Mk3L 24th PANZER DIVISION STALINGRAD

[brokeneagle]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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].



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:



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.

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