Soviet Naval Infantry - part 3

Hot on the heels of the Pegasus figures are this lot from the Zvezda hard plastic set.  The stripy shirts were something of a challenge - I tried two variants and on balance prefer the lighter version (the chap with the bundle of grenades).

That's all from the Black Sea Fleet for the moment.  That said, I do have another of these Zvezda sets so I might use it for some conversions.

Soviet Naval Infantry - part 1

I have a game project in mind for next year which either creates a need - or provides an excuse - for modest numbers of Naval Infantry. I’d been aware of the Pegasus figures for a while and so recently bought a box. These are soft plastic figures and require some assembly. That said, the soft plastic is harder plastic than most soft plastic. Clear?  Good. 

Of course, you can’t just buy one set so while shopping I spotted this Zvezda set. These chaps are hard plastic with each figure having a dozen or so parts. 

The assembled comrades having just been based. 

A closer look at the Zvezda figures - very dynamic poses.

PM-43 120mm mortar - part 2

Following on from this earlier post, I have finally completed the mortar and it's crew.  Though clad in uniforms from WW2  - or rather the Great Patriotic War - I carried out a 'paint conversion' exercise and painted them in the camo scheme introduced in the 1970s.  As usual with toys in this scale (1/35) I have gone for a 'toy soldier' finish.  They look OK to me.

These two photos show the mortar with 3 crew figures and mounted on a 4-inch square steel base as used in my Little Cold Wars game.

PM-43 120mm Mortar

One of the things common to Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalions is that they all have a mortar battery.  Mostly these are equipped with towed 120mm weapons of a design that - to my eyes at least - hasn't really changed much since WW2. Er, I mean the Great Patriotic War.  Indeed the PM-43 - as I believe this kit to be only began to be supplemented by the 2B6 Vasilek in the 1970s and the 2B11 from 1981.
Not only that, but the essential characteristics of the crew uniforms - helmets and boots - also remained constant.
That being so, I was pleased to pick up this 1/35 scale Zvezda kit rather cheaply.  Now there is often a reason behind the cheapness of cheap kits but in this case only one part was missing - the muzzle of the tube, a replacement was easily fabricated - and parts fit was generally good.

So here it is all ready to paint.  The only bit that shouts 'WW2' is the carriage with it's rather rustic spoked wheels.  I suppose I could replace them - or just not use it at all.
More after it's been attacked by paint.