Dragon's 1/35 scale figures
Dressed to kill -
Russian snipers' nest

by Mick Toal

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Generally I only make figures to accompany my armoured vehicle models.

However, Dragon's superb, innovative and value for money figure sets have constantly caught my eye, and when I saw the Red Army Scouts and Snipers, an unacustomed figure vignette immediately sprang into my mind.

These 1/35 scale figures are great for the novice, or, like me, occasional figure modeller, and the Russian scouts and snipers also have the advantage of the relatively simple Soviet World War II "ameoba" camouflage pattern.

Now there are plenty of state-of-the-art resin conversions and kits out there, and a few ready-made vignettes, but modelling can be cheap, and simple, when you get back to the basics.

For something different, I chose the two female soldiers from the kit, and set about building up the vignette on a large scale figure base with paddle pop sticks, the 1970s-era Tamiya brick wall set, and various items of flotsam and jetsam from the spares box.

The Hollywood version of snipers hanging out windows or climbing trees couldn't be further from the truth. In reality they were seasoned hunters seeking a discreet and safe hide to practice their deadly art.

My pair have chosen to prise a few bricks out for observation and to take their shots - creating only an unobtrusive break in the brickwork when observed by their sharp-eyed enemies outside their dilapidated factory.

I virtually built the figures from the box, but decided to modify the observer with an ushanka cold weather cap from Dragon's Chinese Volunteers, resculpting her hair with Milliput to confirm to the new headwear.

Everything was brush painted using Humbrol and Tamiya paints, with some oils used to vary the flesh tones.

The end result is not masterpiece, or competition winner, but it is something different, and I had a lot of fun creating it.

 

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2004 by Mick Toal
Page Created 06 October, 2004
Last Updated 06 October, 2004

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