"CinC Microarmor" Topic

I never hear about these guys, overshadowed by GHQ. Anyone using them and care to comment? They have a lot of models I can use, like M60A2s (which GHQ lacks…grrr…) and Pz IIIMs and Ns that actually have skirt armor. Specifically, how well do they scale with the GHQ stuff. Thanks!

Damon.

I think the CinC are 1/300 which means they are slightly smaller (as in a couple of mm) than the GHQ (1/285), but should go well. I had a bunch years ago and foolishly sold them, but they were well detailed (maybe a little less so than GHQ), and again, they should go well with the GHQ.

PFC CinC are 1/285th scale as well. They scale fairly well with GHQ's models, but there are minor size differences – both larger and smaller.

Quality, in most cases, is not as high as GHQ.

One down side is not all items are always available. Somewhere, on their web site, you will find a listing of which products are not being produced.

Grat models, cheaper than GHQ too, metal is softer and barrels more bendy. Trucks ect are fine though.

Quality, in most cases, is not as high as GHQ.

In my experience, quality is equal, but there are differences in style. GHQ sometimes emphasizes the detail, to the degree that you get over-sized rivets in order to make the rivets visible; CNC tends to be more subtle with the detail.

Both companies are heads and shoulders above all other microarmor companies in terms of being able to produce models with sharp corners and crisp angles, with the possible exception of some of the later Scotia models.

The Editor summed it up nicely. They are on par generally, with GHQ sometimes over detailing their models. CnC have a lot of kit that GHQ don't. Happily mix them both plus Scotia.

Concur with The Editor and DougZ. Quality is equal to GHQ, but there are some stylistic differences, with CinC generally having a "cleaner" look to them. Light years ahead of anything produced in the UK.

There are some things that each company does better than the other. If you want the big cats or stalins buy GHQ. If you want PzIII, PzIV, or Shermans buy CinC. The CinC Sherman with the sandbags (in the pattern of 14AD) is a thing of beauty, and most of the PzIII/IV schurzen for the hull are separate pieces that give you an opportunity to customize their appearance. In addition, most of the CinC trucks have the canvas cover as a separate piece, making it easy to model such things as technicals.

In terms of cost CinC is less than GHQ, and also has a volume discount scheme in effect. Currently the discount is enhanced and combined with lowered shipping charges. This is not reflected on the website (it says the enhanced rates ended in january) but I received an order last week and the enhanced rates are still in effect.

Some items at CinC are out of production. It's a one man band there and my understanding is that replacement molds are being made as funds become available. For example, the SS-20 Sabre just came back into production a couple of weeks ago. Now I can game AK47 with nukes.;)

CinC does use a softer alloy than GHQ, and where GHQ's gun barrels are significantly oversized those of CinC are closer to scale or slightly undersized. Yes they are more prone to being bent and/or broken. CinC makes up for this by including an extra turret in most packages of items with the more fragile barrels. If you still need to get a replacement turret CinC charges 50 cents. GHQ charges $1.25.

CinC are also packaged in a luxury little plastic box with foam inside.

Back in the "Golden Era" I loved my Microarmor. I have talked to the GHQ guys once. Good fellows up in Minnesota.

I tried terrain maker from GHQ. Good product, I guess, but I it didn't work for me, cause I have all the artistic talent of a dead piece of birch tree. At the time the only alternative to terrain maker was a now defunct compnay that had relay expensive terrain. Well at least the only two I knew of. I cant recall the name of that stuff. Doesn't matter just makes me feel old that I cant recall it. It is late sorry to ramble.

I agree with other estimations of their miniatures though. CinC got my business for the most part. If I were to rebuild my Micro armor forces that met with their doom on one of my moves across country, I think id grab a bit of both, because I like the Company sets sold by GHQ. I don't think CinC does that. They should IMO. I also got Close and Destroy rules from CinC, the best commercial set of rules I played.

Certainly the GHQ models are lovely and although they are possibly slightly overdetailed in the level of rivets etc this works well on the tabletop [I think].

They also have the advantage of the Combat Command ready made packs which for lazy s like me are really handy!

Haven't seen CinC models and sadly their website doesn't seem to have many piccies but they sound a good alternative.

I tend to find the size comparison thing usually evens out on the tabletop and isn't immediately obvious unless figures are placed side by side..I ahve some 1/285 and some 1/300 models and they don't clash too much.

ooh..didn't think it would bleep that…rhymes with rugger…

I find that I tend to prefer CinC's more accurately sized detailing. The GHQ stuff looks great, but thier raised detail is clearly oversized.

Regarding modern armor, I think that CinC's M60 and M48 series are far superior to GHQ's, I also prefer the CinC Centurions, T55, T64 and T62, series models. But I much prefer GHQ's T80s.

CinC's aircraft are beautiful, but the delicate multi-piece models can be a pain to put together and are prone to damage in handling, at least when compaired to GHQ's single or few piece aircraft castings. So I tend to buy GHQ aircraft first, if both make a given model.

I've found service to be comparable with both. Both answer my e-mails quickly and shipping falls into the two weeks range, sometimes a touch longer for CinC.

You may notice that both companies are in Minnesota – which would appear odd at first glance – Randy the owner/operator of C-n-C used to work for GHQ & did much to get their line started in the early days – Randy left to start C-n-C and there are creative differences in how the 2 companies approach micro armor

While I am a fan of GHQ – they don't have any kind of discount structure for non-retailers but they are generally much more available outside of direct mail order

C-n-C is a one man operation as mentioned above – I find C-n-C a much better value when you order direct and in bulk – the discounts can mount up quite quickly (several times have gotten buddies together to place a big order & have never been dissatisfied)

Both ranges are quite nice – C-n-C scuplts tends have less baggage/tools & doo-dads – as such they are IMHO – 'cleaner'

at the distance we look at micro armor minis on the gaming table – the size differences really don't make any real difference

regardless of which company is your preference – both stand head and shoulders above the competition

I prefer the CNC because the models are "cleaner". Depending on your painting style this could be an advantage. The only down side is the models were cast out of softer metals, so long barrels (like tigers) tend to droop. Haven't ordered from them in years though, so this may have changed.

CinC models are great, I'll only have to comment that the barrels are very thin and are prone to bending, so you have to be careful with them.

And I guess you can mix them fine with GHQ, at least different types of tanks do.

When I was buying them, I prefered the CinC M1 MBT to GHQ's. Very crisp, clean kit.

The CinC Typhoon a/c was a pretty piece of kit, but way to fragile for the abuse of my game table.

I've got a boatload of the CinC V150 armored cars for gaming the 1991 Gulf War Saudi National Guard formation. Very nice kits indeed!

Thanks for the feedback! Looks like I'll be picking up some M60A2s. Now does anyone make an M48A0 so I can do up a Pakistani for a circa 1971 war…?

Damon.

Once they're painted, I can't tell the difference between GHQ and CinC at distances greater than one foot.

I always go with C-in-C, too. Beautiful little kits.

I do like both…but…
I prefer CinC for their fully fleshed models, I dont like how GHQ hollow their models out…it seems to cheapen them somehow when they do in fact charge like a wounded bull…at least when converting back to NZ dollars.
I own both but due to a lack of range completion am forced sometimes to shell out the extra amounts to get GHQ…which are also fantastic btw.
Either way these two are the only companies I would buy this scale from.

Anton

Yes, CinC makes some nice stuff ! They even have some 6mm Sci-fi stuff ! And the plastic boxes they come in are very nice !

I own both brands(as I am sure many gamers do). I play/collect modern figs primarily. I like certain figures of one company over the other, and reverse that at times. Other time I like both figures similarily.

Favorites of CinC: Hummvs: men with weapon system on top: 50 cal, 40mm GL, tow, 30 cal. Like GHQ & CinC Avenger equally and GHQ pick-ups more and 4 seater hummv.
Like the Austrian vehicles from Cinc, none from GHQ except scratch build M41 hull and AMX 13-90mm turret to serve as the Austrian Tank Destroyer. I like M113 series, except GHQ M113 ACAV is very good.
I like the men figures on M1A2 Abrams, allows for flexibility.

GHQ, like the M2 and M2A2 Bradleys, M6 linebackers, M109A6, Leopard 2A6 (make Lpd 2A5 by cutting the barrel down some). Marder 1A3. Like GHQ leopards 1 (a1 and A4 models, etc…). M60 series.

So I cherry pick my figures from how they look and if I may modify to scratch build something.

I'm doing Modern Canadians and have C-in-C Lynx, Cougars, Grizzly's, M150 TOW's, M125's & M109A1's.
Have just ordered the Husky's, Leopard C1's (1A3/4), Leopard II's (for the new 2A4's) and Leopard II Improved (for the 2A6's).

All my M113A1's & M548's are GHQ

I plan getting the M163 Vulcans for the hulls and fitting the ADATS turret from Skytrex but have yet to decide on C-i-C or GHQ. Probably GHQ as the hulls seem to show the boyancy flotation kit fitted.

Nobody does the Canadian M113 TUA which is the M113A1 with the Norwegian designed and built TOW II turret. I'm hoping C-in-C will be first.

How does Scotia mini's match up with CinC and GHQ?

They are pretty good. I got a few pieces from them (some Marine LAV 25s), but I mostly deal with picoarmor. I like the 1/600 scale better because I can get more vehicles and they are easier to store.

I used GHQ, CinC, Scotia and other manufacuturers for my modern micro armor scale figures. CinC and GHQ are supposed to be the same scale. Some have said the GHQ has scale creep, thus getting larger for a rework, also has been said that their detail is more pronounce. Provides a more esthitically pleasing visual experience….

Which to I prefer…? depends upon the model. For Hummvs, CinC was better with their men in action poses holding the weapon: TOW, HMG, LMG, 40MM GL. vs. GHQ not having weapon system or one with figurine.
Depends upon the model you want.