Notables Painting Competition

In 2007 Alternative Armies the producers of Flintloque organised a second painting competition. This was my entry which I am pleased to say came first. The illustration shows Alternative Armies 55518 Pavlova Grenadiers (six of the figures - see; http://www.alternative-armies.com/55518_Pavlova_Grenadiers.htm) and two conversions.

Tony

Dwarves in Tanks part seven

Dwarves in Tanks 7

Heavy Steam Tank development for siege warfare. The first 'true tank!'

DampfPanzerWagon VII (Beetle)
The development of the DPW was directly associated with tactical requirements on the battlefield. In particular as the weaponry improved the need for additional protection and cross-country performance. The role of assault or counter-battery was in the main taken up with fixed or heavy artillery (traditional artillery). The ‘Beetle’ was the first attempt by Dwarf engineers to mount a siege gun on a steam carriage, an armoured steam carriage or 'assault tank'.

During the assault on the kennel fortress of Poodlestrasse the need for an armoured assault cannon was identified and satisfied with the latest development in this fast moving area of military technology with the DampfPanzerWagon VII or ‘Beetle’. More than any other DPW so far described, the DPW VII was a true ‘tank’, with equal importance placed on protective armour, firepower and mobility.

Designed around a 12 inch mortar cannon the DPW VII was always going to dominate the battle field. This linked to the revolutionary sloped and curved armour made this a difficult target to damage.

Special Rules
None yet developed.

Construction
The whole model was inspired by a spray can top ('CIF' in the UK, - a bathroom cleaner) which was cut in half vertically and the centre section extended with a cardboard ‘bung’ and cardboard supports. The model was then clad in plastic card and the bottom also covered with plastic card.

The turret was a plastic tube (pencil sharpener) and the chimney a pen barrel. Other detailing was from scrap, for example the hatch was a button and the airvent in front of the turret was from the top of a pen.

During construction part of the 'Cif' spray top cracked and rather than abandoning the model - I modelled the damage as a 'field repair' with added strapping and rivets!

The main gun area was also a pen barrel and the armourment around this area was modelled in Milliput, once dry the Milliput was sanded and smoothed before rivet detail was added from sliced plastic rod.

The wheels came from a Wild, Wild, Wild model and were cut to fit below the main body. The model is painted in metallic grey with a ribbon moto painted to the front. The other main colour’s are the red band around the base and the yellow, black chimney, identifying this tank as one of the siege tanks used in the battle of Kartoffen.

I have two more DampfPanzerWagon models constructed, but not yet painted, the first is a large 'steam Punk' style vehicle which is currently undercoated black and awaiting inspiration as to what colour it should be painted. The second is a smaller steam tank inspired by the Games Workshop Empire steam tank for the 'Empires game' and not the 28mm versions. This model is still naked and allthough it has a commander, is not even undercoated. Should this change - additional photos and history will be added.

Dwarves in Tanks part six

Dwarves in Tanks 6

The tank designer’s thought that ‘bigger is best’ and the later designs began to take on gigantic proportions.

DampfPanzerWagon VI (Hammer or Hammerer)
A fully enclosed single boilered landship built of iron plates but with a design and decoration that harks back to a former generation. The crew compartment is spacious and functional with a Dwarf Thunderer canon in the bow. The ‘Hammer’ is crewed by five dwarves (the largest crew of any of the operational DampfPanzerWagons).

The ‘Hammer’s’ size makes it slightly slower than other panzer models, although this is countered by the sheer size, power and presence of the vehicle on the battlefield. In addition the Dwarf hammer imagery is so powerful in the psyche of all dwarves, both friend and foe that the DPW VI is seen as a battle banner.

The huge drive wheels are able to propel this model forward over terrain that would see other DPW’s bogged down, while the elevated commanders tower is a boon to successful strategy.

Special Rules
1 ½ inch less move per turn due to the size.
2 Battle Banner - + 2 for all friendly troops within 12 inches and – 2 for all enemy troops attacked.
3 +1 leadership for the commander as he is so well sited in the tower.

Construction
Inspiration came from Games Workshop – both fantasy and 40,000K and the stern paddle steamers of the American West. I wanted a monster landship full of traditional dwarf imagery – crossed hammers, precious metals and dwarf-fortress sized. The main hull and wheel housings are from card and foam board covered with plastic card. The main structures were easy, it was the crossed hammers that took all the time and effort, plastic card over-lay, more plastic card and then modeling putty.

The main wheels were cut from a curry powder lid, the boiler was left from the boiler used in DPW III, the chimney from plastic tube and rings from a cheap biro, other detail from scrap and the spares box most notably from ‘Atlantis’ toys which give a gothic or ‘steam punk' feel to the finished design.

The imagery and colours are symbolic of the dwarf empires of an earlier time, Gold decoration over Prussian Blue. Ivory white chimneys representing the batons that the Napoleonic generals were given and strong dwarf emblems - the crossed hammers. The colour is Citadel Blue with lots of washes and Citadel gold over bronze.

The building in the background is a model of a Russian church that I first saw while on holiday in France and later in a folktale book. It is built from card over foamboard with 'Das' clay tiles. The model is painted as the folktale illustration and is one of the largest gaming pieces in my Flintloque collection.

Tony

Dwarves in Tanks part five

Dwarves in Tanks 5

How the DampfPanzerWagons have been developed to suit battlefield conditions in ‘black powder’ warfare.

DampfPanzerWagon V (Black Kettle or Black Pots)
The design of the DampfPanzerWagon reached its pinnacle of design and function with the development of the DPW V. The original design was for a single manned (dwarfed), fully armoured and armed “Heavy Cavalry” unit that could be produced in numbers. The finished vehicle was extended in length to accommodate a second crew member as the ‘work load’ was seen as too much for just one and large exhaust extractors were fitted to the roof to try and keep the heat under control.

DPW V’s are the only steam tanks to be produced in numbers with the current dispersal being led by the “BLACK KETTLE” squads.

Ideally the DPW V are used in groups as assault tanks using traditional heavy cavalry tactics ‘punching a hole’ through enemy weak spots and leading an assaults of infantry. In smaller actions they have been used as ‘mobile pill boxes’ to ‘pack-up’ a weak flank or secure a difficult objective. There is no better sight than a squad of Black Kettle’s moving with ‘legionnaires’ efficiency across an open battle field with the humiliated enemy fleeing in rout before them – this is truly the ‘stuff of legends’ and why the DPW’s are so feared on the battle field.

All Black Kettles are constructed of ‘boiler quality’ iron plates, riveted to a steam powered chassis. This particular model is armed with a standard 12pounder breach loading cannon and carries eight rounds of ammunition

Special Rules
1 Can be used in squads of up to 3 PDW V’s
2 +2 moral to all friendly troops within 12 inches
3 –1 morale to all enemy troops within 12 inches per DPW V in action – so a maximum of –3 to morale
4 As with the DPW Ib the DPW V will over heat (the black paint adding to this problem) but the exhaust fans make it bearable, so –1 to the morale of the crew after 10 moves and no other effect

Construction
Inspiration for this design came from two sources. The rail tank from Wild Wild West (the movie) and an article I read about a group called the “Kettle Blacks.” I knew what I was looking for and just kept sketching and looking-out for a suitable container on which to base the design. Eventually I found a plastic ‘desk tidy’ and pencil holder, which after major surgery gave me the basic shape. I was able to glue plastic card to the base and top before ‘cladding’ the sides with more plastic card to represent the iron plates. The only problem was the tight curves at the front and back, which needed careful use of plasticweld type cement and selotape to keep the shape. The rivets were cut down rod (which I apply one at a time with a paint brush full of cement and a Swan Morton knife).

The chimney was from a ‘cut down’ biro barrel, the hatch and turret from a button and plastic tube (a snorkel tube) while the gun barrel is the chimney from the Wild Wild West ‘disc throwing’ toy. The four wheels are made from ornamental buttons that were picked up in a charity shop for a few pence.

The colour took some time to perfect. With a dark grey base coat, lots of black and then flesh washes and some subtle ‘dry brushing’. The details were picked out in copper and highlighted with gold. There are no other markings – keeping to the Kettle Black ideal.

The commander is from the Flintloque ‘Deaths Head’ regiment box set, painted black!

I can also confirm that this is my favourite steam tank model (to date).

Dwarves in Tanks part four

Dwarves in Tanks 4

The Dwarves are not the only race to have seen the possibilities of the armoured wagon. In this installment I have detailed the attempts of the Ostarian’s to develop their own PanzerWagons!

DampfPanzerWagon IV (Red Terror/Red Terrier)
DPW IV is not a steam-engined machine, but a steam powered machine using a steam reservoir that has to be filled periodically. As such it is better described as a steam powered tractor. DPW IV is also unique in that it was designed and built by an Ostarian farm engineer who had requested a larger straw bailer belt to be built by his local blacksmith. The finished item was much too larger for his needs and so, using a second-hand compressed air reservoir, a single cylinder engine and the surplus straw belts he built a steam tractor.

Later the tractor was ‘liberated’ by the famous Baron Von Rotte who, firstly increased the steam reservoir, then fitted a modified air rifle and finally (as with all things Von Rotte) he painted the whole thing red!

Special rules
1 Major advantage in cross country ability
2 Major disadvantage with limited endurance and not having it’s own boiler but reliant on ‘topping up’ from another steam engine.
3 Cross county ability +1 inch over all obstructions and ignore any modifiers for ‘off road’
4 There are only a limited number of movement points available these should be diced for at the beginning of the game (3 x D6 + 6) or agreed with the scenario or umpire.
5 Slower than a wheeled vehicle – 2 inches per turn (made up for with the obstacle crossing ability).
6 Each time the air rifle gun is fired – 1 on the number of turns available (DPW IV used the same reservoir for the engine as the gun).
7 Very cramped – 1 for moral for both the crewmembers.

Construction
This is more of a conversion than construction. The initial model is a Disney Atlantis toy (a bridge layer tank) which I have widened with thick plastic card or mounting board. The cupola is a wheel from Games Workshop and the gun is a length of plastic straw, other detail is from the spare box with loads of additional rivet’s and panels.

I experimented with the painting of this Wagon and used a modified Kevin Dalimore figure painting technique rather than the usual vehicle painting method. I started with a rough over painting of dark brown/crimson and then over painted crimson and then dark red and finally blood red. The WWI markings were a simple method of decorating the hull and continuing with the ‘Red Baron theme.’

Dwarves in Tanks part three

Dwarves in Tanks 3

The third installment proves that not all the best designers agreed with the military use of steam tanks!

DampfPanzerWagon III (The landship Gloria II)
Baron Escta Von Drille was a sailor and loved to mess about in boats. He had already started to look at the possible uses of steam as a means of propulsion for his pleasure craft and purchased a steam boiler and engine from a neighboring principality, however aggressive rumblings and border disputes meant that this one precious, steam engine (originally ‘ear marked’ for his steam launch Gloria) was pressed into service as the power source for his armoured steam landship (Gloria II).

Gloria II was built by the noted marine engineer Heinz Been Vinddie (or Ratty to his friends – sorry friend!) Ratty’s family had been building boats for over 200 years and he used traditional boat building skills and new technology to refine this first ‘landship’ model.

There was only one issue, Ratty was one of those very rare dwarves – a pacifist and designed and built Gloria II or DPW III without any armourment or ordinance (stating that Defence was the best form of Attack).

The torpedo spar was added as a ‘make do’ stand-by, but was never up-dated. Technically the design is ‘sound’ but much better suited to naval tactics rather than the more traditional land battles. At close quarters the torpedo spa can be lethal and will cripple any other PDW design. (At very close range!!!!!)

Special Rules
1 Torpedo must be in contact to do most damage – but halved if not in contact but within 2 inches (any further and the effect is lost on armour – but can still kill dwarves!).
2 The bow armour is the toughest available and the shape makes it ideal for ramming.
3 The crew have a habit of “Full speed ahead and repel all borderers.” +1 for assault and +1 for wounding. Ideal tactics for the “This will be short and sharp type scenarios”.
4 Torpedo can be replaced – it takes three full turns.

Construction
The forward structure and upper superstructure are modelled from cardboard covered in plastic card (use lots of superglue and sellotape to hold the plastic card while the glue sets then sand smooth). The boiler is a slightly modified boiler from a Wild, Wild, West disc throwing toy available from ‘Toys r Us’, but turned up-side-down. The wheels are from a Disney Atlantis toy and the other detail is from the spare box. The Spar is a plastic rod, however other modelers have used cocktail sticks or skewers and these seem to work just as good.

The model is painted in nautical colours and bears the family crest of the Von Drille’s. I had tried to model some rust on this model, however the final finish is ‘well maintained’.

Dwarves in Tanks part two

Dwarves in Tanks 2

Further thoughts on the development of the steam tank in ‘black powder’ warfare.

Following the initial successes of the original DampfPanzerWagon and subsequent re-modeling to DPW Ib there were a great many attempts to copy and improve the design. As with most things these attempts were met with mixed successes. A great many designs did not get past the ‘drawing board’, others failed in tests and a very few saw operational use. Even when a design had been accepted there were many ‘pit-falls awaiting it’s crew and the battlefields at this time were full of stories about wonderful machines and abject failures!

DampfPanzerWagon II (Crab, Copper crab or Copperhead)
One of the very first true successes was the DampfPanzerWagon II from the Bohemian brewery of Idle Waster where the head brewer Ubert Von Trotter had been successfully using steam power for many years. His first and most influential design used an existing steam engine and boiler linked to an armoured fighting compartment built from a surplus beer brewing vessel. The copper armour was not thick enough to fully protect the crew, however copper beer brewing vessels have other advantages (see below).

The DPW II is armed with a flamethrower blunderbuss gun (a converted steam vent), has a crew of two; Officer and Driver/gunner/stocker.

Special rules
1 The smell of beer from the brewing tun is ever present. No dwarf troops (either friend or foe) within 12 inches can fail a moral test. (Non dwarves can also be effected – either positively or negative!)
2 The weaker armour has less stopping power – therefore all damage rolls are thrown twice, the worst counting and the least being ignored.

Officer armed with a blunderbuss.

Construction
Two separate card shapes, first the fighting compartment and secondly the boiler and engine were covered with 30 thou. plastic card (I use superglue to attach the plastic card to the card or mounting board).

The rivet detail and strapping are then attached, rivets being sliced plastic rod. The chimney is from a Wild, Wild West toy, the rear wheels are from a ‘Burger King’ Atlantis ‘Mole’ and the front wheels from a game counter (cut in half). The gun is a chimneystack from a road roller model and the cupola is from a construction toy with a button hatch. The commander is from a Flintloque boxed set.

The model is painted ‘well used and worn’ copper.