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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Seuchenhexer on May 13, 2020, 06:43:33 PM

Title: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on May 13, 2020, 06:43:33 PM: This thread serves as a diary about my adventures into the many, many different Russian (mostly fictional) armies I am working on.

1200 - Siberian Steppe Tribes

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51280434800_52dbb55403_b.jpg)

1812 - Imperial Russian Army Corps; Wolves from the East

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377110722_5e489b5e0e_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51289835029_6fa8389797_b.jpg)

1914 - World War 1; Planned

1941 - Great Patriotic War, VDV Company; WIP
1947 - Dieselpunk; WIP

1985 - Cold War; Planned

2020 - Modern Warfare; Planned

2400 - Sci- Fi; Planned
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: EndTransmission on May 13, 2020, 06:51:24 PM: those look great. I really enjoyed painting the Warlord plastics, so I guess each to their own ;)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on May 16, 2020, 02:07:13 PM: Thanks for the compliment!

Over the last days I was able to finish a load of miniatures.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49890723748_4d858bf9a1_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49890032466_bcf8932f95_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49889515363_c4b27978cb_o.png)
My first three rifle squads, a mixture of Warlord Games and Bad Squiddo Game miniatures.
They will make a great base for most systems, especially Bolt Action or Chain of Command.

I am not a big fan of the Warlord Games plastic miniatures, as I feel that white metal (from Warlord Games as well as others) often have way better poses and details. But those sprue's are a goldmine when it comes to upgrade miniatures, so I had to get them anyways and made the best out of it in the process.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49889515343_584713e72c_b.jpg)
And last, but not least the three paratrooper junior commanders again. All equipped with the carbine version of the Mosin–Nagant.
Sergeant Spalko got herself some fancy Amoeba pattern camo pants, made from putty and a way too big head from Statuesque Miniatures.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901371047_78cc328f88_o.png)
Some support for the infantry squads. As I do plan to use them in different roles in Bolt Action, I need those sweet DP28 for some LMG Squads.
I used the Bad Squiddo Miniatures (standard infantry, as well as scouts), and some more Warlord Games.

Also I did build a sniper team from Warlord Games scout pack. As those are the only two with that type of suit, I think they will make a great team.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901346407_cc22cf49df_o.png)
But the main event this week was without a doubt the two Fireball from Hasegawa.
I only slightly modified them, leaving off the antenna as it just looked like as if it was going to break off sooner or later anyways, and added a 1/35 20mm Flak barrel to each weapon pod, which translates roughly into a 37 mm anti-tank gun.
This should be big enough guns for mecha scout units like those!

I do not have any game I am planing to use them in yet, but I am sure something will come up.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49900573263_49e7eb2930_m.jpg)
As for the logo, I just took the tiger from a German decal sheet for heavy tanks (schwere Panzerabteilung 501), using it for my own fictive armored unit.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on May 23, 2020, 01:20:04 PM: This week I did go back to some of the more normal World War 2 models.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49926289847_25d7e81af5_o.png)
NKVD squad I wanted to use for the commissar slot in my Bolt Action list.
The sergeant is Soviet Platoon Commander Yevdokiya Zavaliy from Stoessi's Heroes (in this case of course with a different name on the base), her squad mates are made from Warlordgames Miniatures.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49925991491_11164a862a_o.png)
Maxim team from Plastic Soldier.
I kept it modular, so I can get me other machine guns like the DShK, and use it with the same crew.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49925991506_eaecdcb4db_o.png)
My favorite build this week was a German Army Propagandakompanie Cameraman man from Warlordgames, I did some work on so he can serve in the Red Army now.
I filed off the lower pockets on the jacket, and closed the gap in the middle, so it looks more like a Russian uniform, then a German.

Now instead of filming propaganda for the Germans, he does film the truth for the Soviets.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on May 31, 2020, 02:19:41 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955179493_c50cd4dd25_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955682606_069777d580_o.png)
Working some more on my Bolt Action list, finishing my mortar crew from Bad Squiddo Miniatures. I added one woman from the scout pack to it, as the junior commander of this team (and as soon as my skill of painting miniatures will slightly improve, I will make sure that she watches a map, instead of a blank sheet of paper, acting like she is knowing what she is doing.

To keep it versatile I also added the light mortar from Plastic Soldiers.

For the heavy mortar I will make a whole new team.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955179573_dfd3f59525_b.jpg)
I also started working on a Weird World War project for Kill Team, finding a place to use my Fireball from Hasegawa as a XV8 Crisis Battlesuit.
First I thought about making a Imperial Guard team, but that seemed kind of boring, just having infantry. With the Tau I get to work on another two battlesuits (for the Tau Commander as well as the Stealth Battlesuits).

For now I worked on the Pathfinders for the team, using the original weapons, even as I do not like the style that much.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49955689706_e5a0b22ebc_b.jpg)
Last but not least my kitbash of the week, building a poor man's PPS 42 I wanted to use for some of my heroes/ more unique character models.
It is not really that accurate but might do the job if you watch it from far away!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 14, 2020, 04:32:33 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50005411586_3d4de32330_o.png)
I continued with my Weird World War 2 Kill Team project, and finished the drones I got from Warlord Games Gates of Antares.
Only thing I modified was cutting off the insect like tail those drones had.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50005411521_50b8601ed2_o.png)
And some additions for my more normal World War 2 squads, using bits from the Warlord Games Fallschirmjäger sprue to get some anti- tank support going.

The flamethrower is from Bad Squiddo Miniatures, however the original second woman was replaced as she was wearing body armor (while the flamethrower operator is not).
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 23, 2020, 07:23:29 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50038196272_a3e5de6e39_o.png)
My second mortar team.
This time all Warlordgames Miniatures, including one from scouts, to be used as a observer.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 11, 2020, 06:49:15 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50100731693_b4fffbd0d4_o.png)
Not being able to play any games had robbed me of a lot of motivation to paint. Still I was working on some of my scouts, as my 'real' scouts are all but gone, put in other roles on the battlefield.
I used (mostly) German bodies from the Warlordgames SS sprue and gave them a do-over with green stuff.

They all got German weapons because for once it was easy, and because I saw in a documentary on YouTube that they did like the MP40 better for scouting, as it was not as heavy as their own PPsh 41.

I also added a character in form of Uncle Gosha, as well as a machine gun team to the squad.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Spinal Tap on July 12, 2020, 08:47:04 AM: I really like how you paint.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Corso on July 14, 2020, 07:31:45 AM: A very interesting project :)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 19, 2020, 04:24:47 PM: Thanks, I try to get at least a little better every now and then when it comes to painting (or maybe just cleaning up mold lines, and starting to close some of the gaps ...), but I am more then happy with just having the whole army painted.

And yes, I try to keep it interesting, and Russian ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50129950532_7dd0976681_o.png)
I promised to myself that I would not repeat the mistakes of my past, and build too many snipers.
And so I got two more sniper teams. Mostly from Bad Squiddo Miniatures, but the second from the left is a British Warlord Games with a Statuesque Miniatures head. I try desperately to get rid of those heads putting them on every miniature possible, as I just got too many of them and feel bad for letting them go to waste, like ending up in some bitz box.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50129161883_63b0be6ce1_o.png)
Then I finished my star for my Gaslands team. Using a British staff car from Warlord Games and a lot of bits from different kits, like the Rubicon GAZ- AA for the many, many, many wheels, and some stowage.
Might not sound that Russian, but he kind of is my Red Baron.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 25, 2020, 06:08:12 PM: After I finished the race car last week, I wanted to focus on some more and kind of finish this project.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50152082152_529d37a3fb_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50151843891_c0426eab34_o.png)
Fist up my pit stop, being more scenery then really vehicles I wanted to use for the team.
Despite the look of my first racer, I wanted to go into a direction where the rest of the team looks more like some sort of expedition.

The GAZ- AA tanker from Warlord Games is not modified at all, as I plan to use it in different settings.

The repair and recovery car on the other hand is a slightly modified GAZ- AA from Rubicon, and made slightly longer so I could fit on the rear of a Studebaker.
The mechanic is from Stoessi's Heroes.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50151843781_18ff5ec963_o.png)
Two mono cycle's from 1st Corps, without any modifications.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50152082182_1b2c07d9e6_o.png)
And last but not least, two small buggies, made from Warlord Games Aerosan and some extra bits to upgrade them.
I used 1/72 Puma tires on them, and they worked like a charm!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 31, 2020, 05:00:04 PM: Earlier this year, around the beginning of March I was asked to get into Battlegroup (15mm instead of 20mm) with some people in my wargaming club.
I started to collect miniatures right away, or did at least some research on what miniatures to get as this is my first time going into the 15mm scale.
In the past I was not that big of a fan of the scale, as it meant kind of new tables and scenery.

Knowing that the others are a little slower when it comes to painting their miniatures, I did keep the project on a low, but finally decided to go at it.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50173773162_5bedd60c28_o.png)
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I wanted to keep the new army linked to what I already got in 28mm, and so decided to go with infantry as the main portion. So I finished the first two platoons, with a mixture of Peter Pig and Zvezda Miniatures.
As they are supposed to be paratroopers I also did mix a lot of scout suits into the squads, and gave all those little NCO's a blue pilotka.

For the platoon leaders I tried to make a connection to the 28mm scaled army, by painting/ building similar models.
With the one on the left I just did go for a look- a- like, which was not too hard.

The platoon leader on the right I actually started very early this year (in 28mm) as I tried to copy the First Legion 1/35 Russian Scout Officer.
Later I decided to replace the SMG with my DIY PPS and the pilotka with a tanker helmet (that is supposed to be a paratrooper jumper helmet) to have him stand out a little more.
So I did a head swap for his smaller self.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50173773192_f29624efca_o.png)
And to make sure that those VDV units are not all alone on their way to Berlin, I just got them a T34/ 85 tank company (with extra turrets to downgrade them to T34/ 76 if needed).
The tanks are all from Zvezda, with the tank riders being Flames of War.
The company commander is upgraded with two antennas and a red flag. Just to represent him being pretty heroic.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 10, 2020, 02:09:17 PM: Normally I would let my brush wander around, but at the moment I have to stay laser focused on the 15mm to get me an army ready for a game in two weeks! o_o

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210152466_1b363ceb84_o.png)
An essential for the upcoming scenario in two weeks, but not one of my favorite tracked vehicles, the SU76 (from Zvezda).
I added some tarp with greenstuff.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210152411_a2fa39b336_o.png)
Some 76mm guns (also from Zvezda).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210430647_cfb5f5ed5e_o.png)
And finally some more fun units, with the VVS Air Controller and the Comms Relay Team.
All miniatures but the actual Air Controller are scouts from Peter Pig.
For the Air Controller I used a German tank commander that was included with a Jagdtiger.

I decided to write the unit type in white onto the front of the base (names of officers are written in black on the back of the bases (officer bases, not those right here)), to avoid confusion on the battlefield.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210430712_b38492ea20_o.png)
T- 34 from Zvezda with a recovery vehicle kit from Heer46.
I added 0.5mm wire as a steel cable.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210430597_2c6bd32058_o.png)
And the best for last: a new officer! This time I wanted to do something special for a scout commander of sorts, and used one of my remaining Warlord Games scout bodies, and a leftover head from Infinity.

To really make her stick out I was looking for an alternative to a radio man, or a flag bearer, and decided to give her a dog.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: FreakyFenton on August 10, 2020, 11:16:15 PM: Quite good and an impressive output! :o
I do agree 15mm is a scale that is a bit harsh on the eyes when painting, but you managed quite well!

Though I do have a question, namely, who makes the monobikes?
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 12, 2020, 07:44:36 AM: Ah, looks like I forgot to put it in the description under the picture!
I got those mono bikes from 1st Corps (https://1stcorps.co.uk/product/mono-cycle/)!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: FreakyFenton on August 12, 2020, 11:00:31 PM: Quote from: Seuchenhexer on August 12, 2020, 07:44:36 AM
Ah, looks like I forgot to put it in the description under the picture!
I got those mono bikes from 1st Corps (https://1stcorps.co.uk/product/mono-cycle/)!

No worries! But thank you for the heads up! :D

Either way, looking forward to updates of this thread! :)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 31, 2020, 07:23:22 PM: Thanks for the comments again, and sorry for the massive delay!

For the last ~3 weeks I took a break from bringing up new miniatures, because I decided to go back to what I had already posted here and add details, like highlights.
The original plan had been to do the whole army quick and dirty, to get it to a well size. But with that much time on my hands I decided that I do it all again.

I hope that I can get better pictures (of my new miniatures, with the new details) soon.

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First up some medical orderly! The two on the left are once more former Germans, slightly modified with greenstuff, and a simple head swap.
The one on the right is the female medic from Warlord Games.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50291416692_34a6ebfc95_o.png)
Then I finished some true heroes of the motherland! Ready to hunt tanks.
All from Warlord Games, second from the left a modified SS model, and the one right next to him a modified Fallschirmjäger.
Almost every model upgraded with some German parts (like the arms).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50291268981_f53be37e33_o.png)
And the last one this week is my new pulp hero, straight out of Metal Gear Solid V!
A young, Russian Big Boss fighting the fascists in World War 2.
Grenade fragment embedded in his head, and the left arm replaced by a prosthetic. Armed with a bayonet and a battle axe for those stealth take downs, and one of my precious PPS 43.
On his back he carries a encrypted radio!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 06, 2020, 02:49:42 PM: Over the last week, and the weekend I could finish a bunch of vehicles for 28mm wargaming.
Some I already had started for a while and even used (just with base colors on), but was now able to finally finish off as well.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50312047972_9208e69389_o.png)
First up two simple GAZ AA trucks from Rubicon I use in Bolt Action for transport or in Chain of Command as pretty fancy JOP.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50311874231_f2daf7f02a_o.png)
Also for transport, but of some more specialized small teams, or officers the Willys (from Rubicon as well).
I did go a little over board with the bits and pieces to make it a little more special. Who knows maybe they got that little thing from the British while fighting with them alongside in Iran.
Driver and passenger have been slightly modified with heads and weapons from my Wargames Factory box. Warlord Games pieces would just be too big and bulky for Rubicon bodies.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50312047997_816e4d9c7d_o.png)[/url]
Simple and straight forward BA-10 from Warlord Games.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50311874316_898460aa22_o.png)
And a BM- 13 Katyusha to strike fear into the enemies heart and sometimes even hit ... on a 6.
The multiple rocket launcher was a pain in the rear to build and paint.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 12, 2020, 12:00:18 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50332510568_738cea9147_o.png)
After all those vehicles from last week, I wanted to go back to some infantry, and especially some pulp!
So I slightly modified the Thomas Wayne Batman from Knight Models into a Wartime Batman.
Equipping him with a ushanka, some magazine pouches and a liberated MP40.

I tried to stick close to the design of the Batman from the Red Son animated movie (Earth- 30).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50332510558_f9a1886212_o.png)
And some more normal soviet scouts from Artizan Desing.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 19, 2020, 09:27:46 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50358752747_0dec4fe3bf_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50357890453_0d21006b33_o.png)
A SMG platoon made up from Warlord Games, and Bad Squiddo.
I only modified the pants of the female soldier, and female NCO to resemble (once more) the wider camo pants.
The male NCO received a map pouch, which of course cannot be seen on this shot.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50358590811_66c806a7f1_o.png)
And some loaders (for the game Battlegroup) from Peter Pig.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: FreakyFenton on September 20, 2020, 11:42:16 PM: The musicians are quite good. :D
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 21, 2020, 02:05:15 PM: Yeah, I really did like them a lot when I browsed the store.

But I felt hard pressed to find a fitting role, so I can bring them to the battlefield, and not just keep them on a shelf. Making them into a loader team seemed like a good choice!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 22, 2020, 08:55:17 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50373066272_aa5cf0ccc3_o.png)
Chain of Command Jump Off Points for my VDV units.
The models and chutes are all from 1st Corps, the Airborne Marker is made from greenstuff.
The (former British) soldiers are slightly modified. Added a hood with greenstuff, and cut off some pockets from their smock, to make them look more like Russian camo suits. Then I cut off their heads to place some Russian tanker helmets onto them.

The parachutes are just for decoration, only the 3D printed 30+mm bases count as JOP.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 26, 2020, 07:57:45 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50386037983_f6b028596f_o.png)
After playing some more Hell Let Loose again I kind of fell in love with the Thompson submachine gun, and wanted to build some models with it.
Lucky for me the Soviets did buy some, and also got a bunch delivered with the Sherman tanks!
So I checked Stoessies Heroes for some models with the right weapon and modified them a little.

Turning the one on the left in some sort of fighter behind enemy lines with a simple headswap.

The one in the middle is supposed to be a seasoned Naval officer, leaving him alone for the most part (just added some pouches on his rear).

And the one on the right became a tank crew member with once again a simple headswap, and replacing the Stg44 with some huge bolt cutters.
With the base model wearing a jump suit it was just perfect for the role.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50386037943_ddc3cc4f33_o.png)
And next up some Assault Engineers.
I did the flamethrower team in a green, instead of my usual brown camo, so they stand out from the rest of the unit.

Also added some mine dogs on smaller bases as ammunition markers for satchel charges.

Almost everything being from Warlord Games, besides the flamethrower team being Artizan Design and the one female from Bad Squiddo, which I got from the flamethrower pack. Sadly the lady holding the flamethrower itself had no body armor, so I had to split them up!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 03, 2020, 10:59:03 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50413867801_436d059971_o.png)
With my infantry nearly being complete I do more and more vehicles for 28mm.
But still there are some officers, and characters I want to be done before the year comes to an end. So first up this week was a tank officer from Warlord Games, going hand in hand with a 15mm version from Flames of War.
I had to change the pants of the 28mm version to fit the smaller one, as this was a German officer coming with a Jagdtiger.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50414026427_8cc43275e0_o.png)
Then a straight forward KV- 1/ KV- 2 from Warlord Games. Not much to say here, besides that I changed the barrel of the KV- 1 version to a 1:72 85mm ZIS-S-53 L54,6.
There was no real reason for it, I just like long barrels on tanks.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50413867841_0fbfd7638e_o.png)
And the last one for this week was a trophy SdKfz 231 (8 Rad).
I painted it in regular German camo, with all the markings, as I wanted it to look like as if the German crew did just abandon it, and the scouts took it over to use it for as long as it had ammunition and fuel. Rather then paint it in green, like it was pressed into service.

I added three holes in the armor, as the reason for why the crew did abandon it in the first place.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 11, 2020, 12:53:20 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50450403881_d8491c8d91_o.png)
Female snipers of the Red Army from Peter Pig, one with a head swap (the head also being from Peter Pig).
I painted them in some blueish green, so they stick out more. Even as this might not be the best for some snipers.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50449705043_d2b16541a3_o.png)
Some extra motivation for the next charge!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50450573132_fc11c37a01_o.png)
And some tank hunter from Stoessies Heroes with a head from Warlord Games.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 19, 2020, 01:08:26 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50505623562_7a0073730a_o.png)
Another trophy vehicle for my 28mm and 15mm, the SdKfz. 247 Ausf. B from Heer46 (both versions).
Probably to be used as a proxy for a White Scout Car, for the HQ.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504748728_a594373e1d_o.png)
Two mortar teams from Peter Pig.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: demi_morgana on October 24, 2020, 12:43:16 PM: Going to follow this thread for sure:
I am starting Bolt Action soviets and you provide lots of inspiration! 8)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 26, 2020, 05:08:20 PM: Thanks a lot!

I already saw your winter bunker, which was quite the inspiration as well!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 31, 2020, 05:38:52 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50550688298_b3c8974ca2_o.png)
For the game Battlegroup I needed a Radio Truck, but because I already have some GAZ, I wanted to do something different.
So I decided to go for some soft what-if scenario and give my HQ a British Lend- Lease Armoured Command Vehicle.
The smaller, 15mm is a AEC from Flames of War, while the bigger Guy Lizard is from Warlord Games.

I tried to keep them similar, but did not aim to have them to be exactly the same, as with the captured SdKfzt. 247, or some of my officers I made for both scales.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50551420291_62db1ca53b_o.png)
To continue with HQ units, I had the idea to get me some Harley- Davidson WLA (or lookalike) to use as a proxy for Jeep options.
But as I did not really use even the Jeep I already got for any of my games, I did not really look further into it.
At least not until I found a picture of a Soviet Army Harley- Davidson WLA with a mortar mounted to the sidecar. And as I do use mortars quite frequently, I finally decided to get me that fine, and somewhat special unit.

The motorcycle is a German motorcycle R75 with sidecar from Offensive Miniatures and of truly fantastic quality. One of my favorite miniatures this year without a doubt.
The mortar itself is from Warlord Games, a leftover from another soon to come project.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50551420326_844d8c412d_o.png)
And finally this week, a Russian Mountaineers Leytenant from Heer46.

Sadly I have not found any more Soviet mountaineers, else I would start a new army!
So for now it has just to be this one.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on November 06, 2020, 02:13:46 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50572814416_e301331c89_o.png)
As I am still working on filling up some support options for my World War 2 army I started this week with a 45 mm anti- tank gun M1937 from Plastic Soldier.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50572072483_8241cc4967_o.png)
SU- 76i (mostly) from Company B, which was simply horrific! While the main body of the tank destroyer was fine, the resin tracks where all over the place, and neither hot water, nor trying to bolt each wheel to the body did help to straighten them out in the slightest.
So I decided to get me the StuG from Rubicon and use the crisp plastic tracks from that model.
Then I changed the white metal barrel for one made from brass as I like those straight barrels just a little more!

Last but not least I added a tank commander from Bad Squiddo.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50572072508_1c284ffb94_o.png)
My favorite this week was a SU 57 look-a-like, inspired by the model seen in Battlefield V.
Its made from a Warlord Games US mortar carriage, and spare parts I in my bits box (and I think those are all from Warlordgames as well, beside maybe the barrel which is a cut off PaK from Rubicon).
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on November 14, 2020, 05:31:43 PM: As the last couple of weeks I am still focusing on support options, and HQ units.
This week it will get really heavy!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50601559437_d604abc125_o.png)
First up a Warlord Games ISU- 152, that I refitted with a new, longer barrel so it looks more like an ISU- 122.
As I am sure I will use them both, and do not really like the short barrel of the 152 that much, this was really an easy choice.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50601559407_df43bae9a9_o.png)
IS- 2 from Warlord Games/ Italerie, painted more or less in the style of Pravda Girls High School from Girls und Panzer.
Does not always have to be all serious ;D
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on November 29, 2020, 04:50:00 PM: For the end of the year I had planned to start with two new (still Russian) projects. But for that to happen I had to start cleaning up what I still had lying around.
Would not want to end up with some pile of unpainted shame!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661316582_a1504e0ea2_o.png)
To stay as heavy as I was in the last post: 203 mm howitzer M1931 from Heer46.
"Upgraded" with two crew members, made from Wargames Factory.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661223481_941bd71cb5_o.png)
T-70 equipped with a 45mm VT-42 L/66, made from a small steel rod. The model itself is from Die Waffenkammer.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661223546_99ccaea774_o.png)
Anti- tank team with captured Panzerschreck.
The models are from Warlord Games, the Panzerschreck itself is from Die Waffenkammer (I believe), and the ammunition from a Dust 1947 sprue.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660494553_7b15b2e906_o.png)
And finally a Maxim machine gun crew for my 15mm army.
Sadly there is at the moment neither a Flames of War, or a Battlegrounds group in my area. So I am not feeling that motivated to keep on painting those little buggers. Still they will have to get finished at some point.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on December 06, 2020, 01:23:19 PM: With the year coming to an end I wanted to start two new (Russian) armies before turning to some other projects for a while.
Probably a sharp eared LotR army, and with the new season in my area a new Blood Bowl team. But we will see!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50686478506_bfbc0d5931_o.png)
First on the list was either a Naval Brigade or a partisan unit, but if I am honest at some point I will do both.
Still, with the new French Resistance miniatures from Warlord Games incoming I decided to go for the partisans first.

The miniatures here are from Infamous JT, and only the female with the blue beret in the first row is from Stoesies Heroes.
As they are all meant to be Polish resistance fighters, they got that band on their right arm, which I just painted red so they look like some kind of Soviet partisans.
I had to replace most of the heads, as they came with a lot of German helmets, which made them look way too well organized. I think the British commando heads with the wool caps five them the rag- tag look I imagined for them.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on December 20, 2020, 01:57:58 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50739933371_1a5b26ca43_b.jpg)
Ilyushin Il-2 in 1/72 for some close air support in Bolt Action, or as a pre-game bombardment marker in Chain of Command.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50739198003_835d27e52d_b.jpg)
DShK Heavy machine gun team from Warlord Games, for when the Maxim is not enough!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 02, 2021, 05:11:05 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50791141318_fbbb3d41f9_b.jpg)
While I still need to finish some projects, I also wanted to start working on a smaller, new Napoleonic Wars project.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 10, 2021, 03:33:27 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50821253006_130d244e6e_b.jpg)
Russian 12- Pounder Cannon from Warlord Games.

Now only some cavalry, officers and heroes are missing. But I think I will take a little break from this little project and see what 2021 holds in store for my trusty World War 2 troops.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 25, 2021, 12:12:54 AM: While there are still Opolchenie, Jägers and Cossacks missing for my Napoleonic Wars project, I wanted to finish some more miniatures for my WW2 partisans.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50872257497_6080d88664_b.jpg)
First up a flag bearer from the Hot& Dangerous series.
She is supposed to be a Polish soldier, but worked out pretty well in some more Russian colors.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50871452408_6c68becde8_b.jpg)
And two more LMG teams with a mixture of Warlord Games white metal, and plastic miniatures.
The ammo bearer on the far left is from the Infamous JT miniatures I did paint earlier. I just added him to the photo as a means of comparison.

The two plastic miniatures (in the middle of each team) are Warlord Games SS soldiers, but fit very well into the theme, as most of the Infamous JT models I got are dressed in those German camo smocks.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 31, 2021, 11:03:47 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893140342_8da735a147_b.jpg)
A whole bunch of new machine gunners, all equipped with lend- lease Bren Guns.
The one in the middle using a weapon without buttstock in a more of a scout role.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893026866_6e31909879_b.jpg)
Anti tank team, equipped with a PIAT.
Like the machine gunners, those are a mix of Soviet and British plastic miniatures from Warlord Games.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893026861_379611fedd_b.jpg)
Last but not least a mule from Artizan Design.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Codsticker on January 31, 2021, 04:52:42 PM: Nice work Seuchenhexer. Good production too- your Russian project is purring right along.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on February 11, 2021, 11:43:46 PM: Thanks for the comment. It is a really fun project, as I like Russia. Or maybe just the idea of it! Who knows.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50933899802_a9f1169ac1_b.jpg)
Johnny Red from Warlord Games. I bought him some months ago, but sadly did not find the time to paint the Red Falcon squad for some large small scale air battles over Stalingrad.
I tried to stick to what he looked like in the new comic, and of course the Warlord Games homepage. Which seems to be the very same colors.

Then on the right I did kind of kitbash my own Captain Nina Petrova, from a 1stCorps pulp figure, and a female driver.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50933775136_c9ee887b33_b.jpg)
A new NKVD commissar, to keep an eye on the officers of my VDV company.
It was made from a Warlord Games miniature that came with the Bolt Action USSR book.
The flag was replaced with a fist (obviously).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50933775141_135e0abfb0_b.jpg)
And finally I started with working on some of my Hot& Dangerous miniatures. I have mixed feelings about those, as they are of a very good quality, but way too tall for 28mm. They are easily a head or two taller then the soldiers surrounding them.
Because of the style most of the miniatures do not fit into more realistic scenarios, but I felt like that I could use Marusha as the commander for my small partisan project.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50933775621_02a292b183_b.jpg)
Two more miniatures from the Hot& Dangerous 2 series.
I painted Celine in the colors of the Russian army, without any modifications, and she first pretty well in (if you ignore that she is like as tall as a building).
I put Natasha on a round base, so I can use her for some of my irregular units, as she looks quite irregular herself.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Codsticker on February 20, 2021, 02:25:37 AM: Quote from: Seuchenhexer on February 11, 2021, 11:43:46 PM
.. as I like Russia. Or maybe just the idea of it!
I get that- I feel the same way about Asia in general. :D
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on February 20, 2021, 10:48:22 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50961997771_9ddf045480_b.jpg)
Keeping things light this week, I finished four Senior Rifleman, armed with SVT- 40 Rifles. They are meant to fill up the ranks of my slowly growing full company.
The models are all from Warlord Games.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50962100327_817617e551_b.jpg)
And one NCO with a British Sten Gun for my Lend- Lease project.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on February 27, 2021, 10:51:21 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50985109927_28faa3de90_b.jpg)
After getting me a Captain Nina Petrova, I finally got to work and finish a Po- 2 for her. As before with the IL- 2 it is a very old 1/72 kit I got from ebay.
All I have done is to add two 1/72 Japanese pilots I had to cut to pieces to make them fit into the small cockpit.

Now only planes still missing is a fighter and of course some huge bomber plane for my paratroopers.
As for the fighter I am torn between some Russian designs, and of course the Hurricane for Johnny Red. But why settle for one when you can have it all?

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50985000451_5173678dde_b.jpg)
Warlord Games BA- 64 PTRS with a simple headswap from Statuesque Miniatures.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50985109907_d0a1e07065_b.jpg)
SU- 100 from Rubicon.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 14, 2021, 01:41:41 PM: With still not really a lot of games going on in my area, I decided to work on yet another project connected to my great Russian Empire.
At first I wanted to make some Cossacks for my World War 2 army, but then I decided that I wanted to stretch it a bit, and work on some steppe tribe for Saga.
I think this might be as far as I am willing to stretch the project, as I am not sure if it will have much to do with Russia beyond that point.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51035760726_a960d0358e_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51035866432_7d14b8a010_b.jpg)
Warriors I made from Gripping Beast, and they are a bit underwhelming to be honest.
I do not mind old metal miniatures at all, but some of the sculpts seem kind of lazy. And on top of that the miniatures here are repetitive. But then again you got always the option to do something about that with head swaps, and extra bitz. In this case I decided to not put too much effort into it, as it is just line infantry.
So maybe I am the one to blame, but still would not buy them again.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51035866467_81cca3de44_b.jpg)
Next up, the first squad of veterans, also made from Gripping Beast miniatures.
I decided that the only real difference between veterans and warriors will be that veterans have shields. I did not want them to look too different.

Same goes for the colors of the whole army, I decided on purpose to keep them very uniform, rather then mixing a lot of colorful differences into them. It is not historical correct, but I like the enjoy the look on the table a lot.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51035760751_93a69d0037_b.jpg)
Second veteran squad is made up from Fireforge, which are of a way better quality. They are also a lot bigger, but it feels like as if they work well together. Even in mixed up squads.

The plan for this project is to go up to 10 points, so I can vary tactics a bit, but everything has to be on horses. No plebs on foot!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Codsticker on March 15, 2021, 06:10:52 PM: I like the light grey colour choice for the clothing. My tendency is to want to paint them in browns with the odd blue or red bit.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 27, 2021, 08:14:27 PM: Thanks, I really do like the grey as well. Especially as there was no way I could add another brown to an army that is made of nothing but brown.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51076797246_55c55ab66b_b.jpg)
The third veteran squad of my tribe warriors. Full on Gripping Beast, with no modifications.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51076895157_af6eb968b2_b.jpg)
And to not just paint brown all day long, I also did the french hussar from Hot& Dangerous Season 2. Of course in more or less Russian colors so I can (in theory) use it with my Napoleonic War army.
But the fact that she is a juggernaut compared to everyone around her, and that her saber begs to be bent and broken off, will probably mean she never will leave the shelf.
Still a pretty nice model, and one of my favorites from the series.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on April 10, 2021, 03:00:14 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107056241_93d363e090_b.jpg)
Another warrior squad for Saga, and more or less the last one as I now got my six points for playing well sized games.
Of course the warlord is still missing, as I just ordered the miniature in January. o_o

This squad is made of the Fireforge miniatures, which are of much better quality and detail then the Gripping Beast ones. But they got a somewhat odd size, being even bigger then my Warlord Games stuff.
I hope mixing them on the table will not look to out of place.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on April 23, 2021, 11:47:17 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51134345043_29498cb5de_b.jpg)
With Sibirian Steppe Tribe project coming to an end I painted whatever was left, finishing one more veteran squad, as well as a replacement for the veteran, and the warrior banner carrier.
The one on the left is from the game Mortal Gods, and the rest from Gripping Beast.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51134903679_37d7a5e9f8_b.jpg)
And finally I could work on my two heroes.: warlord and drummer from Fireforge Games.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Admiral Alder on April 24, 2021, 12:09:03 AM: I really like the way that you've themed so many different projects together - and its eminently sensible as all your basing and terrain should match ;)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on May 04, 2021, 01:48:03 AM: Thanks for the comment!

There is one more unit (of 12 camels) I have to do, so my Steppe tribe for Saga is finished. Sadly I have not received the camels from Warlordgames yet, so I had to work on something different this week.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51156648288_0c1f10b651_b.jpg)
For my Wolves from the East for Sharp Practice I had to do eight Cossacks. I got those from Perry Miniatures, but changed the hats, with some greenstuff, so they look a little more Siberian (of sorts). I also painted the remaining hats in the same color as I did with my Steppe warriors, so all in all it looks like as if they are from the same tribe. Just with some hundred years in between.
The flag is from GMB Design.

While I hope to get back to the Steppe tribe as soon as possible, I am also close not to finish the Wolves from the East list. Just the Opolchenie and the Jägers are missing. Which sounds like another order to be placed with Perry Miniatures.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 29, 2021, 09:37:31 PM: Finally I finished one of the many projects that have been started in this thread!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51280434800_52dbb55403_b.jpg)
First off the army I want am playing in Saga now (with not much new in the picture): being the warlord and bodyguards, a war drummer, three veterans and one unit of warriors.
When playing with a legendary warlord I just cut back on one of the veteran units.

Of course there is a lot of extra units I can switch through.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278667022_52155c2293_b.jpg)
I also gave the warlord a new set of bodyguards, so she now has her war cat, and a pair of hunting dogs.
This was done because I just did not like using the normal veterans as bodyguards, as they kind of took away from the warlord standing out, turning them into what looked like a normal unit.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51280140589_11b1a9eb27_b.jpg)
And last but not least the legendary camel unit that you can take as with the Mongols.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 04, 2021, 03:17:20 PM: After finishing my Siberian Steppe Tribe (aka Mongols for Saga) I want to get my Wolves From The East for Sharp Practice finished next.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51289835029_6fa8389797_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51289116276_f5c82709c4_b.jpg)
Officers and nobles on horse, from Warlord Games.
And as with all the armies in this thread, a fitting dog to accompany whoever will be in charge of the forces on the table.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 08, 2021, 01:15:33 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51363772091_11f3e84de2_b.jpg)
Opolchenie from Perry Miniatures, the banners I got from the blog Pushing Tin.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 14, 2021, 06:21:09 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377875841_20b94e2cbc_b.jpg)
Russian Jägers from Perry Miniatures.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377110722_5e489b5e0e_b.jpg)
And the (for now) finished army for Sharp Practice.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 19, 2021, 04:10:27 PM: After the adenvture into the dark ages, I wanted to get back to World War 2. I still got some vehicles in 15mm I have not worked on yet.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51389452980_66bf6eb016_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51389452960_d209db4a62_b.jpg)
Captured German Hanomags, and Lend- Lease US halftracks for my scouts.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51389455425_8165750a0b_b.jpg)
Plain and simple T- 70, with one being upgraded with a 45mm VT-42 L/66 gun.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 23, 2021, 02:36:22 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51396440682_89326d8d66_b.jpg)
A Object 704 from Heer46, and SU- 152 from Zvezda, still for 15mm.
I replaced the cannon of the Object 704 with a 1/72 KWK 39 L60, as the white metal one from Heer46 was not what I was looking for.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on August 28, 2021, 02:17:19 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51406172087_aac898cddd_b.jpg)
A company of 15mm SU- 100 from Zvezda, with tank riders from Battlefront. One of my favorite tanks, as most are without a turret.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Codsticker on August 28, 2021, 06:22:32 AM: Very productive Suechenhexer!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Dr. The Viking on August 28, 2021, 07:43:17 AM: Za Stalina!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on September 05, 2021, 03:15:26 AM: I sure try to be productive for this little Russian plastic workers paradise!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51424328202_9a0b84cf23_b.jpg)
Some more Zvezda 15mm T- 34, as for some reason you cannot never have enough of them, and I am only at 14 which is like nothing.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51425077031_8fc09c241f_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51425840769_6f9a711280_b.jpg)
And then I finished up (kind of) two more. Just being one Sherman, and a T- 34 with Girls und Panzer miniatures (and in the case of the T- 34 also with the right decals) from Company B.
Nothing too big, but a nice little gimmick.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: AKULA on September 05, 2021, 08:36:31 AM: Just discovered this thread - an impressive collection of Russians

:)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on October 16, 2021, 09:22:38 PM: Thank you!

Things are going a little slower here at the moment, as I am busy working on a (very non- Russian) Blood Bowl team. But I still try to keep my Russian armies (and this thread) going.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51597145824_bc5a6fd009_b.jpg)
IS2 in 15mm from Zvezda.
Tank riders are from Battlefront.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51596479876_0fd55e994c_b.jpg)
SU76 in 15mm, also from Zvezda. I do not know where the little commander is from, but needed one of the vehicles to stick out a bit as team leader.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on November 07, 2021, 05:26:40 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51662461154_ee1d8d28d5_b.jpg)
Nothing too special going on here, since I am focusing on some other projects right now.
Still there is enough Russian metal and plastic to be worked on, and so I did paint those two IL2 in 1/144 from Zvezda. I did try to keep the scheme close to my already existing 1/72.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on December 21, 2021, 10:40:35 PM: November and most of December did go really slow for me. On the painting table, as well as on the photo front.
However with the new year getting closer, I want to get back into the business. Especially with some new project: Cold War!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51761468882_a775fe40fe_b.jpg)
Olden days resin and white metal Storm, made by Battlefront. And they are just horrible. The tracks have been way too long, or deformed to fit, and assembling was a real pain in the bum.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51762543038_d4bd630e64_b.jpg)
BMD3 from Butlersprintedmodels.
I want to use them in the recon role, thats why they got the extra camouflage and the paint, while their smaller BMD2 brothers will be green.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51762543063_541f62a8d9_b.jpg)
And last but not least some anti aircraft guns from Zvezda.

Instead of going for a Afghanistan vibe, I did look at pictures from the Chechen War, and did what I like to do the most with my tanks: drown them in mud.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Codsticker on December 22, 2021, 05:26:17 AM: Great mud work. 8)
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on December 25, 2021, 06:56:35 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51775624040_ea3de07db5_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51775624020_0e86f56792_b.jpg)
To build up some force, I got me the T72 from Battlefront, and a more modern T72B from Zvedza to maybe represent the formation leader, or the team leaders (In the later case I will get me some more).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51774987598_79e0c84cb5_b.jpg)
And a pair of T90 from Butlers.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 03, 2022, 01:10:09 PM: So, with the second year on this project I got the following miniatures painted:

15mm Vehicles and guns: 82
15mm Infantry and Cavalry: 276

28mm Vehicles and guns: 46
28mm Infantry and Calalry: 411

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51795528242_e726851f7f_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51795528262_d95bfbe19e_b.jpg)
This weekend I finished some of the miniatures from the latest Russian Bad Suiddo Games kickstarter.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on January 29, 2022, 02:54:50 PM: The last couple of weeks I worked (and still be working) on a lot of stuff for 15mm.
Infantry is slowing me down, but now and then I get a couple of vehicles done. Which I like a lot.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51848807422_321319ce6e_b.jpg)
First things first. After my last game I had to buy, and build a unit of ZSU M17 to not have Stukas fly over my head all day long, without being able to really do anything about them.
The models are from Battlefront, and as you need a leader for every unit, I modified one of the trucks with some greenstufff. Adding sandbags to it, to make it stick out some.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51849839823_d68dccee51_b.jpg)
Bunch of 45 mm anti-tank gun M1937, from Zvezda. Plain and simple.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51850426165_b8313bf27a_b.jpg)
And with building more and more for 15 cold war, I had to look into the Team Yankee rulebook, seeing that I can only get the Mi 24 there. Which of course meant I had to buy a couple of 1/144 Mi 8.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on February 10, 2022, 02:08:22 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51873509943_aac728d3f9_b.jpg)
Bringing some heavy steel to the table this week in form of big cats, and big cat hunters.
The SU122 are from Battlefront.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51872472432_1f2b4872bb_b.jpg)
Tiger, and the Panthers are both from Zvezda with the team leader having their cupola replaced with one of the SU122 ones. As Zvezda does not offer any different turret versions.
The camo for the Tiger is from the only photo I could find, where it was used (probably) on some testing ground. But I did like it way more then the alternative to go full green, or green turret as with the Panthers.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on February 27, 2022, 06:20:32 PM: Did some more work for my WW2, and CW airforce.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51906672612_4e7371c0a3_k.jpg)
First two Yak- 1b, and a Yak- 1 I did buy by accident. All three are 1/144.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51908271220_cdf0230147_b.jpg)
And a AN- 12, also in 1/144, modified as a gunship with two machine guns up front, and two howitzers in the back.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 05, 2022, 05:17:32 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51920351350_cf31261b42_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51920351370_54836505d9_b.jpg)
After I had already finished one of my Warlord Games IS2, some good while ago, I worked on the rest of the Tank Wars box, finishing what already looks like a quite formidable wall of steel.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 11, 2022, 06:50:44 PM: Back to my beloved infantry this week (but in very small doses)!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51931252497_8796002120_b.jpg)
First of all my 82mm mortar unit leader (for Flames of War). Made from a Peter Pig German motorcyle, and two simple head swaps (with heads also from Peter Pig).
I do love the pictures of the Harley's with the 82mm mortars welded on by the Red Army, and already build one for 28mm.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51932850835_b45882cd4a_b.jpg)
Two bases of Komissars, build from a mix of Plastic Soldiers Company and Peter Pig, with headswaps where needed (again from Peter Pig), to give everyone the same kind of officer cap.
I kind of painted them in an NKVD style so they pop out, and do not just look like regular officers, which might have been a better or maybe more realistic fit.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 24, 2022, 03:02:46 PM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51958373006_2d65b895f8_o.png)
Battlefront BM-13 Katyusha. The teamleader (for Flames of War) is marked by the tarp over his windshield, instead of the metal plate, like the rest of his unit got.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51958373026_4a0d76d98f_o.png)
And the objectives, made from a wild mix of things! The parachutes, and the paratroopers are from Peter Pig, with the guys having their heads swapped for airborne helmets and googles.
The crashed IL- 2 is a diecast, with a Peter Pig pilot standing next to it, and the gunner being wounded on the wing. For him I used a Armybits wounded soldier in cold war KLMK. But on that scale you cannot even make out what he is really wearing, beside the bandage around his chest. So I painted him simply in the same green as my usual uniforms, and it worked out just perfect.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: pancakeonions on March 24, 2022, 03:34:03 PM: Wow, magnificent work. What would it take to get a full pic of your forces (perhaps grouped by era! :D )

Truly excellent stuff
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on March 24, 2022, 05:02:23 PM: Lots to love in this thread, great work!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on March 25, 2022, 06:39:14 PM: Thanks you two.

There are actually some full pictures of my finished projects in the first post of the thread.
And soon I should be able to post my finished 28mm WW2 company.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on April 06, 2022, 08:45:56 PM: Before finally finishing up my 28mm WW2 VDV company, I have to do some more work for upcoming games in Flames of War.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51986934556_e6e1152d98_o.png)
First I had to work on some scouts this week. With the rest of the army being mostly made up of camo suits, I needed them to stick out, at least a little.
So I used those Peter Pig scouts (as I usually do for most of my army), and swapped their heads, equipping them with jump helmets.
I cannot say that I did enjoy the work, but I do like the result! Even as they do not really stick out that much.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51987225234_856fa9f74d_o.png)
Trophy SdKfz 222 from Zvezda, to be used as a BA64 Observer proxy.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51985928962_feb08a0cda_o.png)
And finally I finished my GAZ AA with Bofors, to be used in Bolt Action as a proxy for the (rather ugly) GAZ AAA with quad Maksim.
This was one of the projects I did plan for quite some time, but always had a low priority, because it was rather expensive, and not really that useful for most of my games. However I always did like the look of it, and found some great pictures on the internet about this, so I really wanted to do it.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Cacique Caribe on April 07, 2022, 05:28:05 AM: Beautiful work!

Dan
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on April 16, 2022, 07:45:26 PM: Thank you!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52008937704_1fce1066bf_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52008937679_32dd5888db_o.png)
This week was rather busy, and I had to finish (what hopefully will be) the last infantry for Flames of War. Engineers from Battlefront. That should put me at somewhere around 60 infantry bases, and way more then enough for any reasonable game.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52008692906_ea5a48fe9c_o.png)
Then four 122mm howitzers, also from Battlefront.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52009205795_a7d8243f8f_o.png)
And to finish off this weeks work, two Po- 2 from Zvezda, with Bren Gun 1/144 Japanese pilots. As Japanese pilots seem to be the only pilots I find out there for some reason.
This might conclude my need for planes for Flames of War, or more like other planes I would like do not seem to be availible in 1/144. Maybe it is time to get into resin 3d printing.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on April 20, 2022, 02:27:52 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52016822584_e9bf25febc_o.png)
I used the long weekend to its full, ignoring family and friends, and tending to what really counts: painting metal.
First up I finished some partisans from Warlord Games, and one Hot& Dangerous miniature for Dust. While I do like the miniature a lot, I do not really had any Germans to stick her to, so I decided that with her short pants she much more will fit the partisans. And thats where she fights now.

With all those I might think about getting a partisan army going.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52015535617_801eb981fd_o.png)
And next I worked on some miniatures I wanted to kind of throw away for a long time. I got me the Finnish ski troops from Warlord Games, and some mountaineers from another shop I cannot remember right now, and had planned to make some sort of 1920 arctic expedition kind of Frost Grave band. But unfortunately I never really got into Frost Grave, and so those miniatures just stood around for like a year or so.
Finally I decided that (together with the Soviet mountaineer from Heer46) they could make for some fine Soviet mountain troops. Not that I plan to do a snow based army, but I guessed before I throw them all away, I also could just paint them first. Also it is always nice to add some more dogs to my Russian forces, in one form or another. So I got another five, even though I feel like that a sixth might hide somewhere. Feels odd that I only got five, but then again I know nothing about sled pulling dogs.
The snow looks horrible, and thank god I stay away from it in the future.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 06, 2022, 08:14:05 PM: I wanted to start working on some Lend Lease projects of mine soon, and for that I had to clean out some work space, and finally start and finish some older projects I had collecting dust for way too long.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52127522029_a5650ba0c8_o.png)
First of all I wanted to add a commander with heavy fire support to my Weird World War 2 mecha project. Using a Hobby Base Fireball (1/35) as I was not able to find a model kit of the same model with an open hatch and interior (and was a bit too lazy to work on that myself).
I added a Warlord Games rocket launcher, that is supposed to go on the turret of a Sherman, and using some Warhammer 40k Tau bitz to create some sort of aiming/ recon device.
The half naked pilot is a swim suit resin model, and not an original idea of mine. I saw something very similar, but way bigger (1/35) being sold in the Maschinen Krieger series, and just wanted to copy that. The pose looks a little silly but I am still happy with it.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52127306868_8f7d89c909_o.png)
Next up a bit more of a kitbash for my games of Mad Maximilian and Gaslands.
I wanted to create something that fits in really nice with my two modified Aerosan, and mixed up a 1/48 Bedford Truck, and a 1/32 da Havialland to have the motor at the rear of the vehicle.
Adding in some bits and parts, and a 2cm flak canon from a the Warlord Games Hetzer box.
So finally this team is ready for some expedition!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on June 07, 2022, 07:57:00 AM: Loving the creativity with your kitbashing! Everything looks great!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: fred on June 07, 2022, 12:32:05 PM: Just catching up on this thread - so cool - and so much green!

You are certainly embracing the quantity has a quality of its own maxim!
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 08, 2022, 07:16:32 PM: Thanks you two.

I actually had checked in on your blog just a few days ago, to see if there was any progress on the Twilight '49 project.
Just to see how it was going, not to steal ideas o_o
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on June 21, 2022, 02:12:54 PM: Starting with my 15mm Lend Lease project this week, I finished some older 28mm stuff that was unpainted for way too long.
I plan to mix up the colors of my Lend Lease units, doing some in Russian green, and some more in olive drab (when it comes to US units), and the British ones in only god knows.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52161697072_71a23055b4_o.png)
Starting easy with a Cromwell tank from Warlord Games. Not doing anything special here, just painted it up in a Russian green and adding some red stars.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52162960294_722511d97e_o.png)
Something I did enjoy way more had been the Carriers. Adding tank rifles and some stowage. I am looking forward to use them, in Chain of Command, or even get some more.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on June 21, 2022, 06:19:39 PM: Quote from: Seuchenhexer on June 08, 2022, 07:16:32 PM
Thanks you two.

I actually had checked in on your blog just a few days ago, to see if there was any progress on the Twilight '49 project.
Just to see how it was going, not to steal ideas o_o

Not that I am making great progress… but you are welcome to use whatever inspiration moves you mate. Your lend lease stuff has me thinking. 👍
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 03, 2022, 08:10:20 PM: With the new release of the Flames of War Eastern Front looming on the horizon, and the only recent release of the Bulge Germany book, I wanted to work on something different. Using the Bulge American book for some crazy Lend Lease/ What If army, or in other words: just play a army painted in the wrong colors.
With all models (or at least the vehicles) I did go for my usual Russian green, and not a maybe more fitting olive drab, as I did not want them to mix up with my more or less historical correct Lend Lease vehicles I already got.

For the most part I did choose to use exactly the units as needed, and not go too crazy with count as proxies. To keep things from getting too confusing on the board.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52191419864_07545a67c9_o.png)
First up my Stuarts from Battlefront and Plastic Soldier. To make the formation HQ stick out somewhat I gave the two vehicles the cutters.
And the M8 I added because they are pretty nice looking little cannons, and it would be a shame to not have at least three of them. No matter if they have been delivered to Russia, or not.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52191419984_d00b023224_o.png)
As my usual Russian Flames of War lists contain a good two handful of T34, I wanted to have a lot of Shermans for that American Lend Lease one. Starting here with the M4A1 as one of the command cards requires some downgraded Shermans.
Later I will add the M4A2, and the 76mm but also some Firefly's as they are one of the coolest Sherman variants out there. Jumbo and Easy Eight are too much for me, and so I will leave them out of my lists.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52190153287_2f9d06eba4_o.png)
M8, and M20 simply because I really like them, and need them to do some recon work. I have thought about the one or another proxy model, but did not really want to got for something as 'normal' as a B- 10. I hope I can come up with some more pulp like solution, but until then I am pretty pleases with those.
The jeeps are just fine, and I will have to add two closed ones later.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52191165351_b576066d4e_o.png)
While I did not really plan to use the M10, I really could not pass up the chance to get and paint some.
I am not 100% happy with the covers I used, but now its too late to change them. And this way the unit leader sticks out pretty good.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52191165306_ff17c2b3df_o.png)
The Pershing's are just placeholders. I do not like them, as they kind of stick out way too much from the Lend Lease project I have in mind. I wanted to replace them with IS3 at first, but those are a good deal smaller. So I might got for something like a KV with a 107mm gun. Something What If.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52190153447_4a72bee76d_o.png)
M3 with mortars. Cannot really not have them in Flames of War as they are dirt cheap, and good. They also fit in nice with the many M3 I already have, as anti aircraft guns, and troop transporters.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52190153487_e22e877e25_o.png)
When it comes to infantry I will use what I already have as proxy, because I do not feel like as if I gain anything from making new infantry. PPSh, and Nagants seem to be a pretty decent count as for any submachine gun or bolt action rifle.
However I did not want to simply do the same thing with the special weapons. So I made new medium stands for the M1919, using Peter Pig US miniatures, and some Russian heads.
Same goes for the Bazooka teams, only that here I did not even had anything that could have worked as a proxy. My anti tank rifles are all on medium stands.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52191649080_caa727c377_o.png)
And a new army means new planes (of course)! I did not even bother to look at the book before buying those, as I wanted to have some Bell P-63 Kingcobra for a while, and this seemed to be just the right excuse to buy me some.

As this really is only a small project, I will not go too far with it. Just the 100 points I need for a solid list, and maybe something here and there to switch out.
Then putting in a proxy for units that will not be too confusing, like the Pershing's or maybe the M8 Greyhound. I did not want to use a lazy proxy for this list, like T34 I already own for the Sherman's.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 08, 2022, 01:09:24 AM: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52200253592_c835aaebc6_o.png)
Getting ready for the weekend game I made some smoke markers with FreeCAD. They are just a temporary solution, as I would much more prefer to have some real 3D smoke.
But this will do for now, and is a big improvement over the red glass pearls I did use so far as smoke markers.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 10, 2022, 11:37:15 PM: A small update on my fantasy Lend Lease force, before I (probably) return to some more classic Russian vehicles.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52207874584_b40a3f257a_o.png)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52206598182_573699b4ac_o.png)
I got a little sick of always having to paint two airplanes of the same sort, so I decided to add some smaller bombers, and heavy fighters to my force. Putting them up with one of my fighters as cover. And as I was working on my Lend Lease project, I decided to start with the de Havilland Mosquito (as one was really delivered to Russia), and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning as I really do like this one.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52207626918_c0013fa68d_o.png)
Next up are a bunch of new Shermans. I will later add the 76mm, that have been really delivered to Russia. But for now I wanted to do some Firefly's.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52207605716_0ce32ddf1f_o.png)
3D printed M12 155mm artillery, with crew from Peter Pig and Plastic Soldier mortar crews. As they are not placed on a base, I decided to add the crew directly onto the vehicle, even as this probably was not the way to operate those machines. But leaving them empty, as in controlled by ghosts seemed to be a way worse solution.
Title: Re: My Russian Diary
Post by: Seuchenhexer on July 31, 2022, 04:41:24 PM: After that much What If Lend- Lease stuff, it was time to get back to some real Russian metal, or a lot of plastic in this case.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52254176130_be076a0069_o.png)
Somewhat fitting to the title of this topic, I wanted to build a objective marker for every year of the war. Kind of like the pages of a diary.
Playing a lot Flames of War Bulge: Americans, and Bagration: Soviet at the moment (and with Berlin: Soviets on the far, but not too far horizon) I started with the objective marker for 1945, depicting a General overlooking the advance towards Vienna. Standing on the rear seat of his BA64 command car, with the upper section being cut off, and re-purposed windshield of a captured German Schwimmwagen.
The driver uses that downtime to flirt some with the nearby traffic coordinator.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52253700958_2da418d1a1_o.png)
Three 3d printed SU-76i, I want to use especially with the Bagration: Soviet command card, that allows for fielding captured German tanks. It will of course stand in for the StuG III.
The unit leader is slightly modified, and I added a Panzer III cupola to it.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52254176175_e1d2b20386_o.png)
The probably last edition to my Bulge: American forces at this point, three KV2 equipped with a 107mm cannon, as mentioned before.
With the first look at the Eastern Front book that will bring several KV variants, like the 3 and 5, I wanted to do something a little exotic.
I also added some captured German Schürzen to them so they got a tad more of a special look.
I really like them and used them already on a game this weekend. They added exactly what I wanted for that force, to give the whole thing a bit of a more Russian look, and not just be all US vehicles.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52252709622_07884995e8_o.png)
And last but not least! Plain old boring KV1 to crush the fascists.