Info/Primer for someone wanting to do early war Russians in 28mm?

[Elbows]

Hey all,

The local group here has been doing some Bolt Action and I've enjoyed some games of Chain of Command.  As such I feel it's time to put together a small force of models for the occasion when I'm invited to play WW2 in 28mm.  Nothing substantial (a few squads, a few teams, a few vehicles).

My main interest lies in Burma, but I suspect it's rare to stumble into players with terrain and armies for that theater.  So my next real interest lies with the very beginning of the Russian's involvement in WW2.

Is there a decent resource for what I should be looking at?  I'm thinking of small engagements (read: 2-4 squads, a few weapon teams, an armored car or two, and maybe one light tank etc.).

I see a couple of sources for T-26's, and trucks.  I've glanced at Eureka for bulking out some basic infantry with rifles, etc.  I'd imagine I should avoid SMG-laden units, etc.  Does anyone make horse-mounted infantry for the Russians and would that be appropriate for 1939-40?

Thanks for any heads up.  I know my WW2 reasonably well but not well enough to know which kind of small AT/field guns the Russians could use in that time-frame, etc.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Depending on your lead time (or how long you are willing to wait), it might be worth following the progress at Rubicon for your T26:
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=604.msg7515#msg7515

Otherwise I would suggest Empress (I do not have a T26 but I do have their Carson Loyd MMG carrier:
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/empress-miniatures-carden-loyd-mmg.html)

Rubicon also are working on a GAZ AAA truck:
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=538.msg6859#msg6859

AT gun wise, might be worth looking at the PSC AT gun set which has an option to build one of I think these:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/45_mm_anti-tank_gun_M1937_(53-K)
http://theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2_43&products_id=205
The figures are not the best (being scaled up).

[Elbows]

Okay, cool - that's generally where I had been looking.  For some reason I thought I'd seen a Rubicon T-26 on sale already, but I guess I hadn't.

I saw the PSC AT-Guns and thought I could figure something out with them, so that's a good route to go.  I'll do a little research on which guns to build (might need a minor tweak).

I don't suppose you could make a BT-5 out of the BT-7 kit from Italeri/Warlord could ya? 

[Truscott Trotter]

Warlord, Trenchworx and Company B should have all that you need in trrms of vehicles and guns. I prefer Black Tree Designs or Eureka metals to Warlord plastic infantry but YMMV.

No one produced accurate  WW2 cavalry or Cossacks but there are a couple of rumours of lines coming. Most people either buy cavalry  from earlier periods or male some by combining  plastiv infantry and ACW cavalry.

[Elbows]

Sounds good - I've been poking around sites during the day.  The resin vehicles from Warlord - are they actual Warlord models, or (like most of their line) created somewhere else and sold for 130% the price by Warlord?

[Truscott Trotter]

AFAIK they are there own models and I have not seen them for sale elsewhere
Most other manufacturers in resin are the same price or dearer even without the Warlord sales and discounts
Apart from the Rubicon T-26 to come in next 6-12 months or longer - yes its their lead time -  then resin is your only choice for EW Soviets stuff.
If you are in USA Canada you can try JTFM or AGNM - JTFM are made from a  resin I dislike and take 4-6 months to receive - AGNM have cast on bases

[cuprum]

Perhaps this will prove useful: http://wk.frothersunite.com/sc/pulp/ww2soviet1.htm

Here is described the uniform of the Soviet army for the initial period of the war: http://siberia-miniatures.ru/forum/showthread.php?fid=13&tid=169

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Empress's Spanish Civil War is also likely to be your friend.
http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart25.htm
T26 and BT5.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

AFAIK they are there own models and I have not seen them for sale elsewhere

The photographs on the respective websites of the Empress and Warlord Carden Loyd MMG carrier is similar right down to a moulding fault. YMMV

[Elbows]

Thank you guys, keep 'em coming!

[Truscott Trotter]

Didn't realise the Russians had Carden Loyd's in 1939-40? 
Its a mutton Chop Miniatures one on Empress so who has stolen who's IP?

[Ultravanillasmurf]

This is the image you want.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Didn't realise the Russians had Carden Loyd's in 1939-40? 

Well,
"The Soviet Union bought 20 Mark VI tankettes, which they designated K-25, as well as a licence. However, the final project was significantly modernised and the licence was dropped. Instead, the Bolshevik Factory in Leningrad started the production of the T-27 tankette, a modernised and enlarged variant of the British design. A total of 3,228 T-27 tankettes were built between 1931 and 1933"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carden_Loyd_tankette#Service_history
 
The Soviet variant (1931-41):https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-27

However my comment was more based on the model sources (of course as you point out the Carden Loyd is a Mutton Chop vehicle, the T26 is from the SCW range - the ex-HLBSCo modern vehicles do not use the "metal" type resin used on the Empress moderns and the Carden Loyd).

[carlos marighela]

How early is early? If you mean 1941 on then there are a number of ranges that will meet your needs. The biggest challenge for anything earlier like Poland, Khalkin Gol and Finland in 1939 or the invasion of the Baltic republics in 1940 is the lack of suitable figures. The issue here is headwear, no M-36 helmets. Even in 1941 a substantial proportion of the Red Army were still wearing them and they are pretty distinctive. Brigade Games made some pretty awful looking figures for Khalkin Gol and Baker Company make some fairly naff looking chaps in shlem and greatcoat. Others mileage may vary.

I pray that someone will do some decent early war Russians. Bizarrely, Brigade Games do some excellent Hicks sculpted Winter War Finns but no opposition.

Wondered myself about those Warlord tankettes. I'm contemplating purchasing one to convert into its Czech offspring. The Soviets made their own version of the Carden-Loyd, the T-27, but very few were in service outside of training units by 1941.

[Elbows]

As the army may evolve I'm okay bending the rules on helmets, etc.  More concerned about vehicle availability, artillery/AT gun availability, and generally having the correct unit composition.  I can bend on webbing, clothing, and helmets generally (also doesn't look like I have a ton of choices).