Chaps,
I don't think Russians have ever been accused of being precious. Many other things, but not that! Actually the two solutions are to turn four battalions into three (with the same total number of figures), or to simply rebase some of 8-figures stands as 4s, which will let the units break neatly into smaller battalions. No problemo.
As for the line that "
R2E causes
GdB type meltdown..", I think you're being a little harsh on Dave Brown's rules...
The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding.
I'm looking forward to giving
R2E a decent spin - the last game I played that raj Marshal O'Brien launched a cavalry charge on turn one, whizzing across the table to ride down a brigade of British troops, before they got the chance to load their muskets! As long as the gamey old bugger is squared off against Dale, and you're on hand to curb both of their excesses, then all should be well!
Penned in the wilds of Orkney