RKKA War Correspondents

Soviet War Correspondents

Left foreground is Mikhail Sholokhov. Behind him is Yevgeny Petrov and to his immediate right is Alexander Fadeev. Photographed somewhere on USSR's western front in August 1941.

I'm putting together a Soviet officer's uniform and equipment to represent a comrade correspondent with The Red Army during The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. The Soviets do not appear to have had a dedicated war correspondents branch. This is unlike the British, Germans and Americans who did have such service branches. So the uniform will be a standard Army one but with a Soviet camera or two. I'm told I'll be issued with a PPSh for self defence as the need arises. Soviet kit is, in comparison to British, German & US, cheaper, more comfortable and practical. 

I've started the ball rolling with a pair of officer's boots. This is because I believe that all worthwhile impressions start from the feet up. Not head down. 

URRAH!

Nahzee Nuisance 2

Following on from NN-1 the other day here's the finished article. I'm not 100% happy with the camo scheme on this toy. I think I've been a bit heavy handed; since it's my first ever go at Fritzy camo I'm happy to let it pass muster and become a tank battalion. The first of the tank battalions for 2nd Panzer Division. Why 2nd? Well they seemed to have fought all over the shop and were, in essence, Austrian. Which appeals to my warped sense of fun.

I also left off the turret appliqué armour. Mainly to avert more toy-based trauma. I think it makes the toy look charming. But then that's how I roll ;-)

Somewhere In USSR

You're Not Leaving Until This Mess Is Cleared Up!

Welcome to new blog follower, and friend, Vicky! Her blog is space and time supertastic! Go and have a look and report back!

TTFN!

A Gift

My dear old Strange Uncle Hugh sent me some stuff yesterday. He's a smashing old buffer and it seems he has even more Soviet stuff he no longer needs. Kit that will soon be in my sweaty paws!

He sent:

1 x Zis 3 a/t gun plus servants. So that's two guns plus maids and butlers. Nice!

3 x Metal tank commander types

2 x strips of metal bags, bedrolls and broomsticks

3 x metal loggy things

3 x sheets of Red Stars and Soviet tactical markings.

All in 1/72 &/or 1/76 scale

An impressive haul, Thank you, Uncle!

Nahzee Nuisance 1

As I mentioned yesterday I have become embroiled in the modelling farrago that is:

The fetching box art does not, at all, convey adequately the horrors that lie within. Why on earth the designers thought it amusing to have two piece road wheels for example is a mystery. The simple answer is they are sadists. More likely is that they wanted to up the 'model quality quotient' for the kit. We'll never know for sure. But that wasn't the worst of it, oh no. The appliqué/spaced armour mounting kit  took downright nastiness to a whole new level. I am, however, getting ahead of myself. The worst, the absolute worst was the tank's tracks. Now, I'm used to the flippy-floppy-wibbly-wobbly tracks that will simply not either remain glued together or fit over the running gear. Not without at least one road wheel snapping off or one's fingers becoming glued together. But this! Ehrmegerd as the yoof say. INDIVIDUAL track links? Are you mad? Apparently so. Mind you once you bite the bullet and get on with it the effect is most pleasing. So, in the end a win for me. I doubt I'll have more than one Revel PzIII in my Nahzee tank forces though. Now I know why it was priced at £3.99.................

Vorwärts!

Tank!

As promised here are the tank brigades for my upcoming toy tank corps. I've gone for a mix of Lend-Lease M4s & T-34s to reflect the large numbers of EmChas the Soviets received. It also reflects what models I had available at the start of this project! Always an important consideration for a make-do-and-mender like myself. All the toys are from Armourfast. Which is, as far as I'm concerned, a glorious company. One that releases quick build toys with the minimum of faff and the reduced potential to send me into a demented frenzy is ok by me. Unlike the Revell PzKpw III/M which I'm building at the moment......

Some pics!

On to Berlin!

Ronsonski

Urrah!

More when I have it!

Toy Trucks 4

Finally! Things have been a bit chaotic since my last post. Happy to report that stability is being regained along with some forward momentum too!

I've finished the Motor Rifle Brigade for my developing Tank Corps. Wiki kindly provides a list of Soviet Tank Corps from WW2. Now I've just got to pick a suitably heroic one to base my toys on. I'm now working on the Tank Brigades and AA Regiment. So, a full parade is in the offing. Stay tuned, Megablitz-hounds!

TTFN!

Cake Frenzy

It was my birthday last week, the 7th. Anyway on the 6th my friend Virginia made me a cake and brought it to dance class. It was a chocolate and raspberry sponge covered in white frosting inlaid with white chocolate buttons. Sadly I forgot to take a photo before it was devoured by my dance chums. I only got a piece because my friend Simon saved one for me.It was quite something to have the whole class sing 'Happy Birthday' to me.

The following day my two daughters presented me with a Victoria Sponge cake they'd made for me. That too was delish and lasted a bit longer than the first one. The kids also sang 'Happy Birthday' to me with modified lyrics which I won't trouble you with hehe. I also forgot to photo this one too.

I've never had two large birthday cakes before so to say I was touched and flattered would be an understatement. I also got some lovely cards and prezzies including a Hansel & Gretel tea-cup and saucer from my friend Estelle the Queen of Chintz. Thank you all very much!

Toy Trucks 3

Production moves inexorably forward to painting, weathering and red-starring. Just the bases to go. Plus some work on the appalling tyres of the truck on the left in the first pic.

I've had a request from Alan/Tradgardmastare for details on how I weathered these vehicles. It's very straightforward mainly because I want it done quickly with the minimum of fuss.

I use Earth Brown, a piece of paper and trimmed down largish paint brush.

Dip the brush in the Earth Brown; skim most of it off back into the pot; then I work the brush back and forth on the paper to get it almost dry.

Then with light back & forth strokes I work from the front of the vehicle. Ideally the brush should lightly touch raised surfaces. Repeat as needed until you're happy. I try to think logically where muck would accumulate. That includes doors and running boards where chaps get in and out of the vehicle.

I then repeat the process with a pale sand colour paint. This time I only brush over upper surfaces like the front of the cabs and the tilts. I also dry brush the windscreens with the sand to get a filthy window effect.

And that's it.

Trucks Deluxe (apart from the tyres)

More tyre trauma

Propaganda & Radio Trucks

Urrah!

Toy Trucks 2

The idea that mass production was developed by the criminal Ford is clearly rubbish. Soviet ingenuity and expertise has the answer. For everything.

Trucks reach the undercoat stage of their journey to the front:

Staff Car & General Transports

Trucks For Lorried Infantry

Toy Trucks 1

Based on the wise maxim of 'in Megablitz you can never have too many trucks', I have been scouring the trash toy troughs of my local charity shops. As usual they came up trumps and I am now the proud owner of a batch of trucks. They vary from the roadworthy to the 'you're not actually going to ride in that are you?'

That's where the Birmingrad Motor Repair Facility Number 1 comes into play. The appended photographs shows the busy shop floor and five of the trucks. Three of them are destined for service in my Soviet tank corps; hence the tilts. One tilt I salvaged from a £shop toy. The other two tilts were made from plastic T-bar sections. Brown paper, liberally dosed with white glue, was fitted over the t-bars. The inverted truck has had its front axle housing rebuilt and will be a LOG job. The white vehicle needed a new roof: hurrah for plastic card!

Chopshopski

Tilts fitted and paint work sanded down

I'm quite pleased with the way the tilts have turned out. Fitting wheels to the inverted truck is problematic but  Soviet can-do will overcome. Or else.

TTFN!

Cozzers!

I mentioned a week or two ago I'd painted up three 28mm uniformed plod for Geezers. Well here they are on an aggressive patrol of their manor. They own these streets, well, they keep them in trust for Gene and the 'tecs. You know how it is with the CID wide-boys.

The buildings are for O-gauge railways so are a little big but who cares? My other buildings are 20mm scale but it's the look of the thing that's important!The offy was cobbled together from left-over bits from the terraces. The cars are die-casts from some maker or other, I got them cheap down the market.

The adverts are all genuine 1970s jobs just copied and re-sized - blindin'!

Be lucky!