Ok I may be jumping on a small bandwagon here (or large bandwagon)
but would there be interest for a Soviet group along the same lines being thought of for the US and existing for the Brits?
There seems to be a lot of sideline interesting in Russian stuff (and as Barrie and Anne proved you can do it pretty cheaply too) so just curious if theres scope for this.
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I'm working on this Diggah gawd this is all getting WAY to confusing for lil ol me
I'm sorting a partisan outfit out though and will play Ruskie when the time comes, permitting I've finished sewing it
I'm tempted to go Russian as soon as I feel semi-satisfied with my SS kit (i.e the need for a tunic and some better headgear).
Sweet. Partisan look is very cheap to do too ... well I guess that depends what level you want to take it to
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well, I now have a full soviet set of kit (minus accurate guns!) so, PBI missions aside, i'd certainly be interested in it.
Well my M14 to SVT conversion should get underway soon and I plan on ordering my rusky kit when I get paid at the end of the month so I'll be up for this. Were you thinking of baseing it around a particular unit(s) like PBI or making it more of a general Russian group?
Well we could base it round a unit but generally speaking that wouldn't affect kit needed as the Ruskies don't seem to have specific unit marking on their uniforms. (not entirely sure about that so I'll check).
I guess a more generalised "Hey lets do a Ruskie loadout" would probably suffice (unless someone wants to do Tankers or suchlike
)
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That sounds ok since we don't want people being put off joining by not being allowed to portray a certain unit if they want to. Especially as theres likely to be a mix of regular troops and partisans. Russian players are thin enough on the ground as it is.
As a matter of interest what units, if any, are people badging up as? Even if there isn't any restrictions on units or kit we could have some level of uniformity as an option should people wish to do so (sounds like i'm contradicting myself but I think you know what I mean) .
I would guess a combo of summer and winter loadouts would be needed.
Winter is essentially a Shinel overcoat, belt and helmet or urshanka. You could also have padded Telogreika if you so desired or even just a rain coat. Trousers wise you could get away with green bdus or get some M43 Sharovari if you want.
Summer ideally is just a Gymnostroika and M43 Sharovari Pants with a belt. Headwear could be a pilotka or helmet.
Shoulder boards should reflect field infantry (rasberry colour edge) or possibly engineers (black edge).
Other than that Im not really that concerned (and even this list is flexible). Also some of the kit is hard to get in specific sizes so thats why I've left it fairly flexible. The Red Army welcomes all comrades
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I'm interested, I think this would work well with my primary interest in PBI because as far as I know the British and Russians never fought together so if there's an eastern front game PBI wouldn't be appropriate but I can still fight against the dasterdly Germans
I've been planning to get a Russian loadout anyway and in amoungst my many projects there's a number of russian weapons, in fact the one I'm mostly working on at the moment is a Mosin-Nagent M38/44.
With regard to unit markings I think they are on the shoulder boards which means that we would only need to change those to fit in with whatever unit was being portrayed in any particular game.
As far as I can tell division markings were only used on the shoulder boards of ranks from Jnr Lieutenant upwards and even then its just a pin on badge. Its still the same as the piping on the edge tho for the lower ranks...
Will double check with my library later today
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Oh almost forgot.. Everyone needs a spoon
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Whether its of any use, who knows but I've not long since finished reading the Berlin Diaries. They're an account from the perspective of a female journolist (pre war) and what she encountered at the end of the war. Despite being quite a grim book as you can imagine, the woman spoke Russian and did communicate within those in the part of Berlin she lived in that was captured. She didn't anywhere in the book manage to work out peoples ranks or roles, uniforms were shared, ranks were given to the old, young and females in what appeared non sensicle to the woman (albeit on the grounds of what they had seen and done) like a 16 year old NCO. Oh and the comment on working out those with rank, that actually wore them (many didn't at that time, again according to the author) was by the pins
Ooo cheers for that. Will investigate further
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Hmm it seems even the re-enactment units are a bit unsure about this one. I lifted this from the 95th Guards :
"Although prescribed by regulations, subdued insignia is not recommended until more research is done on how common it was. Subdued buttons painted olive or black are permitted and recommended on the M43 tunic. The M43 tunic does however need to be worn with the typical subdued olive shoulder boards with raspberry piping."
It seems its only a branch of service pin thats used and that seems to be mostly used on the Shinel collar tabs.
That doesn't denote division or group so I guess the heart of the matter is "it dont matter "
Incidently I was having a look at divisions and I thought if people wanted to have a division to add to a name it could be something like 147th Rifle Division which fought at Stalingrad, Ukraine and Berlin (which should pretty much cover any game anyone puts on )
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im defo intereted once i finished my nugent.
Sweet.
For those worrying about comitting to a new group and all that entails, I envisage this group to run slightly differently. There is no ridgid organisation. I doubt there will be training days as such. Its more a group of likeminded airsofters who want to do a Ruskie loadout and want some advice, or help to organise a game. You dont have to sign up to anything but a rough show of hands is always useful.
Things may change in the future but this is where I can see it for now.
Feel free to discuss
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I was thinking about a ruskie impression but I`ve yet to get to my first WW2 skirmish, plus I live in Cornwall, and I`ve just lost 10 hours a week at work for the next four months so money will be tight.
I might try and make a cheap impression up as I do like the kit because its so simple.
I was hoping to knock up a PPD38 based around a modified VZ61 but the VCR is stumping me at the moment.
I`ll see how I get on at D Day and go from there I think.
No worries mate. I know how it can get with work things (Im self employed myself).
Theres a small possibility I may be attending MIA in Dec with some mates. Will keep you posted.
No longer involved in airsoft.
hey,
I'd be really interested in doing some russian kit. espectialy officer. any events please let me know. i would be very interested. also as far as fire arms ar concerned could a ak su with a drum mg be classed as the ppsh?
thanks for reading