. Very late uniforms had a waist length jacket, similar to the British Battle Dress and was printed with IR resistant dyes in an entirely new camo pattern resembling drooping evergreen branches. I believe it was also issued in plain Feldgrau.

Looks awesome~~

Platanenmuster in summer colors on one side and herbst on the other side would be for the early type smocks.
Eichenlaubmuster in summer on one side and herbst on the other would be for the later style smocks.
Both would be found in '44 right up to the wars' end.
These colors can be found in the link you provided in this thread.
Any WSS unit I have seen in pics in '44 usually have a wide variety of uniforms,probably depending on when the individual soldier was outfitted. Older serving troops=older uniforms,etc. Look up on google pics of WSS pows in Normandy and you will see the variety. You will see guys without cammo,with smocks,early and late style,along with the 2-piece pea dot uniform or combos of them all and also custom items made from shelter quarters or italian cammo cloth.
It's why a lot of folks like to paint this subject. Wide variety for sure.
J

Thanks!
It's true that the variety of SS uniforms is very popular amongst modelers.
Small corrections I've made. The officer will be with "Plane tree" smock, others with variety of "Oak leaf" pattern , one of the soldiers will be with "Pea dot" trousers. This is for visual interest













Cheers!

Venelin

Venelin, this figure thread inspired me to make a hasty, ill-thought out purchase of the same kit last night. The figures look really good, I like how you painted the pea dot camo especially. The eyes are particularly impressive, they stand out but they don't have a cartoon-like look to them.

-Conor

Hi, Conor!
You will not regret buying that figures, they are really very nice, although I suppose, are hard to find. The assembly is a bit complicated, but with patience everything will be OK.
Too bad that Dragon don't make that Gen2 figure sets anymore
I'm considering this build as practice, before starting some Alpine beauties, that I have
It turns out that eyes are the most hard thing to paint, but if you can find this video tutorial,take a look, it's very good:



Thanks!

Venelin

Small steps on the figures (less is more )

I think the "Plane tree/Platanenmuster" is more convincing now:





Also more dots on "Dot Pea" :





Thanks for looking!

Hi Venelin,

like your painting a lot!! You a re doing very well...and with tips from masters you are soon to be found among the elite!!

One thing I was wondering about is the guy holding the hand grenade the "wrong" way up!?! I am wondering why??

Cheers

Romain

Hi,Romain, thank you for the kind comments!

This position of the hand with a grenade is shown on the box and instruction (although I never rely so much on them). In the end maybe I should make some experiment with crawling to find how it's more natural, but it's easy fix
Thanks for observation, I'm still new to figures and such remarks are very welcome!

Regards

The helmets look much more in place now for sure. And the cammo!! Wow. Big improvement on the pea dot and planetree. I always tell guys that a good way to get the idea on the planetree pattern is to look at the bark of the Sycamore tree. This pattern is an exact copy of that bark.
Yes,I repeat,I would love to see this set re-released. As Dragon has brought back some older kits that kind of miss the mark,why not do this one again??
J

The grenade does look funny in that position. If you were to reverse it, and do a little surgery on the end of it, and add a piece of stretch sprue from the end of the grenade to his other hand, it would look like he was pulling the cord to arm the grenade.

Hi,
I will reverse that hand, the other may hold the weapon, still not decided

Cheers!

Some progress, I added the equipment, although the weapons straps are a bit difficult to put, but in the end I think turns out pretty well.



















Thanks!

Lookin better and better. Cammo looks great.
J

All guys together . Still some final painting left,enhancing small details etc. Also they are clean now, but the weathering will be in the final stage.





Cheers!