Starting my Russian Army

[Bessiere]

Been a while since I posted work and while sadly my photo set up isn't suitable I have a couple pics to share. I've done units of Strelets Jagers, HaT line infantry and Mounted Dragoons, Zvezda grenadiers as well as their excellent cuirassiers and hussars so far.
Each of these sets have many qualities and conform to the level of realism that I like. The HaT line boys are a tad cartoonish and very stiff but otherwise excellent sculpts (sorry no pics of either HaT set).

Strelets Russian Jagers

Zvezda Russian Grenadiers

Zvezda Russian Cuirassiers

Zvezda Russian Hussars

Guard Cossacks and Artillery are on deck next, then 7 boxes of line infantry, 3 Jager and grenadiers and 2 more of each cavalry type as my eventual goal. But wait! There's more French and Austrians to do, Saxons and Wurtemburgers not to mention Bavarians and Italians. I guess I have my next 5 years spoken for.

[Ochoin]

I'm nearly finished my Russian Nap army - waiting on a load of Kenningtons.

Your excellent photos & wonderful figures provide a stimulus to get them done & on the table:

I have a game planned. 1814. Napoleon is off fighting a pitched battle against various allies & his rear is protected by the Imperial Guard*. A Russian force approaches & desires to push past them & finish His Imperial Majesty for good. I'll have 18 battalions of Russian infantry (+ cavalry & artillery) & the Guard (Old, Middle & Young) will have 14 battalions etc. There will be a secret - the "Oldest of the Old" - 2 battalions-will NOT be committed to the fighting as Napoleon wants to preserve them. The Russians won't know this, however.

Should be interesting.

donald
* one Middle Guard Fusilier-Chasseur battalion to complete

[Bessiere]

Sounds like a massive game Donald, have fun! I think you might have a head start on building Russian forces though but give me 5 years and maybe....Thx,
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Ochoin]

I particularly like your Zvesda hussars.

I was never able to get my hand on a set. I had the two Strelets' sets painted up but sold them in my recent
Ebay sell-off.

I only have one unit of hussars left; the Kennington figures. They're nice but not really a patch on Zvesda.

You will be getting/have got cossacks, of course? What's a Russian army without cossacks? Mine are (mostly) Newline.

donald

[Minuteman]

I particularly like your Zvesda hussars.

I was never able to get my hand on a set. I had the two Strelets' sets painted up but sold them in my recent
Ebay sell-off.

I only have one unit of hussars left; the Kennington figures. They're nice but not really a patch on Zvesda.

You will be getting/have got cossacks, of course? What's a Russian army without cossacks? Mine are (mostly) Newline.

donald

Yes, the Zvezda Russian Hussars are a superb set of figures, amongst the best produced by that company IMHO.

For your information donald, they have been re-released quite recently. I don't know whether you can source them in Australia, but in the UK for example: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ZVE8 ... oken=Ca18N

[Minuteman]

Great work Bessiere, and quite a project you have there. I'm sure that your Russian army will look superb, once complete!

It does remind me that I also have quite a lot of Russian Napoleonics (mainly Zvezda) in my stash...awaiting the day, one day, when I also make a start on my Russian Army. I have no idea when that might be, but we live in hope.....

[Bessiere]

Donald,
I bought my cossacks and hussars several years ago right before they disappeared. I paid more than double for the hussars and I just feel fortunate to have them. They are back in production but I know shipping costs to Australia are terrible. There is so much detail on these hussars and the wolf's teeth pattern truly tested my skills and patience. I did start my cossacks last year using the old redbox sets since I had to have a unit of "cupids" as the French called them. All irregulars of course and the artillery is equipped with cannon from the GNW as it made sense to me that cossacks would stow away such items for future emergencies. They are also the only unit with a priest in any of my armies. Wouldn't be complete without one.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Bessiere]

Thanks for the kind comments Mark. I found the Russians a big change and spent a lot of time mixing various greens trying to find the right colors. Also their equipment was totally new to me so I've had to learn a little as well. I have no problem using early and late war units together given our lack of choices. Like the HaT mounted dragoons have the huge caterpillar crest but I like the later smaller crests so I cut them down. They look close enough for me anyways. You wouldnt know who makes the best grenadiers in miters would you? The Italeri are much too small and those men were picked for size,most being around 6' tall which was huge for that era. The Redox grenadiers are too skinny as well. Guess I'll have to resort to metals for those like I did with the French Carabiniers (early) and Marins de la Gard.
I know nothing of the wars of Marlborough but if it has your interest it must be exciting so I'm going to go find some videos. Good luck on your Russians, I think you'll find as I did that many of these figures are a joy to paint. Being mostly Russian sculptors I think they really outdid themselves even on the Redbox Cossack sets.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Peter]

That is a fine looking army so far!

[MikeRC97]

Great stuff Bessiere

[Susofrick]

Really great stuff. I only have ESCI's old Russians.

[Minuteman]

The Italeri are much too small and those men were picked for size,most being around 6' tall which was huge for that era. The Redox grenadiers are too skinny as well. Guess I'll have to resort to metals for those like I did with the French Carabiniers (early) and Marins de la Gard.
I know nothing of the wars of Marlborough but if it has your interest it must be exciting so I'm going to go find some videos. Good luck on your Russians, I think you'll find as I did that many of these figures are a joy to paint. Being mostly Russian sculptors I think they really outdid themselves even on the Redbox Cossack sets.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Bessiere

Although I have not made a start on my Napoleonic Russians, I have given a bit of thought to the 'problem' of how best to depict the Pavloski Grenadiers...and after all, is there any Napoleonic Russian army that does not feature this famous regiment?! I did have several boxes of the Italeri Grenadiers in mitre caps, but somehow they have gone AWOL in the stash and cannot be found...and I also take your point about them looking a bit small next to the statuesque Zvezda sculpts.

Just a thought....I haven't tried this yet.... but I am wondering whether a 'hat swap', taking the kiwer shako off some Zvezda grenadiers and fixing on a mitre cap from the HaT SYW Prussians, might work? It would depend on the relative size of the heads of these figures, but the SYW Prussians are on the 'large' size and it might just work. One box of the HaT Prussians in Marching or Action provides 40 mitre caps, enough for a good contingent of Pavlovs.

As for the wars of Marlborough: Well, perhaps not quite as exciting as Napoleonics, but with quite a lot of the same sort of variety of troop types, generals, uniforms, and a Europe-wide conflict...especially if you factor in the neighbouring Great Northern War as well. But for me, this period became a 'must have' period once Strelets released their WoSS sets.

[Bessiere]

That's a good suggestion if the miters are similar enough and the size thing works - it should given both sets are Zvezda. It does seem like the Prussian grenadiers are getting harder to find so I better figure that out soon!
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Rich W]

These all look excellent! I have a box of the Zvezda grenadiers and think about painting them as the figures are so nice. But then I get distracted by everything else in my pile!

[Bessiere]

Thanks Rich. They really are easy to paint with such clear detail and sculpting. I Look forward to seeing yours, now get cracking!
Cheers,
Bessiere

[k.b.]

WOOOOW! Beautiful work Bessiere. Now I see where your comments were coming from when you told me about your Russian Army. But you certainly seem to have made a lovely job of them…… and to reach this level of detail I know for a fact how much time you must have put in on them.
I think my favourites are the Hussars. They are splendid. Congratulations on an army that is surely going to be an impressive sight to behold !
Ps/ love your photographic skills too !

[k.b.]

Ps/ However, a higher resolution of photo would help us appreciate your work even more

[Santi Pérez]

It's a fantastic beginning for your Russian army, Bessiere. Let more coming!

Santi.

[Bessiere]

Thank you very much Santi. These were my first attempts using an older digital camera and a lightbox that was probably too cheap to do the job. Seemed like a great idea but the internal lighting isn't bright enough. Funny thing is I used to do jewelry photography using an SLR and never had these issues. Always new tech you have to adjust to.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Kekso]

Nice Nappies... I crave for sharper images :-/