Russian Uniform Colour

[Centurio Marcus T]

Gday all
I have a box of Russian WW2 figures on the way from Warlords and was wondering if any one can help me out with Summer uniform colours.From what i can gather their uniforms were a sandy brown colour,i use Valejo paints so any advise would be great

[Fury]

There is a Russian uniform guide for Vallejo colours in the painting guides section on the Artizan Designs website. There is also reference photos for summer and winter uniforms. From the guide:

Uniforms were basic and colours variable. There is a common misconception that Russian uniforms were yellow brown. The standard colour was an olive shade of khaki, similar to the colour used by Canadian and British forces. In practice the colours varied extensively from olive green through to pale brown.

I bought a box of plastic Russians from the Plastic Soldier Company as practice models (I haven't painted in years). The painting guide on the back is for yellow brown uniforms. See the attachment for a scan of the back. The uniforms look quite a bit like those of the penal troopers in the Russian TV series Shtrafbat, so I may use that guide for my Russians.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Thanks Fury Some very usefull information provided there Seems the Soviet uniforms were a bit of a mix of colours as i imagined they would be. On another note what are the Plastic soldier company Russians like? I have heard a lot of not so good reports about them but havent seen them in the flesh to cast judgment.Cheers for all your help

[Fury]

To be honest, the details on the plastic Russians are a bit flat. I have a few metal Russians from Warlord, and they have much better detail. Of course, what I really want is plastic Russians from Warlord! Even better would be one torso on each sprue with SN-42 body armor so I can build assault engineers.

[mikeland]

I read somewhere that the Plastic Soldier Company sculpts are designed for 15mm figures (I guess aimed at the FOW market?) and are then scaled up for 1/72 & 28mm hence the lack of detail on the 28mm. I had a look at some a while back at my local model shop and would agree that the quality isn't up there with BA. However for massed rank and file at a bulk buy price perhaps they would do, depends o personal taste. If you can get a look at a box the packaging has a handy window in it as well I think so you can view the figures.

@ Fury Plastic BA Russians in multi pose like the Brits/Germans! Now that would be very hard to resist (As yet I have managed to hold off branching into another range). I find the Eastern front WW2 more fascinating than any of the other theaters.

[NTM]

I read somewhere that the Plastic Soldier Company sculpts are designed for 15mm figures (I guess aimed at the FOW market?) and are then scaled up for 1/72 & 28mm hence the lack of detail on the 28mm.

1/72 is the starting point then scaled up or down accordingly. Have read comments from PSC that they made a mistake simply upscaling the Russians to 28mm following criticism as above, so future sets will be re-tooled prior to release in 28mm which is probably why the Germans and British have not come out in 28mm yet.

[Colonel White]

I have to agree with some of you guys here. I am a bit of a Plastic Soldier Company fan and love their 20mm Germans . The Russians also look good as well and the Russian AT guns are really well done. For me they seem to lose it in 28mm and would prefer Bolt Action any day in this scale.

[Panzermike]

I just completed a large Russian Infantry force on commission for flames of war and I found I got very good results with the following (vallejo colours):-
Helmet = Russian Green
Uniform = Kahki Grey with Tan yellow highlights
Belts, Boots - Matt Black
Bedrolls and webbing bags = US Tan with Khaki highlights