"The Russian Army Had many Characteristics Of Ancien Régime."

"Senior officers were largely recruited from aristocratic circles..."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by “Wargames Foundry", and can be purchased as part of their RN021 Infantry in 1812 Shako Command set. The figure is one of seven Napoleonic Russian soldiers sculpted by Alan Perry found in the blister, and in the short-term will either lead a warband solely comprised of his fellow countrymen, or simply act as a Junior Officer for my Coalition party during some games of "The Silver Bayonet" ruleset by "Osprey Games".

The miniature was undercoated using my tried and tested mixture of "Warlord Games" Pitch Black and Vallejo Surface Primer Black, and then had his trousers (and gloves) pigmented with some "Two Thin Coats" White Star and a little watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The fellow's greatcoat was treated to plenty of “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and later dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII.

"...And the Russian soldier was regularly beaten and punished to instil discipline."

At this stage I was really relying upon the colour scheme shown on the Nottinghamshire-based manufacturer's website for inspiration/historical accuracy, as I simply couldn't find any plate or illustration depicting the uniform the model was wearing. As a result I just 'picked out' the apparently fur-lined under-jacket with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and his sleeves/collar using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Finally, I applied plenty of "Two Thin Coats" White Star to the miniature's covered shako, and subsequently, having decided it looked a little too bright, gave the headgear a lick of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The hat's peak and the figure's hair were finished off with a line or two of pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Black Site Studios" WIPs - These Soviet cosmonauts have been primed, shaded & dry-brushed

With my ninth Napoleonic Russian completed, I have settled upon assembling, priming, base-coating, shading and dry-brushing the remaining four Soviet Cosmonauts I own by "Black Site Studios". I don't admittedly have any particular intention of playing the company's 32mm scale Lunar skirmish game. But did think that I might adapt The Silver Bayonet for it - maybe using some house rules for space suit tears, patch repairs and oxygen/decompression issues, etc.

The kits really are quite fiddly to put together. However, once completed I have found myself still owning a massive amount of surplus weapons, equipment, hands, and arms. This has caused me to look at the range's website to see whether it would be worth investing in the models' STL (Standard Triangle Language) files, so I could simply produce some additional single-piece head/torso/legs to use them on - especially as it means not paying shipping from the United States. In addition, its clear the range has been greatly expanded upon, with different nationalities, types of astronaut and vehicles. All of which are very tempting...