On the Workbench - Sd.Kfz 10/5 Platoon

Providing anti-aircraft support for my Feldherrnhalle Panzergrenadierkompie I have a platoon of leichte Panzer-Selbstfahrlafette 2 cm FlaK 38 auf Fgst. Zugkraftwagen 1t, or Sd.Kfz 10/5 to you and me.

They are a mainstay of my current list, but tend to get left in reserve as I've not come accross many opponents who use aircraft. They've only actually taken to the field a couple of times, but I wouldn't want to go without AA in my list, better to have and not need it than need and not have it.

Before modelling them, I did a lot of research on the positions of the folding platforms during combat. From what I found, it appears to have been standard operating procedure to always fire the weapon whilst the platforms were in the lowered position (even if firing against aircraft). The platforms themselves were constructed from a steel mesh so would not have offered the crew any protection against any enemy fire by remaining raised.

The models were quite time-consuming to construct due to the platforms, but with the help of some zip-kicker and a healthy dose of profanity they went together rather well. After construction I gave them a coat of Vallejo Dunkelgelb (RAL7028) polyurethane primer using my airbrush.

At some point in the last few weeks the cab of one of the miniatures received some damage and a chunk was broken off. Unfortunately I didn't notice this until time came to prime the models. I couldn't find the missing piece anywhere so opted to make a replacement. I was initially tempted to fabricate the part using plasticard, but realised the visor in the middle of the piece and the hinge would be very difficult to make.

I've read about people making press moulds with green stuff in the past, and as I needed to make a component that was completely flat and without detail on one side, this method would be perfect! I mixed up a quantity of green stuff, and brushed vegetable oil onto the cab panel of an intact halftrack and carefully pressed it into place over the part I wished to fabricate.

The finished result of the Sd.Kfz 10/5 cab repair.

After waiting overnight for it to cure, I removed the mould, lubricated it with vegetable oil again and filled it with more green stuff. After this cured, it was removed from the mold, shaped so it fitted in place and attached with superglue. In order to disguise the join, I applied some Games Workshop Liquid Greenstuff and smoothed it out with a sculpting tool.

I'm quite pleased with the result, though the replacement piece is a little thicker than the original. I might be tempted to go back and redo it using some Oyumaru Modelling Compound that arrived this week, as I've heard excellent things about using it for press moulds and I've realised a way in which I could have ensured the thickness of the replacement was the same as the original.