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| 6 infantry units, 2 MGs, 2 mortars, 4 leader types. |
Figures are a mix of Airfix, Matchbox, Classic Toy Soldier (MG), Dragon (MG), and 21st Century/Ultimate Soldier (mortar crews). The Ultimate Soldier mortars are delicate and in my ham fists, they have all broken. The mortars pictured are from BMC. They aren't great but what they lack in detail and accuracy, they make up for in durability.
Here's a closer picture of the mortars and their crews:
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| One of the the mortar crew has a non-uniform base color. They will be dealt with accordingly. |
One thing I have yet to decide on is how to handle the LMG teams for both sides. I can base them two figures on a base, like the HMGs, or I can base them with three figures(either three prone, or two prone and one kneeling) like the rest of the infantry and use them as regular infantry bases.- which sort of makes sense given that the LMG is just assumed when the bases represent sections/squads and above.
I'll let that sit on the back burner.
Next up, figure-wise: finish painting the next three-base German infantry unit and assemble and paint the two Soviet HMG teams in my to-do pile.
Thoae troops look excellent.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what base sizes you prefer - I may have a clatter of 3mm mdf cut to a suitable size that I can send you if useful.
Thank you on all counts!
DeleteThe squares I'm using are 3" - I figure if it was good enough for Morschauser, it's good enough for me.
I have a load of 3" square bases, 3mm thick that I won't be using now.
DeleteEmail me at ducdegobin (at) gmail (dot) com, and I can arrange to send you if interested :)
These are looking good. I would suggest treating lmg's as regular squads unless you want to use them as a whole squad of lmgs rather than the usual situation where they were part of infantry squads. I read an article (too many years ago) that stated that in the later war (43+ when manpower was low and combat experience high) some veteran British and Commonwealth units were putting the text book aside and unofficially dividing their platoons into a firebase with all the lmg teams, an assault group consisting of the most reliable guys and a reserve with the guys who could be counted on for guard duty and labour but not for combat.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ross! I have heard of breaking up the individual squads LMG fire team and the rifle/assault team but not applying the idea to the platoon as a whole. I think, per your follow up comment, some of both is probably the best option for flexibility as well as a way to use up my excess of prone figures.
DeleteOh meant to add having lmg teams on a 3 man base or some of each would make it easier to id an infantry section vs a firesupport team.
ReplyDeleteLooking good John. I'm with Ross - I'd make the LMGs the same size and represent a line squad or a half line squad as you need.
ReplyDeleteInterested in how many different makes you have there. I just posted on Up the Blue! a little mystery I discovered in some Army Men, and would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks! And I'll pop over there in a minute!
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DeleteThey look great. Those Airfix German infantry were/are a super set. The 21stC/Ultimate Soldier mortar crew look beaut too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, James! I lucked out and picked up several 21st C/Ultimate Soldier sets several years ago when it seems to have been easier to find them at non-collector prices on ebay. They're a little small compared to the others, but on their own bases, I think they work.
DeleteMan, I want to just grab up a couple of quick sets of Russkies and Germans, and I'm having a bunch of trouble. I just want a box each of a variety of guys in interesting poses. I prefer harder plastic and not a lot of flash. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteAlso, anyone have a line on a Pz MkIV and a T34?
If you can find the Airfix (Hornby) figures that came out a few year ago - not the vintage ones, I mean around 2015ish - they are a nice hard plastic with minimal mold lines. They might be a little too stiff though and thin parts snap quite easily if you aren't careful.
DeleteClassic Toy Soldiers carried some Chinese clones (not sure of the actual brand but they had them under Airfix) that combine poses from different Airfix sets or with Marx poses (for the Soviets) that are of the harder plastic variety, but they seem to no longer have the Germans in helmets (the CTS brand of figures are a softer plastic, FYI). That said, this site has them: https://littlegreenmentoys.com/12-WWII-German-Infantry-Airfix-copies-plastic-soldiers-army-men-12-0002.htm?categoryId=-1
They also turn up on ebay.
For a PzIV and T-34, if you want 1/32 then I think you're looking at 21st C./Ultimate Soldier (ebay) or a model kit. 1/35 mixes well, but again, model kit. If you don't mind an odd scale, then Classic Toy Soldiers makes both in 1/38ish. They are toys, not models and thus fairly durable and look the part (I have a bunch of these). 1/48-1/50 is an option if you like the toy look / want to limit real-estate taken up by tanks. In that scale, 3D printed vehicles, resin or plastic kits, and die-cast toys are all available.
MichToy has the clones I was talking about (under Hing Fat even, although I'm not sure that's accurate or not): https://www.michtoy.com/item-HNG-47-WWII_German_Infantry_Figures_24_Gray_Bagged.html
DeleteAlso Toy Soldier Company:
https://www.toysoldierco.com/WW-II-German-Infantry-and-Paratroops---clones/Product.aspx?ProductID=19727&DeptID=6&AssocDeptID=2
https://www.toysoldierco.com/WWII-Russian-Infantry---Chinese-clones/Product.aspx?ProductID=19998&DeptID=6&AssocDeptID=2
I picked up a couple of the CTS tanks (via Drum and Flag) to see what they are like. As you say, the slightly smaller scale actually makes them a better 'fit' for wargaming. They have a pleasing amount of detail too, don't they?
DeleteIndeed they do - enough to satisfy the eye, but no fiddly bits to break off accidentally (as with the 21st C. vehicles and "real" plastic kits). I also like that they have both the T-34/76 and T-34/85, and the short and long barrel options for the Panzer, so that one hull can serve in both early and late war, with just a turret switch.
DeleteBack and forth from 3” to 4” and back. I’m just the same.
ReplyDeleteHow I envy those wargamers who can settle on a period, scale, and/or basing scheme!
DeleteThey lie!
DeleteJohn, ran across an interesting post here:
ReplyDeletehttp://smallscaleworld.blogspot.com/2017/07/erwinwatch-hing-fat-not-dgn.html
Basically, the guy says that "DGN" is not a company, province, etc of China. It actually is short for "Design" and the company that makes the figures is Hing Fat, an "on call" manufacturer of whatever you're willing to pay for. He seems to have an on going argument with two other guys about it. However, most important for us, the figures are consistently listed under the Hing Fat label, and uncommonly as DGN, so that may be worth noting.
Also of note, the Hing Fat figs come in tubes that are partially randomized - you need to pay extra to get a perfect distro of the figures from someone who has bought a lot of them and are now selling them in collectors lots of all 12-ish figs.
Hope this is useful!
Thank you for sharing that! It is both interesting from a toy soldier perspective but also as an illustration of the passion some people bring to their little plastic people.
DeleteI have had my eye on a soviet mortar figure for sometime (it's sold in a small set on ebay) labeled as Hing Fat. There aren't many other alternatives- the Italeri figure (or Supreme knock-off) or a 1/35 kit. If Ultimate Solider ever made any, I haven't seen them yet (but I haven't put a ton of effort into finding them either).
Thanks again!
Any opinion of the Pegasus figs? The russian naval infantry look really nice, as do the falschirmjagers. Wondering if they are the harder plastic type, etc.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I have never seen them first hand. I will note that the clone figures I mention above for the Germans, comes with a mix of infantry and falschirmjagers (if you are looking for those as well). However, the mold lines and flash are on the border of excessive.
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