"Alternatives to 1:2400 scale" Topic

I want to get into WW2 Pacific naval games, but I probably can't persuade any friends (at least not at first) to collect the figures, so I'll need to build both fleets, myself.

I have the GHQ micronauts for my WW1 dreadnoughts, and I love them, but I'm worried that the WW2 ships will be so huge that they'll blow out the game scale. Not to mention blowing out my bank account. So I have a few questions:

1. How big is a GHQ model of, say… a Yorktown-class carrier? Or a mid-war battleship like the USS Washington? About how many inches long?

2. I've played with 1:6000 ships, and they're just too tiny for me to enjoy. What sort of options do I have for a happy medium? I've heard about 1:3000 scale… who makes those, and are they any good?

3. Any other suggestions? I'm looking to collect two good-sized fleets, spending under $200 USD on each one.

thanks!
Sam

PS – Anybody have any comments on the DAVCO/Skytrex ships? Their website is no use, since it doesn't have any pictures. If anybody has these painted (or not), I'd love to see a few.

hi sam here in the uk 1/3000 scale is good for navwar etc go through spiritgames ..

spiritgames.co.uk

thomas

Navwar, Sktrex/Davco, Denian and Stronghold all do 1:3000. The range is immense and the prices are almost 1:6000 good. Navwar has the largest range and IMHO, reliable quality and as has already been mentioned, can be purchased reliably from Spirit Games. Sktrex/Davco has a few dogs but overall, clean good models as well, in particular, their destroyers.

I'm confused by the huge difference in price between the GHQ 1:2400 scale and the Davco 1:3000. These two scales are not really that different, in size, are they?

* How big are they?

* Is there a great difference in the level of detail?

1/3000 models are 20% smaller than 1/2400 models, so the difference is somewhat significant. The big difference between Navwar and GHQ is the level of detail. Since you have the GHQ's WWI models, you already know what level of detail GHQ applies. The Navwar models are considerably less detailed, but still quite good. My own take is that the detail that GHQ puts into a model, while very nice when held 3" from your nose, is lost on gaming table from viewed from 3'.

In 1/2400 a Yorktown class carrier is about 4 1/4 inches long, the Washington is about 3 1/2 inches.

You might want to check out panzerschiffes. They're 1/2400 resin. Not nearly as much detail as GHQ, but much easier on the wallet.

Actually, the size difference is pretty big, since it is in all dimensions, so looks like more than you might imagine.

The GHQ detailing is as good, and in some cases better than much larger vessels, of 1/600th – 1/700th scale, which is why they are so expensive.

CinC also makes some very nice vessels, and while they are not as detailed as the GHQ models, are a bit more affordable.

I recommend the GHQ ships, if you can afford them, but you can fill out your fleets with the CinC models as well, since they are compatible sizewise.

You can also start small, with cruisers and destroyers, since there were a lot more actions with them than with the big battleships during the war.

1/3000th ships will work too, but I generally prefer the larger 1/2400th scale.

If you are interested in doing coastal forces actions, the Figurehead 1/1250th scale vessels are superb for that, and a set of rules and a couple of packs of miniatures are only $29.99.

We have a number of matched sets, that are nicely balanced for running quick, fun games, if you are interested in them.

For the Pacific, in this scale, you mainly need to resort to DD's vs. PT boats, but there were also a lot of great battles in the English Channel, North Sea, and Mediterranean for gaming too. You could also do barge busting with the PT's too, but would need to scratch build some Japanese barges and landing craft.

E-mail me, if you are interested, at the address below, and I will send you a listing of the starter packs we have available for sale for coastal forces gaming.

I hope that helps.

Best regards,

Rob
Topgun Marketing LLC
topgunace111 AT yahoo DOT com

Wow, 4.25" is a big model. It seems as if it would distort the scale on the table?

"Wow, 4.25" is a big model. It seems as if it would distort the scale on the table?"

Very true. That's why 1/6000 is so popular.

All scales distort the ranges on the table.

Some, just more than others.

Don't suppose anybody has scrounged up any pictures of the Navwar or Davco figures??

1/2400 stuff is beautiful.

1/6000 stuff can be played without making the ranges between ships look silly.

Dan

link

Shows the painting Hammer and Brush did for me on some 1/3000 Davco WW2 ships for me recently. You have to scroll down to "Ship". I really like the figures and you can see the detail in these pictures.

Jake

Panzerschiffes are cheap and have as much detail as the 1/3000 scale stuff.

link

There are pictures of almost all the models, small pictures but pictures.

I suppose it depends on where you are, in the UK I'd go with 1/3000 in the USA I'd do 1/2400.

Thanks, guys. The pictures especially have been very useful.

I've ordered the same three ships (a BB, a CV, and a CL) from three different manufacturers, to compare them all side by side and see which I like painting and so on.

Panzerschiffes are a great deal for the money here in the States. If you're in the uk I'd recommend Skytrex/Davco

As models go you almost have to like the GHQ or CNC models over any of the others. Compared side by side there really isn't a choice.

As gaming choices there are other reasons. Price or size and the two big ones.

Personally while I like the idea of 1/6000 I don't like them in reality. Just too small. What's the point of miniatures if you can't see them? At that size counters are cheaper and just as evocative.

In the end I went with 1/2400 as the best compromise between size and quality.

Here is a Uk source which does 1-2400 scale metal ships in the UK,reasonably priced. stonewallfigures.co.uk

picture

picture

I did a comparison shot a while ago that may help.

note: the 2 QE-class BB's are backwards to each other.

Very nice Bostich

I have recently bought some samples of various manufacturers ie. Figurehead 1/6000. GHQ 1/2400. panzerschiffe 1/2400. and Navwar 1/3000. I looked at the Stonewall figures site and found that beside each item was "no image" consequently these figures will not be considered. Why on earth do manufacturers not advertise their products with nicely painted examples? There are plenty of examples of gamers buying minis because they have seen nicely done photos on this board.Is it me? regards Ivan.

No it's not you.

Some manufactures find making the photos time consuming. They feel it adds work for little or effect on sales. It also adds costs as photos add up to additional space and, more importantly, bandwidth as people look at the pretty pictures.

Still if I'm ordering from overseas I want to have some idea of what I'm ordering. If not then, like you, I don't order.

Bostich thanks very nice comparison

Ivan I'm with you on pictures I tend to buy wha I've seen in person either a shows or fellow club members or from a good pictue on the net

Its not really a happy medium but give this a try (copy and paste it into your browser) tamiya.com

click on 1/700 scale waterline models

I'd be quite interested in the Stonewall ships, although I suspect that they are old (very old?) models – I think I remember Micro Matrix from many years ago – and at about 1 GBP each the quality may be a bit basic. Has anyone seen these or got photos?