STALINGRAD Bolt Action Mega Battle!

As a basic precaution, I use pin together all all materials that a glue will not bond together like hard plastic with polystyrene cement as the active agent.

Super glue is in my opinion not robust enough on its own to use to glue plastic to metal, resin to metal or metal to metal components together on their own.

For instance with the simple head swap in these images, I have drilled an hole in each component so that I can insert a cut piece of paper clip, held in place by green-stuff (2 part epoxy modelling putty). I use a tiny amount of super glue as an instant way of securing the two pieces in place. The end result is a secure fix.

In my humble opinion, no ‘Bolt Action Stalingrad Mega Battle’ would be complete without a couple of T34’s.

Unfortunately the troop of 3 T34/76’s are all the later 1943 examples, and too late for Stalingrad. So I ordered some more of Warlord, and after a relatively light build (partially due to the easy and separate assembly of the tracks, which can be then painted and simply slid onto where they need to go) and the simplicity of their paint scheme, I now have two up and running.

I would hope that assembling the ‘Stalingrad Tractor Factory Zavod 1941’ variant would be appropriate for my purposes?

T-34/76 Medium Tank

An absolute must as the iconic centrepiece of my planned Stalingrad Mega Battle.

A surprisingly simple and enjoyable paint, which I am really pleased with, especially as the decorative lime plaster look that I have given the figures stands, out quite separately from the concrete rendered brick base.

The model is from Warlord Games, and is a superb adornment for the centre of any table top Battle for Stalingrad!

The Stalingrad Campaign Book has two selectors (”Rattenkrieg’ and the ‘Into Hell’) selectors that allow reinforced platoons to take 2 StuG’s  (rather than 1) as a support option.

This combination is ideal for giving my Jager 100th Division platoon the ability to take out entrenched infantry whilst the infantry moves swiftly to capture ground. They are in trouble still as the anti tank rating of a light howitzer, which is the StuG’s only weapon is near useless against T34’s and the famously impervious KV1’s.

These iconic vehicles were quick and fun to paint, and a great addition to my collection. They however need to be used carefully.

Stug III Ausf D

WOW! I can barely believe that this has happened!

I reached out to Alessio to let him know about my project, and he said that he was aware of it, and would be happy to be interviewed. I took several seconds to check that I was not dreaming, and then phone John Stallard at Warlord to ask for help with the tec side, and He made it happen via Karl and Robin his resident “Tecsperts”.

I am still mildly in shock that I have been able to get an interview with one of the big names in the industry, and author of the game, on how to plat Bolt Action in Stalingrad for my “Bolt Action Stalingrad Mega Battle”!

I hope that you enjoy listening as much as I did participating.

I have to give credit to @joechump for suggesting this!

He suggested that I try utilising some ‘Special Effects’, well, Christmas Lights and my Smoke Machine for Parties, and I am glad He did.

Using red and orange fairy lights with a serious cloud form my smoke machine has added several convincing dimensions to the overall effect, particularly powerful in the fading light.

It was a bit of fun, and I have added two more techniques to my repertoire.

Cheers Dave.

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/soviet-50mm-light-mortar-and-flamethrower-teams?aff=42

Another new and useful product to the market that saves a LOT of time is 4Grounds brick set.  Previously I had been individually cutting out bricks from Tamiya’s wall set. Tis took lots of time and was messy with lots of time spent carving away melted plastic spoil from the cutting process.

The 4Ground bricks can be separated individually much more quickly, with minimal trimming using a scalpel. Also, complete sections can be cut, and carefully glued in place as curved brick work, which would take ages with my previous method.

hey make a great addition to rubble on bases and scenery, and can further augment brick buildings with further courses, or precarious loose bricks jutting out at odd angles.

In short, this is a seriously useful, adaptable and time saving product.

This has been on my “Gamers Radar” for some time, and thank God I am now recovered enough (after being seriously ill from Covid 19 in March 2020) to get down and visit.

These chaps do a great range of HDF  scenery, and an impressively large amount of it is tailor made for Stalingrad. Lots of other pieces completely appropriate or adaptable for my project, and have been already featured.

I was first made aware of these chaps through Beast’s of War/Ontabletop.com and bought a load of their scenery through Wayland games. In fact I believe that I cleared out Wayland’s entire stock at one point.

It was great to meet Big Ben Creswell and Cad properly (I met them briefly whilst they were filming with Justin at the On Table Top Visitor Center in Coleraine). They invited me down for a tour of their ‘Factorum Facilities’, which are impressive, but have several seriously impressive revamps and additions (more on that later).

I have not been this excited since I went to Toys R Us as an 10 year old with £50 in 1989, and yes, I came away with er, 1 or 2 new acquisitions! Many of which are hopefully going to be featured in this project.