"RAFM 15mm Sci-Fi Vehicles Available" Topic

From my blog:

After doing some searching on the good ole world wide web, I had come across a few references to some grav tanks and APCs that RAFM used to offer on their website within the last few years. I believe, based on what I can gather, these are old Martian Metal vehicles, which, if true, amazes me considering how poorly the Striker (Traveller) Martian Metal infantry looked.

RAFM pulled these vehicles because many gamers thought the costs to be too high and they were getting some negative PR. However, I asked about the availibility of these vehicles on the RAFM forum recently, and Smiley, RAFM person extraordinaire, has made these castings available again to the 15mm sci-fi community.

One can buy a grav tank, a four vehicle grav tank platoon, a grav skiff, a grav APC, and a grav APC interior. Prices range from $5.95 for the APC interior to $80.00 for the grav tank platoon. The APC interior appears to be a resin casting.

Now, in an effort to not be accused of being a sock puppet, I do agree that these vehicles are rather expensive, about twice as costly (or more) than comparible resin offerings from other companies. But, these are also some fairly large pieces of metal, and to be honest, the grav tank design is rather kick butt and fits to my thinking what a high tech level grav tank should look like.

So, perhaps wait for a sale to save a few bucks, or bite the bullet and buy a few at full price. The more sales we generate for RAFM the more likely they are to expand upon their offerings.

I've been tempted several times.

If they cast them in RESIN to lower prices I bet they would get more hits.

Ok, I have the tank in Lead, and judging by that these where miniatures to do combat with.

The Grav Skiff, is just the bottom hull of the tank.

I don't have the APC, but as I recall it is pretty much the same size as the Tank.

These are great in that classic Traveller era miniature sorta way. But if I where going to build a a Tank force with this look I would look seriously at Ground Zero Games Advanced Grav Tank and APC line.

Now Note the character figures are still considered the standard that the rest of 15mm Science Fiction figures are judged by.

I have to say I'd probably go GZG – the cost of one of their big advanced grav vehicles is comparable to RAFM (ignoring the issue of trans-Atlantic postage). But with the best will in the world the original design of the RAFM kits is over two decades old now. Frankly I prefer resin (with or without metal fittings) or plastic for big vehicles these days.

The figures are still brilliant though!

Just so you know, there are 4 tanks or APC's to a platoon, or at least used to be (best to check with the seller just to reconfirm, to avoid disappointment, if things have changed).

Not bad. It's always nice to have more options available, even if they don't match up to the standard we get these days from GZG and John Bear Ross' sculpts.

How do these compare size-wise with figures? I've never seen these in the flesh (obviously, since they're almost as old as I am).

-Chris K.

The tank is a big hulking monster. I mean…its BIG. You see that thing coming, you know you are in a world of hurt.

I've seen smaller 15mm buildings.

well whatever is in that photo is UGLY, and not well sculpted – is the rest of the range as bad?

The sculpting is actually not bad, especially considering its age. All that flat surface and sharp line work was otherwise untouchable by the industry, and long, thin pieces still give some production casters fits, if the BFG debacle at GW a decade ago is any indication. That looks like a bare metal picture, and shows parts with casting temperature variations. Makes it look worse than it is.

The style of this model is a bit dated, though.

My big question would be how well does it go together? Its one thing paying that kind of money it goes together crisply another if you have spend several evenings gap filling…

Dude, you see the 4 pieces of the model in the picture. Main Hull, Roof/Turret Ring, Turret and Weapon. Thats it… Well you might get the control console and a chair, but they are internal… All the parts fit well.

Beautiful tanks but they're like 3 times the price as most other companies offerings. I'll be honest… I'd snatch them up in a second if they would remold some of the tank in resin, but at those prices I simply can't justify it o myself.

they're like 3 times the price

Because its three times the size. That thing is roughly two inches wide.

@Farstar

It's also solid pewter. They should really try reducing the amount of pewter used. It's a wonderful piece but even by the standards of REALLY BIG tanks like the Khurasan Siler Heavy Tank, its still half again more. I just think they need to cut down the amount of pewter in the cast by recasting the hull in resin.