MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Jorit Wintjes - Seehund Midget Submarine

This article is one of many articles and gallery contributions from fellow amateur smallscale enthusiasts all over the world that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years its existence when there were only a handful of websites dedicated to smallscale models and wargaming. 

If you've been around on the internet since back then, we hope you like the nostalgia, and if you´re a newcomer, hope you enjoy looking too.

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The Seehund midget submarine is actually a 1/87 piece from the Dutch company Artitech. The kit consists of a beautiful one-piece casting and some smaller resin parts; you get two of these waterline subs in one box (or rather bag). I binned the smaller resin parts, made new periscopes and vacuformed a new perspex cupola.

Comparing the result with various references showed two interesting things: 1) there were many small differences between the subs that were actually built and 2) the kit's conning tower is too large for 1/87. This actually made me quite happy - I converted an Airfix MP into a RN officer, and voila: Kiel, August 1945, collection point for ex-Kriegsmarine hardware.

This was really a fun project. Scratchbuilding the smaller parts took perhaps 15 minutes, the rest was painting and  enjoying the result, which could serve as a nice accessory to a harbour layout for a wargame.

Copyright 2003 Jorit Wintjes

MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Jorit Wintjes - Afrika Korps

This article is one of many articles and gallery contributions from fellow amateur smallscale enthusiasts all over the world that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years its existence when there were only a handful of websites dedicated to smallscale models and wargaming. 

If you've been around on the internet since back then, we hope you like the nostalgia, and if you´re a newcomer, hope you enjoy looking too.

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Airfix SdKfz 222

From the Airfix recce set, which I really like. Apart from minor additions (Matchbox MG 34), stowage, battle damage and heavy wheathering it's straight out of the box. 

On the model, the air recce panel (which is dimensionally probably wrong, but I didn't care too much about that...) is dull red and not bright of the glossy 'here-I- am-shoot-at-me'-kind.

Matchbox SdKfz 251/10

A converted Matchbox vehicle - well, 'converted' is way too much, in fact, I simply mounted the Matchbox 37mm AT gun and rearranged the interior. Stowage again comes from the spares box, the crewmen are converted Matchbox figures. Should have done something about the tracks...

Kubelwagen

From the Airfix recce set as well, once again straight out of the box with some minor details (side windows, rear mirror etc) and stowage added. Again converted Matchbox figures as crewmen.

BMW sidecar

From the Matchbox/Revell SdKfz 11/Pak 40 set, which is a nice little model in itself; The driver (rider?) came with it, the other figure is - again - a converted Matchbox figure. Here the only additions are some stowage and the machine gun mounted on the sidecar.

Copyright 2003 Jorit Wintjes

MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Wargames for Dummies (or Dummies for Wargames)

This article is one of the articles that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years 

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MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Wargames for Dummies (or Dummies for Wargames)


Depending on the rules you use, in miniature wargames you might sometimes need to use dummy figures.



Brightly coloured chips are fine, even dog-eared bits of cardboard could do, but for those more aesthetically minded this will not do at all.

Hidden figures or squads can be represented by numbered counters, so if we simply take this idea a  step further, why not stick a figure onto the counter ?  Number the "dummy" and then you can record it on a piece of paper.

The figures used are 1:72 and 1:76 scale Germans from various sets, all based on 2 and 5 (euro) cent coins, painted a neutral green and heavily drybrushed with sand to bring out the details.  It gives them a "ghostly" washed-out effect without spoiling the table.

You can use the figures you most like, or dislike, from sets of cheap plastic soldiers. If you find a set of figures has a disproportionate number of figures in a certain pose, use those figures.



In this colour they blend in well with the surroundings and are fine for the European theatre. You can use a similar procedure for desert and jungle warfare, just varying the base colour of the figures accordingly.

The numbers were printed out on a colour laser printer and stuck onto the base at the time of flocking.

MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Jorit Wintjes - Airfix 1/72 Crusader Tank AA Conversion

This article is one of many articles and gallery contributions from fellow amateur smallscale enthusiasts all over the world that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years its existence when there were only a handful of websites dedicated to smallscale models and wargaming.


If you've been around on the internet since back then, we hope you like the nostalgia, and if you´re a newcomer, hope you enjoy looking too.


This was really a fun project. Scratchbuilding the smaller parts took perhaps 15 minutes, the rest was painting and enjoying the result, which could serve as a nice accessory to a harbour layout for a wargame.

An old Crusader AA conversion based on the Hasegawa kit which I don't like for several reasons, one of them being the outrageous turret. So a few years ago, when seeing a blurry picture of a 40mm AA conversion I thought 'that's it!' and off I went. Needless to say that it's only a mere lookalike, markings are obviously wrong, and the overall shape is suspect. I'll definitely have to do this again one day.

 

Copyright 2003 Jorit Wintjes

MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - 1/87 Scale Panther and Elefant Tanks - Dominique Ancion

This article is one of many articles and gallery contributions from fellow amateur smallscale enthusiasts all over the world that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years its existence when there were only a handful of websites dedicated to smallscale models and wargaming.

If you've been around on the internet since back then, we hope you like the nostalgia, and if you´re a newcomer, hope you enjoy looking too.

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Dominique Ancion, Belgium

dominique.ancion@skynet.be

MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Piero de Sabbata - "WW2 German Train Station"

This article is one of many articles and gallery contributions from fellow amateur smallscale enthusiasts all over the world that appeared on the old MiniatureZone website during the first six years its existence when there were only a handful of websites dedicated to smallscale models and wargaming. 

If you've been around on the internet since back then, we hope you like the nostalgia, and if you´re a newcomer, hope you enjoy looking too.

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MiniatureZone Gallery Archives (2000 - 2006) - Piero de Sabbata - "WW2 German Train Station"

Many similarities exist between model railway enthusiasts and military miniatures enthusiasts, as we both work in smallscale, we pay a lot of attention to fine detailing and we love to surround our finished models in environments with detailed scenery and buildings.

Courtesy of Piero de Sabatta from Italy we've a largescale military railway diorama set in the ruins of late war Germany.

Copyright 2003, Piero de Sabbata