WWII Soviets reboot (3)

A punishing work schedule including a week long business trip to Frankfurt and a another week long business trip in the US has left very little time for painting these past three weeks, but I did make an effort between the trips and was able to finish off another 22 WWII Soviet infantry this week.

Like the previous batch these are all Artizan Designs picked up from Northstar.

The first pair of figures are from the Command pack, and although a little smaller than the standard infantry are really good characterful sculpts that mix well with the troops.

Two more sections of SWWB08 - Soviet Army Squad II were also completed so I now have a complete 'winterised' platoon in fur hats and padded jackets.

Continuing to use my standard WWII Soviet palette, most of the uniform colours in this batch were 'Russian Uniform' and 'Khaki' with rather less 'US Field Drab'

I'm rather happy with the effect of having the mix of uniform colours.

This time I did not mount all the LMG teams as prone pairs, instead using some kneeling figures on the bases so that I have some variety, the 'spare' prone figures shall be mixed in with gun crews.

I now have enough Soviets painted for three platoons plus a bucket load of supports, I have some more of the old Bolt Action Miniatures Soviets on the painting table at the moment, but once those are complete I had better get cracking with some more Germans.

I've no business trips scheduled now for the foreseeable future so the painting should be able to continue apace, at least until my trip to the UK in August.

WWII Soviets reboot (2)

Last July Northstar had one of their sales and I snagged a few bargains including another load of Artizan Designs WWII Soviet infantry.

I managed to pick up four packs of SWWB08 - Soviet Army Squad II and a blister of now discontinued characters.

I've been trying to restrict the purchases of new figures lately and instead concentrate on painting the figures in the 'pile of shame', and as these were fairly near the top of said pile they were an easy pick.

The weather was rather lovely at the weekend so I sat out on the patio and got these figures cleaned up, stuck to bases and the pumice gel applied to them and on Sunday evening they got a coat of Rustoleum Khaki ready for starting painting on Monday when the weather turned much wetter.

I painted these in two distinct batches of 11 figures using my previously documented palette the first batch used Russian Uniform as the primary colour with some clothing etc. done in Field Drab while the second batch used Field Drab as the primary colour and Khaki as the secondary colour, as I paint more I'll continue this cycle.

My original method had changed slightly, I no longer use VMC Sepia wash instead now using AP Strong tone and have added another layer to the flesh tones, including a stage where they get a coat of AP Flesh Tone.

1st section

This is the first section of ten men from the squad box, I like to have some 'pairs' based up, both for the LMG teams and to use as patrol markers in our Chain of Command games.

1st section

2nd section

The second section is very similar, but in this case the 'pair' uses a couple of advancing figures rather than the kneeling ones in the first section.

2nd section

2nd section

I also painted up two of the character figures from the command pack, the first is a great sniper model in a cloak with a sniper rifle, the second figure is an officer in great-coat and helmet with a pistol and to be honest is a bit of a spud, he's very slight, I don't think a mannequin was used, the facial detail is poor and the hand holding the pistol lacks the usual detail we expect from Artizan, maybe he is the reason this pack was discontinued.

Sniper and Officer

Sniper and officer

I took the opportunity to take some individual close ups of some of the figures.

Infantrymen Statnik and Ponikarov

Infantrymen Loskutnikov and Vikhrov

Infantrymen Loskutnikov and Vikhrov

Infantryman Lomovtsev (front)

Infantryman Lomovtsev (rear)

Infantryman Babatyev (front)

Infantryman Babatyev (rear)

Junior Sergeant Kocheryozhkin (front) 

Junior Sergeant Kocheryozhkin (rear) 

This lot is half the Soviets bought in the sale, I'm working away on business for the next couple of weeks, but hope to crack on with the other half when I get back.

WWII British Airborne and SAS

I've done a group of WWII British Special Forces and Paratroopers for chum Tony. They are a mix of figures from various manufacturers including Artizan Designs, Warlord Games and Bolt Action Miniatures.

They were where generally a delight to paint, although I've found you can quickly go off of painting Denison Smocks :)

I'll pop them in the post to him when I'm back in the UK next week.

Hemmingway, Anarchists and the International Brigade

A busy old week has seen quite a bit added to the Spanish Civil War collection.

First of all the 'Ernest' figure from the Artizan Designs range a great characterful model.

Next the pair of Anarchists from Northstar. Again a smashing couple of models from a range that is often overlooked when looking for troops for this period of history. In a nod to the famous photo in the you can just make out CNT painted under his sombrero.

Finally another ten International Brigade, again from Northstar. I've gone for a palette of mainly blues and greys in this batch. This latest addition to the force means I now have 42 of these painted and plenty enough to field a platoon for Chain of Command.

This week I plan to crack on with more Empress 'La Legion' for my Nationalists.