FINISHED~~~RESIN RUSSIAN REGULARS from TaNK

Presenting a pair of Russian Sentries I’'ve had going on the bench for a little while, both getting pretty close now. Thugh pretty similar, these two are just what I need standing guard in an upcoming scene.
Here’s the 2 kits

Having started these a while back, sorry I don’‘t have the ‘‘sprue’’ shots,but I’ll tell you that all TaNk’‘s figures are extremely well cast… on the order of 2nd only to Alpine in neatness and lack of flash, troublesome seamlines and crud other makers stick you with. The medium grey resin used however stinks to high hell and will have you sure to get into your full Bio-suit for paint prep work…but, you’'ll see the pride these are made with as you remove the very well-formed pour blocks.

Here’'s a couple pics of the 1st chap assembled OOB on his block

[You may spot some putty temporarily holding on rifle & head]

Actually he’'s been kicking around on my bench for quite a while!

then…

So time to get painting~~~~~~ :mrgreen: ~~~~~~


THE HEADS~

Unbelievable, but I liked the kits head! Has a good look to him I think & maybe even a Russian look? (Perhaps that of another State?)

Certainly has that stiff-upper-lip, stalward thing going…

Work done with W&N oils over acrylic base, much in the way of my other figure blogs, though I believe I may be continuing to improve.

Work done with W&N oils over acrylic base, much in the way of my other figure blogs, though I believe I may be continuing to improve.

Here’s he’s about set,
with warmth added to mouth and ushanka completed

The 2nd figure got a Hornet replacement head, mostly because I wanted him in the ushanka cap as well, & the kit head was maybe not-so-special. These heads are so good my resolve to use other brands is lessening every time I paint one–I’m started to get why nearly every great 1/35th painter chooses these Roger Saunders’ sculpts

Painted in the same formula as above, but with a bit less paisty complection and the 5O’clock shadow added using the old figure painter’s convention of a bit of Payne’s grey mixed into the flesh colour.

I call him "Ringo’

Here he is basically completed

One of my favorites I’ve painted so far—
-I’d love to hear what you guys think!

More coming soon to a monitor near you!

Wow! Great work!! It is a little creepy looking at these heads on a pike, but only because they look so real. Wish I had half your skill.

Thanks Mike for the kind reply----please stay tuned[D]


The headless solders
basecoated/primed in dark yellow

I did a little experimenting with the typical light khaki, but decided I wanted to go with the fine grey wool trenchoats as on the boxart

Here everything is just basecoated

The hands got some basic skincolour when painting the heads to establish a close tone fromt he start–

And with a 1st rough run at shading folds and the 1st garish glaze on the ammo belt

Here we are farther down the road…

Heads in place for a test-fit

Boots only basecoated still,rifles and insignia still missing and hands to finish, as well as some outlining to the coats.

Personal equipment is basically finished and a number of layers applied to the ammo belts, but some wear/highs to add still.

I have tried to get a bit of mottling to the greys as I shaded, without going complely crazy tring to stiple the entire job. In researching the Russian greatcoats, I’ve found that the Russian heavy coats we’re expensive, highly prized posessions in many countries.

Here’s Ringo with the sort of head tilt I’ve decided to go with

Basically the same coat & boots, but lacking much of the combat kit the other man comes with. Here he is finished to a comparable level as #1

Not to confuse things…but I thought it might be fun to switch the heads and take a look
not so bad I think, especially Ringo’s head, but I think I have my heart set on plan ‘A’


The neck on the Ringo head is really needed for this torso, see it?
Fun to try for a moment

Still some significant additions to come—I’ve been working tonight on some special stuff for the collar tabs this time–please join me next time &…

Thanks for reading along and please let me know what ya think!

Getting back to my updating
Working to define detail,correct shadows,vary colours some

Note the various tones to the musset pouch–overlapping layers starting with a Buff base. to age it, experiment to add interest to an area that looked boring to me.

Also note the small bits of scrap brass from PE sheets used to enhance the collar tabs, Nearly impossible to glue on , as that tiny a glue drop dries immediately----I attached by repainting the insignia colour and dropping the brass bit onto the still wet acrylic paint.

Boots got a number of drybrushes of 846 Mohogany Brown over the black base

Same for Ringo

And I’m out of time—thanks again

MORE TO COME!

The detail on the sling of the Mosin-Nagant is amazing. At some point, please describe how you did that.

Not sure how I missed this thread, more great work.

Love the stubble on Ringo.[Y]

Mike~Sure–I did that by putting "Mosin Nagant into Google Search and “Bam” there ya go[:P]

Div6~ Thanks for the post man—happy you are liking----[H]

Been working out the rest of the details–

Like Arms

The SVT-40 & Mosin Nagant–both very difficult to replicate in 1/35 scale. These from TaNk are better than most, but still not super and I’m hardpressed to improve them
But they’ll do
These rifles tend to look less real in small scale in nice bright woods to my eye, as I’ve seen many examples rubbed to near-black with oil,

so, due to all this I’ve finished them to not stand out so much
Perhaps I’ll make a few tweaks once they’re in place…

One of these is SVT-38 & the other SVT-40
(You tell me the difference)

Slings fitted~

More scrap brass from PE sheets

Back soon with paint on them & a bit of weathering finishes

Here’s the slings painted as heavy canvas using Vallejos

I took my leads for carry-style from the TaNk boxart. [Note ] how that taller man’s shoulder tab pitches to accept the 'pressure" of the sling-[-nice touch]

While some of the weapon detail ended up looking a little ‘clunky’ (I guess I could try to thin that magazine release lever but outside of this zoom its really small) Look at the wonderful detail of the tensioner-strap and button at the waist of the coat!

Ringo’s sling had to be modelled in one continuous piece and the other one had to be modelled by two–due to the shapes of the hands

Breaking my rules a little, as I prefer to wait until I have groundwork completed to weather figures, I added some basic dirt to these greatcoats as they just didn’t look right.
Chances are I’ll complete the weathering after final placement. So far I’ve just used a little MIG Pigments-- Euro Dust & Gulf War Sand–brushed on & off again.

Thanks for joining me and completed photos to follow-------

FINISHED PHOTOS TO FOLLOW

These two are finished~

Feedback welcome as always,
Thanks for reading along,

Mixed feelings about those two… they are really ugly Russian pigs! BUT beautiful work! [Y] It will take me many years to paint as good as this. [:D[

Great work Indy, thanks for sharing!

Andy ~ LOL not very nice—but thanks!

Bill~ hey you’re welcome and thank you

Here’s one more pic I liked ~