From PaulOG: Russian buildings and MG bunkers (68 points)

This week I have laboured to complete the Ukrainian village of Ostrog for the Battlegroup Barbarossa Campaign that Alan and I are enjoying:  3 more small houses (1 damaged) plus a wonderful partly destroyed church.

The fruits of my labours this week

Like the two buildings from last week, these are lovely resin models by Mk IV Miniatures. Wonderfully crisp sculpts with no bubbles or flash, they are a delight to paint.  The battle damage is particularly good - not overly done but still quite evident both inside and out.  The interior detailing is also lovely (all roofs are removable) though took quite a bit of extra time to do justice to it with the brush.

Its been great to finish off the total of six buildings from a standing start i.e. when a mate comes over, tells you your painting table priorities are all wrong, informs you we need a new 15mm village finished ASAP for our games, and points to the buildings in the lead pile looking all forlorn in their packets...  

That said, I bought them at Fall-In in 2015 (where I met Miles) so its good to finally give them the attention they deserve.

Next up are 4 MG bunkers - resin Battlefront models. 3 have Maxim barrels and 1 has MG 34/42. These were fun to paint up.

Overall, the 3 houses and the larger church are three 6inch terrain cubes, totalling 60 points. For the MG bunkers I suggest the same as a 15mm infantry figure, 2 points, for 8 more; a total of 68 points for this submission. Now to get back to some figures!

The village of Ostrog, which I have completed in the last fortnight

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Wow - that's a pretty sizable village you have amassed there in record time, Paul!  It just looks absolutely brilliant, and it's been great watching it come together over the past couple of posts.  The church is an absolute stand-out - it looks magnificent, and I love how its wonderful spire adds a lot of height to the tabletop.  You've most definitely done it justice, and the Mark IV Miniatures buildings are clearly something for me to watch out for at a show or on the internet.  A great recommendation.

I love how you've painted the burn damage on the houses.  I can almost smell the smoke in the ear and hear the crackle of the embers.  Really nice painting, Sir!

And the MG bunkers look great.  Well done with the finishing touches, like the additional grasses growing (carefully seeded or turfed) on the roofs.  The machine guns poking menacingly from the aperture, scanning the fire lanes, is a really great touch.

Great work on all of these Paul and a well deserved 68 points to your total !!

From Paul O'G: Freikorps Panzerauto and Russian log houses (60 points)

First up is this Austin Armoured Car Mk 2 fitted with two turreted maxim guns. A number of these British made machines were purchased by the Russian Army prior to WW1.  After the war they were used widely during the Russian Civil War but many captured on the Eastern Front by the Germans were pressed into service with the Friekorps. I drew quite a bit of inspiration from the period pics, including the skull and crossbones totems which seem to have been prolific.

The model is from 1st Corps' WW1 vehicle range.  Resin body with metal fittings.  Curiously, there were no fixing points for the turrets to the chassis. Rather than glue them in place I magnetised them which helps with storage as well as being able to train them in action.

Alan gave me this kit as a Christmas present...last year...so its good to finally get it completed! Thanks for lending me the thematic background for the pics too mate.

Next up are two 15mm Russian log houses.  These resin buildings by Mk IV Miniatures are beautifully detailed and very crisply cast.

They were a delight to paint and have already seen action in hiding Red Army from Alan's Panzer reece units in games of Battlegroup Barbarossa.  I have another 3 of these in the painting pile and cant wait to get to them.

So in total this week it is one 28mm vehicle, one 28mm figure and 2 terrain pieces (which each fit one cube blocks) for a total of 60 points.

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This is such a great submission, Paul.  Beautifully painted and nicely photographed.  The Austin Armoured car is just one of those vehicles which just screams '1919' at the  top of its slightly enfeebled, and exhaust-fume laden, mouth.  Although I remember that they saw extensive service in the First World War and through the inter-War years, you've placed the car in it's iconic setting - pressed into use in the service of the Freikorps in Weimar Berlin.  Outstanding!

I love the period photograph you've created.  It's really atmospheric and all adds to the theme.  Well done indeed.

The Mk IV Minatures' log houses look the business as well.  I love resin models which are easy to prepare and paint, straight out of the packaging.  These look super painted up.

Awesome work, Paul, and a well-earned 60 points!