"1:18 scale (4") modern figures--who plays with them?" Topic

I know my friend Thieses uses some 1/18 4 inch figs for his aliens colonial marines.

Recently a thread about forces of valor items caused me to investigate some figures in this scale by FOV, BBI, to name a few companies.

so my thought is to grab a few Afghan looking figs for taliban --maybe about 12 and then grab a few different squads of US units (Delta, Seals) with some individuals (SF and CIA SAD) and then a few QRF units like Marines and US Army (Rangers)

I already have all this stuff and then some in 40mm scale using HLBS figs and 1/48 aircraft and 1/50, 1/48, 1/43 vehicles.

Just thought a limited amount could make for some nice ambush alley games.

Your thoughts?

For modern "bravo team" figures are pretty good, they are available at target.
21st century figures are really just figurines, the articulation is lame, the accessories continually pop off.
For afghan figures get the indiana jones figures for a start, then swap their heads and accessories with terminator humans.
You can also go the GI Joe rout, but their figures are now premium priced.

For weapons: link

Good site to shop: smalljoes.com

Hit the Ross discount stores. They are just now carrying the big GI Joe troops packs for less than half price. Easy to build an army that way.

Don't have "Modern" figs, but I do collect 1:18 scale figs – mostly Micronauts, aliens, robots.

I have heard of people using the GI Joe figs or Lanard CORPS figs for gaming.
In fact, somewhere I have a pile of 1/18 scale figs we were going to use for moderns games and never got around to. Be happy to talk trade of anyone wants them. Even have pictures of the figs. Not sure what box the figs are packed in tho . . .

Don't forget to look up Marauder Gun Runners as Backyard pointed out. Those guys are brilliant.

Ravens forge miniatures--contact me at custer7thcav@comcast.net with the pics--I might be interested.

I've been tempted by this scale as well. I bought some of the WWII guys a while ago, but stopped there.

I was thinking that games at this scale would need a lot of personality, a bit more depth than one applies to a 28mm figure. I'm still looking for rules like that.

Are these 1/18th figures available in the UK? My brothers been after some to go with His 1/18th car collection.

We have a bunch of them bought with the idea of gaming with them. Haven't done it yet. Certainly looks interesting!

I went to my local target and picked up 2 bravo team ranger (3 color desert pattern BDU) paratroopers and a Delta fig also in 3 color des BDU. I will see if I like the figs.

If so, I will create a JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) unit. (This allows me to pull from all of the various branches piecemeal) I will also have a few CIA operatives and maybe a squad of Rangers or Marines as a QRF type force.

I agree DS6151 that I want to limit the size of the units and create a bit more personality. I was thinking of using Ambush Alley for a rules system since I could use fireteam concepts. The most figs I would have on board per side would be about 20 (about 5 fireteams of 4 men each)

I am thinking of playing scenarios like infiltrate and snatch a high priority target or place detonations on contraband or grab intel from a "deserted" enemy CP.

I am tempted to pick up a few vehicles --maybe a few Humvees and some little birds (maybe a kiowa as a CnC chooper.

I had a JSOC unit in mind. Elite force night ops paratroopers (delta and seal) in nigh ops black BDUs with some black swat humvees and black littlebirds and black kiowa-- Unit code name: Nighthawks.

Anyway--just some thoughts for these figs.

I still have all my 40mm HLBS figs and assorted vehicles that will let me do bigger battles--but these are intriquing.

Lionsden did some 40k games using action figures:
link

Beware popups.

Fireteams are the best, unless you play outside where terrain is abundant.
I use world in arms, which is hybridized necromunda/mordheim/2nd edition 40k.

Oh yeah, 1/18th scale model cars rarely look good with 1/18 figures, seems 1/18th figures are much bigger than 1/18th!
I would use 90mm model figures instead.

OK, I opened up the packages and have examined the figures.

I like them. Here are some pros and cons.

Pros:
Ready painted and can be put onto the table out of the package.
poseable to create a bit of variety even with the same figure
Easily obtainable right now --just make a few trips to some Targets and some internet buys and a good force can be assembled.

Cons:
While articulated, still trying to create some shooting poses that convince me. I think it is the hands that dont really grip the weapon that is the culprit. I may have to explore swapping out hands.
Variety will need to be created by customizing and thus some additional labor needed.

Other than that--I am looking forward to creating a few limited forces.

I am going to assemble some taliban from 21st century eastern warriors and indiana jones figures --maybe about 14 fighters and two command (use sahara and indiana jones figs for them)

The JSOC forces.

A reinforced squad of "Rangers" as QRF assembeled from Bravo team and BBI. about 12 men [3 fireteams] (3 colored desert uniforms -early afghan era)

A fireteam of CIA/Paramilitary types from 21st century XD and BBI about 4 men

A CIA lone operator CALLSIGN: Lone Wolf BBI

Delta Fireteam from Bravo team 4 men (3 desert camo)

CIA SAD Night ops squad Codname: nighthawks BBI (black night bdus) 8 men 2 fireteams

I was going to also have some Seal fireteams (Bravo team) in the green jumpsuits and in black wetsuits. But I will pass for now and focus on the above for some limited ops.

Custer7th where are you going to play?

Backyardpatrol---

I will be playing with them in the chicago area.

I still have to acquire the items.

I figure I should be able to assemble the forces by mid October.

By using Ambush alley, I can field smaller units and tighten the action to get right into the fray.

With this size figure, I envision using one of the rooms at my office that is about 30 feet by 15 feet. it is pretty open so I can set up some styro buildings on the floor for an afghan village and use some tables for hills. With this scale, I can play on the floor and tables using the whole room (I will likely increase the distances in the rules by 4x (the tall bookcases can serve as a mountain top).

These figs are a bit bigger than my star wars hasbro unleashed, but not way too big--I think I can make it work.

When I do run the games, I will take plenty of pics and post an AAR. The game won't likely happen until around Late december (I may add this to my annual star wars gaming day and make a second day of gaming).

Cool man looking forward to it!

Backyardpatrol

in anticipation of my new size figures, have a gander at my other big figure games.

star wars figures are 3 inch hasbro unleashed figures

and the cavlary are 54mm (2.5 inch) figures

check out the link below for some links to my star wars clone wars battle this past christmas.

TMP link

and for a star wars tusken/rebel/imperial mix up a couple years back

TMP link

and a 54mm plains war game

TMP link

Ho man, those unleashed figures really work well! I really like the Tattoine board. Theres a place in my heart for sand troopers.
I chose instead 1/35th to do my sci-fi large scale games;
But there's always action figures…
Thinking of starting a site for large scale miniature games.

BTW if you wanna change up your Bravo team figs a great site is JoeCustoms.com

On this site here: cobratheinnersanctum.com
This guy uses the G.I. Joe figures to tell stories. He doesn't game with them, but instead uses them to tell comic book like stories. He does so by modifying the figures and more importantly, by building all of his own terrain.

The stories are pretty good, but I mention it here just as a resource for terrain ideas. He has a section on how stuff was made, links to suppliers in the right scale, and so on.

Thanks for the leads everyone--keep them coming.

I have found that as more people are moving into 15mm and 20mm--I am moving in the other direction.

I have lots of sci-fi and vietnam and pirates in 28mm. And tons of HLBS in 40mm. But I am inching up the scale with other projects like the treehouse kids Aliens and my 54mm French indian war and plains war and WWII items. Now these guys are going to be added to the mix.

Mind you, I still have a nice assortment of platic 1/72 Ceaser, revell, Italeiri modern figs and some bolley vehicles that I can use for some Ambush Alley Force on force. I also have lots of 6mm scifi stuff for dirtside (I love the Fasa renegade legion grav tanks and CMD future wars grav APCs and tanks.

But I am psyched about this limited collection.

I just spoke with one of my collegues at work and her little boy loves this stuff (I gave her the card from the figures so she can pick some up for her little guy)

So I think a few scenarios will be added and my annual post christmas gaming day has just been expanded into a two day event. First day star wars, second day historicals and moderns.

So, I take my wife to an appointment In Schaumburg, IL and have to kill 2 hours. Just down the street is a Target Greatland. So I pick up the other 2 Delta guys I need and a second of one of the guys. (just two more deltas from other local targets. I also pick up another two (1 of each 3 desert BDU) rangers. [ Just need 4 more (2 of each kind to finish off the two fireteams. (HQ fire team will be made up of some BBI figs. I also will pick up 2 BBI snipers for an attached Ranger sniper team.]

Then the fun starts--Clearance items i picked up. quantity two of Navy Seal Light Desert Patrol Vehicle in 1/18 scale by a company freedomopsnet.com. Also picked up by the same company a navy seal RTO (actual measure of fig is 4.5 but I will name him Ox and have him just be a really big seal. he is in desert BDU and boonie hat (choclate chip desert. (I will repaint him a bit to create a more motley appearance.

found 2 terminator salvation blake figure in 1/18 scale. I can use these with a little repaint as CIA/paramilitary types.

Also picked up a terminator flying hunter killer item--regular 20 bucks on sale for 5 bucks. (this will be for my 28mm terminator army)

The Navy seal desert vehicle seats 3 and comes with a grenade laucher, 50 cal MG and m60. I will use them as the Delta vehicles. it was 12 bucks down to 3 bucks.

The seal fig and terminator salvation blake figures were 1.74 each from 7 bucks regularly.

All in all some good finds.

I will finish off the ranger squad and delta squad at targets in the next few days.

I then will do some online buying for my CIA/SAD nighthawks unit, CIA paramilitary unit, Ranger HQ fireteam, and taliban.

might also pick up a couple of humvees for the rangers.