"We REALLY need some 25/28mm American football players!" Topic

The Hall of Fame Game, played in Canton, Ohio Sunday evening, puts us on the doorstep to the preseason of the NFL. If anyone saw it, you noticed the uniforms of the two teams that played, the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans:

link

picture

This year, the NFL will recognize the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the American Football League, whereby the league's original eight teams will play selected games in their original 1960 season uniforms:

link

Years ago, Tabletop Games produced a range of 25mm football figures and a ruleset for their game Gridiron Heroes. Sadly, no one knows where the molds for the figures went, so why not a company step up to the plate (so to speak) and produce a range of 25/28mm American football miniatures? Eureka Miniatures offers 25mm soccer players, and Reviresco makes 25mm baseball players. It's about time the great American game of football be represented on the wargaming tabletop!

Man! I wish I could sculpt.

They may be the Titans, but they're wearing Houston Oiler jerseys.

How many sculpts would you need?

OFFENSE
Center
Lineman
Receiver
Running back
QB
(maybe) Tight end

DEFENSE
Lineman
Linebacker
Defensive back

SPECIAL TEAMS
FG Kicker
Punter

That's what, 11 sculpts?

Maybe 22 if you add some different poses (QB under center or shotgun for example, receive running or catching).

You could use the same head for every fig and just add a few wire worth of face guard…

Oh! I thought this was about MLS, or perhaps the USL.

I am going to second this plea for 25/28mm American Football players!

I agree wholeheartedly with Saginaw here on this one. It would be awesome to have someone put out some football players in this size.

I wish I could scuplt too!

I have searched the net for these types of miniatures and the only thing I can find are the old electric football figures. I did see last year around Christmas time that McFarlane Toys put out some NFL figures that were about 40mm size wise. I almost bought them but they only seemed to come in Offenseive poses/positions….no Defensive poses. So I passed on getting them.

Check out a cake decoration store for some plastic figs. I suspect these could be converted to what is needed.

Down lineman
standing -- running O and D back/ end
QB throwing a pass (or use above)

Jack Scruby made american football players back in the 1970's. Are those molds still available?

We really need 28mm cricket players (not the zombie hunter types…).

What are you gunna do with them?

Don't forget the 28mm paint ballers from EBOB…

Mark, that would be my count, too. What about the figures being cast without heads? Fitting separate, standard designed heads onto the bodies could at least give the appearance of different kinds of players in different positions. Also, football uniforms haven't really changed in the last 50 years or so, so at 25/28mm, there won't be a noticable difference. One figure could be pained up to represent a 2009 Dallas Cowboys player or a 1960 Denver Broncos player, as examples.

Thanks for your support, Markus68! Nice to know others have the same thought.

Here's a start.
link

Hey, why not in 15mm?

Nice find, Ed. 15mm? Sure, why not, but only if you include your cute lil' model, if and when you release them.

We really need 28mm cricket players

I'm pretty sure I have a bunch of figures of civilians standing around doing nothing somewhere…

Seriously though, aside from batsman and wicket keeper, there'd be nothing particularly "special" about the players. It shouldn't bee too hard to find suitably adaptable civilian figs.

As for the main topic, some fantasy nerd has to pitch using a human BB team. Might as well be me.

What? Maybe if Vince McMahon revives the XFL with juiced-up wrestlers in more spectacular gear…

no one will 'probably' not do them because people wont buy them, or enough people that is.

See if this link still works:

footballfigures.com

I've a feeling a load of people will say how much they need them made but then not actually buy them…

Sorry, UltraOrk. Nuthin' there.

but then what do we do for rules?

I think Ed will have some ideas for rules.

Eureka 100 Club?

It would only be about $55 USD for 2 11-man teams.

I'd be in!

What about these?

link

They are dual role, could be used as Basketball Players as well.

I would buy a set just to paint.

I actually bought two sets of Battleball one to play and one to convert. I thought then, if they looked like regular football players and the rules were tweaked slightly this game would sell like crazy.

Good heavens, can you imagine what the usual 28mm suspects will do with heads that are encased in a football helmet? <shudder>
--
Tim

Sure, why not, but only if you include your cute lil' model, if and when you release them.

FYI – Carolee is doing another photo shoot for THW

Ed – YAY!

Spooner6, thanks for the link. If anything, I'd probably use them as referees (seriously!).

UltraOrk, I believe I found the site you were trying to link to:

footballfigure.net

Interesting figures, but as I'm browsing through their description of the figures, they seem to be a tad larger than 28mm – more like "heroic 28s". Still, I'll inquire about them to get some more information. Thanks!

What about these?

link

They are dual role, could be used as Basketball Players as well.

Harsh dude. Yeah, if it weren't for one of those guys the Ravens would've won another SB a few years back.

Yes, it seems that Eureka 100 club would be the way to go, since it implies a sort of committment.
Ditto the Wargames Factory "Libery and Union League".

I have a vague interest, up to the point of "Hey, look at these!" as I am walking out of the Dealer's area on Sunday morning with money left in my pocket. BUT, not enough to commit myself.

I think we would also need helmet and jersey number decals.

Do they still make those old vibrating metal field football games? If you can pick those up they came with plastic players in authetic NFL unis. I don't remember the scale but they seemed a bit bigger than HO.

Gotta be some of those around on ebay or garage sales.

Found a link to some of the players. These are already painted but there should be some unpainted ones around.

auction

That's the link!

dot com
dot net
dot org

grrrr!

I have four football teams I bought from the site Saginaw mentioned. I have Alabama, Auburn, Green Bay, and one not painted. Can't decide between Chicago or Minnesota.

Now I need rules!!!!

Great, Lost Wolf! So, what's your professional opinion? Do they measure up as 28mm figures, or do they appear to be taller? Thanks!

I think the figures at footballfigure.net might be a little taller than 28mm…..but not too bad. These figures are made out of a soft plastic….easy to customize poses by applying heat and bending or cutting and re-gluing! The classic '67 big man style figures offered by Miggle.com would probably be closer to 28mm, but they are hard plastic. Also, check out Buzzball. Their figures have arms that are attached by a ball/socket joint….very tight fit, but can be pulled off and reposed. Buzzball plastic bends pretty easily too. Lots of stuff on the web about customizing these figures….check out miniaturefootball.org and go to the forum there. There are some new figures out by Dewayne Jennings that are unbelievably detailed. Pricey though, since the molds must have been expensive and electric football is a niche hobby.