Two RCW Snipers

Several months ago, my colleague Rick made me a gift of a couple of WW1 French snipers that were surplus to requirements for his WW1 French collection. They have been sitting on the painting table ever since, but with the lead pile at precariously low levels, I was finally motivated to paint them up. I decided from the outset that they would be drafted into my Russian Civil War Bolshevik collection - the distinctive "Adrian" helmet of the French army did make an appearance amongst the forces engaged in the struggle for Russia, so I thought I could get away with this "repurposing"!

Not much more to say - being RCW, I decided they would have no uniformity whatsoever, so coats, packs, webbing, even helmet, are all painted different colours on each figure.

And below, some evidence to back up m y claims re the helmet.....

The French supplied their Russian allies with Adrian helmets during the First World War. These were used following the Russian Civil War by the Soviet Red Army. Produced in France during World War I for the Czar, these helmets were used by the Soviet army in the 1920s, featuring the Communist Red Star.

Also known as the Soviet M28, these helmets that were in service in WWI were repainted and rebadged in the late 1920's, hence the M28. The large star was stamped from a thin piece of brass, this helmet has been known as the "Big Star" to collectors for obvious reasons. These helmets remained in service until 1936.