Granted 'massed' in a relative term, but the positive comments on the Jaegers post prompted me to take pics of the combined Russian Infantry I have painted this year:
3 Battalions (2 Line,1 Jaeger) plus 2 units of skirmishers to screen them, and a couple of Command figures
Each battalion is 32 figs for a total of 110 figures all together.
| Advance! Skirmishers to the flanks! |
Mix of Great War Miniatures and Warlord. Group bases are 80x40mm
Earlier this during (during AHPC) I completed the first two battlaions for my Crimean War Russian army
https://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2026/03/crimean-war-russian-line-infantry.html
Since then I've been working on a unit of Jaegers to join them: four bases of 8 figs, plus 6 individual skirmishers. Hobbying has been very start/stop lately due to a lot of work travel, so it feels good to complete them.
Russian Infantry Regiments of the period comprised four battalions: 2 Line Infantry and 2 Jaegers (with all Battalions having four companies). The Jaegers were akin to British Light Infantry, similarly armed to the line infantry but trained in more mobile tactics. Where the Line Infantry had white webbing, the Jaegers had black and invariably favoured the field caps over helmets.
These are all Great War Miniatures metal figures, so the unit has some nice heft! They are nice figures but, unlike the plastic Warlord figures I used previously, there is little variation amongst the troops.
Modelling note: The green that the Russian Jaegers used at the time was much darker, but in testing it looked just black at usual gaming distances, so I've scaled it back a few shades to give a better look on the table.
This brings my Russian force to 12 units of infantry and 2 of skirmishers. I'll turn now to some Cavalry units as the next focus.
Thanks for looking!
| Skirmishers to the Flanks! |
Presenting my first two Russian battalions for my 28mm Crimean War project. While the Russian Army of the time was renowned for having largest cavalry contingent on the continent, Infantry still made up the bulk of the Army. These are typical Line Infantry battalions of a Regiment, each of which fielded 4.
| Two Battalions with Regimental officers advancing in Attack columns |
| 1st Battalion (white shoulder tabs) - all in helmets |
I enjoyed a good dose of the inevitable "basing dilemma", badly overthinking it before deciding to go with groups of poorly drilled troops with intermingled casualties, representing both bad training and a stoic intent to get to grips with the invaders regardless of cost! Groups of 8 figs make a line unit in Sharp Practice and I figured that four units per Battalion would give some good 'visual heft' as the attack columns advance.
| 2nd Battalion (red shoulder tabs) with mixed helmets and forage caps |
Figures are mostly plastic Warlord figs with some metal models by Great War Miniatures mixed in. The former are relatively monopose, but the seperate heads let you impart some great character with modest turns. The latter are wonderful sculpts and mixing them in gives a more dynamic look. Colours by Battle-Flag.com
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This project was to be a full Regiment of 4 Battalions plus an artillery and a troop of Cossack cavalry but when real life got in the way I opted to not sacrifice quality just to 'get it done'. I really enjoyed building them and the rest will follow post Challenge.
| The army grows! |
These units and their Regimental Officers tally 67 foot and 1 mounted figure - my biggest submission of this Challenge to take me across my 500 point target line. Just in time!
Submitted to the Challenge here:
https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/from-paulog-russians-of-crimean-war-345.html
Painting Notes
Zandri Dust spray undercoat
Greatcoats - Lavado Sepia Shade (Game Wash), Zandri dust drybrush
Trousers - Dead White (Game Color), Apothecary White contrast (GW)
Boots - thinned Corvus Black (GW)
Straps - Ulthuan Grey (GW), then white highlights
Muskets - Oak Brown (Warpaints Fanatic)
Skin - Pale Flesh (Game Color 72003), Reikland Flesh Shade (GW)
Collars - Mephiston red (GW)
Swords - black base coat, Warpaints Leather Brown, Gold hilt
Shoulder Boards
Light Blue = GW Ice Blue
Red = GW Mephiston Red
White = Dead White (Game Color)
Backpacks - oak brown (army painter)
Bedrolls - Celestra grey GW
Staff Officer in green frockcoat
Basecoat - 50/50 Yellow Olive (mode
Colour 892) / Guarsian Green (Warpaints)
Wash - game colour green ink (72.089)
Highlight - waaagh flesh GW
Basing
Group infantry bases: 80x40mm
Individual figs on flat 25mm rounds (Renedra)
Battlefield Accessories Ground compound mix
Wash with 50/50 thinned GW Agrax
Drybrush highlight - GW Zandri dust
Defending the Motherland from foreign invaders is quite a (historical) Russian tradition, and so I start my Russian Crimean War army, ready to Resist the those interfering British, French and other tag-along stooges who have landed on Russian soil!
| Za Rodinu! Za Tsarya! (For the Motherland! For the Tsar!) |
I had intended this to be a more fulsome "first battalion" reveal but unfortunately, impacts of world events said no. But a start is a start, so here is a stout Russian Officer leading a few feisty skirmishers to defend the Rodina - and after months of planning and painting I'm pleased to get the first batch posted!
| Regrettably, I didn't get a chance to setup a nice photo shoot for them. Apologies! |
The 6 musketeers are metal figs by Great War Miniatures, and the Officer is a Warlord metal sculpt- together they form a light infantry unit in Sharp Practice plus a basic level leader.
Their brave but poorly trained friends will make an appearance soon!
Submitted to the AHPC16 "Resistance" Bonus Round here:
https://analogue-hobbies-theme-rounds.blogspot.com/2026/03/resistance-by-paul-og-russian-crimean.html
Aficionados of this blog may recall that I did a unit of French Grenadier Garde to start a Crimean War project (...almost 2 years ago now):
https://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2024/01/ahpc-14-french-grenadiers.html
Well its about time to get them somebody (Historical this time) to fight on the tabletop!
Planning this to be a project for AHPC 16. I really missed the challenge last year so hope to participate in a limited way this time around (hard to call it "Winter" in Hawai'i!)
First post of the year and its great to be participating in AHPC 14 for my 10th Challenge! This year my target is a curiously specific 603 points, which is what I need to get me to 8,000 lifetime points.
| "Mon dieu! Tre magnifique!" say the swooning Mesdemoiselles! |
My Season 14 opening salvo is the start of my new Crimean War project. I'm starting with a French Brigade, and the Grenadier Garde is up first! As a larger, well equipped battalion it musters 36 Guardsmen and Officers.
| Allons enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! |
Why the red bases you might ask? Because they will serve on Mars for our Space 1889 VSF campaign first - obvious really! Once thats done I'll redo the bases for a more routine deployment to the Crimea.
| Their features are wonderfully sculpted - doing them some measure of justice was a challenge! |
Models are by Great War Miniatures, distributed via Northstar. Painted in classic triad style - no speed/contrast paints were harmed in the making of this unit. I also discovered a new technique for painting small buttons - a toothpick! (Thanks for the tip John, and for the emergency flag resupply!)
| A Brigade Commander's view of their march to Victory! |
So off the mark with a 36 figure mini-bomb @ 5 points each, plus 20 points for shelving in the History section. You can see my entry at the AHPC blog here:
https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/01/from-paulog-vive-la-garde-200-points.html