Painted Plastic Russians

I thought I would share some pics of my latest project, the plastic Medieval Russians. They are based, as are all my chaps now, on 60 x 40 bases from Warbases.  All of the standard bearers  have had their spear or sword removed, the hand drilled and a piece of brass wire inserted as a standard pole. All standards have been hand painted by yours truly.

 A unit of mounted druzhina manufactured by Mars (Pack 72059, Russian Medium Cavalry). There are 12 figures in the box so it works out quite nicely. All of the cavalry have been both pinned and glued to the horses before painting.

 This is a unit from the Suzdal smerdy levy (peasants). Made by Mars, they are the Lithuanian-Russian Light Infantry (Pack No 72060), there are enough figures in the pack to make two such units plus the smerdy archers below. I found out after they had all been painted and based that the chap on the far right has a separate shield, (I thought there was something strange about him). Gluing just to the paint is not good so I've decided to leave it off on him but use them on the next unit. 

A unit of Novgorod Militia. The standard is from the Republic of Novgorod so is probably more modern than the thirteenth century but I like it and other contemporary flags, apart from religious icons, are difficult to find. Although not too obvious from this angle, it has one of those Russian three bar crosses plus extras on it. These are from the Stelets Medieval Russian Militia (Pack MO48). There are enough to make two such units from the box.

A unit of smerdy archers from Ryazan. There should be a boyar type figure in the middle of the flag but my thinking was that he might have been added at a later date and anyway, as smerdy they wouldn't have had too finer standard, if any. These are from the same Mars pack as the Suzdal smerdy above. The third figure from the right is from the Stelets Medieval Russian Militia pack. These and the cavalry are marketed as being from the first half of the Fifteenth Century but I have used them otherwise it would be boring with only the two Strelets boxes to use for the whole army, especially as there are only 6 cavalry in a box.

So in numbers I have three infantry units -total of 48 figures- and one cavalry unit- total of 12 figures- completed in just over a month of painting for about an hour per day. On the workbench I have another unit of militia, one of smerdy levy and a unit of foot druzhina left to paint -another 54 figures although the druzhina are already half painted. There are 6 cavalry in the Russian Army of Alexander Nevsky box and I will probably use 3 of them as an army command base. 

So for an outlay of about £25 I've got the lions share of a complete 1/72 scale Russian Medieval Army of 102 infantry and 12 cavalry. Not bad, eh?

  

I've decided that another box of the Strelets Medieval Militia, one of the Mars Lithuanian-Russian Light Infantry and a box of Tartar Light Cavalry should be enough to see me through. It would give me a total of 11 infantry units (186 figures)  and 2 cavalry units (21 figures). Of course, for that price I could always add to it at a later date. 

A BIG Catch-Up Post

Well, I tell you, so much has happened since my last post nearly 10 months ago that I don't know where to start. So, the news in no particular order -family first:

In February this year we finally took the plunge, upped sticks and moved south to Kent, an absolutely beautiful county full of greenery, fresh air and of course, history. A far cry from the more industrial midlands. We are now completely settled in and loving every moment. Ten minutes walk from the town centre where there is every major outlet except that in amongst all of them are some independent traders and some original half timbered buildings. There is even a stone building that dates back to 15 something or another.

YO got herself married in April, her and her affianced decided to take it abroad and tied the knot in Sorrernto, Italy. Ma Subs and myself went over for the week and, to be honest, for most of the time the weather was sh*te...apart from one day, the day of the wedding. Perfect blue, cloudless skies, excellent food and with Mount Vesuvius as a backdrop, what more could one want? MO -who by the way got himself married last November at Browns in Mayfair, quite a swanky joint and now lives in Chingford- managed to get there but his wife couldn't make it as she had been on the wrong end of an RTA and had been shunted into an estate agents window the day before they were due to fly out. Bit of a dampner but fortunately, she has made a full recovery. OO couldn't make it due to prior work commitments. For everyone that couldn't get to Sorrento they had an English reception in early June so it meant another trip back up to Brum -the previous expeditions  up the M1 had been in March for a suit fitting and April to get the plane from East Midlands airport for Sorrento. More than 250 people turned up and it was an absolutely fantastic night.

OO moved south with us, lived here for a while then got himself a job in London so has moved into a flat in Woolwich. So now it's just Ma Subs and moi rattling around. She was extremely ill back in March and spent a week in the local hospital, fortunately she is well on the mend so it's all good now.

Wargaming wise, since Derby last year, where I went probably for the last time because it's at Donnington Park quite close to the racetrack and, similar to Salute, it's in the equivalent of an aircraft hanger but noisier with the cars going round the track. Didn't enjoy it too much. The only real upside was a pre-arranged meeting with a number of wargamers on the WD3 forum; really great bunch of people and a good couple of pints were enjoyed by all. Met up with a gentleman I had not spoken to or even thought about for at least 25 years -blimey, doesn't time fly when you are having fun- after finding him on t'interweb. Amazing. He now lives just over the river in Essex so we are in the process of arranging to have a game in the next couple of months.
 
Last month my mate -who moved here in August last year and once again only lives across the road- and I went to Broadside in Sittinbourne where -long story short- he bought some Medieval Polish and I bought some Medieval Russians...in plastic. Now before you completely poo-poo the idea take a look at some of the pics below. Using a new painting system of white enamel undercoat, brown wash to accentuate details, block colours and then another brown wash for shadow, since early June I have painted 48 infantry and a dozen cavalry; for me it's almost speed painting!. I'm so impressed with this new -to me at least- method that I am going to try some 15's or even 10's later...I will keep you updated.

These two are just a taster. I have taken other pics but they are still on my camera so I will post some more next time.

That's about it for now, I'm off to enjoy some lunch in the sunshine in the county known as the Garden of England.

Derby again!

I tell you something, the last year has shot by, but unfortunately, not much has been started or finished on the wargaming front. I reckon my total to date since last October is 15 15mm figures, some 15mm vehicles and some 6mm SciFi skirmish figures, models and terrain.

And that is it!

Pitiful, absolutely pitiful.

But the good news, such as it is, is that I finally found the box of ACW 115mm figures I have been hunting for for ages. You will never guess where I found it.

Just to the left of the fan on the shelf above the printer is some rolled over A4 paper...you can just see the edge of the box on the left of the sheets. The bl**dy thing had been right in front of me for the whole time. Cavalry, wagons, generals, artillery, infantry, the whole lot, it's all there. Wonderful. Now all I've got to do is add it to the 'things to be painted' list. As you can imagine, I chuckled...not at first mind.

Family wise, MO has got himself a role as the voiceover for a certain crisps in a tube company sponsorship thingy. Basically, films on Channel 5 over here in the Old Country for the next few months will have his voice and parts of him on screen as the ad break starts and ends.

Now to Derby. I'm really looking forward to this one because it appears that a number of the WD 3 Wargames forumers?? including yours truly are having a meet in the bar -where else, I ask you- for a few wets. Be nice to put more faces to the avatars. I caught with a couple last year and they will be there this time as well.
   Also, I have decided that I will get some different opposition for my 10mm Mongols. As you know I have a sizable Song Chinese Army to face them but I intend to get some Khwarizmians; I've e-mailed Mr Kay at Irregular and they should be waiting for me on arrival. Can't think of anything else I need at the moment apart from some static grass and flock. I intend to take some pics of the games as well; I took a load at last years show but never got around to posting them.
    This could conceivably be the last Derby that I get for a few years, as soon as we have sold the house we are moving back down south, Kent to be a little more precise. Loads of good shows down there (apart form Salute which I can't stand) -Tunbridge Wells, Reading, SELWG, and more than a few in my native county, Essex.

Just to let my myriad -??- of followers know that I am still around, just extremely busy but nothing to do with wargaming.
I was trawling through some of my favourite blogs earlier and came up with this on Take the High Ground. This gentleman has some brilliant terrain ideas and it's well worth a visit. Anyway, he had found this on someone else's blog, so I thought I'd nick it as well, hopefully no-one will mind.


1. Favourite Wargaming period and why?
 Medieval in the Far East, especially the Mongols and their enemies. When I first started in wargaming back in the early 1970's there was a series of books in Southend Library about Great Commanders written by Dupuy and Dupuy. They wrote one on Genghis Khan and I have been fascinated by the Mongols ever since.

2. Next period, money no object?
 Napoleonic Wars in 28mm.

3. Favourite 5 films?
In no particular order: A Bridge too Far, Zulu, Waterloo, Blazing Saddles, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

4. Favourite 5 TV series?
 UFO, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Primeval, Firefly, The Sweeney

5. Favourite book and author?
 The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. An SciFi novel about an interstellar war that takes place over centuries because of the speed of  light and the aging at different speeds thing. Cleverly done.

6.Greatest General? Can’t count yourself!!
This may surprise a few people (not) but it's Subedai Bahadur, (a Mongol who was the logistical mastermind and brilliant strategist who was the brains behind most of Chinggis Khan's later campaigns and indeed the European invasion of 1241).

7. Favourite Wargames rules?
 A set of Napoleonic Rules specifically written by a mate of mine -I still have the original -for the old Mini Figs 5mm blocks.

8. Favourite Sport and team?
 Football (the real one), West Ham United.

9. If you had a only use once time machine, when and where would you go?
 The Battle of Mohi, 1241.

10. Last meal on Death Row?
 Steak and kidney pudding followed by Spotted Dick with Devon Custard.

11. Fantasy relationship and why?
 Maggie Gyllenhaal, marvelous role in The Secretary.

12. If your life were a movie, who would play you?
 Michael Palin.

13. Favourite Comic Superhero?
 Beast from the original X Men.

14. Favourite Military quote?
 'Beware Marshal of what you do', Marschall Blucher (Prussian) to Marshal Davout (French) as the former moved towards Paris after Waterloo.

15. Historical destination to visit?
 Loads spring to mind. Probably Mongolia, Malta or Rhodes.

16. Biggest Wargaming regret?
 Not enough hours in the day to keep up with my projects, wargaming and otherwise.

17. Favourite Fantasy job?
 Author.

18. Favourite Song Top 5?
'Man who Sold the World', David Bowie -his version not Lulu's
'Apache', Shadows
'Nights in White Satin', Moody Blues
'This Flight Tonight', Nazareth
'Atomic', Blondie

 19. Favourite Wargaming Moment?
 Using one of the old WRG versions on a books under cloth terrain, I elected to use a line of hills. My LMI Ancient British infantry could go over them but my mate's HI Assyrians couldn't. Downhill charge off the table he goes, what a plan thinks I. Rolled to charge with the warband on the far right. Decided it didn't really want to play anymore and ran away...followed by the rest of my warbands. At the end of the third move I only had 2 units of LI and 1 of chariots left on the table! Funny now but not so much then.

20. The miserable Git question, what upsets you?
 A lot of things. I am getting more cynical and intolerant as I age. Governments, large and multi-national companies, mis-use of the English Language, footballers who play act or deliberately cheat, lack of manners and social skills, the majority of television -especially soap operas and 'real life' programmes to name but a few. (Ask Ma Subs, she probably has a list somewhere).

Back in the top flight -football that is, nothing to do with flying

What an afternoon. Just finished watching the Championship Play-off Final and West Ham won. Really good game, commiserations to Blackpool but quality counts and West Ham had it all over the pitch. I bet half the street heard OO and myself when the Irons scored...twice. The Premiership beckons. And there is still the European Champions Final tonight. Never really taken to Chelsea but as they are the only English team in the final I hope they win. I'll watch it anyway.

Been otherwise engaged (Pic and script heavy)

Weeelll, to be completely truthful, after Derby for some reason that I still can't put my finger on, the bottom dropped out of my interest in wargaming in general, figure painting and blogging -hence the time lapse. For a time I was writing and committing most of my notes and role playing systems to for an RPG SF game begun back in the 1980's and well before the availability of pc's. Post Christmas that was done so I cast about for something else to do. Got interested in Mr Angel Barracks 6mm SciFi and made a few bits of scenery and buildings for that to go with the Irregular stuff I painted.

These are some pics of terrain buildings and a couple of cd based chunks of scenery. Two single storey, semi-detached habitats followed by a larger unit. Then there is a workshop unit with a small storage yard and one of those ubiquitous roller-shutter doors. After that is a storage tank for whatever the colony needs to store and finally there is a small unit. The buildings are made from thick card on two faces and cereal packet card on the other two. the tops are cut from small corrugated card strips found as packing at work. (Note to self, need more card.) Details are from hole punched paper, sticky labels and the pipes are straws and the middles of cotton buds. The external pipe on teh starage tank is just a piece of sprue with a bend in it. Painted in a functional grey scheme with a thin wash of deep red over everything to show that the sand gets everywhere.

Now I must apologise for these next two pictures. The ones above were taken directly from my pc but these two are from my photobucket site and I haven't got a scooby on how to re-size them.

Now here a few pics of some stuff I did ages ago but never got round to taking any pics of. The ECW are 6mm and the Romans are 10mm, all Irregular. 1. Imperial Roman HC.

2, 3 and 4. The Earl of Essex's and Lord Saye and Sele's Regiments of Foote from the ECW.

5. Two troops of Essex's Regiment of Horse.

6. Two Imperial Roman Cohortes.

7. Numidian cavalry, Imperial Rome.

I now need to make another apology about the layout of this post. Blogger has changed everything and I can't seem to work out how to get the script lined up with the relevant pics. Sorry. BUT I'M BACK! It seems that after two weeks off work with a bad chest infection combined with the viral thing that's going around meant that I could catch up on my DVD collection. Re-watched all my Mongol DVD's amongst others, my painting mojo seems to have returned and I am painting some Ancient Brits to go up against the Romans pictured above. Roman total painted currently stands at 4 legionary cohortes of 42 figs each, 1 auxiliary cohort of 30 figs, a heavy cavalry unit of 24 and a unit of light cavalry 18 strong. Still to paint are another two units of auxiliary infantry -1 spear and one archer- all Irregular and some ballistae from Pendraken. Facing them I have 1 warband of 27 painted; I based that up to see what it looks like and have another 30 painted (Irregular) and about the same amount of Pendraken half done. I'm also halfway through six chariots. I'm thinking of using Impetus as a ruleset because it fits in with my basing style and I've read good things about it.

Derby Show and latest happenings.

Once again, Derby lived up to my expectations and I had a great time, made even better by meeting up with a young man, (as he was when I last saw him some 30 odd years ago), who uses the WD3 Forum name of Essex Boy -no prizes for guessing where he is from- and another who uses the pseudonym of Count Belisarius on the same forum. Luckily I had already got most of what I wanted so the brace of Guinness' went down a treat with the good company.

There were, as usual, an eclectic mix of games on show, some pictures of which I have put in a photobucket album folder labelled Derby 2011 under Subedai's albums -can't seem to get the link thingy to work at the moment.

Purchases:
2 x 15mm Zvezda Zis 5 lorries, 1 x BT 5 and 1 x PZ III Ausf G. Nice little snap together kits. £10 for the 4. Bargain, (pictures below). The only problem with Zvezda is thay don't have any decals with them (didn't know this until I got home), so I'll have to see if I can get any at Wargamer in December.
1 x bag of Irregular Miniatures house making bits.
1 x Pack of Forged in Battle 15mm Russian Maxim MG Teams, 81mm Mortar Teams and SMG platoon. Lovely little figures and very reasonably priced. So for the sum total of £20 I have all my WWII Skirmish Russians. Cooking on Gas! (Buildings and vehicles are coming along apace, just got to get the infantry done.)
2 x bags of 25mm round bases from Warbases.
A few pots of Vallejo paints for the Russians.

That was about it. Got lots of ideas for buildings terrain bits etc. Courtesy of a gentleman, AngelBarracks I have started thinking about 6mm SciFi Skirmish and was hoping to get some B&P's at Derby but couldn't find any purveyors of the 6mm variety so that's gone on hold at the moment -not that I haven't got enough to paint!

Now for the pics of those vehicles I mentioned above.

BT 5
This little number goes together very easily and paints up well.



Zis Lorries
These are a little trickier than the BT 5 but look okay when done. The only gripe is that the engine cowling is a one piece casting and has to be bent to fit. Now, try as I might I couldn't get it to fit properly on either model so the covers are a bit skewiff but it's hardly noticeable. With the cover being a separate component, I decided to make one of each.





A shot of both lorries.



Pz III Ausf G.
Apart from the cupola not fitting properly I had no problems with this little model at all. Went together easily and paints up nicely as well.



A comparison shot of the two tanks.


Now a comparison between the Zvezda lorry and a partially painted one from FoW. Even with the double base on the FoW lorry, I think you'd agree there is nothing in it.

Bin a long time

To paraphrase Zeppelin, 'It's bin a long time since I...' posted. I haven't actually got any excuses apart from I've been painting some chaps and B&P for the new project, namely 15mm WWII Skirmish.
So far I have 3 platoons of Waffen SS done and some localised support weapons prepped i.e. tripod MG34's and 81mm mortars. I don't intend to go to town on this one but I do intend to get some Russians at Derby to face them. What I had in mind was a reasonably small affair with tanks taking second place to infantry scrapping it out. Don't mind the odd Hanomag or equivalent but I'm trying to concentrate on the smaller aspects rather than a refight of Kursk. Company level at most.

Included here are some pics of what I have been up to.

The first two platoons of infantry. Figures are Flames of War that I bought years ago at a Manchester do and have only just got around to painting -using Vallejo acrylics, gloss then matt varnished. Bases are from a bakelite type of stuff that I was given by an electrician about ten years ago -I'll be using MDF for the next lot. The orange bits are my first experiment with the coloured sand that seem to be prevalent at the mo. tufts are cuts of painted sisal string.




First squad


Squad LMG



Now here are some pics of a couple of pices of terrain I've made.

A Russian thatched, wooden barn. As you can see from the first two pics, the barn walls are made from scored foam board which unfortunately doesn't show up too well on the finished article so that's why I had to highlight the planking effect. The door frames and hinges are just thin cuts of cereal packet card. The staves sticking out of the roof were a common sight on this type of building and were made from the copper wire found in two core flex and run the whole width of the roof. they were superglued onto a folded piece of card and when dry, another piece of card the same size as the first was glued over the top. Any gaps were filled with either Polyfilla or the thatch was brushed down to cover. The thatch itself is made from a cut down piece of children's play felt, glued onto a base and covered in watered down Polyfilla or similar to harden it. (TIP. If you use a stiff brush it combs out the felt as you go, making it look more realistic.) Fencing is made from unsharpened cocktail sticks for the horizontal bits and modelling matchsticks for the the uprights. Holes were drilled through the base with my trusty Dremel for the uprights for greater strength. Bases done in the usual way.



Pictures of the completed barn





Next up is a log cabin.
Made from cocktail sticks glued to a backing piece of the ubiquitous cereal packet card; these were a bit tricky because I tried to get the extended corners look by interlocking the sticks. Smaller, fiddly pieces of stick were cut for the door and window shape. Upright sticks made up the door frame and card outlined the window. Thatch made as for the barn only in horizontal, overlapping strips rather than just a single piece. Roof is detachable. Hedge is clumpy stuff hardened with a PVA/water mix and then dry brushed. Flowers are more of the coloured sand.





The two buildings together



I'm halfway through making a couple of simple thatched cottages and I've even got two Timecast? models to paint. That will give me a total of 6 buildings so I suppose I'll have to make a church to go with them.