"Eureka 300 Club: WW2 Russian female soldiers" Topic

Hi all,

Eureka Miniatures (http://eurekamin.com.au/) has just added an exciting new project to their well-known 300 Club program (which consists in a pre-order system on customer suggested 15mm miniatures ranges).

That new addition consists of a set of WW2 Red Army female soldiers, which is primarily intended to build action teams, although it has been specified too that some of the figures should be also suitable for rearguard layouts.

My initial submission included a couple of officers and a variety of soldiers in combat poses, dressed in variations of the Soviet regulation uniform for women: tunic, skirt/trousers, boots and beret; although some pictures with uniform variations were also provided (cap, fur cap, helmet, bareheaded).

This new set has been given code 300CLUB20C60 and it can be found at link .

I was asked by Eureka people to describe the general appearance I'd give to such a set, and so I did along with as many pictures as I could; take a look at this amazing pictures resource, were I digged in to illustrate the submission: miliwoman.com/Russia/USSR .

Such a new submission will remain in a "in project" status in their 300 Club until it reaches a critical level, consisting of no less 10 customers ordering a global amont of 600 miniatures, and then it goes into production.

However, as many of you probably know, the number of dressing of poses variations largely depends on the interest this new ranges eventually get.

So, I have already started the count with a first 100 figures pre-order. The faster we make these numbers increase, the greater will be the number of variations designed.

Also, if this new range knew some degree of success, it would be possible to expand it further to include other Svoet females ranges, such as AA-battery crews, paramedics and nurses, snipers, military policewomen, tank crew girls, aircraft pilots and so.

I'm persuaded that, if completed, this new range will please all of us for its quality, originality and dynamism, as expectable from Eureka's products.

I like the wee nursie (Rita Makarievskaya) in Battlefront's shtraf company:

picture

link

She looks so happy and perky.

At least you can tell she's supposed to be female. Soviet women in combat uniform in most photographs: not so much.

No offense to the valiant Soviet women who served heroically in the GPW, but if *I* had been "asked by Eureka people to describe the general appearance I'd give to such a set", my answer would have been: "men".

At least you can tell she's supposed to be female. Soviet women in combat uniform in most photographs: not so much.

Aecurtis, I don't feel satisfied enough with Battlefront's only examples: a seated radio operator and a nurse. Not for an Army that so many women employed in its ranks in risky, first line positions.

About their appearance, I do not expect to fill my ranks with sexy top models in fashion taylored uniforms -just with girls, for a high number of those thrown to the front were no more than Academy or University girls.

Take a look at the website I mentioned above, and you'll see what I mean.

I'm familiar with that site, and a few more images besides (too many years of scanning Soviet military newspapers and periodicals…).

In 15mm, it's pretty difficult to ascertain the gender of a combat soldier--unless the sculptor has exaggerated some characteristics.

Peter Pig do one Soviet female sniper.

picture

"…unless the sculptor has exaggerated some characteristics."

A fine example, Hammy!

See also:

YouTube link

Allen

In 15mm, it's pretty difficult to ascertain the gender of a combat soldier--unless the sculptor has exaggerated some characteristics.

Aecurtis, nearly all 15mm metal ranges do exaggerate lots of characteristics. Otherwise their miniatures wouldn't be practical for wargaming, don't you believe?

There's a difference between exaggerating the barrel of an MP-40 so that it actually can be cast, and sculpting a pair of so they can be noticeable through a telogreika jacket.

Too bad Battlefront isn't doing more Soviet women. Since they are adept at sculpting small arms so that they look like small cannons, their women would likely be candidates for a certain genre of magazine: HHs or better.

Good luck with your 300 Club proposal.

I'm thinking Rachel Weisz in Enemy at the Gates…count me in, I'm ordering now!

VB

I've ordered 30.

That's 130 so far!

VB

Aecurtis, I wouldn't seem to be anxious to start arguing with anybody -even less with you; I've read you several times and silently enjoyed your posts. So excuse me please if it could have seemed so.

I do like Battlefront minis too. My only complaint about them is the lesser role they've assigned to female figures in their Red Army ranges -just a radio operator, a tank driver and that nurse I wasn't aware before. I use to paint and play Peter Pig figures too, and have a snipers squad in my battalion. Again, my complaint is the same.

This is why I had the idea to submit a fighting women range to Eureka Minis, so that I could fill my Soviet ranks with women -at a certain degree; maybe not in great numbers, perhaps not entire platoons, but a picked selection at every unit.

BTW, I'm finishing an Eureka 15mm Partisans 'platoon'. Their weapons are pretty thinner than those of the Battlefront regular soldiers I was painting along with them. So that I guess that Mike Broadbent or any other sculptor Eureka assigns for this task will likely sculpt noticeable profile without exaggerating in excess, as you say.

Thanks for your good wishes, I've enjoyed again your arguments.

So that I guess that Mike Broadbent or any other sculptor Eureka assigns for this task will likely sculpt noticeable profile without exaggerating in excess, as you say

As I told Nic Robson of Eureka yesterday, "I do not intend to propose sexy figures -just girls. In my oppinion, it's far more suggestive, impressive to look at these common girls in the pictures and realize that any one might have been your sister, wife or daughter than any top star looking, fancy uniformed beautiful girl would".

Cheers,
Lluís

Don't forget Natalya, the lovely radio operator in the Battlefront Soviet artillery staff team.

Will there be any nude ones swimming in a water tank?

And, did the Finns utilize captured Soviet women?

Seriously though, as the successful proposer of a few 100 Club projects, Nic is receptive to the wishes of the proposer as to how they are to be sculpted.

Just put in for like 40 of the russian babes. I need lots for my Strelkevoya based infantry army.

"Strelkevoya"?

Yep, these should be just the ticket for the "haven't got a ing clue" FoW fraternity.

Allen, they take their lead from Battlefront themselves, with their "looks like Russian letters" English.

"Yep, these should be just the ticket for the "haven't got a f-ing clue" FoW fraternity."

If it's in print it's true right? Wait here while I change the Wikipedia entry….Plus I only writes in two languages English and bad English.

I've never actually sexed my miniatures. Like you do baby chickens, is it?

PPig sculpts their VC range 1mm shorter. Why bother with such a detail? Look at any photo of a mixed US troop, and the women are the ones a head or half a head shorter than everyone else.

I'll order me a load of these minis. I don't play WWII but what the heck. Historical wargaming is a way of remembering, and let's not have their contributions forgotten because we're all too busy buying ahistorical nude female hoplites. Or nude daemonettes. Or women in chainmail bikinis. Or tight-fitting SF outfits.

I just put myself down for 50. I think female Russians will add some nice variation to my army. Good idea soldadets!

Good news:

As for October 2009, current status of Eureka's 300CLUB20C60 "WW2 Russian female combat soldiers" is +300. So that I guess we're already 5+ requesters.

Just a little effort, guys. Sure don't you know any gaming mate interested in some extra variety to his/her WWII Red Army?

I thought the Peter Pig one was a bloke with handgrenades stuffed inside his shirt!

Aww, so I wont be the only person out there with a Russian girl army anymore.

though looking at the photo's below, I can tell you, hair and boobies aren't the most important aspect in making a 15mm figure look female. check out some of the faces….

link

link

link

link

Well, the fact is that Eureka's project has started moving on: TMP link