Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Verderer on 07 December 2011, 01:58:32 PM
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Here's the first batch of some 100 Winter War type Russians. Did some experimenting with winter bases and trying to sort good colours for the mantels and shlems. The ruddy shlems look more like picklehaube but I wasnt' gonna go converting 100 minis, no way no how.
(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3458/ivan2o.jpg)
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9857/ivan3.jpg)
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5076/ivan4j.jpg)
Pics are kinda crappy, sorry about that. I really need to sort out proper lights for shooting pics.
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Nicely done there fella :) The shlems look good to me. But I love the bases. the snow is fantactic!!
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I agree the painting and the snow looks great!
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The figures look damn fine to me.
Winter War is interesting to me.
Will be following where this leads.
Could you please tell us what did you use for snow?
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100? I can only count 20! ;)
Could you share which manufacturer the figures are from?
Also what material you used for the snow?
They look great and I'll be following this with interest as I have many figures and vehicles for a (28 mm) Winter War project waiting in the lead mountain.
Cheers, Andy
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Thanks people, I will try to keep the momentum and paint in small batches. Hence only 10 minis for now....That way the job won't seem so big. I have some tanks and other vehicles waiting for painting, plus of course a force of Finns too. These minis are by Combat Miniatures, I think. They're available from Stonewall at least. They have lots of character, but they're not without their faults of course.
The bases were really just an experiment which turned out quite nice, even if I say so myself. The pics make them look a bit too lumpy and two dimensional because of the material used. This is what I did:
1. Used sand and glue to flock the bases normally, and the painted them earth tone brown.
2. Applied some cyanoacrylate aka. super glue here and there on the base where I want some snow. I used an older bottle of gel type stuff which seems to have gone a bit off, since it doesn't bond metal too well anymore. Waste not, want not! It's perhaps better to use gel, so the glue won't run all over your fingers etc. Also don't apply too much at a time you can layer this stuff with stage 3.
3. While the super glue is still wet, dunk the base in a cup of baking soda. This makes the glue react with the soda very quickly with several effects: The glue hardens pretty quickly, and it forms a hazy (or frosty) body with the baking soda. As it dries so quick and is sucked into the soda, it's great for building up the snow around the feet of the model etc. With the quick dry up, you can build layers quickly. Another bonus is that the frosty texture looks a bit like icy snow, or slush, so you can leave this showing at places. Likewise, if you leave some places where there is only dryied glue, it would look like ice? Anyways.
4. After building the base as I want, I covered the whole base with a layer of satin varnish. I did this because I wasn't sure how the baking soda & superglue mix would react with the next stage. Also, I have heard that with time the soda might turn yellow, but I don't have any first hand experience on this.
5. Ok, the final stage. I applied sating varnish here and there where I wanted proper white snow surface. Then, while the varmish is still wet, I plopped the base into a cup containg the 'snow' powder*. This doesn't cause a reaction like the super glue and & baking soda, instead it acts pretty much like a regular flock, ie. sticks to the varnish and dries out white.
*In this case I used a product called Magic Snow which I bought from Grey Funnel Line in Germany a couple of years back, but I am not sure if that is available anymore? In any case, it's kinda fine powdery scenic snow, in texture it's not unlike baking soda, in fact. It says on the tin to contain aluminum oxide, which is why used a layer of varnish first. I am not sure if it won't react with the baking soda & super glue mix. Probably not, but better be safe than sorry? If there are some chemisty jockeys among you, please let me know. Or I could just mix the three and watch the flames...
As to the final stage with Magic Snow, I am guessing you can easily replace it with the regular baking soda? Would probably work as well with white glue or varnish etc. Like I said, this was just an experiment, and is not meant as definitive guide. Bu you will notice that no paint was used other than to paint the base brown in the beginning, so the shadows and highlights are result of the materials layered on each other. I feel the base looks more natural that way compared with merely painting the base with white etc.
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Very characterful - I like these very much :D
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Nice work, Verderer. I have always found the Winter War interesting simply because the Russians seemed so inept at everything that you would think they would excel at. Whoa, convoluted sentence!
Anyway, be sure to post Finnish troops when you get them up.
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Verderer,
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I have some of the snow "flock" from Woodland Scenics, but your bases look superb, so I may try your method instead!
Cheers, Andy
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You're welcome, and the added advantage is that these bases will endure pretty much anything, they're tough.
I forgot to say I may yet paint the red rifles collar tabs on the overcoats, but on some of these minis the area round the collar tips is pretty crowded and it's hard to get a brush in there without messing things up.
Will try to paint a new batch this weekend hopefully 20 odd more.
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Painted 12 +1 (don't ask) soldiers this time:
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/3973/ivan6.jpg)
Closer look:
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9012/ivan7.jpg)
And all of them together, does this qualify as a smallish horde?
(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8783/ivan5.jpg)
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Did a couple of SHQ Russian light support vehicles to break up the tedium of painting infantry, and to try out some techniques. I don't usually base my vehicles, but I thought it appropriate for this project. I need to polish the basing technique a bit for vehicles, it seems. It wasn't as easy as with infantry.
(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4788/t26m313.jpg)
(http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/4111/t26m312.jpg)
(http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/5448/t26m31.jpg)
(http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4968/ba6h.jpg)
(http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/8430/ba62.jpg)
(http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4599/ba63.jpg)
Together with some infantry:
(http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/984/gruppet.jpg)
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Fantastic stuff V. Great painting and weathering on the vehicles :D Nicely done
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My enthusiasm for painting was dimished a little, as I tried to entice some companies to sell me some infantry (Tumbling Dice, I am looking at you!) But just to show I haven't been idle on this project, I've been busy buying, assembling and priming some serious hardware. Here's some shots of the assembly line:
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1802/factory1.jpg)
(http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1892/factory2.jpg)
A bunch of SHQ and Frontline hardware for Soviet tracks. The SHQ tanks are 5x BT5, 5x T26, 2x T28, and a couple of trucks, a Komintern tractor and a 203mm cannon fro some bunker busting. The Frontline tanks are more BT5s and T26s. I wanted to buy these to make some wrecks, because they're so cheap. No sense wasting those expensive metal tanks for that, is there? Pity they come with closed hatches though.
The photo below shows that the Frontline t26 is actually pretty much smaller than the SHQ equivalent. The height is partly due the Frontline tank not glued together, so the hull is resting on the track units. But the SHQ one is also several millimetres longer.
(http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8113/t26comp.jpg)
Then a real cute BA20 AC. These might be pretty new to SHQ, at least I don't remember seeing them before. The model is pretty good with sharp details (indicating a new mold?) Ain't she purdy? lol
(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6158/ba20.jpg)
And finally some real life reference from Parola tank museum:
(http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1518/t28m.jpg)
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Saga continues, I started making some wrecks, using the cheap Frontline models. From what I have read, the tank wrecks were actually factor in the battle for the Mannerheim line, because they severely obstructed the Finns' MGs shooting from the bunkers. Soviets tanks actually did on purpose drive their tanks just in front of the bunkers to block the MG's LOS, to protect their infantry. And when tanks got destroyed (and the Finns did destroy many), the ground in front of the bunkers was littered with wrecks. So I mean doing these for a specific purpose in the game, not just for window dressing.
When I examined some shots of tank wrecks, it became obvious that the Frontline tanks (and indeed the SHQ tanks) would not be ideal as wrecks, simply because they're very simplified models, and all their hatches are modelled closed (the same with the SHQ T-26 and BT-5),. In fact, the only tanks I got with open turret hatch are the T-28, a single Milicast BT-7, and the armoured cars. So I solved the dilemma, I would do my own turrets with open hatches! Scratch building isn't too hard really, as the turrets are pretty basic in shape and detail, and they're almost the same for the BT-5 and the T-26, or at least the differences are negligable in the models at this scale. Anyways, open turrets would be one way to portray the rubbish heaps that the tanks have become. Of course, not all of them were blown into pieces, and I assume damage from Molotov Coctails, AT guns, 'kasapanos' and mines would look somewhat different. So I will try to make them each look maybe a little different. Not all need open hatches, if the crew didn't escape, for example.
But to cut a long story short, here's two progress pics of the turrets:
(http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8753/turret2s.jpg)
(http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3265/turret1.jpg)
I will make 7 turrets, and maybe put one of them on the 'live' tanks because as I have said, they dont' have too many open hatches. I am not sure if I will bother with the gun breech in the interior? It won't show much. But maybe do one to see how it looks.
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Your project is coming along nicely. My own was abandoned ages ago due to XYZ.
Great work and will keeping watching for further updates.
Cheers,
Helen
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Thanks Helen, I will endevour to persevere... I am returning back to modelling after a long pause. I dunno why I had modelling burnout, too many projects or too big projects, or maybe my real life was taking its toll? Anywhoo, I am determined to see this to the end. This time its personal... :D
Good thing my miniature acquisition syndrome didn't take a hit while I was burned out on painting, now I have minis and kits to last till my twilight years.
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Managed to do some work on the gun breeches and mantlets. After I get these sorted, I only need to do the hatches and other small details, and the turrets are done. Can then move on to the hulls.
(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/3857/gunbreech.jpg)
A very rudimentary gun breech and mantlet construction, plus the other breeches in various stages of completion. I merely want to give the impression of interior detail, more isn't really necessary imho?
(http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9011/gunbreech2.jpg)
Not much is visible from the main hatch, just the loading tray dingus (?) and the breech.
(http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5782/gunbreech3.jpg)
And the mantlet side of things. The barrel will be cut to size later. Now rince and repeat 6 times...
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Managed to complete the turrets:
(http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/2335/turrethatch2.jpg)
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/6103/turrethatch3.jpg)
(http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/8998/turrethatch1.jpg)
It was only afterwards that I realised having made a mistake with the top hatches - apparently there should not be any lift handles on them? The picture of a model I used as reference had them, and of course it seems to be the only picture that has those handles in the whole wide world. Just my luck, should always recheck ones refs, and never trust in modelling pictures? Lesson learned, I guess. I guess I will just cut them off, even if they were a bit troublesome to do?
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Some great modeling here on display, I really enjoy reading this thread its very nice!
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Sorry about no updates recently, I've been too busy with work and had a nasty influenza which didn't really inspire me to work on this project. But I will have some progress pics once the batteries are charged...
In the meantime, I thought I'd let you know I bought some Tumbling Dice Russian infantry, and they're kinda nice. But theyre not without their faults. The ones with shlems have ok faces, but the ones with helmets are rather curious looking bunch, the helmet seems far too big and the faces too tiny. They look more like the soldiers from the Planet of the Apes! lol I will take a few shots so you can see what I am talking about. Also, weapon details are pretty weak, but I don't think that will stick out once they're painted. On the plus side, the range is very extensive with loads of options and variants. Cavalry, and artillery crews etc. Nice!
Another thing, after reading some books about the fight for Summa, I think I need more heavy tanks. When the account names T-28 as 'medium' tanks, you know you need something bigger! ;D
If only some plastic kit manufacturer would pick this one up...
So now I mapping the possible sources for T-35 tanks. It is somewhat elusive beast, it seems? Here are the manufacturers I know of:
-Red Star 1/76 version in resin, not sure if the company is still operating, or if the model is available? Price?
-Modelkrak 1/72 version in resin, price around 30 euros, loads of small and fiddly pieces.
-Skytrex/Hincliffe 1/76 version in metal, not available, but being retooled and for sale in a few (?) months. Price?
-Ostmodels 1/76 (?) Several versions in resin, price around 36 euros. Availability varies, as the maker is not full time in the business atm.
-Patvork magazine series tank in 1/72, as cuprum announced in another thread, trouble is this was some time ago, and the tank is pretty hard to get in the ebay etc, and price is somewhat higher, starting from around 14 USD up.
Anyone know any other source, or perchance does anyone have any T35s they don't need, and would like to sell or trade?
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Hey.
I bought a number of models partvork from a private collection. There is a T-35 and T-28. But they are only 2 pieces.
http://siberia-miniatures.ru/index.php?cPath=41_38_94_129_136&osCsid=cb5c8e8c97a39cd87d03a68df5fe6bf7
Т-35
http://siberia-miniatures.ru/product_info.php?cPath=41_38_94_129_136&products_id=333&osCsid=cb5c8e8c97a39cd87d03a68df5fe6bf7
Т-28
http://siberia-miniatures.ru/product_info.php?cPath=41_38_94_129_136&products_id=440&osCsid=cb5c8e8c97a39cd87d03a68df5fe6bf7
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Is that your shop cuprum? Looks nice. I would need 4 to 5 tanks really. And for the t-28 I already have the SHQ ones which are in 1/76. Thanks for the offer though, I will keep it in mind. I might get some of these, if I can't contact the person who owns the Red Star models range for example.
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Yes, this is my shop. I did do some of the figures and models of 28 mm - for sale and has created this shop. Then it appearedand other products.
By the way, the T-35 tank was quite rare in the Red Army. And already outdated by 1939. As far as I know - in the battle against Finland, he was not used. About 50 tanks took part in the fighting in 1941, but only 11 were lost in combat. The rest of the crew were thrown - because of breakdowns and the lack of fuel.
Therefore, in the army of the game can not be much, I think.
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Well, that would certainly make things much easier for me. T-35 seems very hard to find, or very expensive. Thanks for the info.
I don't actually have a source that would definitely confirm it being used in the Karelia Isthmus, but there are some accounts of line soldiers referring to bigger tanks than T-28. So what could it be? And one picture of general Ohlund's Winter War memoirs where a tank is referred to as t-35, when it actually clearly looks like a T-100? But then the T-100 was extremely rare and experimental, more so than the T35, right? I got one T-100 waiting to be built, by the way.
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That's a good article about the Finnish and Soviet tanks in the Winter War. Article in Russian - Use the Google translator.
http://otvaga2004.narod.ru/photo/winterwar/wwar4.htm
Tanks larger than the T-28? This could only be experimental heavy tanks - KV, SMK, T-100.
But it's only three of the tank. SMC, T-100 and KV heavy tank company were under the command of Captain Kolotushkin. December 10, 1939 a company came to the front and was given a 90th Tank Battalion 20th Heavy Tank Brigade. Participated in the battles. T-100 was damaged in the explosion of a mine. Was sent to the factory for repair.
http://milday.ru/ussr/ussr-army/ussr-tank/88-tanki-smk-i-t-100.html
SMC
(http://m007kuzya.newmail.ru/tanks/1_03.jpg)
T-100
(http://miss.ekabu.ru/uploads/tradeunion/photo/0/0/10/1052_680.jpg)
Experimental Tank KV
(http://young.rzd.ru/dbmm/images/41/4080/1675052)
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Great stuff, cuprum! Thank you, I will read the article this weekend. KVs would be handy, I think have some KV-1's stashed someplace? These would be some sort of prototype version of KV, or at least very early versions? I had no idea they were used in the Winter War. So much the better! At least they are very easy to find in various forms.
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Glad to help.
The main difference from the prototype KV series of tanks - a gun. Not a lot of conversion of submitted photos - and you get a tank for his army. But how will the poor Finns to fight it? They do not have 88-mm anti-aircraft guns ;)
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Is there such a thing as tank envy? Because I think I have it...
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Sorry, a bit of barrage in photos to update my progress. Starting with some wrecks:
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9491/wreck7.jpg)
(http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/6110/wreck6.jpg)
(http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/6105/wreck5.jpg)
(http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/7329/wreck4.jpg)
(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8854/wreck2w.jpg)
(http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/646/wreck1.jpg)
As you can see, with these Frontline resin kits there's very little I can do about the hull. So I simply broke down the track units (very fragile kind of resin, so some of the wheel took some damage), glued the individual wheels, and then applied some photoetched tracks. I cheated a little with the tracks by leaving the underside without, snow will cover them anyways, so I will save some tracks. Need to finish them with some twisted fenders etc. to make them look even more chaotic.
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But it's not only wrecks, I got two units of tanks ready for paint as well:
(http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/8163/tline.jpg)
I swapped some of the scratchbuilt turrets on these T-26s so I can place some crew minis in them. The wrecks don't all need them anyway, right?
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1721/btline.jpg)
And elements of a scout troop:
(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6686/baline.jpg)
And a teaser of how big the t-100 will be:
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/337/t100comp.jpg)
Enemy machines will be on the sky as well:
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7417/ratao.jpg)
And Arty says hello as well:
(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8642/arty203.jpg)
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And a parting salvo of the Tumbling Dice Russians:
(http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/4500/tdcomp1.jpg)
Tumbling Dice minis are the second from the left and the one on the extreme right. The shlem headed on looks pretty good, but the helmeted one is really bizarro, the face look very small and the helmet is huge and out of proportion too, very bizarre looking even if these bad photos don't show it well. I don't know if I am gonna use them as is, or do some headswaps from SHQ minis, we'll see.
(http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3849/tdarty.jpg)
Here's a good example of how decent these TD Russian can actually look. Again, sorry about the picture quality. This artillery crew is pretty useful, or is it a AA crew maybe with the seated mini?
(http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/4742/tdcav.jpg)
Another example, this time cavalry. The horse comes in two parts - body & head (there are variants), and the rider is in one part but the rifle is separate. There are all kinds of rider options. All in all, the Tumbling Dice range seems promising, if you're looking Russians in overcoats, but I would steer away from the helmeted ones. Wide range of minis too with loads of options. It was a bit confusing to order them, and they didn't at the time have a decent website. I was told one is on its way though.
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Just some WIP update again, I am afraid, no new paintjobs yet. This time the assembled heavy hitters.
(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8549/t100s.jpg)
(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4668/mouset100.jpg)
The Ostmodels T-100 is monster in every way. It's a nice model but the track units were a real pig to assemble. It took me two evenings to make them, what with first trying to figure out the correct order, and then finding out things don't really fit too well. The space between the return roller wheels and the fenders was far too tight to take the track, and the teething of the tracks made it even more difficult to fit them in. Real exercise in patience manual dexterity. What I had initially worried most was bending the tracks in shape (they come in about 5 cm lengths), but that was actually the easy bit with a hot air blower. I must say that one of the charms of resin and metal tanks for me is that you don't need to bugger about with the track units, usually you just clean them up and plonk them in. But this puppy completely nullified that. Good thing I only got one of these. :?
(http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9200/kv1p.jpg)
(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7762/t28x.jpg)
Anyways, as cuprum informed me there were some prototype KV tanks in the Winter War, so I assembled two SHQ KV-1s to play the part. Close enough. And then I got two T-28's as well. I think I won't bother with more heavies, at least for now.
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1182/camorus1.jpg)
(http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8567/camorus3.jpg)
(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3093/camorus2.jpg)
Another project within project were these Elhiem Russians in camosuits. They're pretty nice, but all of them (except the commander with pistol) are armed with SMGs (in the first pic), so I wanted to change that. I got me some Elhiem Summer Russians, and cannibalised their MGs and rifles. The conversion was actually pretty easy, once I figured out which weapon would go with which mini. Then I just snipped the weapons off, glued them on, and used some green stuff to neaten things up. Job done.
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Got the t-26 wrecks ready for painting, here are a couple of shots:
(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1126/t26wreck3.jpg)
(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/2747/t26wreck2.jpg)
(http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1581/t26wreck1.jpg)
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Hey folks, I haven't dropped this project despite the long silence. Here are a couple of shots of the wrecks getting their first layers of paint:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img341/1025/btwreck1.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img836/3431/btwreck2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img818/1581/t26wreck1.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img607/2747/t26wreck2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img201/1126/t26wreck3.jpg)
More pics soon, I hope!
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Outstanding work, love it all. I hope Lon can see this and revitalise the period in question.
Cheers,
Helen
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Thanks Helen, i hope to get more progress by end of the week, once I have cleared my work load....
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So happy I stumbled on to this!
What a great project, and so well executed. The projects that 'simmer longest', taste best. Looking forward to more. :-*
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Thanks Peabody, I really do hope I will get this thing thing done.
In the meantime, I've been doing a lot of reading on WW and especially the battle in Summa on the Karelian Isthmus. I have managed to buy great many used books on the subject in a local secondhand bookshop. A particular treasure I found was a Finnish rifle & LMG squad leader's handbook from 1935. Lots of great details about tactics, weapons, field fortifications etc.
But the more I read some of the sources, the more baffled I get. The details on the field fortifications (mainly trenches) around certain big bunkers are really scetchy, very few photos or schematics (good ones on the bunkers themselves though) or even textual descriptions. I have to keep digging and making some educated guesses on that subject, unless I can manage to find more sources.
Thats' one thing. Another thing has been mentioned already earlier in this thread but keeps popping up. The descriptions on Soviet tanks faced are really vague, one example mentions a heavy tank with four turrets, of which two were equipped with cannons. Now the only one I can link this one is the t-35, but it's been established already that there were none used in the Winter War? Besides, doesn't t-35 have five turrets? I am thinking this is a simple mistake, and t-28 was meant? Who knows. This is like the photo which appears in two books I have, where the caption identifies the tank in the picture as t-35, when it's really an SMK heavy tank. Looks like intel on enemy tanks wasn't very good, neither at the officer or grunt level?
And one battle description mentions some heavy tanks which were described as painted yellow? Can this be true, and what might be the purpose of such colour, some sort of guide markings?
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Perhaps these links will be useful. For translation using Google Translator.
http://army.armor.kiev.ua/fort/findot.shtml
http://samlib.ru/img/s/shushakow_o_a/2nc_vrajiei_zemle_2-6/
http://models-ru.narod.ru/foto/
This is discussed in the Soviet experemental and limited-edition tanks.
http://www.yaplakal.com/forum2/st/0/topic322444.html
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Hi !
It's really a very passionate & inspiring work !!!
:-*
Bravo !
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Exceptional work on the tank wrecks! And very interesting project, will be following keenly on this.
Being a Finn, let me know if I can check something out for you from Finnish sources.
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Hi folks, this week I have been mostly making buildings: two hay barns, two houses, and a sauna/cabin. In addition, I might do a couple of ruins with rubble and chimney stacks. Need to complete the roofs on these before painting, and I will add some rock foundations when I base them (that's why the porch is hanging in the air on the big house).
(http://imageshack.us/a/img9/9285/barn1v.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img41/5408/barn2p.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img802/1790/finhouse1.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img21/2686/finhouse2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img233/1426/finhouse3.jpg)
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Just awesome! Iam interested in the Winter War too and its cool to actually see someone else doing such an project.
Concerning Houses, did you had a look at the pegasus Karelian houses, they might fit your purpose, too.
regards
Zwerch!!!
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Beautiful work on the building they do look like a real thing already.
Many parishes and villages were burnt down after the civilian population was/had evacuated before the advancing Red Army. In many cases people decided to burn down their houses and property by themselves.
So burned down ruins is a safe bet for scenery in that sense. Once again if you need photo sources etc I will gladly help.
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Thanks Poco, I am a Finn myself, so I got plenty of sources. ;)
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Haha :D Should have guessed. Will you be doing the Finnish counter-parts as well?
Have you read the Punaiset panssarit - a quite recent book about the armours of the Red Army from the 1918-1945? That one should have good listing of the types of tanks Red Army used in the Winter War.
Postivaunu (T-28) should have been the heaviest tank around back then... not sure about the experimental tanks if there were those in the frontline use.
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Zwerch, there are a couple of useful houses in the Pegasus line, although in the main I would say they don't look too Finnish, even for Karelia. I am guessing they'd be more suited for Eastern Karelia on the Soviet side than the Karelian Istmus? And my versions would be useful elsewhere on the WW front too.
Poco, there's evidence of at least some experimental heavy tanks used, there's photo of on SMK taken by Finns (although is mostly incorrectly identified). In any case, I am going more by what's handy and looks cool on the game table, than absolute historical accuracy (which seems hard to establish anyways). So I have one T-100, two KV-1s and two T-28s. When you look at it from the Finnish side, it's pretty much all the same which heavy tank you're facing, they're all monsters anyways, when you have only 37mm gun (if you're lucky) or kasapanos/Molotovs to deal with them.
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I had to check the Punaiset panssarit (being a some sort of a historian I had to ;) ):
It states that two prototype KV-1 tanks were sent to the front and they took part in the battle on December 17. Had numerous hits from 37mm antitank guns that caused no damage. Prototype armour thickenss was 75mm, also in turret. No sloped armour in turret.
SMK/T-100 were also tested on Dec 17, results were bad and where as the decision to take KV-1 into production was made already on Dec 19, this didn't happen on SMK/T-100 tanks.
Only two T-28s were captured in the Winterwar as there were no capable equipment to get the damaged tanks to the Finnish side. All in all 92 T-28s were destroyed during the Winterwar.
Sorry for the heavy armour splash... What's in the pipeline for you after the buildings? Will you be making a static terrain board with trenches etc?
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Yes, some modular trenches and a couple of bunkers are probably what's next, once I get a couple of sources at hand. Maybe even one of those big bunkers like Millions or Poppius? And some terrain like woods, swamp and scrub (all covered in snow of course). I won't be making any of those board sections where the trenches are sunk in. While they look definitely nicer, I think separate pieces on a winter mat are more versatile and easier to store and carry around (should the need arise).
I should really complete all the things I've already started, like painting troops and tanks, but I feel I get more done when I do whatever I have inspiration for at a given time. It looks pretty fragmented right now, but I will get there.
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Great project Verderer!
really nice work on the wrecks! I have many times been accused of being slightly off my rocker for doing detail like this for a war games table so its nice to see that there are other doing it in 20mm as well. 20mm is the scale of the gods for WWII! just enough detail to make it fun with out using all the space of 28mm. What rules do you use for gaming? I and my lads have been doing WWII games for over 20 years, we have played a dozen different systems and several even wote a set that became very popular in our neck of the woods. We have after all this settled into playing CROSSFIRE a somewhat unconventional set of rules as they use no rulers or fixed turns. They are very good at eliminating the 10,000 foot gemeral that plagues most WWII games. I have a huge collection of WWII 20mm and you are pushing me over the edge to do a "winter war" battle fiel, somthing I have always wanted to d but needed some inspiration to try.
I do mostly Northwest Europe 1940-45 and Russian front 41-45 but I hav also done a Pacific Island.... and have all the buildings for "Berlin 45"
Bill W
A column of American Shermans moves through the Normandy hedgerows.
(http://Http://www.historicalHobbies.com/DOGS/main/images/WWII/Reninforce4.jpg)
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Things are proceeding onwards, although at the moment I have very little to show as pics. Here's a shot taken with my cell phone. One of the houses I am making, they're all primed by now. But this one shows how I have added a base, and bulked it up a bit with cork and a lot of hot glue. This is to portray some snow banks around the house. I will next proceed with painting the houses, before I add the window frames and make roof etc.
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/881/wwhouse1.jpg)
I am also moving on with painting all those tanks, finally all of them are primed with Vallejo 4BO Russian Green shot with an airbrush. Works a treat I must say. Then I will use Lifecolor Russian 4BO modulation set to shoot the highlights (or actually the two lighter shades of that set). More pics instead of boring text soon I hope.
Vonkluge, that's a very atmospheric pic of Normandy setting, I have one old project waiting far, far down the line... maybe some day I will actuall complete it. ::)
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Looking good - any update on this project?
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Sorry folks, nothing new to show right now. :?
I hope to get some modelling time this weekend, though, and I haven't given up on this puppy yet.
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Ok, managed to get the barns and fences done this weekend:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img248/1419/lato2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img10/6299/lato1c.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img266/8702/riukuaita2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img580/2225/acshot.jpg)
I used two different kind of snow scatter, one was Magic Snow which I think I mentioned before, and the other a local shops own 'no brand' of micro balloons. After trying these out, I can say I prefer Magic Snow by far. I couldn't really get the no brand stuff working at all. It's far too light, and doesn't really stick to white glue at all. The MS stuff is apparently aluminium oxide, and it's much heavier and settles on white glue pretty good. The no brand stuff is silicon oxide, and it gets airborne very easily, so there's dust all over the place. The MS is easier to use in this sense too, it doesnt' fly all over the place. Plus it has this nice lisght shimmer like real snow (doesn't really show in photos though). I don't know about aluminim oxide, but I have this idea that airborne silicon particles are very bad for your lungs, and in fact the use of a mask is recommended in the package.
Given negative aspects of the no brand microballoons, I can't really recommend it at all. In fact I gave up using it after initial experiments. Maybe I will try it out by actually mixing it with the white glue instead of scattering it on top of it? Might be at least moderately useful that way. If that doesn't work, then it's bit of waste. Too bad I don't know where I can find the Magic Snow at the moment, I have two tins, but they're bound to run out soon...
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The search for the perfect snow scatter is one I can relate to. Nevertheless - nice work.
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Looking superb, that last pic is very atmospheric... just turn it into black and white, little bit of wear and aging on it and you have "authentic" image from Winter War. Thanks for the info on different snow types, should prove useful.
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Excellent progress :)
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Thanks guys, here's another small update, my first Finns:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img843/9580/skifinn2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img341/2712/skifinn1.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img20/5214/skifinn3.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img89/3064/skifinn4u.jpg)
These are Fantassing ski troops, some with heads swapped from Eureka minis. I cannot say that I love the Fantassin minis, they're a bit rough, have bad heads, and over-sized rifles etc. But they will have to do.
By the way, the whites look a bit funny in the pics, I guess should have had proper light and white balance set, right? ;)
I'd also like to ask you opinion about the bases. I wanted to sink them skis a bit deeper instead of plonking them on top. More like proper winter you know? What do you reckon, do they work?
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I'd also like to ask you opinion about the bases. I wanted to sink them skis a bit deeper instead of plonking them on top. More like proper winter you know? What do you reckon, do they work?
Probably yes, but I can't help thinking that they look like GW's double-slotta cavalry bases. Sorry. lol
I think I have one of those hats. Looks accurate to me. :)
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You have a point there, Dolmot. lol I considered making them round first, but they'd have had a large 'foot-print'. This way they will fit better in tight spots, right?
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The bases are clever as hell. Looks like fresh snow with such deep tracks. :-*
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I like the bases too - adds a bit of... depth.
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I managed to get some progress on those three houses:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img824/433/winhouse1.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img27/8961/winhouse2.jpg)
This one looks more green than I intented, I was aiming for a light pastel color. I have to look at it in the day-light, but I might want make it less green. It seems that Vallejo greens and I don't really get along... Another thing was the window frames, I spent ages trying make up my mind which way up they should be. I figure the protective lip should be on top? I hope I got it right. lol
(http://imageshack.us/a/img442/2518/winhouse3.jpg)
The Sauna/cabin is lagging a bit behind, but I will do the windows next. Then it's up to the roof (with snow) and the chimneys. Maybe add some ladders and chpped wood etc.
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You worry too much about that green. The buildings are freaking brilliant. The weathered wood of the sauna is lovely. :-* Carry on.
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Hi Verderer.
You have nothing to worry about - the buildings look great! It is very natural.
Snow also beyond praise - great job!
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Superb looking buildings Verderer! Great to see you are making progress with the project.
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Great looking project. Love the WIP buildings.
Helen
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A very,very inspiring project and love the work on the tank wrecks :-*
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brilliant stuff. The building just look 'right'. I would love to know how you did that snow effect on the roofs/fences. Can you share your secrets?
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Thanks Rob, there's really no secret. I use a scatter called Magic Snow which I got from Grey Funnel Line in Germany. Used to buy Magic Sculpt from them as well. The trouble is I can find neither the product or the company on the web now. So it looks like the company has stopped operating. Anyone know more about it?
I am kicking myself for not getting more of this stuff when I had the chance, but I still got one and half tins of the stuff. We'll see how long it lasts.
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Managed to do the roofs for the houses, so now they're pretty much done:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img829/7035/winterhouse7.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img545/2019/winterhouse6.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img854/6841/winterhouse5.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img27/2494/winterhouse4.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img16/7610/winterhouse3.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img547/4674/winterhouse2.jpg)
After this I want to do something completely else, maybe some woods, tanks or more troops, dunno yet.
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LOVE the bulk of snow on the roofs. What was the technique?
Showed the wife - she said they could double up as christmas decorations :)
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Thanks, Von Lucky - I built the roof from styrene sheet, then made the rims, and made the bulk of snow with foam board. That was followed by a couple layers of white paint, then white glue & snow scatter. Actually the order was white paint - glue & scatter - some swearing - then another coat of white paint then glue & scatter. Ball point marks just didnt want to go away.
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Top-notch work Verderer, these are superb! :-*
Will you do few burned down buildings as well?
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Lovely work :-* :-* :-*
The snow looks great.
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A bit of threadomancy here, sorry folks. But I haven't forgotten or given up on this project, it's just been under slow boil for awhile. Mostly due to my move to a new apartment, and because I am currently making a WWII Pacific project which is marked 'urgent'. Not that it's going very fast either, but hey there you go... anywho:
(http://imageshack.com/a/img802/7021/q1kf.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img17/2842/yd0a.jpg)
Here's a couple of conversion jobs I did recently, firstly a 37mm Bofors AT gun (Stonewall/Combat miniatures?) with a crew from Fantassin. First I replaced the barrel of the gun with a piece of steel wire, because the original was VERY thin and bendy. This is more robust even if it is a bit overscale. The Fantassin crew had '75mm' shells sculpted on them, and these were abyssmally oversize for even 75mm shells, more like 150mm in that scale. Let alone tiny 37mm. So I hacked them off along with the (bare) hands of the minis, and sculpted some mittens holding wire 'shells' that were made form the same material as the barrel. Still oversized of course, but much better than the original ones. Making really tiny shells would have required reposing their arms, and I didn't want to go that far.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img845/5039/bl6h.jpg)
Second one contains makings of the two unsung heroes of war, namely the trusty Finnish horse and driver from the supply company. The sled & trappings are scratchbuilt, the horse is from SHQ English civil war range, and the miniature is originally a Combat Minis Russian. Needs a little more work, adding some gear, and the hat isnt' quite right. Painting will come when I get around to it, eventually.
I had a little trouble with lighting and focusing the camera, so the pics look pretty iffy again, sorry about that.
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Great stuff, I don't know if you have seen the more recent elheim Ruskies in snow suits, I think about 12 new winter riflemen, they might suit your project
Mike
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Yeah, figures he'd get around doing them after I had converted my own! lol
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I love this thread! :-*
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Great new additions, lovely to see the project continuing.