Sunday, January 8, 2017

'Armour' from PaulOG: Soviet Spider Mechs


Presenting a pair of Spider Mechs from the Soviet 1st Guards Mecha Division, as seen on the Eastern front in late 1947 while operating with the 3rd Shock Army, 1st Belorussian Front.


Russian Mecha doctrine is to field Light, Medium and Heavy Spider Mechs within a Mecha Division, deploying them in role oriented pairs to work in close cooperation for shock effect. This is a heavy "Hunting Pair”.  The Hammerjaw class Medium Mech, while well able to take care of itself with it short barrelled 90mm, flushes big game for the larger and less mobile Nayk class Heavy Mech asks flanks the enemy while the bigger duel is underway.  With accompanying infantry support, this has been found to be highly effective in difficult environments such as urban/rubble, marsh and mountainous terrain not well suited to tracked and wheeled vehicles.


The Mecha pilots are dressed in distinctive uniforms with cooled padding, chest plate armour and communications equipment.
Shown dismounted is the famed Soviet Mecha Ace Konstantin Samokhin, Hero of the Soviet Union (limited edition figure)





Characteristically, this Bonus round became quite an enjoyable distraction from my intended main push, but I’m very happy with the Result. All models by WestWind from their Secrets of the Third Reich range.  Putting these mocha beasties together was extremely challenging and they are probably the most frustrating things I’ve ever built, though it is nice to have them done after a few years of languishing in the garage.  I’ve swapped the crewmen around because, well I think they look better this way. All painting and weathering was by hand, including the turret markings which say “Crush the Facists!” (on the Nayk Heavy mecha) and “For the Motherland!” (on the Hammerjaw Medium).  If that’s not what they say…I don’t want to know :-) To Berlin Comrades!

Paul








24 comments:

  1. Absolutely awesome work Paul. Very much well worth the wait :-)

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  2. WTF!... lovely job Paul. Great to see it fully finished

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  3. Lovely weathering! In Soviet Russia, spider squishes you!

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  4. Great job Paul, these are awesome models, I love the weathering on them! I need to turn one of my WW2 armies into a Konflict 47 force. Watch out though, I think I saw some dwarves lurking in those woods earlier...

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    1. Hahahaha! I've no doubt those dwarves can smash through tank armour with their mighty hammers too :-)

      You kept your K47 interest quiet mate - we need to talk my friend!

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  5. What a contraption! Super work on this great model, Paul.

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  6. These are super cool and look great!

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  7. Brilliant stuff, the weathering is especially nicely done.. I was initially seduced by SOTR but we never got to play.... Konflikt looks like a great alternative.

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  8. Ah fantastic stuff. I love spider tanks. They seem far more likely to have occurred than bipedal robots

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  9. DERP gun alert!

    Nice mechs and very well painted.

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  10. Holy cow, never heard of these models. They do look like a pain in the ass to fiddle with, but well done, worth it the end. Congrats on getting a lingering project from the garage past the finish line! This looks great.

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  11. Oh my word, now that's an impressive sight!

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    1. Now that's high praise indeed coming from you - thanks :-)

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  12. Very very good, the bases are really cool too!

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  13. Well done! You've turned these beasties in some really impressive machines.

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  14. Those are stupendously awesome. Wonderful work Paul. On to Berlin!

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  15. Fantastic! Love the basing around the legs!

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  16. Impressive stuff Paul! Westwind really has some amazing minis. I've been planning to get into Weird War for a long time and seeing stuff like this doesn't help in trying to resist the urge...

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  17. Nice weathering on these, I like the bases too, part of the kit or homebashed?
    Wicked, wicked looking machines!

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