Grandad's Gazala Capture

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:51 pm

Hi all

This thread is going to document a diorama depicting the capture of my grandad Tom Leith, gunner in the 1st SA Anti-Tank Reg, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st SA Infantry Division. His unit was part of the defenses on northern edge the Gazala line on the Via Balbia, the main coastal highway in Libya. He was captured on 16th June 1942, 4 days before the fall of Tobruk.

If people are interested in his story, as well as the diorama, then please say so and I'll write something to sum it up and explain the various parts of the diorama.

Here are the kits and other stuff I am going to use

Cant find any SA figures so I will be using the British crew and having a go at modding the figures to show some SA related details.

Today I finished building the Tamiya Pz II. A lot of people have a lot of good things to say about this kit, but I think I got a duff one. Loads of flash and some fit issues. It was easy and fun to build though. I primed with some Badger Stynylrez which went down well. I then followed up with a coat of Lifecolor RAL7021 Panzergrau, a layer of chipping fluid and then a coat of RAL8020 Gelbbraun and some freehand camo in Mig's RAL7027 Sandgrau. Then I did a bit of chipping on the turret so see how it went. This time (June 1942) was a transition period for paint colours so I'm taking a lot of artistic license and going for what I think looks good rather than historical accuracy.

That's it for today. I'll update as things progress.

Post by **panzerdodge** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:56 pm

Looks like a great build can't wait to see more. Would also like to hear more about your Grandfather and his adventures.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:15 pm

Cheers Panzerdodge, will put something together on his story along with a plan for the dio.

Well looks like I wasn't finished for the day

Got the bug and jumped into the build on the halftrack, then decided to start painting the interior. Had a go at trying to recreate worn leather for the first time. Lots of layers and some dry brushing later and I'm fairly happy with the result.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:42 am

This sounds very interesting , I will follow along for sure
Interested in hearing the story as well as the build

Post by **Mylightweight** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:22 am

The build is looking good, I too have finished for the day, only to get out of bed in the middle of the night to carry on!

Very interested to hear about your Grandfather.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:15 pm

Thanks for the interest in my grandad’s story guys. Here is what I know through research only, he died when I was 6 years old so I have a few memories of him but, as with most people who served their country in conflict, he rarely spoke of his experiences. I grew up being told I needed to finish my meals because in the war ‘Pop’, as he was known, had to eat potato peelings to stay alive. Here is a photo of him with my grandma in the 60s

When my first son was born I had an urge to do some family history research and this is how I uncovered the two amazing stories of my grandfathers. I was born in South Africa, but both my grandfathers were from the UK: paternal grandfather was English and maternal one was Scottish. Both went to South Africa in the 30s as young men, both found they liked it and decided to stay. They married South African women and, after the war, started families. They both volunteered for the Union Defence Force, the South African army under another name, as the SA govt was split, with some supporting the Axis. Although they never knew each other, they both fought at Tobruk , but 6 months apart. My paternal grandfather was taken at the battle of Sidi Rezegh on 23rd Nov 1941 and has an even more interesting story that I will probably bore you all with at some point in the future when I do a dio for him! They ended up in the same POW camp (Stalag VIIIB/344) and their back gardens in Durban, South Africa shared a border. My mum and dad ended up at the same high school, and eventually I came along.

Here are some pictures of the documents I got from the SA Ministry of Defence and the International Red Cross. Copies of his enlistment papers, a summary of camps he was in and photocopies of POW camp documents. He also was on the ‘Long Marches’ which were during the winter of 1944 when POWs were marched out of their camps and into Germany to prevent liberation. He marched from Lamsdorf in southern Poland to a camp near Nuremburg, Germany in sub-zero temperatures with little to no food. He was left for dead on this march and thrown on a pile of other POW bodies, but was found by a German priest who noticed that he was still alive and rescued him. I think of what he went through whenever I am having a bad day and tell myself to suck it up and get on with it.

Rommel’s offensive to take Tobruk in May / June of 1942 is often referred to as one of his great victories. For the South African military it was one of their worst defeats. The truth, as always, sits somewhere in between.

Pop was stationed at the northern edge of the Gazala line (see picture). Much of the initial action during May happened to the south of these positions as Rommel used his famous flanking manoeuvres to try and encircle key defensive boxes and avoid a costly frontal assault. This work was done mainly by the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions while Italian infantry with some armoured support made attacks on the northern / central defensive positions to keep the troops there engaged and give the impression that this was where the main push would come.
The 15th and 21st Panzer Divs engaged in some furious battles to complete their flanking manoeuvre, most notably, The Cauldron and the subsequent break out to the north which left the Knightsbridge box surrounded and various British armour regiments seriously depleted. As Rommel gained momentum he ordered the 15th Pz Div to push north to try and reach the Via Balbia and cut off the troops in the northern positions so they couldn’t retreat to Tobruk itself.

This is what my dio is going to portray. I know, from a DAK officers war diary and other research that I found online, that Pop was part of the rear guard for the SA 1st Division as it desperately tried to avoid being cut off in the retreat to Tobruk and then on to El Alamein. Various accounts tell of the order being given on the 14th June to abandon the northern Gazala positions and retreat. Pop was captured on 16th June, which coincides with an account in a regimental diary that states:

This left the 50th British and 1st South Africa Divisions stuck in boxes to the north of Knightsbridge, cut off by the Axis, who were swarming towards Tobruk. These divisions were order to break out east while the 15th and 21st Panzer tried to cut them off. Weary units of 7th Armoured managed to delay the German armour allowing most of the 50th Division to escape and the 1st South Africa Division, withdrawing along the coast road lost only its rearguard. By now most of the 8th Army was in retreat to the El Alamein line.

So the dio is going to show Pop on his trusty QF 2 pdr anti-tank gun, with an Allied lorry driving off down the road, a Pz II from the 15th Pz Div and a half track from the 21st Pz Div coming in from different angles to cut off him and his mates off. Here is a plan to show it. I’m not sure on the final positioning as it looks a little un-balanced, and maybe just a bit too big. I’m wondering if I need to re-think it. Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks for taking the time to read this essay

, I hope the build will do the story justice.

Post by **mincemeat** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:24 am

Great work and story about your "Pop", it's nice to see a connection with the past. Looks like your building the same Hanomag as I did, I really like the coloring you did on the leather, very nice work. When I get some skill up I'm going to tackle some M7 Priests that my Great Uncle commanded in Southern Germany. Keep on the great work and story!

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:18 pm

First filter and a pin wash done using MIG oils from the German Armour Tones and Vehicle Weathering sets. Ochre for the filter, as the Lifecolour paint had come out very pale and light; and Wash Brown for the pin wash. Much happier with the colours now, but not happy with the chipping. Even when I try to rein it in I end up doing too much

Post by **Mylightweight** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:26 pm

With the nature of the conflict during this period of the war I think you've got it bang on IMHO.

It looks like a very battle hardened piece of kit, I really like it

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:36 pm

Tonight I have been mostly experimenting with..... DUST, and some sand. Tracks next then the final flat coat and I think I'm done.

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 11:15 pm

Wow, I love it when people make models of events/items that have a personal meaning. I am of an age where none of my direct relatives (perhaps some distant ones, but none that I am aware of) fought in the 2nd World War, but all my great-grandfathers and a number of great-granduncles all fought in the 1st World War, and I have considered doing some kind of diorama as a commemoration to them.

The modelling so far is looking good, but in the end I don't think that will be the most important thing, getting a result you are happy with, that remembers your Grandfather as you intend is the most important.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:38 pm

Waiting for the Panzer II weathering to dry so I took a look at the 2 pounder anti-tank gun kit from Vulcan. Couldn't resist so I started building, just the gun and breach assembly I thought............. wow the pieces are small! And there were 11 of them just to do the gun and breach.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sat Nov 14, 2015 9:00 pm

Finished the assembly on the 2 pounder gun tonight. Never again, my eyes and fingers cant handle parts that small. All the details on the legs, the gun elevation wheel, the sights, etc, are separate parts that need to be positioned. Even the wheels are made up of 7 parts. On to the halftrack tomorrow while the weather is too shite to venture out.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:07 pm

I only have one thing to say......... I F***ing HATE figures! The Tamiya ones with the half track are bad enough, I had hoped the Vulcan ones would be better..... No.

2 pounder gun all painted nicely, and then I decide to start the figures. So I went for a bit of a dry fit of the gunner as he looked a little big in proportion to the gun. See below for fit issues. I ended up having to cut the seat off to even have a hope of getting him in. Even with him in I'm going to have to bodge something to correct the seat. Not happy.

Then I start to build him and the fit is shocking. I'm putting this away for a few days to calm down. Any help, guidance or pointers very much appreciated.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 8:48 pm

Sorry for the lack of updates on this. A new job and Fallout 4, never having painted figures and a massive fear of cocking it up have led to me not putting in the time I should, Anyway, there has been some progress this weekend. Gun nearly finished and I've had a go at the figures. Not entirely happy with the figures, especially the skin tones and wash to try and bring out the details. I may take the wash off and have a go at painting the shaded and highlighted areas of the uniform. Any feedback or guidance greatly appreciated. Thanks

Post by **Kevinzane** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:44 pm

This is amazing! Nice progress so far and I really liked read the story about you grandfather.
Keep up the good work!

Post by **demarcation** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:51 pm

Exellent work mate and some great info about your grandad, he really belonged to a remarkable generation!

Post by **Stokesy44** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:40 pm

Gun and figure look great to me. If you're not happy with the wash, try a pastel chalk one maybe? They tend to help more with shading rather than line detail you get with a paint based one.

Regardless, they still look great!!!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:18 pm

I agree, figure looks marvellous
Keep up the good work

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:54 pm

Blimey! Cheers for the feedback guys. I have rubbed off most of the wash but still left a bit and I'm much happier with the result. Have also re-done the flesh tones as Pop was looking a little more Pakistani than South African. Still some touch ups to do on the gun where I had to re-attach the gunner but it's nearly there. Also need to add some red flashes to the epaulettes to show they are South African troops. Just the truck and half track to do now.......

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 9:41 pm

Hi all, again sorry for lack of updates. Christmas and New Year with the family meant the only modelling I did was taking advantage of Star Wars fever to get my young sons interested in building. We managed 2 Bandai kits, a Scout Trooper with his bike and a Sandtrooper, and a couple of Revell starter kits, Vader's Tie Fighter and a Millennium Falcon.

Anyway, progress made on the Halftrack as pictured below. Had a nightmare part way through when the Ammo paint decided to go dodgy as per the thread on this forum and I had to wait for a replacement which eModels sent quickly and without fuss. Also had my first go with Ultimate Dark Dirt wash on the interior before closing it up. The doors on this thing were hellish to get aligned at the same time as trying to get the top half on. Should finish this over the next few days and then just have to build the Italeri 15 CWT truck and I'm ready to start on the diorama itself.

Post by **Smiffy** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:21 pm

Awesome work so far and really fascinating to read about your Grand Father. I shall be following this thread with great interest.

Post by **Mylightweight** » Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:17 am

Looking really nice, I love the 2 pdr

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:00 pm

More progress on the halftrack. I've done a filter, some chipping and a pin wash as well as made a start on the weathering. I've used the new Vallejo acrylic metal colour 'Burnt Iron for the chipping and I really like it.

The first photo below is one of my references for the Tobruk area. I'm trying to get the red / orange tones from the sand in there rather than just make everything a sandy yellow. The photo is from a company that runs battlefield tours http://www.western-desert.de

Post by **Sturm** » Tue Jan 12, 2016 11:16 pm

Interesting story, nice progress so far.
I have a cousin who was a Medic for the US Navy, I believe he served with the Marines in the Iraq and Afghanistan
wars. There was one time where he was giving first aid to a Iraqi soldier when a grenade exploded a few feet from him and sent shrapnel into his side. I thought about going a dio based on combat medics as you don't see many of those. Anyway a very good way to honor your Granddad!

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Wed Jan 13, 2016 12:26 am

Your killing it. On this build Gangster, afrika korp is one of my all time favorite subject's. Really like when builds come together. Again awesome build.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Wed Jan 13, 2016 9:23 am

Thanks for the positive comments and your own stories guys. Sorry I'm the slowest builder in the world but my modelling time is hard to come by.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 10:21 pm

Another small update. Halftrack finished, just need to flat coat it. I've painted the DAK troops and tank commander, but not entirely happy with the eyes so may re-do. I've also started on the final vehicle, the 15CWT Truck.

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:19 am

Wow Gangster, your build's are really standing tall, I'm looking forward to that dio, as I said I really love Dak build's. And this one has an a excitement to it.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 10:49 pm

Had a burst of activity this weekend after some slow progress building the truck. I seem to have a real problem with doing things that have interiors that need painting before you can close them up and get on with the rest.

Dio base started, just needs some drybrushing / weathering and pigments to bring it to life. Base is mdf board, road is cork sheet elevated with some cardboard, then primed and painted with Lifecolour matt black mixed with some matt white to get a dark grey. The texture from the cork board is nice for rough tarmac. The desert sand is DIY filler and some woodland scenics small stones, painted with B&Q (UK DIY/homestore) emulsion 'Harvest Field'. It gives a nice sandy colour without being too yellow and it's cheap in a tester pot.

Finished the truck and gloss coated ready for decals and weathering. I really screwed up on the glass, managing to get thin CA glue all over it and fogging it up nicely. I really can't face opening it up, getting a replacement, etc so will have to try and disguise with dust effect. Not happy, but I'm still learning. This dio is still only my second subject with the models being second, third and fourth builds ever.

Also did some stuff for the details: made a signpost that will be placed inside a wrecked oil drum which points to the major locations for the subject. Painted some sandbags and three Lee Enfields for the gun crew. Also made some straps for the DAK troop weapons using the guidance from Coen in his youtube vid (thanks Mike). I still have some cargo for the truck to do and a couple of other detail bits, but I'm on the home straight, next photos will be final reveal.

Post by **InitialProduction1** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:30 am

Really cool GangsterNo1, sometimes I think I should see if I can buy model build time, I have to pay for everything, dish, web, models, and dodadz for crap you don't want. All I want is just sometime to get builds done. Lol. Bad thing is VA get the most for now. Again awesome build.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:00 pm

Sorry it's been a while guys. Lots of things got in the way of modelling time, and then I got burgled and they took my DSLR. Anyway, got a much nicer replacement and so here are some photos of the finished article.

I outlined the base in the colours of the regiment which were a diamond with a green bottom half to represent the South African veld, and a yellow top half to represent the sun. I also painted a couple of these on the truck. Please excuse all the mistakes, I am learning as I go.

Post by **privatepete** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:31 pm

Hi what a great tribute to your granddad, a brilliant story and the diorama is pretty good as well

I'm building a Hanomg at the minute I hope it turns out half as good as yours

Post by **Tiger213** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:49 pm

impressive idea, I love when there is a story behind

nice job

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:52 pm

Tha diorama is fantastic, absolutely love the modelling work.

Your story is touching and strikes a chord with me as my wife's family is Slovenian and her dad was fortunate to avoid extermination at the hands of a Nazi patrol because he had his resistance jacket and gun behind the front door when they briefly searched the house. They would have killed everyone and burned the house down if they saw that stuff as had happened to others in their village.
I am sure the "what if's" crossed your mind about the situation, questions to your own existence and such. Incredible to be rescued from the dead by a kind priest...restores your faith in humanity. I can't help but wonder if it was advantage to be captured by Italian Axis fighters who spared him rather than German that might not have??

Anyhow, wonderful work and I look forward to the next diorama

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 8:46 am

Very interesting and is inspiring me to discover how my Grandfather was captured by the Japanese in Burma at some point during 1944.

Sadly he died many years ago and like so many never said a word about what happened to him.

Post by **GangsterNo1** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:06 pm

Thanks for the kind words guys, I appreciate it.

Twokidsnosleep wrote:Tha diorama is fantastic, absolutely love the modelling work.

Your story is touching and strikes a chord with me as my wife's family is Slovenian and her dad was fortunate to avoid extermination at the hands of a Nazi patrol because he had his resistance jacket and gun behind the front door when they briefly searched the house. They would have killed everyone and burned the house down if they saw that stuff as had happened to others in their village.
I am sure the "what if's" crossed your mind about the situation, questions to your own existence and such. Incredible to be rescued from the dead by a kind priest...restores your faith in humanity. I can't help but wonder if it was advantage to be captured by Italian Axis fighters who spared him rather than German that might not have??

Anyhow, wonderful work and I look forward to the next diorama

The 'what ifs' most definitely crossed my mind more than once, and then again when I researched my other grandfather's story. There were so many opportunities for me not to have come into existence at all (as there were for descendents of the many millions of people that were affected by the war). My father and great grandfather also served in wars and so I'm the first generation for 100 years that hasn't had to go through the horrors. So I guess that means I need to use what I've been given rather than take it for granted, and make sure my sons do the same.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:46 pm

Well said man......we take so much for granted and don't appreciate the hell others went through to let us just be here

Post by **AdamLuscombe** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:02 pm

That is one amazing dio!! I don't know about you but i think you have certainly done the fantastic story justice! It was very nice to see a project with historical links, it makes the build a lot more interesting. Great Work!

Post by **OliveDrab** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:06 pm

Wonderful Diorama and great way to honor your Grandad!!!

Post by **OneSmallStep1966** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:14 pm

A superb diorama and great tribute to your grandfather