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!

Stalingrad Play Test: Chain of Command (P4)

Several kills and a massive amount of shock "routs" the advanced (or should I say over advanced, aka "out on a limb") off the board. Lesson learned .. short-term gain can be long term pain. Still the Russian and German Force Morales have now levelled off. One thing about well-lead armies with lots of officers, there is plenty for the troops to think about when they start dropping like flies (see below, the Stalingrad "lost squad" memorial, just missing the empty MG42 ammunition casings):   

Nevertheless, if at first you don't succeed; try, try again! Another Soviet Squad emerges from the shattered timbers of "Pink Penguin House" utilising the ubiquitous 'smoke grenade' to cover itself from flanking fire (see below):

This time the large empty building is there target. The Russian Squad takes the Senior Leader with them to assist in extra activation commands. He also brings along his support weapon, the flamethrower, something I am itching to use in anger. Even the mention of the word causes a certain amount of disquiet and mutterings in the German ranks. There was some talk of 'leaving the flamethrower off-table as the perfect Russian 'ambush' to defend their exposed jump-off points" (more of that later). At this point both sides were approaching acquisition of their first "Chain of Command Dice" (see below):

Von Paul decided to take the "fools gold" on my right flank. An undefended Russian Jump-Off point. Taking that would trigger a "bad thing happening" Force Morale roll. Dutifully a German Rifle Team moved up to almost overrun (just a little bit of slowing terrain stopped them). This allowed the Russian to (at the third attempt - because with their Senior Leader off table it is 50-50 if the team/squad comes on) deploy. As the Germans are so close, they deploy into a bitter life and death "close combat" with the German Rifle Team. This is a real pity for the Germans have two MG42s on overwatch across the other side of "Heroes Square". The Soviets have the numbers and try to stoke up the odds with a couple of hand grenades but alas they miss and it goes straight to the point of the bayonet (see below):

The German Rifle Team is massacred in the hand-to-hand fighting but before loud songs of jubilation can be started on the Russian side, in taking the German position they find themselves embroiled in a second even deadlier "close combat". This time it is but a small MG42 team that had been powerless to help their fellow  rifles because of the close intermingling of bodies. Only three men but they are  in "hard cover". The factors are tallied up and both sides will throw lots of dice. The Germans are harder targets (being in hard cover) but the Russians are in the "open street" (see below):

Good German dice and poor Russian dice means that it is the Soviet Squad that is now massacred and a wounded officer left staggering back to the Command Post (to my utter disbelief and astonishment ... argh) and the Germans are barely scratched - statistically it should have been mutual annihilation. That my friends is Stalingrad close quarter fighting turning seemingly on a whim of fate, brutal and attrition. The Force Morale drops for both sides but not sufficient to break either side yet. The game has to be called for the night a brutal draw with the Germans in a slight lead body wise but the flamethrower is being brought up to "torch" something. The Germans only have 'one' Rifle Team active but 'six' (count them) MG42s active. Defensively they are very strong, but small three man MG teams have to be careful if they advance forward. The German Senior Leader is now controlling the baseline Squad's surviving two MG42 teams on the right German flank so it will be hard for him to help push forwards. The Russians have two active Squads in the middle with that 'interesting' support weapon poised to discharge (see below, the last I saw of my fourth Squad before the MG42 gave off a death rattle):

For me it was a night of hard lessons learned and missed opportunities. Deploying your forces early is so tempting but the powerful Germans seemed to be prematurely fixed. If they had thrown caution to the wind the German Patrol could have overrun two of the Russian Jump-Off points. However I was not without fault, a German Rifle Team for a Russian Full Squad is probably a bad trade. It was also pointed out to me afterwards the Soviets had missed a golden opportunity. If the Russian Flamethrower had been kept back it would have been in a perfect place to "Ambush" (Chain of Command style) the German Rifle team out in the open, albeit as they tried to get away they would have had to run the gauntlet of the overwatch German MG42 teams. I think I now appreciate the potential power of the Chain of Command dice. Likewise "keeping a reserve" is a must.

The Stalingrad Campaign awaits ... 

Stalingrad Play Test: Chain of Command (P3)

The Soviets deployed to the Germans right, stacking two full squads against a rifle team. True there was a bit of harassing fire from across the square but the designated assault squad was covered by a smoke grenade. The squad in "Pink Penguin House" laid down covering fire as their comrades advanced (see below):

The result if this was "no kills" but shock placed on the targeted German rifle team (see below):

The Germans were content to move there MG42's around to get better positions and laying down speculative fire which caused a few casualties in "Pink Penguin House" and shock on the assault squad (see below):

Then came the interesting bit as the in next Russian phase they throw two sixes in their Command Dice so I know I am getting a flip-flop. More covering fire is laid down as the assault squad "does a dash" (3d6 inches - sustaining a shock for the disorder caused). If they throw well they are in close combat range for the Russian flip-flop (see below): 

Looking promising, a roll of seven or more on three dice should see them in. Von Paul looks on helplessly as none of his precious MG42s are on 'overwatch' (see below):

The assault goes in, with grenades been thrown by the Soviet to add insult to injury. I now get to see and feel my first Chain of Command "close combat". Something I think I should get used to for the Stalingrad Campaign battles (see below): 

The results are brutal for the Germans as they lose a team (morale roll for a 'bad thing' happening and a Junior Leader, another morale roll for [another] 'bad thing' happening). However in consolidating the ground I now see myself as the focus of attention for three MG42 teams and it is the Germans to go next! This could be a rather fleeting Phyrric victory (see below): 

Rather than being unnerved, Von Paul seemed rather keen and eager to exact his revenge on the overstretched Soviets directly in his sights! 

Stalingrad Play Test: Chain of Command (P2)

My Soviet heroes are a basic WWII Russian Infantry Platoon, detailed courtesy of the Too Fat Lardies Russian OoB supplement; basically by this time in the war the numbers of "rifles" were starting to thin down in each squad from 8-9 to 6-7, with the range dependant on if you include the spare rifle in the LMG team (see below, a 1942 Soviet Rifle Platoon with a smattering of supports I have to choose from. In the end I went for a 'dangerous' flamethrower team):

The Soviet "jump off points" are placed. All-in-all, I think my opponent Paul, or "Von Paul", out-foxed me as I seem rather squished in the middle with my right flank "hanging in the air"! This after all in a learning experience, "Welcome back to Chain of Command" - I better go read these rules again (see below):

I am rather worried about this nasty little advanced German jump-off marker. One of my key objectives seems to already be in enemy hands! Not good! (see below): 

The Germans have a solid baseline building and an exposed bunker position on their right (my left). I don't think anybody will be brave or crazy enough to run across "Heroes Square" for fear of becoming a dead person - also I am still worried about my right flank (see below): 

So annoyingly the Germans have outplayed me in the Patrol Phase and are positioned in an advantageous Jump Off position that weakens my right flank (I seem to be getting fixated on this, best stop it). Not only that, Von Paul gains the initiative and rolls a bevy of squad deployments. Which means he has a squad on each of his Jump-Off points. No quick wins here! I have a crescent of angry Germans facing me with MG42s hard cover. This prompts me to deploy to the left and concentrate on what I perceive to be the Germans one weak position. I deploy a squad into what I call from now on "Pink Penguin House" (see below)

This Russian Squad's target is the rifle section from one of Von Paul's "large" three-team German Pioneer Squads (one rifle section and two MG42 teams, it's Panzer Grenadier plus!). Thankfully they have "previous" battle casualties (Von Paul has chosen to take his Campaign 'Toon for a 'run-out' whereas I am going for a fresh Soviet Platoon just to get a handle on how the Soviets play) so they are a Landser down here and there, not that I noticed (see below, these rifles are deemed in "light cover" to are my best target):     

Time now to set things off with a little bit of shooting. I am slightly disquieted at the thought I might not even get all of my troops on if Von Paul "gets the dice" and is aggressive. My Jump-Off points may be overrun before I know it! The Infantry Commander's mantra is after all "Am I being aggressive enough?" 

Stalingrad Play Test: Chain of Command (P1)

The "ad-hoc" Stalingrad terrain. Here you see an empty (of troops) "Heroes Square". It was nice to see terrain bits (craters, ruined bunkers and entrenchments) dating back to 1994 when I was a wee slip of a lad in Aberdeen (see below, seen looking from the Russian trenches across the grey pavements):

Checking out the Russian left flank, the big building is an obvious go to point (see below):

The Russian right flank and again a "must have" big ruined building (see below):

So after the intense "symbol moving" of the Patrol Phase everything gets fixed in sort of place (see below):

Ready for the action to begin and assign the jump-off markers!

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'.