Last Sprue Plastic Warlord Game Russians Assembled - Yippee

Dilemma. Well I have the basic Russian platoon  formation in Warlord Game figures for (early war to at least 1943) Russians [Stalingrad and the basic Chain of Command OoB] but I was left with a sprue of eight men. I had to urge to "clear the Russian project shelf" so rather than make some 'basic rifles' I wondered what to do with them. In the end I went for the following mix - an observing prone "officer type" with binoculars, two LMG teams [as the latter part of the Stalingrad campaign seemed to be pushing them into OoBs] and three SMG's - two of which were "Tank Hunters" with a short life expectancy (see below, my last Soviet raw plastic ready for the 'paint shop'): 

The same but posed for Pravda camera shot (see below, "Defenders of Stalingrad drive the Fascists Back into the Volga") :

Job done :)

Albeit with painting to follow! 

My 28mm WWII Soviet Infantry for Chain of Command

Russian Forces: My main force of Soviet 28mm Chain of Command figures are the highly detailed plastic Warlord Games (Winter Infantry and the ones [10] that came with KV1 tank kit), some flame-throwing and LMG specialists from Black Tree, but as a supplement I bought the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) infantry range (which means I have the same figure molds in 15mm, 20mm and 28mm). The 28mm allow for some conversions with spares left over from the Warlord Game sprue (see below, the sharp stereoscopic end of a Soviet 28mm Chain of Command sniper team): 

The Soviets always seem short of a few basic rifles .. so rather than been drawn into the "just another box" syndrome I converted some PSC SMG boys into basic rifles (see below, a Soviet NCO demoted to a private but remembers his heroic pose past): 

A couple of basic PSC 28mm rifles heading for Stalingrad (see below, primed in classic Airfix Acrylic primer, waiting for base texturing and "brown wash dipping" before painting):  

Working through the process before a factory style assembly production line begins (see below, the soldier on the left is a prototype and the one on the right a "wanna-be" soon to be):   

You can never have too many soviet infantry - no matter what scale ;) 

My "last" set of 28mm WW2 Russians?

Again the 28mm assembly line is churning out the assembled figures, akin to a Space Marine factory with all the "snipping off the sprue". It does wear on the fingers and thumbs though and is best done in short bursts. A squad a time so to speak. One of my completed projects (or so I thought) was my Stalingrad Russians. Now looking closely at the early orders of battle, at the outset of the battle the Russians had eight riflemen to their squad (much in alignment to the rest of the world's armies), but soon as attrition set in this came down to six (as per the "Two Fat Lardies" order of battle anyway and who am I to argue). Looking as this hole in my collection I spied the Warlord Games KV1/2 pack that came with a useful sprue of eight little Russians so a perfect match in heaven was made (see below, Ivan and his friends, all sturdy run-of-the-mill riflemen of the Soviet Union, no sexy SMGs to be found here):

Could this be the end of the Russian infantry component to my 28mm collection (a collection I remember swearing never to start on several years ago)? I suspect not as there will always be little add on extras (my fellow wargamers laughed at me when I announced this). It was also pointed out to me that the official roster at the start of Barbarossa had "ten" Soviet riflemen to a squad. Have I a need for a second KV1/2? I wonder, but I think there are other nationalities I need to consider first!

54mm Russian Fun: Airfix Ivan

Well I have done 20mm (1/72 - 1/76), 1/200, 10mm, 15mm (1/100), 28mm so why not 54mm (1/32)? Some time ago I rescued this favourite childhood pose from my youngest sons toy collection and used it as a painting exercise - inspired from other bloggers (an Australian Dave comes to mind). I was quite pleased with the results. A Vallejo base-coat, brown wash and reapplication of the base plus a couple of highlights. The model is big enough for the sculpting to do the talking (see below, running across the Streets of Stalingrad perhaps):

A close-up look (see below, basic Russian Green helmet, English Uniform base with a Khaki highlight, Black Boots with a ting grey highlight and a little bit of extra time on the face (see below, a stern expression of determination methinks across his brow, it is a long road to Berlin):

Perhaps he could be of use in Tim Gow's 54mm games .. trouble is I don't think he has many friends left in good shape from the Toy Box!

Stalingrad (2): The Funeral Dirge on the Volga

I was without camera for my last game Chain of Command in the Stalingrad saga so instead of the usual chronological sequence of photos perhaps I can convey a sense of what happened ...

The sudden alarm convulsed "The Captain", he spat the sweet liquorice tea into the fire and stumbled forwards in a half daze waking from his reverie. The evil hiss of the fire, the sweet vapour of the tea and the deadening sense of urgency left a surreal feeling to his thought processes. He knew he was undone, his sentries had been lax and posted in the wrong place. The Germans had infiltrated into the very heart of his position and at this very moment were heading towards the banks of the Volga. The precious crossing points! The action was over before he had begun. To retreat was the only sensible option, but the cold logic of the day was simple. There was no place to retreat to. Out thought and out gunned they would still nevertheless have to attack with what they had to hand and it would be suicide. But so be it, that was the price to be paid and the Devil was doing the asking.

"The Captain" got to a vantage point. Already the dark figures, that unmistakable silhouette of the German Landser, were running down his left flank. All he could do was charge at them in whatever formation he could muster with whatever he could lay his hands on and hope to take some of them with them. Katya would not see him again. It would end here today he knew it. At this moment he knew he was already lost but the pain and indignation of being out thought by Fritz hurt the most. He pulled on this feeling of outrage and with a fire in his belly called "Hurrah" , raising his pistol defiantly skyward. The Siberian hat nearly fell from his head (not the photographic moment of Communist propaganda), he laughed maniacally. He ran and cared for nothing as the deadly buzzing of the bullets passed by, a German MG from the wreck of the Heinkel.

The Soviets caught "them" by surprise, as once they had past the Russian positions direct "line of sight" they thought they were safe. They relaxed. No one in their right mind would dare run across open ground covered by German MG42s. They laughed. This was a piece of cake, their easiest day in Stalingrad. They were the 'crack' ones and had caught the Russians with their pants down. They must have been facing kids, novices, amateurs. Then the expression of horror and shock was stuck on their faces, caught in a frozen moment of time as the blood curdling sounds of the Soviets swarming from all around them overwhelmed their senses. The horror erupted, bodies tumbled, men fell, in seconds two squads vanished. One Soviet, one German. The survivors clinging to rat holes and dead spots. The other 'baseline' Germans were also in shock. Their crack squad was gone. The Soviets simply had ran through the MG zone, the crew had fired high, caught a few but not enough. Things like that were not supposed to happen. It broke the rules. The Soviets are madmen!

Another German squad now had to run the gauntlet. Again, "Raus" and the Landsers came on. This time in the open Landsers fell, but they reached the house, but from the rat holes the Russian emerged and sniped, and hacked, and shot, and threw grenades\and then threw rocks. The path to the Volga was a trail of grey German corpses. Again the attack hung on the wire. Then as it happened, a nameless German NCO moved from the back, a veteran of Poland, of France of the early Russian Campaign. He saw and knew what had to be done. He ran with his section, gathered the other shocked and pinned Landsers together, rallied them, reduced their shock and pushed them forwards with curses to the Volga. His eyes were cold. The pitiful few Soviets remaining hurled curses. All was unwound, left with but a few rounds of ammunition they could only but watch. They had taken a pound of flesh from the Germans put two had been taken from them in return. They were bled white. "The Captain" turned to speak. As he turned the grenade exploded in front of him. He had fought hard, he had fought with mad valour but now he was helpless as he was lifted bodily into the air and knocked senseless. Grey shapes followed in after the explosion. They poked and prodded his body, searched him - were disgusted by his wretched smell. His final bullet would come another day, for today was his first day as a PoW, the Germans dragged him away. The interrogation would follow but The Germans needed to push forwards, one more house, one more street, they could hear the sound of the Volga. Was it their imagination or could they hear new waves of Russians, splashing ashore, their feet still wet from the crossing.

One more battle to come ... Ivan was waiting. Ivan was always waiting.

Stalingrad Campaign Reflections (1)

Captain Dorki spat in the direction of the Maxim MMG team as they headed back towards Company Head Quarters. "To hell with them, they sat on their arses and shot at shadows." Yes, they kept one half of the sector quiet as a mouse, even claimed to have killed a German officer in a house, but Dorki knew that bullets could not go through thick walls or turn corners. No German dared show his face to the MMG but as a consequence the other half of the sector had burned like hell and took too many of his men. Fifty per cent of his under strength platoon had fallen. The Germans had bled too but it was his troops he only cared for. "The Patrol" bad been bounced back towards the Volga and the Germans were sure to come again fast on their heels, following up their success sensing an easy victory. Damn them!

Dorki took a slug of Vodka and looked up at Lt Pasha. The man was the sole survivor from his squad. He looked broken, ashamed and confused. Dorki had literally run into him, in fact he had knocked Pasha down as he fled in terror from the "Hell House" - elite Panzer Grenadiers had fought his Rifle Section hand-to-hand, dying together in a not so elite fashion. The German's had just been quicker to follow up. For that Dorki blamed himself not Pasha. The man was a hero. In the trench Pasha's uniform was still smouldering from the fury of the German hand grenade attack. Dorki pushed his revolver across the table. Pasha looked terrified - what did his Commander expect him to do? Then it was it true, he was a coward as he feared. Dorki spoke with menace, "Pasha you have been to hell and seen the Devil himself, next time, you take my revolver and you put this bullet in his skull." With that Dorki held up a polished bullet, spat on it, cleaned it his faithful oily rag and handed it to Pasha. The transformed Pasha had eyes of steel, "Yes Comrade Dorki!" With that he turned and headed out down towards the Volga to round up badly needed troops.

Dorki mused. The Devil. He meant it specifically. That tall Aryan Devil. Dorki had caught a glimpse of his counterpart through the haze of battle and burned his features into his brain. He would meet him again. Next time he wouldn't let his men be pulled so easily into a close quarter fight in a house. After Pasha had fought the first combat, a bloodbath to both sides, he had lost Mendalev's squad exposed in a trench. He had left them too close to the house when the Germans followed up. He would have be be more careful, much more careful lest these "elite" Panzer Grenadiers slowly chew his men up piece-meal. He was in a dark mood. After fateful minutes Dorki's eyes met Romanov, a noble name to the most ignoble cold blooded killer Dorki had ever met. Romanov sat in the shadows, adjusted the sights on his sniper's rifle ever so slightly. Dorki had respect but no sympathy for The Devil, especially since Romanov had lost a good friend, a drinking friend, a true blood friend in Pasha's squad. "The Devil's mine" said Romanov and departed into the night. Dorki crossed himself an old habit still practised out of sight of the Commissars . 

The Stalingrad Campaign has Started

The Chain of Command action has started and casualties are mounting in Stalingrad:

Renko Blogspot:
 https://twtrb.blogspot.com/search/label/Stalingrad

Lardistan Blogspot:
http://rangoruk.blogspot.com/search/label/Stalingrad

It was a hard, harsh return to the Chain of Command ruleset!

Soviet Infantry 28mm - MMG (Maxim) Team

My Stalingrad Soviets are in dire need of support, so production of Maxim MG Teams has been decreed a priority ... moving over to the painting table and my Black Tree Design metal reinforcements (see below, sitting in their Pringle top cubical waiting for their turn):

Detail done on the gunner and loader, now to do the maxim (see below):

Painted up and based (extra detail to follow). It did not make the Stalingrad play-test game as I was only given two support points and this cost three. Its time will come (see below, eyes focused ahead looking for German targets):

What about the snipers, mortars and anti-tank and infantry support guns I hear you ask? A letter to comrade Stalin is required!

28mm Russian Soviet Infantry (aka The Russians are Coming!) - Last Stages of Painting

Slightly out of sequence as these are the boys that fought in Heroes Square in the last Chain of Command Game in the Stalingrad play test. How the platoon is looking (see below): 

The uniform has been highlighted up form Vallejo [as per all the other colours mentioned here] English Uniform, washed brown, painted again, mixed with Khaki Grey and then Khaki. The grey fur hat was washed with Smoke and Stone Grey then mixed with white for a highlight (see below):

The Soviet LMG (a metal model from Black Tree) was similarly painted and the webbing and leather belt pouches were given a one colour fits all: Flat Brown, Leather Brown then Red Leather. The "blanket" is German Camo Beige which is highlighted with Pale Blue (see below):

"Later in the day" after various other dibs and dabs had been applied including sand to the base we have the table ready artefact. I hummed and 'arred but finally decided to give the Russians "eyes". After all I am not going to be collecting many of these (see below):

This one is a little "bug-eyed" and needed a little (wash and flesh) touch up to calm them down (see below):

Getting close to completion. All that remains to do is the basing, a washed grey, highlight and then as an artistic touch stained with layers of various red, yellow, green, blue, black and brown washes. Just to make then difference from "grey" (see below):

The platoon is now pronounced "ready for Stalingrad" although it still looks light with support assets!

The Russians are Coming but Don't Panic... they are in 28mm (Painting Update: P4)

The 'first squad' is starting to take shape (see below, a fierce bossy sergeant):

Outside of the figures allocated for my three squads (yes three not four, I took casualties crossing the Volga) there are extras destined for "scenario supports" (see below, I have put them to the left hand side of the board):

The Vallejo paint runs (shade, base and highlight: Vallejo Model Colour) are coming together:

• Russian Summer Tunics and Siberian Padded Winter Jackets: British Uniform (921 shade), Khaki Grey (880 base), Khaki (988 highlight) 
• Russian Winter Coats: Russian Uniform Green (924 shade), 50% Yellow Green + 50% Russian Uniform Green (924 + 881 base), Yellow Green (881 highlight) 

I originally coloured all the belts and webbing Flat Earth (Vallejo Model Colour 983) and 'washed' over in Vallejo Sepia Wash (see below):

However I was not happy on this effect so instead I settled for:

• Leather Brown (871 shade), Flat Brown (984 base), Red Leather (818 highlight)

Bits and pieces:

• Wooden gun stocks were Vallejo Game Colour Charred Brown (shade/base) and Beasty Brown (base/highlight). 
• The Siberian hat was Vallejo Game Colour Black/Stone Grey (shade/base) and Stone Grey (dappled highlight). 
• The "Red Star" in teh middle of the hat was Vallejo Model Colour Read Leather (818): 

The Russian Soldier "comfort blanket" was Vallejo Model Colour:

• Grey Primer + Sepia Brown (shade), German Camo Beige (821 base), 50% Pale Blue + 50% German Camo Beige (907 + 821 Highlight) 

The metal gun parts were Vallejo Model Colour Gun Metal washed over in Sepia Wash and then lightly touched up in highlight (see below):

The 'first squad' seems to be 'coming to life' nicely. The flesh look was giving me problems so I experimented. Vallejo Model Colour Flat Flesh washed over in Flesh Wash, produced a rather "reddy" looking effect so I applied Flat Flesh again as a highlight, toning it down with a Sepia Wash and final Flat Flesh highlight (see below):   

The 'second squad' gather to get their Russian overcoats painted (see below):

The prone figures are a nice addition. I primarily use them for the LMG gunner and Number 2, along with a PTRD gunner (off camera). I particularity like the Vallejo "belt and webbing" colour run [Leather Brown, Flat Brown and Red Leather] I took from "The Flames of War" painting guides (see below, I think it works really well with the Russians):

Time to "factory paint" the rest of the troops as my painting deadline approaches!

The Russians are Coming but Don't Panic... they are in 28mm (Painting Update: P3)

In the Warlord games pack you get three squads (each of SMG Sarge, 2 LMG Team, 8 Rifle) and a Junior Leader (Lt), plus these extra "spares" [of which an additional 2 x 2 LMG Teams and 2 Flamethrowers Black Tree metals have been added]. That gives me an unused 'prone' infantry figure I made up as an anti-tank rifleman (PTRD), two extra SMGs and another Junior Officer (Lt). These can be pulled in from the Soviet Chain of Command "supports" list (see below):

The collection is coming along as seen below. Infantry squads are to the right and "extra" figures to the left. In total I have six LMG teams to fit into my "Stalingrad Order of Battle" (see below):

Time to add to the "shade" paint (Vallejo Model Colour: English Uniform) with a layer of "base" (Vallejo Model Colour Khaki Grey). The models look crude in the "shade" state but catch character quite quickly when adding "base" and "highlight" (see below):

Incrementally different areas add platoon coming to life. The few soldiers (in tunics) I errantly "shaded" with Vallejo Russian Uniform were washed in Vallejo Sepia and re-shaded in English Uniform, the "winter overcoats" are staying with the "Russian Green Uniform" look (see below):

A close up look at two of the more finished models (see below):

The figures are grouped into three wardrobe types for ease of the "factory painting" process. The first batch (squad) primary in summer tunics, the second squad is in the trademark Russian quilted winter jackets and the third squad wears the (Green) Russian winter overcoats (see below, the second squad):

The Russian Winter overcoats received a Vallejo Sepia brown wash to dull them down and make the recesses look shadowy and dirty (see below, the third squad):

With the "base" coat applied to the tunic area thoughts now bear on the 'light touch' highlight (Vallejo Model Colour Khaki). The key thing here is that I do not want to 'swamp' the figure as I have a tendency to do (see below, first squad is calling out for the highlight first):

I experiment with the highlights with a figure. Don't mess with the no nonsense LMG gunner. I took the opportunity to paint the blanket as to get a real feel of the figure.

Blanket: "Shade" Vallejo Model Colour German Camp Beige, "base" 50% Vallejo Model Colour German Camo Beige + 50% Vallejo Model Colour  Pale Grey Blue and "highlight" Vallejo Model Colour Pale Grey Blue

I am going to stick with this combination for the generic blanket and shoulder slung kit bags for my Russians (see below, I like the way he looks):

For that matter don't mess with the Sergeant armed with the SMG (see below, still have to play around with the flash tones on this one):

Next: Adding the "base" to the "shades" across all the kit in a Vallejo 'run of colours'.

The Russians are Coming but Don't Panic... they are in 28mm and 20mm (Painting Update: P2)

Alongside the big 28mm figures (to be fair still few in numbers) I have many of their little cousins in 20mm (let's not mention the unopened boxes of 15mm that were destined for a dual CrossFire and Flames of War project that has officially "stalled"), so while I was "at it" I primed up some "classic) Revell 20mm Russian (Summer) infatry in Airfix Acrylic (01). Notably the 'silly' one-leg in the air grenade throwing pose (see below, in my defence he is a rifleman and you need quite a lot of riflemen in the Soviet army): 

Along with the classic Revell, there were the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) 20mm figures (very nice, especially once you get them 'primed and washed' - I have high hopes for these [two packs, one of  'Summer Infantry' and one of 'Heavy Support Weapons']) and a pack of newer Revell Winter Infantry - with harder plastic (Note: Not the old "Skiing Siberians"). All told I have easily enough for a platoon of Revell "classics" supplemented with other metals to make up a platoon and the PSC to make another. With metal "odds and sods" helping out with the shortage of Russian LMG teams (see below, a mass of primed and washed plastics):

Meanwhile some 28mm Black Tree "specialists" are primed Airfix Grey, two LMG Teams and two flamethrowers (see below, with the much needed Maxim MMG, still in the pack):

The Plastic Soldier Company 20mm platoon lines up for inspection (see below, with the bigger 28mm Warlord Games boys off to the right):

The metals follow the plastics in the "factory" painting system. Even though most of the Vallejo Sepia Brown Wash (bar the brown deep in figures recesses) will be painted over, I do like how it brings the figure detail to life and 'guides' the eye for better painting (see below):

All told I have five Russian Squads in my Stalingrad OrBat (three squads being my depleted "core" as per my terrible casualty rolls for the campaign system, the two fuller squads will be possible extras I could pull depending on the scenario) and I am going through each squad in turn "shade painting" the figures areas. See below a bunch of 28mm Russians WIP on their "shade" [British Uniform] layer before going onto their "base" [Khaki-Grey] stage. I have to say they paint up very nice, although I am not a fast painter, I am savouring the experience albeit with an 'End of March' or lose the Stalingrad Factory 'through lack of troops' deadline (see below, no pressure then!):

I line them up in their squads and paint them one by one until I am done. As I have the paint out I give a covering of paint onto the 20mm soldiers as well, really just checking out that the "painting scheme" works out for both sizes (see below):

The first Plastic Soldier Company 20mm "squad" (see below, whereas I am focusing on the 28mm platoon I would like a sample 20mm squad painted up as well as a "guide"):

An overhead shot of the "painting table". My useful ex-ice-cream box of Russian paints can be seen top  left (see below):

So on with the factory Kanban! Bring up the next squad when the last one is done (see below, as I have said before .. the figures are animated and 'full of character'):

PS: Don't tell anyone but painting WWII in 28mm seems to be fun and helps me paint the same nationality with more assurance (certainly of colour palette) when I drop down to 20mm (and hopefully in 15mm too)!