"Looking to start in toy wargaming" Topic

I'm looking to start toy wargaming with metal miniatures, I already have a small collection of soldiers (some sepoys, WWI soldiers, napoleanics, a cannon) nothing much just maybe 15-20 soldiers in all, but it has gotten me interested in toy wargaming. I've always been interested in colonial wargaming, i.e. British Empire vs. the evil German Empire. I've been particularly inspired by General Tremmorden Reddering and his experiences in the hazardous sub continent. I guess my question is where to start? I have experience painting 1/72 scale figures so I'm pretty sure that I can handle bigger ones. Is 54mm the only way to go? I've been eyeing those 42mm british and zulus from Irregular. I don't have unlimited space or a massive budget, so I like the idea of 42mm because I could have a pretty good skirmish within a reasonable space as well as have more actual figures for either a big mix of figures or enough for some larger engagements.

Sorry about the tome, but my basic questions are, which scale 54mm or 42mm, where to go for figures, and basically what's the best way to get started in toy wargaming with colonials.

P.S. I don't know who the author of the ruleset "Edwardian Splendour" is, but he is my hero! I clicked on a link from the website miniaturewargaming.com, and I'm now entranced by images of lead redcoats firing off volleys at the pointy helmeted hun!

Just to clarify, the small collection I have now is obviously off limits for wargaming, the soldiers are nothing special, but still pretty valuable and they're antiques.

Try looking here:
link

or here:
link

If I decided to go with 42mm, would I be choosing an uncommon scale? I want to make sure that I would be able to find opponents, although I guess that if I got plenty of figures I could field two sides… actually that seems to make sense because I want to have both imperial british troops as well as some germans ( I could use Irregular's prussians). Does anybody game 42mm toy soldiers, and have any information about them, as well as any resources about 54mm colonial soldiers? I understand that Britains used to make 42mm soldiers so they can't be that uncommon?

42mm s not a wldly popular scale. Check out the 54mm Colonials here:

armiesinplastic.com

There is also 25/28mm scale. 'm mnot sure if you want to go that small though. Loads of options n that scale.

Thanks,

John

I think that 54mm is the most popular for this sort of gaming, and would be much easier to find.

I myself bought some 54mm toy soldier molds and cast all I (and a couple other people) need.

What is the availability if I wanted to cast my own soldiers? I mean how many different soldiers are available, are there any colonial soldiers, how hard is it, can I get molds in the US?

A few guys have been gaming the French & Indian War using John Jenkins Designs figures. They measure 60mm. Of course, to field two sides can be expensive, even if you're doing it in skirmish formation. The great thing about these guys is that they're fully painted.

My interest in the Battle on Snowshoes led to me creating a line of 28mm figures. We're still working on the Roger's Rangers, but all the French Marines are coming out this month. At this size, you can do the entire battle in 1:1. We'll eventually do Native Americans, Canadian Militia, Highlanders, etc.

The downside to our figs is that they're not painted, however, there are various painting services that you can use to complete them.

I think the best thing to do is pick your period of interest, and then the best scale for the type of game you want.

Steve
Cavalcade Wargames
cavalcadewargames.com

For molds check out:
dutkins.com
dunken.com

Both have some great stuff. Both are here in the USA. Dutkins probably has more of what your looking for. I have not yet ordered any of their molds, money keeps getting tied up in other things. But one of these days…
I have the "Traditional Toy Soldier" and the "Color Guard" from Dunkens, which is actually an importer of the molds from Prince August. Between the two sets I have 4 differant head options, marching and standing poses, and several arm options. I have made three differant fictional Toy Soldier Armies from them.
Metal does tend to get pretty costly (it weighs alot!).

You can get the Armies in Plastic WW1 stuff from Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon (usually about every other week). I wrote their corporate people and asked them to expand what they carried and they are considering it.

I would also suggest checking:

michtoy.com
toysoldiersdepot.com
cannon-mania.com
hobbybunker.com

If Hobby Lobby started carrying a bunch of AIP's stuff I may get into trouble!

I recommend you join the Little Wars Yahoo group. It is made up of enthusiasts who enjoy gaming in 42mm and 54mm, and you can find a lot of help and answers there.

link

I think you will find more product at a cheaper price in 54mm instead of 42mm. If you are collecting both sides (as most of us do)you can game with 42s, I just think it is a more limited range and not likely to be expanded on by other manufacturers.

Well I know that the period I want to start is colonials. I'm not going to be too historically accurate but I would like to be able to game several of the following scenarios: Afghanistan/Northern Frontier, Indian Mutiny, Africa/Jungle, Dervishes/Sudan etc.

I'm mainly looking at skirmish type wargaming, 30-50 figures max for each side in any given scenario. Mainly I want to have the classic british army figures, some French foreign legion, prussians (ask general tremmorden reddering), indian sepoys, zulus, boers, dervishes, boxers, afghan tribesmen. Obviously I'm not going to have any large quantities of any single group, maybe 20-30 figures in each category.

I know how to, and have, painted large quantities of 1/72 and 15mm figures in the past, and I actually enjoy painting figures. I am going to paint these figures in a "toy soldier" style, bright colors, stylized, that kind of thing.

So what I'm trying to decide, is between the two scales, 54mm and 42mm.

Home casting is right now not possible. In the future I may be able to look at that, but now it's impractical. I am extremely attracted to 42mm for several reasons. 1) Irregular miniatures has almost all of the figures I want 2) 42mm miniatures are smaller as well as cheaper, allowing me to have larger scenarios as well as have a larger range of figures

The big advantage that 54mm does seem to have is that there is a larger selection of figures in metal, as well as options in plastic. In particular, Armies in Plastic have a huge range of 54mm colonials, meaning that I could use these figures to provide auxiliaries and specialists for my "main" armies. For example, I could have metal british, germans, sepoys, and zulus, and then have many different options for various natives, artillery, bluecoats etc.

Are there any 42mm plastic toy soldiers similar to the Armies in Plastic series?

I know I have a lot of questions, so thank you for the information and for any answers!

No 42mm plastic that I am aware of. May I suggest that you buy a few of each (the AiP boxes are pretty cheap)and see if that helps you make up your mind.

Have a look at our 42mm shiny toy soldier range representing the mid European theatres. Latin America for mid 19th century also available shortly.

Peter at Spencer Smith Miniatures

Shiny Toy Soldiers are great. In fact, irrisistable. BUT, as someone who wants to collect, but doesn't know a great deal about the different nations and their uniforms, Has someone, somewhere done a breakdown list of the different bodies, heads etc. and which combination goes with which country??

I know I sound lazy, but I really haven't a clue, and I'm sure there's someone out there with the knowledge to help us out.

If so, I for one would be grateful, as there is such a long list to choose from. And I'm sure many other potential collectors would welcome it.

Best Wishes Davejl

I game with traditional gloss 54mm toy soldiers in the Zulu War period. The link below is what I use and works well small numbers of figures.

Happy Gaming,

Dave

link

Davejl –

If you decide to go with metal 54's, I recommend you take a look at Dorset Soldiers.

link

Giles has been running Dorset Soldiers almost as long as I've been running around this planet… He is one of the most helpful chaps I've ever encountered in this caper. If you tell him what uniform or army you're hoping to reproduce, he'll tell you which figure/arm/weapon etc combination you'll need.

Giles even offers to drill and pin conversions for customers for a fee.

In Funny Little Wars terms, he's a better sort of chap!