"15mm WWII models not made?" Topic

WWII has to be the most widely covered period in 15mm perhaps matched (or surpassed) only by Napoleonics.

So what's still undone, if anything? I don't mean Weird War II as the sky's the limit with that. Also please no recommendations for other scales -- I do historical in 15mm only. And just WWII please.

I mean infantry or other types who put units in the field to fight, not Belgian tank crews or Russian kitchen units or stuff like that. Looking forward to reading responses, thanks.

khurasanminiatures.tripod.com

African Native troop types generally get short shrift, both Italians and french are marked by their absence. Neither italian or french mountain or fortress troop ranges are in existance

Others would include Italians in non standard headgear,especially RSI Xmas and the fortress regiments

then germain mountain units.

then Rumanian mountain infantry

Early war "coal skuttle" Russians (latvian) infantry are not done as a range. In terms of full nationalities, Norwegians and Yugoslavians (along with the later factions) are not in available ranges together with greeks in either helmet type.

Hi Jon

Soviets in snowsuits

US Troops in greatcoats and winter garb suitable for the Bulge and Winter 44/45

A good range of Soviets in padded jackets (mix of helmets, side caps and fur hats)

German FJ in padded winter garb

German 3rd FJ Division Ardennes with M1 carbines, Stens and German weapons

Germans in 'Wintertarnanzug' camouflaged padded parka, hood and trousers.

German SS in Parkas

Hitler Youth, mixed Luftwaffe gun crews and a decent range of Volksturm.

French Goumiers

Cheers
Mark

Greeks have been done; just not done competently. The field expands slightly if one includes ranges that have been done, but not well.

Resistant Roosters has US in great coats.

If one were looking at most WW2 ranges (in any scale), one would think that the only German transport was the 3-ton Opel Blitz and maybe the half-tracked version thereof.

If you ask Allen nicely, I'm certain that he could list the various manufacturers.

Wyatt

Commandos in dennison smock and bergan, with beret or battle-bowler – the beret-clad figures would also be good for glider pilots.

There is only one small range of XIVth Army figures available for Burma. Another range would be a blessing, adding some variety.

West African troops for Burma would be nice. Standard XIVth Army troops in bush hat will suffice, but I'd like some guys in shorts and bare feet, as well as some carrying huge loads on their heads (some with the bush-hat perched on top of the load).

British infantry in hooded windproofs – mainly for 51 (Lowland) Division at Walcheren, but other formations also issued windproofs during the winter of 1944/45 and they're quite distinctive items of clothing. They could also double for troops in two-piece snowsuits (issued in the Rhineland and Ardennes during the winter of 1944/45).

Oh and Gurkhas in BD JG – preferably smaller in stature than Peter Pig's XIVth Army figures (except for the officers) and with scabbarded kukris. Of course, there would have to be the obligatory pack of figures waving kukris!

Did you miss these?

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"If one were looking at most WW2 ranges (in any scale), one would think that the only German transport was the 3-ton Opel Blitz and maybe the half-tracked version thereof."

I would beg to differ! For all the grousing about it by some, FoW (and the Battlefront line) has the Krupp kfz. 70 and the Steyr Kfz. 70 (not to mention horse drawn carts) prominently featured in their army lists and catalogue. QRF has even more in their German Soft Skin section. Others also have other German transport featured as well, such as Quality Castings and Old Glory Command Decision.

28mm is indeed lacking a bit, although there are places to get the Krupp truck and Horsch cars.

Norwegians would be excellent.

German paratroopers with Lugers (until they've collected their weapons)

Captured weapons (americans with panzerfaust, a german .30 cal browning team, soviets with MP40 etc)

Soviets with bazookas

more partisan/irregular types (can never have too much variety there)

"US Troops in greatcoats and winter garb suitable for the Bulge and Winter 44/45"

resistantroosters.com

They have had that line for awhile now.

Someone did greeks?

I knoiw of a bad range in 20 but that is it

The Chinese equiped by the British & Americans.

Some nicely done Greeks would be good.

One problem with the U.S. troops in greatcoat by RR is that there are no MGs, Bazookas, Mortars and so on.

jdg
PS. didn't you ask this question a few months back?

"For all the grousing about it by some, FoW (and the Battlefront line) has the Krupp kfz. 70 and the Steyr Kfz. 70 (not to mention horse drawn carts) prominently featured in their army lists and catalogue."

Technically…

Later-model Steyr 1500As, but why not the earlier ones mounting spares, or the light cargo truck?

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QRF does do the staff car variant and the light cargo truck, but the wheels are too small…

And why not the 2000A?

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And BF does the Horch 108, but no recognition in the army lists that it can serve as a Kfz. 69 or 70 as well as a 15, and no variants:

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And BF does the the Krupp "Boxer", but only one Kfz. 70 version, which made up less than half of production:

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Again, QRF does a fair Kfz. 69 prime mover (most of the other half of production).

But a browse through the photos here will show that there's a great deal of ground to cover:

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And the kicker is that BF has failed to keep up on horse-drawn limbers and transport, as they've failed to replace the masters as they wore out. The good limbers wore out years ago, to be replaced with crappy generic limbers. Yet even the most recent late was supplements require (for the Soviets) horse-drawn limbers! The horse carts are OK, but not very useful. And apparently the supply wagons are now OOP.

Quality Castings does some horse-drawn items, but their horses and drivers are noticeably small next to more modern ranges. If anybody simply did a proper German limber set, and a proper Soviet limber set, to replace what BF let fall by the wayside, they would probably pay for their production quite quickly.

Allen

"Someone did greeks?"

The Quartermaster. Shockingly bad.

Allen

Also, There are some great Gurkhas done by Kerr & King, but their Kukris are generally being held backwards and there are no real heavy weapons to speak of. Also, a bit limited on poses for the moment.

I know many Indians have been done, but seeing Indian's with proper web gear (ie. 1934 pattern etc.) and Sikhs in more action poses (along with Gurkhas for that matter) would be great. A Gurkha sneaking bare foot with Kukri in mouth and/or hand would rock!

Also, I know that you did not want Russians 'goin' potty' or Germans at Oktoberfest, but a good line of 15mm pilots, tankers and air crew would kill! I would spend hundreds of $$$ a year on just those.

Thanks for asking,

McDriver

"Resistant Roosters has US in great coats."

HAD and not a full range.

"One problem with the U.S. troops in greatcoat by RR is that there are no MGs, Bazookas, Mortars and so on."

As jdg also pounted out, one pack does not make a range.

Cheers
Mark

There is generally a (commercial) reason why some of these things are not made ;-)

Other than 3 Peterpig models, I haven't seen any British in greatcoats.

Eureka's Australians in greatcoat could stand in.

"There is generally a (commercial) reason why some of these things are not made ;-) "

Say it's not so!

BEF in Greatcoats and sheepskin bodywarmers for Norway.
Goumiers (as mentioned earlier)
Thais to fight the French.
Yugolsav partisans, Chetniks.
Cretan partisans.
Italian Partisans.
Belgian Chasseur Ardenens.
A full range of French Alpine chasseurs.
Slovaks.
Iraqis.
French Milice and other Vichy forces.

Of course I would buy all of these………..

Oh and forgot to mention Italian cavalry…for charging in Russia.

BEF in Greatcoats and sheepskin bodywarmers for Norway.
Goumiers (as mentioned earlier)
Thais to fight the French.
Yougolsav partisans, Chetniks.
Cretan partisans.
Italian Partisans.
Belgian Chasseur Ardenens.
A full range of French Alpine chasseurs.
Slovaks.
Iraqis.
French Milice and other Vichy forces.

Of course I would buy all of these………..

Ski troops – seems to me someone did Finns on skis, but there are Germans and (yes, believe it or not) French on skis.

I know Quality Castings Partisans only have Soviet style weapons, I presume that someone has done them with Brit weapons?

It's not so Allen, which is why we make odd things, sometimes just because they catch our fancy :-)

Cmon guys don't you know only the Germans,Russians and Americans (at the Battle of the Bulge) wore greatcoats.

How about a 28cm Karl Morser or German Rail Guns. These would be great in scenarios.

Also, pontoon bridges and engineers in boats and setting the bridges up.

Thanks Allen!

When did they sneak those out?! The last I heard was that they were doing Gurkhas in shorts for North Africa…

"How about a 28cm Karl Morser or German Rail Guns. These would be great in scenarios."

How about the 54 or 60cm Karl Morser

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If you can accept them in 18mm scale (1/87), then Brookhurst has two of these squirreled away and you can likely get Larry to sell them to you at a discount.

Wyatt

"When did they sneak those out?! The last I heard was that they were doing Gurkhas in shorts for North Africa…"

Last year… I think. I know Dom and I were providing suggestions on poses, armament, and the like. I don't know who else was, but I had assumed that you were consulted!

I think (speaking for Dom a bit here) our concerns were that with a simple paint conversion, they could be useful for either the CBI theater or for Italy: thus the choice of rifles, choice of battle bowlers or hat, etc.

My opinion is that they came out very well. And they go rather nicely next to the PP 14th Army range.

Allen

Sorry guys we already have a 15mm scale Dora being sculpted and we don't want to double down on the railguns just yet. The caster had suggested we do it in resin, but I thought that a rude suggestion and immediately hung up the phone.

I would like to see German MP's. Should be easy, just the chest gorget and a traffic baton, something like that.

"I would like to see German MP's. Should be easy, just the chest gorget and a traffic baton, something like that."

Battlefront has some in pipeline, but might not be what you envisage:

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Cheers
Mark

This from their website. You are correct not a complete range but at least the bazooka and at least items still being offered.

US Infantry in Greatcoat – Officer AMS-101 $1.00 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – NCO (random selection) AMS-102 $0.75 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – Bazooka AMS-103 $0.75 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – (random rifleman) AMS-104 $0.55 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – (random SMG) AMS-105 $0.55 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – with BAR AMS-106 $0.55 USD
United States Army – Team Packs
US Infantry in Greatcoat – Command Team (Officer, NCO & Rifleman) AMT-101 $2.25 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – SMG (Bag of 4, random selection) AMT-102 $2.00 USD
US Infantry in Greatcoat – Riflemen (Bag of 4, random selection) AMT-103 $2.00 USD

Allen,

That's great! It's a (very slight) shame that they're all sleeves rolled-down and looking a little temperate, but nonetheless I'll be buying a load when funds allow! :o)

I had an e-mail asking if I wanted to add my name to the Eureka 100 Club (or whatever it's called) for some Gurkhas in KD, but I wasn't really interested.

Mark

Rumanians might be interesting. From what I've been told the really big sales come from the Russian Front and allies vs Jerry 1944 plus, and Rumanians fit the first part nicely.

I'm surprised no one's made German gebirgsjager, an elite (well sometimes) force, and of Germans yet!

Greeks are fun but making them would be betting bigtime that the relatively brief war vs the Italians would move people to buy lots of them. Of course they'd also be useful for Merkur, but again I'm not sure people collect armies to play something like Crete over and over again. Norwegians are in the same boat. QRF is right, there's a reason some things are just not made.

I'll be focusing on the Marines (and possibly 41 Commando, but no promises) for the "Chosin" Reservoir next, to fight my upcoming Chinese People's Volunteers, which in hindsight I probably should have announced here rather than on the modern board, as Korea really was more of a WWII style war at least in terms of forces and especially weaponry. Then I'll make some limited Late War WWI stuff later this year as well, not much but a start anyway, then if one else gets around to it, I might make some Rumanians.

How about the T-34 and KV-I/1940 versions with the shorter 76mm and different mantlets.

Basic Rumanians have been done a few times, though: Battlefront and True North--although True North's website is gefracked--plus QRF and Legions East:

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Kevan mentioned specifically Rumanian mountain troops. The Vanatori de Munte in combat didn't look all that different from ordinary infantry:

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But for early in the war, their uniform was more distinctive, and out of ction, the beret was used:

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(Notice the German helmet and cover there)

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I wouldn't think these would be one of the "high-demand items" for 1944, and the Rumanians were out of it by August anyway.

Allen

"I'm surprised no one's made German gebirgsjager"

Well, you don't really need to – just paint Afrika Korps figures in peaked caps and baggy trousers as mountain troops. That is what I used to do with 20mm figs.

I haven't seen any WW2 period Papal Guards either…its a disgrace.

More seriously, and I would buy them if produced…Danes for the very brief campaign in 1940.

Old Glory/Command Decision do a pretty complete range of US in Greatcoats:

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Peter Pig have just filled out their range of Germans in great coats and will probably use those skills to do the same for the Americans.

Its the Rumanian mountain troops weapons that made them so different.

and they just look so cool in the berets….

As usual, its just a dream!

I am having a go at French mountain troops though!

Norwegian infantry for the first Skirmish Campaigns book would be nice.

Cavalry – everybody's, including dismounted figures and mounted heavy weapons. This includes all the usual suspects (German, Italian, French, Russian Cossacks, etc.) and also British and Indians for Palestine and CBI, non-Cossack Russians, Cossacks in Axis service, and US cavalry in both the standard early-war uniform and whatever was worn by the 5th Army mounted recon squadron. Also Spahis and Chasseurs d'Afrique and Japanese cavalry for use in China.

Check back when you're done (next Monday?) and I'll give you the rest of the list 8>).

LT

Eureka's Australians in greatcoat could stand in.

Thanks! Do you know everything, Allen?

No, I just have a disturbing number of miniatures.

Brutonboy: As Allen mentioned, the Eureka Australians in Greatcoats do just fine for the BEF. They also have a range of Eastern European Partisans, as does Battlefront (And Quality Castings do too IIRC). There is also a Eureka 300 Club listing for both Goumiers & for French colonial troops, if you do want to help them become available.

Peter Pig have a single pack of French Alpine troops. Perhaps a bit more usefully they also do the berets in their separate 'Heads' range.

Mark – the Eureka Gurkhas are nice, kukris the right way round & all!