From ChristopherS - International Brigade (20 Points)

Just letting Nick, Curt and Phil know that I'm still in the SCW side challenge.:-)

Why the Spanish Civil War? Well for me I just really enjoy the equipment and atmosphere of the period. You really get a wide range of troops to choose from offering many exciting opportunities for the paintbrush and gaming tables just have a certain flare that really draws me. I find both sides fascinating and plan to collect each of the antagonists. The politics of the war I don't really care about all that much other to know why they fought, but the fact that it's a civil war does interest me if  that makes sense. I don't exactly know why, but if it's a civil war then I'm usually interested be it ACW, AWI, SCW,RCW etc.

Just a quick line on who the International brigade were. They were primarily communist paramilitaries that fought on the Republican side vs the Nationalists  and came from countries outside Spain like France, Germany, Portugal, US, Great Britain, USSR and others. They were generally grouped by nationalities with clever nicknames for their battalions, but did included Spanish contingents within for communications with each other and the Spanish army. For the most part they fought very well with high morale, but suffered heavy causalities due to lack of training, poor equipment and often serving as shock troops or rear guards fighting delaying actions.

These four figures will finish off my first squad that I started a long time ago. They consist of a Light Machine Gunner totting a DPM28(Degtijarev of Soviet make), his loader, Squad Leader(Sergeant), and a Dinamiteros. What the heck is a Dinamiteros? Well they were basically dynamite throwers who used a slingshot to throw tin encased dynamite at bunkers, dug outs, vehicles etc. who became so hated they were shot on the spot if recognized as one by the enemy.  Needless to say those of slight of heart need not apply!

The figures are superbly sculpted by Mr. Paul Hicks as one would expect, but do require a fine brush from some of the detail that rewards taking your time. The colors I used are mostly Vallejo and some Foundry. Painting the International Brigade is fun as you get to mix a lot of colors as they were rather irregular in appearance, because they often went into combat in their civvies or whatever uniform the supply clerk had available or they could scrounge up here and there.  However, this of course adds time to the painting and sometimes wastes paint due to not requiring all of mix for a particular color. I pretty much kept to the browns which is typical for the Republicans. Anyhow, I'm enjoying painting these and look forward to doing more!

With 4 28mm figures should give me 20pts to add to my total.

Thanks for viewing!
Miniature Company- Empress Miniature

ByronM: What an excellent entry Christopher!  I love the super smooth transitions and blends you did on these, they are very nice. The figures themselves have a lot of character and you pulled it all out of them.  I like the little history lesson on the squad as well, I have never personally been interested in or looked into the era, but you have piqued my interest.  I also am betting that Curt will be all over these, as he loves that era.