Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Rifle Squad'

Yesterday my sprues finally came in from Warlord Games in the UK and I was able to complete the remaining 4 Riflemen of my 'Free Rifle Squad'.  Once they arrived I quickly glued them all together, sand on the base, black primer, and away we went with the paint.  By the end of the night I was able to have them all completed and this morning they received their dull coat.

So it is now official, my Soviet Union 1000 points is all ready for next weekends Gathering in the Desert: Operation Scorpion.

Soviet Union: 'Rifle Squad'

Soviet Union: 'Rifle Squad'

Painting Points: 12

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'T-34/85 Tank 101'

Well technically I have now completed my 1000 points for my Soviet Union army for Bolt Action.  I do still have 4 Riflemen that I need to assemble/paint once they arrive from the UK as part of my army special rule "Quantity Has A quality All Of Its Own" that allows me a 'free' twelve-man strong Rifle Squad of Inexperienced infantry equipped with all the options available to them.

Besides finishing that squad, the last item on my plate was my Soviet T-34/85 Tank.  As I mentioned in my 'Daily Chronicle' the other day, I went out and purchased a new Iwata airbrush for the purpose of base coating my vehicles.  This past Saturday I got to use that airbrush for the first time and applied the base on my tank and last night decided to finish up the rest of it.  I was also contemplating if I wanted to airbrush the 'wash' once completed, or brush it in.  Since it was already late a night (after watching two episodes of 'Band of Brothers'), I elected to brush on the wash.  Today I applied the Soviet Red Star decal and the dull coat.

Soviet Union: T-34/85 Tank 101

Soviet Union: T-34/85 Tank 101

Soviet Union: T-34/85 Tank 101

Soviet Union: T-34/85 Tank 101

Since I am ahead of schedule on getting my army completed in time for the Gathering in the Desert event, I may elect now to build a few more infantry and swap some of the options I have chosen.

Painting Points: 10

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Daily Chronicle: 2/10/2014 'Bolt Action Pin Markers'

Building Pin Markers For Bolt Action

In the game of Bolt Action from Warlord Games whenever a unit gets shot at and suffers a hit, that unit receives a pin marker.  There are many ways you can represent these pin markers; you can purchase the official Pinned Markers, you can use poker chips or anything small like beads. I really like the official markers, but you get 25 in a package and they come unpainted.  Also each one of those markers represent one pin.  Each unit can technically have multiple pin markers applied.  So I decided to go with the beads, but I just did not want to lay the beads down next to each unit and move them all each time my unit moves, so this past weekend I was thinking of an easy and cheap way to accomplish this, I also wanted a solution that really does not take up too much storage space in my dice tray box and I came up with the following solution.

I purchased enough supplies to make 30 pin holders, with each holder having the ability to hold 5 markers.

Parts Required:

1x 'Treehouse Studio' Pony Beads Red (qty 360) $2.99 [Hobby Lobby]
5x 'Everbilt' #6-32x1-1/2 in Machine Screws (qty 6) $1.18 [Home Depot]
3x 'Everbilt' #6 Finishing Washers (qty 10) $1.18 [Home Depot]
1x 'Everbilt' #8 Flat Washer (qty 30) $1.18 [Home Depot]

A #6 Flat Washer can probably also be used, but I thought the #8 was slightly larger and may add a little more weight for support.

There is enough weight at the bottom to keep them stable, the finishing washer provides a larger flat surface for the screw to stand up.  Each screw can hold up to 5 pin markers.  Even if they do tip over, the beads do not really scatter.

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Commissar'

The other night while painting my 'Lieutenant', I had decided to also paint up my 'Commissar' model.  Currently in my 1000 point list, he is not needed, but in the future he may be used and he can also double-up as a higher ranking officer such as a Captain or a Major in larger point games.  I am still waiting for some additional rifleman to arrive from England, so instead of waste time and leave him sitting alone, he hit the painting board.

Soviet Union: Commissar

Soviet Union: Commissar

Soviet Union: Commissar

Painting Points: 1

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Daily Chronicle: 2/8/2014 'Iwata Neo CN Airbrush'

While visiting my local Hobby Lobby last night to see if they carry Vallejo Model Color paints (which they do now), I decided to pick up my first "real" airbrush.  I currently have a cheap Harbor Freight bottle type airbrush that I use for my 1-2 color RC/Slot Car bodies. but I have been debating about purchasing one for my modeling.

This past week I have been contemplating on how I was going to paint my Soviet Tank.... should I airbrush, should I rattle can, or paint by brush?  I was leaning towards the rattle can, but each can of paint is $13, and in the future I might not be able to find it anymore.  So while I was at Hobby Lobby I came across the airbrushes and saw an Iwata Neo CN gravity airbrush for $70.  I was just texting with my friend earlier in the day and he had mentioned that the Iwata were really good.  I happen to have one of their 40% off coupons on me, so the price of the brush would only be $42.  I figure why not and purchased the airbrush.  I am not greatest airbrusher (at least when it came to my cars) but I figure this would be really good to lay the basecoat down on all my vehicles.

I decided to give the airbrush a try today and apply the initial color to my Tank.....  wow, it was easy....  I also realized I really do not too much paint in the cup when using it.

For now I'll stick with using it on the vehicles, but I may venture off and try to so some base colors on future infantry.

Here is a quick photo of the airbrushed T-34 (obviously more work is still needed on the tank, and the lighting is not ideal.

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Senior Lieutenant & Soldiers'

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting nearer.......

Last night it was time to paint up my Soviet Command 'Senior Lieutenant' and his 2 soldiers that will be accompanying him.

Soviet Union: Senior Lieutenant & Soldiers

Soviet Union: Senior Lieutenant & Soldiers

All that is left to paint for my 1000 points list is my T-34/85 Tank and my 'free' 12 man Rifle Squad.  I am still waiting for some sprues from Warlord Games so I can complete the Rifle Squad, but today I will start on what I do have.

Painting Points: 3

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Guards Squad 3 & 4'

I was able to also finish most of these squads this past weekend, minus the bases.  Last night I completed the bases and present to you 'Guards Squad 3 & 4'

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 03

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 03 

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 04

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 04

Painting Points: 22

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Guards Squad 1 & 2'

Well this past weekend was better than expected with what I wanted to accomplish in painting my Soviet Union Army for 'Bolt Action'.

Besides completing my 'Anti-Tank Rifle Team', '81mm Medium Mortar Team', and my 'Medic', I was able to complete two of my 'Guards Squads' plus the start on another two squads.

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 01

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 01

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 02

Soviet Union: Guards Squad 02

Tonight we will complete 'Guards Squads' 3 and 4.

Painting Points: 22

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union 'Medic'

While painting my Infantry models in an assembly line fashion yesterday, I had decided to take a break and paint up my Medic.  I wanted to feel like something was getting accomplished and finished.

I tried to paint this model similar in colors as the example model in my 'Armies of the Soviet Union' book.

Soviet Union: Medic

Soviet Union: Medic

Soviet Union: Medic

Painting Points: 1

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Bolt Action: Soviet Union '81mm Medium Mortar Team'

Today is the day that I start to speed paint my Soviet Infantry models, so last night I decided to paint my 81mm Medium Mortar Team to get them out of the way and have another unit complete.

Soviet Union: 81mm Medium Mortar Team

Soviet Union: 81mm Medium Mortar Team

Soviet Union: 81mm Medium Mortar Team

Painting Points: 3

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