Resources guide for 28mm Eastern Front wargaming

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Gaming the Eastern Front in 28mm

Greetings All,
I’m thrilled and honored to have been the author for Two Hour Wargames’ “NUTS Eastern Front” WW2 supplement book (http://www.angelfire.com/az3/twohourwargames/NUTSEasternFront.htm). This particular theatre of the war has fascinated me for the last decade, and most of my 28mm WW2 skirmish gaming activities center around the Eastern Front. I know a lot of people game the Eastern Front in 15mm and microarmor, but since those aren’t really scales for which I have a broad knowledge base, I’ve decided to list a few places you can go to get the 28mm figures and terrain you need for skirmish gaming the Eastern Front. My collection includes products from most of these companies.

28mm Figures
• Finland
   o Baker Company: http://bakercompany.co.uk/
   o Warlord Games/Bolt Action: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/

• Germany
   o Victory Force Miniatures: http://victoryforce.com
   o Artizan: http://www.artizandesigns.com/
   o Crusader: http://www.crusaderminiatures.com/
   o Warlord Games/Bolt Action: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/
   o Black Tree Design: http://www.blacktreedesign.com
   o Brigade Games: http://www.brigadegames.com
   o Foundry: http://www.waargamesfoundry.com
   o Chiltern: http://www.chilternminiatures.co.uk/
   o Westwind: http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk
   o Old Glory: http://www.oldglory25s.com/

• Hungary
  o Use 28mm Late World War I German figures
   - Old Glory: http://www.oldglory25s.com/
   - Renegade: http://www.renegademiniatures.com/
   - Brigade Games: http://www.brigadegames.com

• Italy (Eastern Front/Europe)
  o Warlord Games/Bolt Action: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/
  o Black Tree Design: http://www.blacktreedesign.com
  o Strattegia I Tattica (Alpini, Savoia Cavalieri, etc.): http://www.strategiaetattica.
it

• Romania
  o Outpost Wargame Services: http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk/

• Soviet Union
  o 1st Corps: http://www.1stcorps.co.uk/
  o Victory Force Miniatures: http://victoryforce.com
  o Artizan: http://www.artizandesigns.com/
  o Crusader: http://www.crusaderminiatures.com/
  o Warlord Games/Bolt Action: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/
  o Black Tree Design: http://www.blacktreedesign.com
  o Baker Company (Early War/Winter War): http://bakercompany.co.uk/
  o Chiltern: http://www.chilternminiatures.co.uk/
  o Westwind: http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk
  o Old Glory: http://www.oldglory25s.com/

28mm Vehicles
• 1/48 scale:
  o Hobby Boss: Soviet tanks – T34, KV1, KV2: http://www.hobbyboss.com/v48.htm
  o Hobby Master: (prepainted) JS2, King Tiger, Tiger 1E, Sherman - http://hobbymaster.
com.hk/
  o Tamiya: Wide range of vehicles - http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/category.
php?sub-id=10500
  o Bandai: Out of production, but good range of tanks and trucks. Check eBay.
  o Classic Armor Depot: prepainted PzIV, Pz38(t), Marder, others. Out of production,
but often found on eBay

• 1/50 scale:
  o Corgi: Primary tanks (T34, Panthers, etc.). Out of production, but often found on eBay
  o Solido: Primary tanks (T34, Panthers, etc.) - http://www.quarter-kit.com/
  o Gas.O.Line: Hard to find vehicles and conversions - http://www.quarter-kit.com/
  o Black Tree Design: http://www.blacktreedesign.com

• 1/56 scale:
  o Army Group North Miniatures: http://www.agnminiatures.com/
  o JTMF: http://www.jtfmenterprises.com/
  o Warlord Games/Bolt Action: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/
  o Company B/Brigade Games: http://www.brigadegames.com, http://homepage.
mac.com/brentdietrich/companyB.htm
  o S&S Models: http://www.sandsmodels.com/

• 1/60th Scale:
  o Old Glory/Battlehonours: http://www.oldglory25s.com/

• Ruined Urban Terrain
  o Battleworks Studios: http://paintedterrain.com/default.aspx
  o Amera Plastics: http://www.amera.co.uk/
  o Armorcast: http://www.armorcast.com/

• Villages/Farms
  o Snapdragon (Russian village/farmhouses): http://www.moondragons.com/
  o Chiltern (Russian farmhouse): http://www.chilternminiatures.co.uk
  o Battleworks Studios (Russian farmhouse): http://paintedterrain.com/default.
aspx
  o JR Miniatures (Ruined house, German house): http://02a7218.netsolstores.com/

• Other: Browse model train shops (Brick & Mortar, and online) for O-scale scenics
and building kits, as well as Model Dollhouse providers for “1/4 scale” furniture
and accessories that fit 28mm terrain quite well.

Information About the Eastern Front
In addition to figures and terrain, there is a large amount of information out there about the Eastern Front – but David Glantz and Stephen Zaloga are two historians who have covered this theatre of the war prolifically and in detail. Here are some great starter resources for understanding the Eastern Front. Each of these authors have more in-depth looks at specific campaigns, Glantz in particular
is the current master historian of all things Eastern Front.

General History of the Eastern Front
• When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler (Glantz, David)
• The Road to Stalingrad: Stalin`s War with Germany, Volume One (Erickson, John, Stalin’s War With Germany, V. 1.)
• The Road to Berlin (Erickson, John , Stalin’s War with Germany Volume II)
• Russia’s War: A History of the Soviet Effort: 1941-1945 (Overy, Richard)

Units and Uniforms
• Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front (Glantz, David)
• The Red Army Handbook 1939-1945 (Zaloga, Steven)
• German Army Handbook 1939-1945 (Lucas, James)
• Osprey Publishing: http://www.ospreypublishing.com
  o Wide range of country and unit specific books and guides covering all the countries and major units involved in the Eastern Front.

I'm sure that's not a complete list of gaming resources for 28mm OstFront gaming, but it's what comes to mind! Enjoy, and feel free to add more resources and reviews if you can, it would be cool to have a really comprehensive resource guide.

[David]

Does any of these cover the campain of the Italians in Russia?
Or is there a good book that someone can point me to?
Thanks
David

[Calimero]

Useful Tread...

The link to Wargames Foundry has too much "a" … 

Could these figures, from Gripping Beast, past as Hungarian troops for WWII
http://www.grippingbeast.com/product.php?ItemID=2060

[Calimero]

Also, people interested in the subject could read both Stalingrad and the Fall of Berlin by Antony Beevor

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

The Turks from Gripping Beast might be usable, but there are so many sources of late WW1 Germans, you probably don't need to use those. Say, anyone know what the Turkish uniform looked like during WW2?? Did they still use the German helmet? I know they had a weird mix of Axis and Allied equipment during WW2 -- flying P-40 Warhawks, Messerschmidts, and Czech PZL P-24 aircraft.

[Calimero]

Of course there’s plenty of late WWI German to choose from but the all wear "Y style" strap… Perhaps these Turks have a different kind of leather equipment (i.e.; a more "accurate" one)?

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Hi All,
I got some great feedback on this guide and have add this to my blog. I'll try to keep it up to date, and if you have anything to add or correct just let me know. Thanks!

http://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/resource-guide-for-28mm-ww2-eastern-front-gaming/

-John-

[answer_is_42]

Wow, I didn't know anyone made Romanians in 28mm. Oh, if only I had the funds!

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Who knew! Well, there's also a gent who posts here on Lead Adventure who has commissioned his own range of 28mm early war WW2 Greek infantry. I'm looking forward to seeing more about them.

[Doc Twilight]

If I may "toot" my own horn here, I have written several WW2 sourcebooks for the "Panzer Korps" system, and a couple of these may be of some use to those of you looking for a synopsis of the actions of specific countries in the Eastern Front campaigns. Includes orders of battle from the Divisional level, general history, and some discussion about suggestions for wargaming.

Use of the Panzer Korps rules is not required to make use of them; I specifically wrote them to be open and generic enough to be useful to wargamers and military history enthusiasts, in general.

So far as I know, these are available from On Military Matters, Caliver Books, and a few other resources. I've seen them on Amazon from time to time. I don't hear much from the publisher about availability, only that they "sell well" and are generally available.

"To The Last Huszar! Guide to the Hungarian Armed Forces, 1939-1945" by Alex Bagosy

Covers all military actions of the Royal Hungarian Army from 1939 to 1945, including the Slovak War, the Yugoslavian Campaign, the Eastern Front, and co-Belligerent Allied forces.

"Con Tutto Il Cuore! Guide to the Italian Armed Forces, 1935-1945" by Alex Bagosy

Covers the Italians from Ethiopia through the end of the war in 1945 on all fronts. Includes the RSI, Co-Belligerent forces, etc.

I have also done a guide for the Allied forces in 1939-1940 on the Western Front entitled "The Storm Turns West", but it's likely not much use to the Eastern Front gamer. Covers Belgian, Danish, Dutch, and Norwegian Forces during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940.

I'm working on a Finland book at the moment, but it has been delayed by illness this year and the non-delivery of certain source materials. It will cover 1939 to 1945, and include the Winter War, the Continuation War, and the Lapland War. No title yet (the publisher is a bit odd about letting his authors name our books, although he let me name the last two.) There is a possibility that I will be doing a Slovak book as well, or at least a Slovak "handbook"; it depends upon what the publisher needs. There is a Rumanian book in development, but I won't be writing it. The Polish book is also in development, and I'm helping out as a contributing editor. Not sure on a release date for either.

-Alex

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Hi Alex,
Your books are excellent resources! Btw, I am also the author of the Panzer Korps source book for the Red Army, "Red Disciples: Soviet Generals Handbook" 

I may just come calling when working on other books for NUTS Eastern Front. I am also, of course interested in any feedback you have on the book. I'm compiling an errata/FAQ document, so feel free to PM me or drop me an email directly. Thanks!

Best,
John Cunningham
aka SBMiniatures Guy

http://sbminisguy.wordpress.com/

[Doc Twilight]

John -

Thanks for the kind words.

You are to be congratulated on the Red Army book as well:)

If you need any help or any writing for the sourcebooks, please let me know. I'd be more than willing to help out. I actually enjoy this sort of thing.

I'll pick up the book ASAP. Just been super busy this month. But will pick it up and have a look-see. Sounds good, so far!

-Alex

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Hi Alex,

I am interested in doing a book (or books) about the experiences of the Hungarians, Italians and Romanians during the war. I have a few books on the Italians, such as "Sergeant in the Snow" and so on. I have a platoon each of these in 28mm, and at some point need to get them onto the table! Too bad nobody makes Hungarian tanks and vehicles in 28mm or 1/48th scale. If you were to do Hungarian cavalry, can you think of any existing figures that would work for them? I know in general that you can use late WW1 German figures for WW2 Hungarian infantry (different pain job, perhaps some weapons conversions here and there), but can you do the same with cavalry?

Would you use late WW1 German cavalry figures? There are a number of 28mm lines for those. Or would you use a mix of those with 28mm Ww2 Polish Cavalry?

Thanks,
-John-

[Doc Twilight]

Hi Alex,

I am interested in doing a book (or books) about the experiences of the Hungarians, Italians and Romanians during the war. I have a few books on the Italians, such as "Sergeant in the Snow" and so on. I have a platoon each of these in 28mm, and at some point need to get them onto the table! Too bad nobody makes Hungarian tanks and vehicles in 28mm or 1/48th scale. If you were to do Hungarian cavalry, can you think of any existing figures that would work for them? I know in general that you can use late WW1 German figures for WW2 Hungarian infantry (different pain job, perhaps some weapons conversions here and there), but can you do the same with cavalry?

Would you use late WW1 German cavalry figures? There are a number of 28mm lines for those. Or would you use a mix of those with 28mm Ww2 Polish Cavalry?

Thanks,
-John-

Hi, John -

Barring the creation of a dedicated Hungarian range (which may happen in the future... one never knows;) ), I would suggest the German WW1 cavalry. Ideally, you'd want Austro-Hungarian cavalry, but as of the present date, the only Austro-Hungarian cavalry I've seen in 28mm were Dragoons in early war uniform and helmet, which doesn't do any good. So, definitely the Germans, with puttees and M15/17 helmets. If you could find Carpathian caps for a few of them, so much the better!

The Poles theoretically based the cut of their uniform upon the Austro-Hungarian uniform of 1917-1918, but I haven't seen enough of the 28mm stuff for the Poles to tell you whether they'd work. If you could do some head swaps to use the appropriate helmet, they might actually work fairly well. The Hungarian cavalry were still wearing their long riding boots in WW2, although I have seen a few photos of them with puttees (when dismounted as infantry, though even then they clung to the boots as long as they could, as they did during WW1.)

The downside to this is that, to my knowledge, the only Polish and German WW1 cav I've seen in 28mm are armed with lances, not sabres, which would be the appropriate Hungarian armament. I could have missed something, of course!

-Alex

[Terrible Tim]

Hello Gents. I have just purchased some 28mm Artizan late war Soviets. I want to play games with about 20 infantry a side and occasionally play with a tank (I will buy a T34/85 and eventually a Tiger for a German force I will build) or truck, jeep, artillery etc. These vehicles will only play minor parts or for scenarios.
I would like to know numbers for Command, Rifle, Scout/Recon and LMG sections etc (Eastern front Soviet and Germany). Or were to find it on the net. This will give me some idea what I need to buy next. By the way I am using a free rule set downloaded from the net – so there is no TOE.

Thanks
Paul.