Back of Beyond , getting there with the Bolos

 The next lot of Bolshevik top ups are extra cavalry , another infantry unit and a maxim gun team for the sailors .

First up some lance armed cavalry 

I have added some lance straps made from garden twisty wire stripped from its plastic covering . This wraps around the lance and around the riders arm . In addition I then soldered the lance into the hand and were possibly tacked on to the stirrup . I have superglue failures - which will happen in time - these won’t. The lances are made from strong piano wire that is very rigid. . I sharpened the point with a carborundun disc attached to the mini drill .

I also created some single tail pennants with a red background, a horseshoe and the number 1 to distinguish these .

I also created a unit standard , a combination of cut and paste then a bit of AI processing .

  

Next up the final addition for the sailors - a maxim team .

Spent cartridge cases added by clipping some thin brass wire , attached with some superglue.

 

Finally another infantry unit , these all have the classic budenovka 

So that gives me 6 full infantry units including the sailors , 3 maxims , 2 field guns with transport and 18 mounted , plus various command and commisars . Certainly a decent enough force for our games .

 

I have a couple of Tachankas to complete yet . I also have a plane in the do pile at some point . I have enjoyed doing these 

 

Back of beyond - Bolshevik command and Lewis gunners

 The next top up is two lots of command figures 

First are the commanders for the sailors. I made the flag up with crossed anchors .

 

Next are some infantry commanders .

The 4 Lewis gunners for squad support .

 

All Copplestone castings once more .

Ardennes 44 - German AA / AT 88 and bunkers

 I found a long 88mm in the stash . This is a relatively unusual,Pak41 early more powerful,AA version . I gave it a rattle-can basecoat of dark yellow . Then used the AK pens for dab of colour camo in brown and green . Followed this with dark brown oil wash and one dry a highlight . The crew are from my winter crew stash with a mix of clothing , which seems fine for late 44 /45 . 

I made a simple cobble stone base using milliput to match up,the bases used for the transport wheels . I gave the whole thing a light treatment of the snow gel from AK.

In addition James had come across some of the 15mm bunker sets marketed as Conflix made by Bachmann  the railway company . He picked me up 4 for  £10 .  The are basically table ready , so I just had to winterise them . This was done with a white dry brush , followed by applying the Snow Gel 

 

These are a nice bargain find and have been added to winter terrain stuff . 

Next jib for this collection is another platoon of American Infantry wil will see the Americans start to counterattack .

7DTTR - Last of the French stuff

 This little lot completes the outstanding French forces for the battle group. It adds in an extra platoon of infantry and two lots of transport , one wheeled and one tracked .

Then the infantry

 

And here is the picture of the whole force 

Plenty of options to choose when building a force for a game. 

 

For my WARPAC , I have a poorly  equipped East Germans with T55’s , BTR60’s and infantry . For my Soviets I have some decent armour T80s , T64B , AA Gecko  and Shilka , some BMP2s and 2 Hinds .this is the next force for some upgrade with extra tanks , APC and Infantry . 

 

Back of Beyond - Bolshevik Maxims , bannermen and cavalry

 The latest additions to move my Bolshevik forces onto an all arms force .

I have added some brass wire spent casings to these . 

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Next up are some banner men . One of the issues with multiple similar painted unit can be identifying them to activate . I had an idea to create the red field and use cryllic font letters and numbers . I fed this into Chat GPT and out they popped . 

 

 

 

There are a few others designed just waiting the on order figures for the sailor and cavalry command .

 

I also did one for the railway workers in a recent game 

The last tranche of the stash were 6 cavalry.

And united with the existing pieces 

I have also acquired a 3d printed 155mm Schneider Long Tom . An usual piece for the BoB I reckon , but it does give me bang for my rouble 

I can swap out the field gun crew for now until I get hold of some more .

The complete for so far 

Still at bit more to add . I continue to enjoy doing these . Hopefully the next North Star order arrives this weekend .