Spasm

Very nice painting and expertly carried out. A moment caught in time during a lapse in the fighting? Maybe a letter from home, or maybe a letter found with the flag that belonged to its original owner? It's very difficult to capture a moment like this without it seeming posed. Only a very few artists can achieve that in my opinion. Don has captured the moment and has complemented it with his amazing artistic capabilities and skills. Wonderful painting.

Here's another, wrecked KV1

Yes, having just attended a show today, pack and price everything up, try to get it all into the car, set up display tent in field without it blowing away, set up tables, put everything out on display, enjoy the talking to loads of people, and then only sold stuff out of the 'junk bin' for a few quid (not even enough to cover the entrance fee) I'm thinking the same thing. But maybe also moving on a bit.

Thanks very much Gents, very much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

It seems as though you would drive through snow storms to attend shows but, it seems, happily walk round without any dough about your person. Is there some form of plan here? Or is it just a collector's thing? I'm interested, as I do have the occasional stall at events with painted objects for sale and no one ever seems to have any money. I've always wondered why that is......

Thanks Egorka, it's mixed media as I use a sprayed intercoats to protect the layers of pencil drawing and washes as I progress, particularly if I'm airbrushing (not that I use much airbrushing these days - I can't be bothered getting it out and cleaning the thing afterwards). All the colours are acrylic paint. Yes, I had problems with keeping the items on the side of the T34 but superglue and gaffer tape sorted that out

Painting of a small group I have to a sailor who was awarded the war badge in August 1943. I have a few of his other photos, one of which includes all of the crew with their names written on the reverse: A Commando service certificate overlaid with campaign stars, a marine cap badge and a mint FS fighting knife: And, my painting of a group to a Senior Sgt. tank driver who was awarded the Stalingrad Defence Medal. Along with his award certificate and a few other bits and bobs:

Thought I'd copy ya'll into a few more recent paintings: First up is a painting of a Panzer Badge and Cert that I have. Interesting in that it is dated early January 1945 and to a member of the Lehr Div Jager Abt. 130 who were in action around Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge: No idea who the signature is though. Next up is a Purple Heart certificate and medal overlaid with a WW2 M4 M1 bayonet. Made by Imperial but came with a late 1960/70s WD made scabbard. Next is a painting of a Hindenburg Widow's cross and the original certificates bought from a GMIC member Painting of a Guardsman's medals, memorial scroll, King's letter and plaque complete with all the envelopes and postal stamps:

These are the books that are worth a look. Volume II is probably the better, given that it is the later war period. Pretty expensive but if you have a search they can be had a lot cheaper - I've seen them for less than $50 on ebay. Sorry I don't have them. I am tempted though.

The whole lot, including medals, is about $300 from a re-enactment supplier. Depending on what size jacket you'd like http://www.surcompany.com/listing1-waffenss/sspolizei/tunic3.html The 4.SS were mostly around the Balkans at the time of the defence of the Bridgehead. So I wouldn't have thought they would have been entitled to the Kuban Shield. However, the owner could have transferred in from another unit who were entitled or even a member visiting the area for official or even non-official duties could have got roped in. Award of the shield wasn't just the 60 days for being there, it was also for being wounded or involved in a major operation at the bridgehead. They lost their police badges and heer eagles in 1942 having been 'adopted' into the Waffen SS. Which, I suppose, is when they got their SS arm eagles. I have seen on a forum that they had at least 2 Panthers later in the war - both of which were broken down (there's a surprise). But I suspect mostly Stugs and Panzer IVs but they also had Panzerjager regt later on so maybe a few tank killers as well.

Try this

Ah, ok. That's a Close Combat Assault Clasp. Could be Bronze Silver or Gold.

I believe (always say that as there's always someone who is more knowledgeable than me) that they are: 1 is the ribbon for the War Merit Cross 2 is the Kuban Arm Shield 3 is the SS member's tunic breast badge for those who were not entitled to wear the SS collar badge Cheers, Steve

Yes, that's what I'd be thinking. Probably no Schwere (heavy) tank Battalions but I'll keep looking. There's at least one photo of the Stugs with 4th SS riding on board from the Bundesarchive: Stug IV with riding 4th SS near Lake Balaton, Jan '45.

Made up from capable members of the Ordnungspolizei (ordinary policemen?) in Oct 1939 and assigned to the Waffen SS but most not holding SS membership. Fought at the Maginot Line in June 1940. Then joined Army Group North in the advance on Leningrad, involved in heavy combat in the first half of 1942 in the Volkhov River sector. Fierce fighting in both the 1st and 2nd Battles of Lake Ladoga late '42 and early '43. Most of the Division then withdrawn to Greece to rebuild while a combat group remained behind in the North until early '44 when it rejoined the Division. The whole Division was involved in anti-partisan operations in Greece until it was committed against the Red Army in the Banat (an ethnic German area of Yugoslavia) in Oct '44. Withdrew into Slovakia in late Jan '45 and transported North to Stettin and then onto the Danzig area and involved in heavy combat. It was evacuated by sea in April and thrown into the Oder front North of Berlin. Retreated to the Elbe River surrendering to American forces in early May '45. The Division was made up of: SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regt 7 (Former SS Polizei Infantry Regt 1) SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regt 8 (Former SS Polizei Infantry Regt 2) SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regt 3 (late 1939 - early 1943) SS Polizei Artillery Regt 4 SS Polizei Flak Battalion 4 SS Polizei Armoured Signal Battalion 4 SS Polizei Panzer Battalion 4 (formed from SS Polizei Assault Gun Battalion 4 in July 1944) SS Polizei Armoured Recon Battalion 4 SS Polizei Anti-tank Battalion 4 SS Polizei Armoured Combat Engineer Battalion 4 SS Polizei Assault Gun Battalion 4 (retitled SS Polizei Panzer Battalion 4 in July 1944) SS Field Replacement Battalion 4 You may already have this info but it looks like a couple of armoured battalions but I'll do a bit more digging in the few books on the shelf. Cheers, Steve Damn, all above is available on Google. Should've checked before I took a book off of the shelf. Pffft. I'll get my coat.

Tony, thank you my man. I had to look up Poilu Beer - yes, isn't that the hero from Valiant Hearts. Now, if you haven't played Valiant Hearts on the computer machine you really need to go have a look. Probably the best WW1 game ever. Anyhows, here's a few more - from the left - 101st Airborne 327th Glider Inf Rgt - 82nd Airborne Military Police - General Matthew Ridgway's helmet - 35th Infantry Div Medic

Couldn't find any weenie wine bottles and you leave the labels on. Wide enough to hold the helmet pretty firmly and not to be unbalanced. A great idea, especially if you can get some vintage ones. Already had some stands made and have now got some M1 weenie half scale helmets. I've painted this one as a 101st Airborne 327th Glider Infantry Regiment. It is a front seam helmet. Steel pot with swivel bales, great looking and pretty accurate liner.

Tony Just painting them I'm afraid, I thought about making them but I really wanted steel ones and then I thought about making the liners - cutting the leather would be ok but making the metal parts of the liner and the bales? and then there's the chinstrap buckle? I just haven't got the equipment. I thought about seeing some local small businesses but how many would you have to order to make it worthwhile to them? So, I gave up on that plan after thinking about it for about 2 minutes and went and bought some I found on line for sale by a Miniature Arms maker. He has some really outstanding stuff and is the President of the Miniature Arms Journal (I don't know if that means he's the Editor or just a sort of bigwig amongst miniature arms dealers). He sent me a couple of their magazines along with a few half scale helmets. Some people are just really clever - little teenie weenie pistols, rifles, machine guns that actually work. Amazing stuff that some people do. Quicker and easier is the way to go - wine bottles as stands? you'll need to post some pictures. I've just spent all day taking the bumper off the Admin Staff's car to install some LED back number plate lights. I'm sure I could've done that in an hour or two a few years ago. Just imagine how long it would take me to make a miniature Thompson out of a lump of steel. Pffffft.

Hindenburg Cross?

Thanks Frank Helmet stands are done in a conveyor belt type way so obviously not up to Brian's standard but they do have felt top and bottom and stop the Admin Staff going on about the furniture. Here's a few more: There's quite a few now but I'll just put on another couple or six:

Brian, I understand completely and sympathise with you. I too was confused by the 'new' approach at museums and thought too that the experts there had some greater knowledge about what holds the younger generation's attention. What with their apps and twitter continually having to be entertained by their little boxes on buses that were much too boring to even think about looking out of the window. I'd convinced myself that I was old and needed to put up with it. It was a fairly new concept for me - I was standing in the queue at our local shop behind about 6 or 7 grey haired old guys. I actually thought to myself "come along you old gits sharpen up, I'm in a rush" - then I realised I look exactly the same. A grey haired old git. Not quite with high hitched wastelined trousers and a walking stick yet but not far. Damn. Old and with an old mind set, that is until I visited the WW1 museum in Ypres. That place really opened my eyes as to how a museum in the new mould could be. Specially created music as a background, wonderfully created moving maps that take the watchers through the shifting front, highly definition recorded commentaries from actors in several languages all wearing accurate uniforms, a truely super and educating journey through the times. I found the experience very moving. It can be done differently, it can be done well and I was proved wrong about having to do things with bright lights and flashy just to attract those who are thought to have short attention spans. But I admit, I do like things in straight lines and in an understandable order.

I've been working on these for a bit and have a few more to do. Half scale M42 helmets that are pretty accurate. I've painted and aged them and included hand painted 'decals'. Now I need to make some little helmet stands to go with them. They are very nice in the hand being made of steel and with very good weenie copies of the liner and chinstraps. And.....they take up less shelf space and a lot less wallet thickness.

Owen - Great stuff. Sometimes ebay is well worthwhile. And they will be a really nice addition to the collection. Result. Steve

Andy - yep, I'd go for French too. Also doesn't seem to have had a lot of artillery action. Does that mean not near the front line? Newly dug in the territory just taken? Not an important area? Hmmmm. It does seem to be a bit behind the front lines as the communication trenches start at roadways, these would have been quite long before the front or even second lines were reached. So I would say a rear area that has been prepared quite well. Cheers Steve

He was born in India. I think there's a couple more available on ebay at a very reasonable cost if you look him up on there. I'll just check...... yep, still there, his Hercules and Flora designs.