This is my shameless bid for Sarah's choice....
The Jugoslavian partisan forces under Tito are important contributors to the history of WWII who don't get the attention they deserve in the West, and are increasingly overlooked in the Balkans thanks to the ethnic politics that have dominated in the region since the 1990s.
In our little hobby world, it is a glaring omission that nobody has made 28mm figures of Jugo partisans. There are French Resistance and Russian partisans, but they are almost always unsuitable to represent Balkan figures. I have approached a couple of manufacturers over the past couple of years to try to interest them in making some figures - offering to do the research and everything - but so far without success. So I have decided to have a stab at making some figures myself, kitbashing available figures until I have a useable force for Bolt Action.
For those interested in women in warfare, Jugoslavia is a powerful case study. Perhaps up to 100,000 women fought under Tito in WWII - up to around 1 in every 7 or so combatants. Of these, perhaps a quarter died. I knew that some of the first figures I would make would be a tribute to some of these women.
I have chosen to depict my partizanke as belonging to a Brigade in the west of Serbia or Bosnia in the Spring of 1945. They are fairly well equipped, with a mixture of captured German weapons and uniforms, those supplied by the British, and a few pieces of Jugoslav army kit. Most of the figures are kitbashed from Warlord plastic figures of Russians, British and Germans, with heads from Statuesque Miniatures and lots of Greenstuff. The Partizanka with the grey skirt is a metal figure, I think from Black Tree Design, with a Greenstuff Titovka (cap) and uniform collars.
I learned a fair bit about working with Greenstuff from this attempt, and the next figures will have better caps in particular, but I am pretty pleased with them. Only another hundred or so to go.
And figure manufacturers who would like to be ranted at about why this is a range of figures you need to make - I'd love to hear from you!
A blatant tilt at Sarah's Choice, surely the Lady will see this cynical entry for what it is?!
Very nice conversions! I particularly like the long skirt, it seems impractical. I like the different shades of green/ grey/ khaki you've used. We look forwards to being further educated!
Barks
The Jugoslavian partisan forces under Tito are important contributors to the history of WWII who don't get the attention they deserve in the West, and are increasingly overlooked in the Balkans thanks to the ethnic politics that have dominated in the region since the 1990s.
In our little hobby world, it is a glaring omission that nobody has made 28mm figures of Jugo partisans. There are French Resistance and Russian partisans, but they are almost always unsuitable to represent Balkan figures. I have approached a couple of manufacturers over the past couple of years to try to interest them in making some figures - offering to do the research and everything - but so far without success. So I have decided to have a stab at making some figures myself, kitbashing available figures until I have a useable force for Bolt Action.
For those interested in women in warfare, Jugoslavia is a powerful case study. Perhaps up to 100,000 women fought under Tito in WWII - up to around 1 in every 7 or so combatants. Of these, perhaps a quarter died. I knew that some of the first figures I would make would be a tribute to some of these women.
I have chosen to depict my partizanke as belonging to a Brigade in the west of Serbia or Bosnia in the Spring of 1945. They are fairly well equipped, with a mixture of captured German weapons and uniforms, those supplied by the British, and a few pieces of Jugoslav army kit. Most of the figures are kitbashed from Warlord plastic figures of Russians, British and Germans, with heads from Statuesque Miniatures and lots of Greenstuff. The Partizanka with the grey skirt is a metal figure, I think from Black Tree Design, with a Greenstuff Titovka (cap) and uniform collars.
I learned a fair bit about working with Greenstuff from this attempt, and the next figures will have better caps in particular, but I am pretty pleased with them. Only another hundred or so to go.
And figure manufacturers who would like to be ranted at about why this is a range of figures you need to make - I'd love to hear from you!
A blatant tilt at Sarah's Choice, surely the Lady will see this cynical entry for what it is?!
Very nice conversions! I particularly like the long skirt, it seems impractical. I like the different shades of green/ grey/ khaki you've used. We look forwards to being further educated!
Barks
Excellent work. You have put some time and effort into not just the painting but the conversion. Great stuff. cheers
ReplyDeleteNice idea, it’s always great to see a unique force on the treble top, especially one as deserving as this.
ReplyDeleteWell done, your dedication to converting and painting a unique army is great to see.
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the conversions Alan :)
ReplyDeleteNice entry Alan, lovely bit of conversion work and great painting.
ReplyDeleteLovely conversions and painting and really interesting research,I understood that after Italy's exit from the Axis large amounts of kit including uniforms were seized and used by the partisans, really good post!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
That's right - I have to get some Italian figures to convert. Others wore ex-Jugoslav army uniforms, captured Croatian and German uniforms and battledress supplied by the Brits, along with all the bewildering variety of civilian clothing.
DeleteExcellent work Dux - the research, the conversions, the painting!
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the conversions
ReplyDeleteGreat work Alan! Especially with that Green Stuff.
ReplyDeleteA shameless bid indeed!
ReplyDeleteOh, well done! This maybe a shameless bid for Sarah’s Choice, but it is exactly what I like this painting Challenge.... people discovering new genres and sharing their discoveries with a really wide audience.
ReplyDeleteAs a bit of a history nerd, I am always interested in reading up on women combatants and I now have a fascinating new topic to explore.
I really appreciate the research you have done on these women.
Looking forward to seeing more!
😊
Thanks Sarah! It really is a fascinating area to read up on. You might also be interested in reading up on the Anti-Fascist women's organisation in Jugoslavia, that gave support to the partisans and also acted as a sort of welfare and education service when most of the civil society had collapsed. Amazing women.
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DeleteHey Dux, perhaps we should chat. I'm about to commission a range of 28mm National Liberation Army Partisans for Great Escape Games. stuart@greatescapegames.co.uk
ReplyDelete