Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Tim Haslam on July 31, 2020, 01:46:48 PM
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I did see a video of a guy converting the 'old Wargames factory Soviet infantry. But I don't think that's an option now?
Just wondering if there is anything available for maybe WWI that would fit?
Suggestions please!
Ta
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If you're looking for a "good enough" force with minimal sculpting then Soviet figures with reshaped helmets may work. The Warlord Games ones are overized enough that modifying the rim a bit will give a similar apperance to the ones the Bulgarians used.
But I'd recommend doing research into what uniforms they used and their helmets. They may have had units equipped with foreign produced helmets that are more easily available. Along with them potentially having used foreign rifles as well (companies out there do White Russians in German service - who used Soviet uniforms, which may be a place to start).
It would be how you paint them along with what vehicles they use and their insignia which makes them distinct. I'd look for every opportunity to make them more "Bulgarian" than their donor figures. Particularly with Officer's uniforms and support weapons. Albeit admitedly on the Eastern Front the Axis used tonnes of captured equipment too.
Oh, and what year of the war they're being represented in would be relevent too. I.e. Pre or Post joining the Allies. I'm not clued up on what the Bulgarian equipment system was like late in the war, however there's examples that they at least started painting stars on their vehicles (like the Romanians did - so as not to confuse their new allies).
Where possible, find a book with pictures covering Bulgarian involvment in the war. You may see photographs of their soldiers wearing uniforms which you wouldn't otherwise find whilst searching Google or Pinterest. I.e. wearing ponchos, jackets, camo, etc. I'm assuming that you're wanting to depict them in a temperate environment rather than the Winter too (otherwise just stick them all in great coats and worry about the helmets).
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You might want to contact Great Escape Games as I believe they are planning a range of Bulgarian infantry in the near future (don't know when) to compliment their other Balkan ranges.
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Good point, I've already got there Greek figures and I love them.
Thanks chaps
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Good news chaps,
Apparently Bulgarians from Great Escape Games are closer to release than perhaps expected!
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I would convert them from Albanian troops lol
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Just do a reversal of Candide and use SYW Prussians as proxies. It it was good enough for Voltaire.... :D
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Great escape games have announced a kickstarter for Bulgarians https://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/online-store/gegstarter-bulgaria (https://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/online-store/gegstarter-bulgaria) via their newsletter.
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Personally, that would be a more interesting prospect if they were in Cold Weather uniforms. Though most collectors represent their figures in Summer uniforms, so maybe I'm a niche. And having the standard uniforms as a baseline does mean that you can add some variety to a Winter force with guys who haven't been issued warm clothing (or go ahead and sculpt on some fur coats made in the field).
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I have laid my hands on two pre-production samples of the forthcoming 28mm range of Bulgarians from Great Escape Games. I've posted a couple of pictures up on my blog of the under-coated miniatures (https://fortheloveofterrain.blogspot.com/2020/12/new-28mm-bulgarian-infantry.html).
When I have finished painting them, which I will hope will be tonight, I will post up some more photos so that you can see what they look like.
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While it’s hard to complain about manufacturers bringing us new and ever more exotic toys, those look like a bit of a miss. The helmet is the most distinctive aspect of the Bulgarian uniform and the sculptor really hasn’t captured it at all well. Similar thing with their range of Danes. I just wish GEG would invest a bit more time getting the details right as new ranges are always welcome.
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@carlos - I sort of get what you mean, but I don't think the ridge on the Bulgarian helmet was particularly prominent especially when compared to the Belgian or French helmet.
Maybe it was the undercoated model that didn't highlight that there is a ridge? I've finished painting them and can confirm that there is a ridge, which I feel is proportionate to the IRL version. I'm basing my opinion on looking at photos of helmets, but it is only my opinion. ;-)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P77CzoCMqKA/X9n4MwI3_TI/AAAAAAAABeU/-85IaSL75JE_EutnUJB4AOZcK-xbK3suwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Bulgarian%2Brifles%2Bfront%2Bpainted.jpg)
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It’s not what you call the ‘ridge’ that’s off to my eye, it’s the overall shape. The M36 came in a variety of modified forms with the vast bulk of production being the so called Type C variant from 1939 on with a foreshortened rim and somewhat simplified details. All three types have a distinctly rounded shape to them. The GEG version looks like the sculptor has viewed, perhaps dimly through a veil, the Soviet M1936 helmet and concluded it’s the same thing and possibly made out of felt. Anyway just an opinion.
For reference sake an early (Type A) and later (Type C) M36 helmet, both pre-war types, the latter being the most common.
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I see what Carlos means. The GEG ones appear more reminiscent of early Soviet helmets than they do of the Bulgarians'.
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Just do a reversal of Candide and use SYW Prussians as proxies. It it was good enough for Voltaire.... :D
That would be the best of all possible worlds
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I ended up using Wargames Atlantic plastic WWI Germans for my project.
Mixed in a few later weapons etc, from Warlord WWII German packs.
Very happy with the result. Nice chunky figures which is a style I like.
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I'd looked at the Wargames Atlantic Germans for Bulgarians too. It seems more down to how you want to represent the webbing on whether those figures would be suitable. I'm sure that the Bulgarians also used some form of Stalhelm as well making using those Germans easier. Additionally that you aren't just repainting some WWII era Germans makes them using non-original Bulgarian figures less of an issue than you tend to see with those using other figures to represent other Nation's uniforms. As you see with folk thinking they can get away with say painting some Soviets up and calling them Romanians. But I would consider mixing in some Bulgarian specific - or at least not so commonly modelled German equipment.
Sourcing alternative Machine Guns - even if its Brens done up as Czech guns would help. They did use the MG-34 of course. But Some ZB vz.26 would be more visually interesting (Colonel Bills Wargames Emporium does loose brens). I believe I've seen loose MP-18s too, which could work as stand ins for Czech ZK-383s. Though the WWI uniforms would be different enough from bog standard Germans that you could get away with MP-40s if they're easier to source (my main concern would be the Wargames Atlantic figures having the right pistol grip holding arms. They'd have plenty of rifle ones for the ZK-383s). The same would go for support weapons. You may be able to modify the MG-08s which come with that set as Schwarzlose Machine Guns for instance - or just one of the Great Escape MG teams.
I'd had a go at making some of those Bulgarian helmets in the past using Warlord Soviet ones. Its a process of shaving down some areas and add more prominent rims to others (along with some bolts). For a platoon's worth of figures that's time consuming, though even a few mixed in would be enough to again help stepping away from the figures being repainted Germans. :)
I suppose vehicles is also a way to sell the force. Whilst Germany used all sorts of vehicles - most Wargames go for the more common ones. So perhaps field a few more unusual vehicles with obvious Bulgarian markings.
Sorry if this is coming across as a primer more than me just spit balling a bit. You aren't the first person I've came across this week wanting to do Bulgarians, ah, but it does help at least that you're looking for at least historical accuracy by going for similar uniforms. ;)
Oh, and you could always do some Bulgarian paratroopers. They were pretty much German ones barring different helmets, light machine guns, and camouflage pattern. They didn't make any actual jumps either - so would just be an infantry force.
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Just thought folk might be interested that Eureka have cast up separate heads wearing the WW2 Bulgarian helmet, so if you are looking to do conversions. They complement the other head sets: Adrian helmets, Tommy helmets, Czech helmets which also come as the helmet aline sans head if desired.
They aren’t likely to be the web store as yet, I just saw and picked some up today.