I Ain't Dead Yet

Been nearly a month since I've managed to get anything done worth posting, but I've finally made some progress with things!

I've now got the Platoon Command section finished and based, and I'm about halfway through the MILAN team

The MILAN team will be mounted on a single base, similar to the Blowpipe team previously. Gives me an excuse to make little mini vignettes! They'll eventually get some transport aswell, either a 423 or a Spartan MCT...

Finished Platoon Command-

And I spent far too long trying to get this right-

OK, so it's not really period correct for the mid 80s, but it looks impressive, and since I'm representing a fictional regiment (to cover a multitude of sins), I can write it off as a regimental affectation (i.e. they're flash gits)...

So far, Combat Team Alpha of the Queens Own Atholl Rangers Battlegroup looks a bit like this-

Still requires a third section, and FV432s to carry them all about it. Also to be added imminently are some support weapons in the shape of MILAN teams, 81mm Mortars and SF GPMGs, and a CVR(W) Fox armoured car. I also intend to add some armoured support in the shape of some CVR(T) Scorpion and Scimitar, as well as some MBT support. Hopefully I can persuade the powers that be over at S&S Models to do a late mark Chieftain with Stillbrew armour...

In other news, I've also made a start on their opposition, the dastardly Sovs of 3rd Shock Army...

Spurred on by the Friend and Foe group build over at The Guild, I've so far been working on the Elheim Command Pack containing a platoon commander, signaller, sniper and trooper with an underslung grenade launcher attached to his AK-74

Quite happy with the colours so far. The figures give a nice contrast to the BAOR infantrymen, with the Soviets' archaic WW2 style fatigue uniforms contrasting with the modern DPM combat uniforms of the British. I intend to do some of the figures with mismatching tunics and trousers, reflecting the ever-dependable Soviet supply system (I don't think there was a Soviet version of Silverman's?)...

I took my inspiration from the Soviet Motor Rifleman pictured on p60 of the "Cold War Gone Hot" Force on Force supplement, with his red colar tabs, epaulettes and arm shield. I was keen to include these, as it gives some sort of definition to the figures, and breaks up what would otherwise just be an endless sea of khaki. While officially, on combat uniforms, these would have either been deleted or replaced with olive green versions, most Russian soldiers wouldn't have been given sufficient uniforms to have seperate "field", "combat" and "parade" versions of the same tunic, so I kept them on, for the aforementioned artistic reasons [wankspeak mode off].

Hopefully should be able to get these and another 6 finished in time for the end of the group build...

Cheers
Iain