Tuesday 26 July 2016

Red Army World War 2 Support Weapons

Following on from the rifle and sub machine-gun squads, here are some images of the new 28mm WW2 Soviet support weapons and teams that I recently finished sculpting for Eureka Miniatures. 

First up is the PTRD 1941 anti-tank rifle with two-man crew. With a calibre of 14.5mm, the PTRD was a single shot bolt action weapon which was very widely distributed in the Red Army. 



Next is the classic Maxim PM 1910 machine-gun also with two-man crew. Carried along on it's Sokolov wheeled mount and easily recognisable with it's fluted water jacket.



And finally there is the M1940 50mm mortar. This was one of a few different light mortar designs issued to infantry units of the Red Army. 


                                             
...and here are all three teams together, plus a couple of the arcane reference books that came in handy while researching this project. I mean, what library would be complete without a copy of Know Your Antitank Rifles?





I'm on a bit of a roll with this whole WW2 Russian thing so you folks can expect this range to expand. I also have more post-2000 figures in the works too, and maybe even some scale modelling posts coming up.

18 comments:

  1. Very nice, will definitely pick up this range when I get around o my Russian WWII stuff....

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  2. These look great Kosta! I have bought 4 packs of each of all the troops! Now to these support weapons! I am very excited about the up coming work! Can't wait to see what the line will bring. Keep up the great work.

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    1. Thanks mate!
      Really appreciate your suggestions for the factory militia too.
      I am definitely looking into that idea...

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  3. Great painting, I really like the rich, well-blended tones. Nice urban detail on the bases too.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment. The basic Soviet issue uniform was pretty drab, I've found that nice shading and highlights really help make the models 'pop'.

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  4. Kosta-
    Here is a great resource for you when considering the 'militia' models. Its also a great book for further understanding on the subject in itself. One of my close friend's father was one of these people in WW2. The Nazis killed his family, and he joined the resistance.
    https://www.amazon.com/Peoples-War-Responses-World-Soviet/dp/0252026004/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471288637&sr=8-1&keywords=people%27s+war+thurston

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  5. ...another small detail in sculpting would be to have some models in shoes, or with boots but one or both pant legs over them, and so on. You will see them in the photos. Mixing civilian gear with some found soviet army stuff is good, but try to make them not look too much like a normal soviet infantry man (because ..folks should just buy your soviet army men instead....and paint accordingly.) 'Think' these should be factory milia first ...and they can be used as east from partizan if folks would like too ..not the other way around. Thanks again for such great work!

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    1. I've had a good look at the images that you first pointed me to and certainly picked up the detail about civilian shoes, plus I think figures wearing one-piece boiler suits mixed in would further capture the factory militia look. Flat worker's caps feature in pics of worker's militia and partisans, too.

      'People's War' looks to be a solid book. Here's a link to a book that had a huge impact on me when I first read it:
      https://www.amazon.com/Destined-live-Memoirs-Russian-partisans/dp/0646098888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471344660&sr=8-1&keywords=destined+to+live+berk

      First-hand accounts of life under Nazi occupation are never easy reading, but crucial when trying to understand the scope of the Second World War. Your friend's father sounds like an interesting man!
      Before immigrating to Australia my parents lived through the German occupation of Greece, and the Greek Civil War that followed, which is a big part of my interest in the period.

      Thanks for the other stack of links too - much appreciated!

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  6. Wow! Amazing. My grandfather's brother was in the Greek Resistance at that time, as well. Pretty amazing coincidence.

    Your observation about the boiler suits are very dead on, as well. Your right, its these kinds of things that will set apart the figure line from any of the other offered out there in the world at this time. At least one man with an DP LMG would be good. For some reason, there never seems to be one in many Partisan lines ...thats not obviously a French Resistance guy with a Bren or MG42, that is.

    I do allot of WW2 East Front ...and I have been ...and will be ...spreading the word on this figureline you have been doing. Truly great stuff, Kosta I am eager to see what else you do.

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  7. Just got my sets of all the support weapons today! they are great, clean castings with excellent, accurate detail. History buffs will love these as well as gamers of the WW2 era. Great poses (as usual) Crew are always posed with attention to the weapon, no stiff, static pose ...that just look more representation, than of a recreation of model men 'in fighting positions'! Really looking forward to getting these painted up. I'm going to enjoy the process!

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  8. I received a note from Nic saying he saw some in-progress work on the Factory Militia! I am beyond excited to see these when they are ready to be shown! This is going to be quite the Soviet release!

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    1. Hey Kingtiger,
      I'm glad that you like the miniatures so far.
      Factory militia are indeed on the way, however I have started with a set of Soviet partisans (these are the figures that Nic saw) and the militia will be next. The sets will be pretty similar, so gamers will likely be able to mix the two sets.
      Thanks for the kind words!

      Kosta

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  9. Wow! Two more sets for this great Soviet line! Thats exciting. Mixing the two sets also sounds great. I am sure many people will find the choice and versatility for them games exciting as well. Very much looking forward to seeing them all. I will be painting and showing off more of this line to others while I wait.

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  10. Kosta-
    I just received your Soviet Partisan and Factory Militia sets from Nic. Wow! Amazing. You have done such a great job one these. You are an amazing talent. The poses, dynamic, and realistic. the researched weapons and gear, and the boiler suits, are so dead-on (as I know you know! You obviously take great care to reproduce real looking models.) This WW2 line is shaping up to be incredible. I really cannot wait to see what you do next with them. (actually excited beyond belief). I am to paint these up in the next few days, and I hope to share them with you. I will be sure to post them all over the net. I'm doing a huge 75th anniversary Stalingrad game(s) this spring to commemorate humanity's largest battle and single loss of life at the new england HUZZAH Convention event in 2017. Your Barmaley fountain and Soviet minis will be a big feature! Thanks again!

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    1. Hi Kingtiger,
      Thanks so much for your kind words, I'm glad that you like the partisan and militia miniatures. Your suggestion of the Factory Militia as a subject for a figure set certainly struck a chord with me, and both sets were interesting to research and sculpt!
      I'll try to get a post featuring both sets up on this blog soon.
      Have fun getting your Stalingrad together!

      Kosta

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  11. Hi Kosta.

    Not related to the Soviets but still WW2. Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the late war Pacific Australians.
    Picked up all 14 poses x3 and it was great to see them with the right gear, i.e Us gaiters and Owen guns.
    Don't know if Nic told you ,but they sold out at Cancon after I posted them on the Bolt Action Australia/NZ FB page.

    Looking forward to possibly seeing more in this range, e.g,Helmets, Sniper, Officer, Radio operator, Flamethrower, MMG team, Mortar team, Independent Commandos and Native Papuans.

    Keep up the awesome work Levendi.

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    1. Thanks Spyros!

      Glad that you like the 28mm Aussies, definitely more sets and helmet variants in the works.

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