Starting out in ww2 28mm

[tin shed gamer]

I go about things in a slightly different fashion.I start with 60-80 miniatures (including vehicles,or less just depending upon the period)and split this between both sides.So I personally own an entire skirmish game of two recce forces.Then expand a little at a time or as your budget allows.
It's a good way to try out a period with out going all in.You don't get worn down by painting a large army,as you switch between sides painting one unit from each rather an entire side,(so two painted units is one Brit,and one German so you could even do a squad level skirmish as your plodding through the lead pile).
It's also easier to resell single units than whole armies should your mates drop out from the project.If they do drop out you've still own an entire game not just one side and no opponents .You can still carry on with building on army or both as you get further into it.While still having a smaller game available if someone wants a game.

Mark.

[Kane]

Or you could do like idiots like me... US Airborne, Waffen SS, Brigade Piron (late ware Belgians with British equipment) and some Irish Guards heavy armour, early war Belgians with some BEF armour and for some obscure reason I also have some British airborne lying around. Still don't know WHY I bought those...  

[HothJim]

Right, I've ordered a Bolt Action Armies of the Soviet Union book. I see Black Tree Design have a sale on, tempted to order a few NKVD, love those minis! Should have 500 points ready mid to late summer. Happy to take pointers on 'Russian essentials'!
Cheers,
Jim.

[Truscott Trotter]

I bought 95% of my Soviets from BTD on various sales.
I built 4 sections of 12 men plus HQ, MMG, Medium mortars - thats my core
Then I added a unit of Scouts, SMG tank riders Sappers and a unit of NKVD - all from Black Tree
I then added some guns and armour from Warlord and suddenly I have 2000+ pts of Soviets 

[HothJim]

I bought 95% of my Soviets from BTD on various sales.
I built 4 sections of 12 men plus HQ, MMG, Medium mortars - thats my core
Then I added a unit of Scouts, SMG tank riders Sappers and a unit of NKVD - all from Black Tree
I then added some guns and armour from Warlord and suddenly I have 2000+ pts of Soviets 

Just purchased a couple of squads from Black Tree. Riflemen and Partizans. Almost bought some NKVD, but they only had rifles and wanted a few armed with SMGs. Looking forward to cracking on. Thanks all for the friendly advice.
Jim.

[Sir_Theo]

Right, I've ordered a Bolt Action Armies of the Soviet Union book. I see Black Tree Design have a sale on, tempted to order a few NKVD, love those minis! Should have 500 points ready mid to late summer. Happy to take pointers on 'Russian essentials'!
Cheers,
Jim.

The Plastic Soldier Company do some 28mm plastic russians fairly cheap. The AT guns are a great inexpensive way to add some artillery.

Game wise my favourite Russian unit in Bolt Action are the 'Black Death' sailors. The Warlord models are great.

[carlos marighela]

If your mate has FJ then what about ANZACS?  You could do a campaign based upon Crete.  They can be also be used for N Africa and then Italy at Monte Casino.

Do you mean New Zealanders? They can be used to surrender the key lines of defence on Crete, see a bit of action during Operation Crusader and then are usable from El Alamein through to Tunisia. Didn't see any service in Sicily but they did fight all the way up the Italian peninsula and beyond, as far as Trieste in fact.

I recently went with WW2 Soviets, initially because I liked the figures and with no intention of gaming but now find myself with a platoon's worth plus a wide range of support options as well as some opposition ( Finns and Japanese). The beauty of the Soviets is that you can use them against Germans, Romanians, Hungarians, Finns and Italians on the one hand and against the Japanese for the Manchurian campaign of August 1945.

If you want the best sculpted WW2 figures, I have ever seen look at the new Eureka Soviets. they have a distributor in the UK too.

The US site has the best photos but be aware that the range now extends to Maxim machine guns, anti-tank rifles and a 50 mm mortar.

[Truscott Trotter]

Just purchased a couple of squads from Black Tree. Riflemen and Partizans. Almost bought some NKVD, but they only had rifles and wanted a few armed with SMGs. Looking forward to cracking on. Thanks all for the friendly advice.
Jim.

I bought both packs of BTD NKVD they come with 2 SMG and 2 Rifles in each pak - I added a BTD officer in a cap and have a section of 9 with 5 SMG's works fien for me - there are MMG but no NKVD LMG;s
I second thew comment about Eureka Soviets - I have a section on the painting table as we speak - they mix quite well with BTD Soviets in terms of height and heft but have netter sculpted (more realistic) helmets and weapons than BTD

Here are my BTD NKVD you can see the (chunky) SMG's in the background

[carlos marighela]

The Plastic Soldier Company do some 28mm plastic russians fairly cheap. The AT guns are a great inexpensive way to add some artillery.

Game wise my favourite Russian unit in Bolt Action are the 'Black Death' sailors. The Warlord models are great.

The AT guns are good value. The PSC figures are piss poor on the whole.  Soft, shallow detail and some awful poses.  Most heads are blob like in terms of detail. Even Airfix's 1970s vintage Russians  were on par or better.

That's not to say they don't have their uses. I was greatly disappointed with the WG Finns, so I have used the PSC Soviets as the basis for some conversions. Head swaps with Wargames Factory German heads and a few packs from the spares box and they are a great improvement on both the base figure and the WG metal figures.

[HothJim]

I bought both packs of BTD NKVD they come with 2 SMG and 2 Rifles in each pak - I added a BTD officer in a cap and have a section of 9 with 5 SMG's works fien for me - there are MMG but no NKVD LMG;s
I second thew comment about Eureka Soviets - I have a section on the painting table as we speak - they mix quite well with BTD Soviets in terms of height and heft but have netter sculpted (more realistic) helmets and weapons than BTD

Here are my BTD NKVD you can see the (chunky) SMG's in the background

These are smashing! I'm also glad to hear of the weapons mix, thanks. Must wait until the next sale...
Cheers,
Jim.

[Truscott Trotter]

Jim they are 50% till Tuesday UK time!