AHPC 16: Dystopian Wars: Russian Fleet Reinforcements

A small Cruiser Squadron to reinforce my growing Russian Dystopian Wars fleet. After a couple of weeks away from the Hobby bench (for the best of reasons!) its was nice to get these finished to meet this week's deadline.

Disclaimer: I have used AI to generate a more contextural background.
The models themselves are unchanged and are my own work.

Like the rest of my fleet these are an Ebay rescue, and as a bonus they came with nicely magnetised turrets. I've painted them up in more grungy wartime colours to contrast with the rest of my Fleet. I used historical paint schemes again, this time from the Russo-Japanese war. I think of these ships as offensive night patrollers - going out to screen the main force against marauding torpedo boats

This looks good

But this looks better!

Submitted to AHPC 16 here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/from-paul-og-russian-cruiser.html

AHPC 16: Dystopian Wars: Russian Coalition Fleet

Happy New Year everyone! Starting my 2026 Hobby in the best way - newly painted models!

Comrade James and I have been planning a Dystopian Wars renaissance and while the new rules by War Cradle Studios are much improved, I much prefer the older Spartan games era ships in their highly detailed resin. These are quite bit smaller in scale to the newer plastic ones and don't mix well so I'm staying with resin, though they are getting harder to find.

Yes the background is AI generated but how cool is it!

A few years ago I bought a painted Prussian Fleet at CANCON Bring & Buy, and James has a few others of his own, namely Brittanic, Covenant of Antarctica and American. New chum David also has some VERY NICE Brittanic plus Italian States fleets too! Surely this would be enough?

So with this post I start another fleet: Russians! Obvious really....

These are an ebay rescue - a modest fleet for a small battle, and I'm naturally planning expansions. All painted in colours of the (real world) Russian Imperial Navy Pacific Fleet of the pre-dreadnought period.

Moskva Class Dreadnought looks like a floating citadel more than a ship! This is large enough to fit in the Admiral's voluminous drink cabinet and dining set.

Borodino class Battleship -the manufacturer proudly states that "this industrial nightmare will forever haunt the ambitions of anyone who dares cross the path of the Russian Coalition". 

3 Suvorov Cruisers - "the harsh, unbending anvil against which foes are crushed" - characteristically subtle

9 Novgorod frigates "operate in a radically different fashion to the majority of frigates around the world, boasting a curious circular hull that affords it unmatched manoeuvrability." These guys provide AA and close range support for the bigger ships.

Submitted to AHPC16 here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/from-paul-og-dystopian-wars-russian.html

Painting Notes

Undercoated in White, and washed in thinned Nuln oil (GW)

Contrast for the decks and then planks re painted with Zandri dust (GW)

Hulls worked back to the Celestra White (GW) using a makeup sponge. 

Funnel stacks are Averland Sunset washed in Reikland Fleshshade (both GW)

Dystopian Wars- Kingdom of Brittannia

Been a while, but thought I would take the opportunity to share some work-in-progress pics of my Kingdom of Brittannia Fleet for the steampunk game Dystopian Wars, by Spartan Games. Paul introduced me to Spartan Games through Uncharted Seas, their first offering which is a fantasy naval combat game. When they released Dystopian wars, which is a game of sea,air and land warfare in an 1850's steampunk version of Earth, I lept into it with both feet. The game uses the same mechanics regardless of the type of units, so the gunnery and movement rules for your naval units are the same for your land units. Makes the game very versatile, and the air units are quite well handled, sufficient complexity to demonstrate their utility, but without unnecessary book keeping.
It is one of the few mini games I know of that enables you to fight a complete sea to land engagement, with all types of units being accurately represented. (well, as accurate as steampunk can be!)

These are my painted units so far, and I wouldn't call any of them finished but definitely table ready. Craig of the D6 Generation recently stated that the minis really reward you for any effort in their detail and finished look, and I agree totally, I'm not the worlds best painter but I like how most of these are coming out.

My in progress carrier, HMS Argonaut

My pair of Vanguard Class submarines,HM Ships Victory and Vengeance, surfaced

The flagship, the Majesty Class Dreadnought, HMS Monarch. (with aft turreted painted as Commodore pennant to indicate Commodores Flagship)

My Ruler Class Battleship HMS Retribution

3 of my 9 Attacker CLass Frigates, HM Ships Ardent,Attack and Ambush

I'll post more shortly, but thats to whet the appetite. The other great thing about Dystopian Wars is that a starter fleet costs about $50, AUS and US, and it gives you tiny flyers as well (pics to follow) that are your fighters,dive bombers, torpedo bombers and recon/spotter planes. The starter fleets are well rounded, and quick to paint up.

I'll give an overview of gameplay in another post in due course.