writes:I've often wondered why more 1:72nd plastic figures aren't used in miniature wargaming. Back in the day, I used to build quite a few 1:72 scale armor models – those are long gone… When I was a modeler, I never did care much for infantry; now that I'm a miniature wargamer, I have a strong preference for fielding infantry first!
I picked up a box of plastic Russian soldiers and sent them off to our friends in Sri Lanka, Fernando Enterprises. Just to be safe, I primed the figures first with a plastic-friendly primer. I asked the painters to use the box illustrations as their guide.
And now that the painted figures have returned, I'm basing them up, starting with some that need an odd-sized stand: these prone machinegunners. According to the online catalog:
The models in this kit are represented with the characteristic individual equipment of the Soviet trooper: the already obsolete Mosin-Nagant rifles, the Svt-40 semiautomatic rifles, and the P.P.Sh submachineguns with drum magazine.
However, I'm fairly certain these are actually Degtyaryov light machineguns (DP-27).
I based these on 'whatever size fit' from my supplies (these happen to be 1" x 2" wooden bases from LITKO). I find the 3mm-thick bases to be easiest to handle on the gaming table.
I often game with people new to the hobby or the period, so I like to color-code my bases. So the 'Reds' get red base edges. I primed the wood white to seal it, then used Sharpie red markers to color the sides.
Then I painted the base top a muddy brown color, and when it was dry, glued the figure down with gap-filling superglue.
After the superglue is dry, I brushed the base with scenic glue, and dredged the base into a container of flock. Before the glue dried, I used a toothpick to knock off any flock in the wrong place.
The based figure is next sprayed with a matte clear paint, and LITKO FlexSteel base bottoms are added for storage purposes.