Battleground 1983 – A Review of Henry Turner’s New 3D Soviet Motostrelkovy Files

By Tom Burgess,

If you know me…you know I have been very excited about what 3D printing and how it is revolutionizing the wargaming hobby.  If not,  you can check out an article I wrote about it .  One of the things I said in that article that would revolutionize the miniature wargaming hobby would be independent miniature designers being able to offer products through venues like  Patreon and Kickstarter. One such independent designer who has been at it for quite a while with a good bit of success is Henry Turner. Henry, based in the UK, has done very will with is 1:600 sailing ship range, his 6/15mm American Civil War and 6/15mm Napoleonic Wars, and now a 10mm/15mm/28mm Modern “1983” Warsaw Pact line.

Henry is initially offering his latest line through a Kickstarter called Being a Team Yankee player and curious, I volunteered to print some of his Soviet Motostrelkovy figures 15mm and review them. Unfortunately, the Kickstarter now is just a few days away from closing  But if it as already closed by the time you read this article, Henry will surely have them posted for sale on There you can buy and download any of his STL files. You could also consider Henry’s Patreon, Turner Miniatures , which I plan to subscribe to.

I really did not have a lot of time to paint up models for this review, so I will focus on critiquing and comparing Henty Turner’s 1983 Motostrelkovy figures to their counterpart Battlefront 15mm Team Yankee figures.  Henry’s line is quite comprehensive with more than 70 unique poses. Below are some of the samples I selected to print out.

I find Henry’s models to be quite good.  He has provided all the options needed to fill out Soviet Motostrelkovy units for Team Yankee force organizations.  The proportions of the figures are excellent. The poses are overall dynamic, even if a bit stiff in some cases. I really like the wide range that gives many more pose options than the Battlefront Team Yankee Soviet line. There were only two minor things about these figures I did not like. One was the thick inverted bevel bases. I’m not sure for the reason of this design. but I guess I could easily enough slim them down digitally before printing.

The other thing I did not particularly like was the “bow-leggedness” of the prone figures.  I suppose that when these prone figures are based and flocked with a few tufts that they will work just fine.

My favorite poses from Henry’s range is the running RPG-7 Gunner.  I also really like the RPG reload backpack that the RPG-7 gunners have. A nice detail missing in the Battlefront line.

Above you can see the Henry Turner 15mm standing Soviet on the left alongside of the Battlefront 15mm standing Soviet figure on the right. Henry’s models ate a mot more slim and natural, but not soo much so that these could not be mixed on the same stand.

Above you can see the Henry Turner 15mm kneeling Soviets alongside of a Battlefront 15mm kneeling Soviet figure in the middle. Again, they two brands will fit in quite well together if needed.

Here is a comparisons of the AT-4 Gunners.  I think the AT-4 is one model that Henry may need  to consider redoing. It is serviceable enough, but it was one of the few models that I thought that the Battlefront option had significantly better detail.  Henry’s launcher just needs a not more parts added or to make them more pronounced.

Above you can see that Henry’s models will fit in well with the Battlefront Team Yankee bases.  Since the Kickstarter is closing so soon and I have not had time to paint any of Henry’s models myself. But I thought I could at least include some excellent photos posted by others on Henry’s Facebook group,   of his finished models.

You can see that Henry’s 15mm Soviet Miniatures paint up just fine. He provides plenty of details on the models and they take paint quite well.

I think Henry’s miniatures paint up just as well and look just as good as my Battlefront Soviet Motostrelkovy. They certainly would look great on any gaming battlefield.

One thing truly revolutionary that Henry is doing with his Kickstarter is that he is providing the Blender files for them that will allow you to add and swap features like Headgear and body armor.

The Blender options feature will let you create any of the Warsaw Pact forces of 1983.  You will be able to edit each of the 70 Soviet figure files Henry has to make specific troops for East Germans, Poles, etc.  You can even do modern Soviet Naval infantry and Airborne troops!

And for those who play NORTHAG, Henry’s models look as good in 10mm and they do in 15mm!

I truly believe that Henry Turner “nailed it” with this new Kickstarter release. Over 70 figures. Great detail, excellent proportions, and customizability make this set a “must” have for any 15mm or 10mm Modern Warsaw Pact player with a 3D printer. Not into the “Red Army?”  Just wait, Henry will follow this Kickstarter with a NATO version.  Henry has done what I think all 3D designers need to do. Offer customizability and a wide range. In those terms I believe he is really setting a new standard and I am very happy that he will be continuing with it.