"28mm Poles and Kronstadt sailors questions" Topic

1.I bought some RCW sailors from cooplestone. I want them to look like the famous Kronstadt sailors. But what colors (VC) I use?? I have only one color picture from the osprey Red Forces RCW book.

2. Also I want to start an polish Army to fight the Reds (Soviet-Bolshevik War). What figures in 28mm can I use and what about the uniforms, colors and so one? What books with color pics are available (Osprey?)?
I found some good sites (http://pygmy-wars.50megs.com/home.html and link but I am looking for more!!

thanks for help and greetings from Germany
Desertfox

1. Black blouses caps and pants, blue and white striped undershirt. May or may not have gold lettering on the tallyband of the cap.

If you want some in greatcoats (the Kronstadt rising took place in the depths of winter) Westwind make some Naval Infantry in greatcoat. For a little more variety take a look at the Bolt Action sailors (nicely swathed in Maxim belts). Black Tree Design make a useful sailor crewed Maxim gun and some useful figure to crew guns.

2. Bolt Action make WW2 Polish Lancers. Strictly speaking you will want to convert the hats to ones with round crowns (easy job with greenstuff Milliput).

Black Tree Design make Poles in French uniforms, ideal for Haller's Blue Division, they also make a Polish crewed 75mm gun. That said any WW1 late war French infantry would suffice, Brigade, Old Glory etc.

For the rest well you can utilise Austrians (Brigade) Germans. Mix and match. Most of the Polish army was dressed and equipped as it was when it's constituent parts belonged to the Russian, Austro- Hungarian or German armies.

Thanks a lot! And how to paint polish troops?

Polish Army in 1920 fighting Soviets (reconstruction): link

I'll try to find more photos if you are interested?

I thought the pants, cap and greatcoat were black but the blouses were blue. No?

Pants, cap, and jacket are black. The jumper is dark blue with a lighter blue panel at the back of the neck, edged white. The shirt is white with bluse stripes.

Pleas more photos 5zyderca ^^

Polish troops: take a mix of uniforms of the origin you want (German for Poznanians and Pomeranians, Austrian for Legions, French for Blue Army, Russian for easterners) and mix in some other stuff, especially British.

Strip off most or all packs, trench gear, gas masks and insignia. Make sure most are in caps rather than helmets.

Paint as WWI and add white/metal eagle to cap.

Add higher officers in official Polish uniform.

Cavalry likewise, but not necessarily matching the infantry.

I have some photos and some pictures, but I need to know what style you are after. (They don't look like those re-enactors, who are in the "official" uniform.)

Thanks for the infos Mark Plant. I wish to have some Poles in German style and French. Were there also troops in "brown" uniforms with the adrian/french helmets. I have read somewhere that the polish marked the german WW1 helmets with white-red markings and also worn brassards.

So long
Desertfox

My Poles are in German uniforms, representing the divisions from Poznan (Posen) and Pomerania. When they fought the Germans early in 1919 both sides were obviously basically identically dressed. Thus the Poles at least wore arm bands to identify themselves. I can send some pictures, if you want. pygmywarsATgmailDOTcom

Once fighting the Reds the arm bands weren't needed.

There may have been some troops in 1920 with the proper uniform (the khaki brown with Adrian helmets) but very few. I would guess the "Legion" units would be first, as they were both Pilsudski's favourites and also had served the longest in their (Austrian) kit.

I've allready send you an E-mail^^
marcel.joschATwebDotde