Christmas Reinforcements The Holiday season is a regular source of bargains for us miniature gamers. This year a few good deals caught my eyes, as I was forming up the first DAK platoon from plastic Perry miniatures. I had enough figures by far for a single platoon, but I was lacking a lot of support options. As I started to check available deals for metal DAK figures from Black Tree Designs and Artizan Designs, the check-out carts mysteriously grew bigger. When all was said and done, I had added enough extra troops to field two full platoons at once (not to mention some Fallschirmjägers for later), which is great for future multiplayer games of Big Chain of Command. I think we're still a tiny bit short on MG34 crew if both platoons are fielded with two MGs per section, and there are a few support options that we lack in desert outfits, or example a PaK 36. But all in all we're pretty much set for "basic" DAK infantry now, and I can shift my attention to painting vehicles and other platoons for the desert. Weapon Teams Click for bigger pics. First out is a mix of weapon teams. The first three are built with remaining minis from a Perry DAK box: a forward observer (heavy mortars are off-table in CoC, and are called in by these), a light mortar crew with a 5 cm Granatwerfer, and a sniper. The next three are LMG crews (armed with MG34), the one in the middle is again from the Perry plastic box, while the other's are from Black Tree Designs. Finally, I used up whatever leftovers I could find in the box to make three extra LMGs and a single ammo carrier. Next up are the guys responsible for why I started to look from more DAK to begin with, as I wanted some flamethrowers. I didn't need four, but that's how Black Tree sells them, so four it is. I had to get this set as well from Black Tree, as I was looking for a medic miniature. I painted up the water carrier as a medic, and at first I considered using the rest of the set as a deployment point diorama. But in the end, I thought I'll use them for exceptionally unfocused crew members, as you always get too few when you buy anti-tank or infantry guns etc. They'll add some character to the force, for sure! Troopers I love these Artizan guys carrying satchel charges and extra explosives. I painted their scarves red, to distinguish them easily on the table. In worst case, they'll get the doubtful honor of trying to take out tanks up close and personal. I made a bunch of SMG troops from the remaining Perry box. Extra SMGs is a decent option for adding more close up firepower to a platoon. I've heard that there'll be a lot of houses built for this project, so don't expect everything to be settled over empty stretches of sand. These will do well in cramped streets and house-to-house firefights. Finally, a whole bunch of riflemen! These are both Perry, Artizan and Black Tree. I specifically made the Perry with the tropical helmets, to distinguish them from the other platoon. Verdict I must say that after this, I'm a fan of both the Artizan and Black Tree miniatures. They are surprisingly similar in style, so much so that I needed to check their websites to be able to write which ones I got where. So they mix incredibly well, but also well enough with the Perry guys.
Adding these metal minis gives the force a lot of extra variation, and I'm happy with how it turned out. The two platoons are pretty much done now, but I won't swear that no extra men will ever turn up among them. Is there anything that's missing that you think is a given addition to a DAK force? If so, don't hesitate to make a comment! Otherwise, the next set of Germans will be Fallschirmjägers and mechanised support of these men. /Jonas
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