"1/2400 Plastic ships" Topic

link

Seems like mongoose is considering detailed 1/2400 ships for their naval games.

I am interested, yet a bit skeptical. Mongoose does come off to me as the New Wizkids. Creates a new game dies a few months later.

But would be nice to see a plastic alternative out there. There is Panzerschiffe but the detail is very, very basic. Though it is cheap so you can have a large game without the black hole.

I love GHQ's detailed miniatures. Looking at the details on their website you would assume the ships were 4 or 5 times the size. But the ships are fragile and masts bend with little effort.

If mongoose could make plastic ships with half the detail of GHQ I might consider buying some.

Oh gingerbread balls.

Can't edit the title.

Resin, not injection-molded plastic of whatever flavor.

Been burned too often to jump right on this, but it'd be nice. I agree that GHQ ships are beautiful but fragile, so I'd like to replace my entire Japanese fleet.

GHQ and C in C are the two we've gone to the most, with the occasional Superior ship.

Wargame navies are somewhat like real ones if you work with metal. They take some lead time and financial planning, but the result is worth the effort.

We have almost all of the USN and IJN for the Pacific 1942-43, and most of the Kriegsmarine surface units. We need to work on the RN next, but it's so huge that planning is taking a while.

I agree Omemin.

When you have a large fleet filling the game table with GHQ's minis it really bring people in and go "Wow look at that"

Where as Panzerschiffe just gets a "Meh"

Both companies have their places IMO. It's just a matter of what flavor you like.

From what I read in the link, Mongoose will only be doing battleships with a limited number of cruisers.

I think this will only be of limited use to those wanting to fill in their fleets.

On Panzerschiffe--I've found that using the extra bits left over from the other manufacturers is useful in adding detail to these models.

I think your concerns are well-founded. Mongoose doesn't have a strong history in miniatures production or continuing support. However, there is a number of 1/2400 choices growing with the Shapeways system. I don't have any of them, but people seem satisfied.

I've had lots of positive responses to my USN / IJN Panzerschiffe models. Maybe it's my incredible skill as a painter…or maybe not. Most likely, at 1/2400 the detail doesn't make a big difference. Scratch build masts and most of what the eye needs to be satisfied is there. I use a dip that shades and hides things that look odd up close (that gun barrels can reach to the deck like a wall, for example). They are also a lot more durable than GHQ so one's ham-fisted friends don't bend something every time they touch the model. This is _especially true_ at conventions. I also paint the USN camo and such, and it looks good.

That being said, I'm still trying to make an excuse to get some GHQ and work on them. I'm thinking the WWI German East Asiatic Cruiser Squadron & Coronel / Falklands will do it as I just acquired Avalanche Press' game on same. I guess I'd only let my most careful gaming buddies handle them, and have to base them so the models don't need to be touched.

From what I read in the link, Mongoose will only be doing battleships with a limited number of cruisers.

Think you've misread it; that was in the bit about doing every *individual* ship, complete with any quirks of refitting and tertiary armament, as opposed to just "a Warspite class". They'll still be doing all the other stuff, but with "a Tribal class destroyer model" rather than 27 individual sculpts for HMS Afridi, Ashanti, Bedouin….

Dom,
after a slower read thru, it does appear that you are correct and that they are implying they will not be doing "individual" ships for each cruiser class. Mea Culpa.

However, their offering 1/2400 ships is still in the "consideration" stage and I did not see a definition of what they consider to be a "fleet"--i.e. if it includes DD's or other of the lighter ship types. I will say that the 3-d renderings of Hood and Bismark on their forum are stunning.

I think Panzershiffe looks great when painted by a really good painter. I collect in this scale, and I've only seen one painter of GHQ that has impressed me more than the beautifully painted Panzerschiffe done by one of my friends. At 1:2400 scale, I don't think that more than doubling the cost to get the huge increase in detail is a good idea, unless one is only doing some small campaign, such as the early war cruiser actions away from Europe.

If one is planning to do Jutland, and let large numbers of players handle the models at a game convention, using mostly Panzerschiffe, with a few Viking Forge, Molniya, C-in-C, and perhaps a couple of GHQ models, makes far more sense. I'm doing something like that, with C-in-C constituting the bulk of the fleets, but only because I got a good deal on a mass of C-in-C ships for less than the price of Panzerschiffe. If I was starting from scratch, I'd choose to use Panzerschiffe for most of the fleets.

Do Panzerschiffe have any UK stockists?

I have not found one yet – but they do supply the UK for orders over $40. USD His estimated delivery time is two weeks. I would really recommend using him direct – when an order of mine got lost in the post they were very helpful and replaced it (I should add – I have ordered many times from them without incident).

Richard
(Sheffield)

Are they any good Richard?

They are brilliant for what they are – and work brilliantly on the table with any other make.

Well you can see what you are getting from the pics on his website. I have got all my Turkish, Austrian and Italian ships from him as no one else does them. he also has a greater range of German and British cruisers.

Ok they are not GHQ, but their detail is only noticeable when you hold the ship up to your face (and GHQ are very good). But, when gaming all my ships whether, Panzerschiffe, CandC, Molniyafigs or GHQ all look like grey shapes on the table – there really is no discernible difference!

The one thing I would recommend is drilling holes and fixing masts to any non GHQ ships. A bit of florist wire (very cheap on ebay) gives the ship a whole new dimension. You only need the vertical mast, don't try doing the cross spar.

I would highly recommend

Rich

Rich, I was wondering what you use for the Masts, I've found that it's easy to impale your hand with must materials.

On the Mongoose, I sure hope they don't force you to buy the "set" and not the book separately. Starter kits are great for those needing a start, otherwise you often have a lot of extras.

The florist wire i use from ebay is:
250g 10"
auction
and 100g 7"
auction

There will be enough there to mast every fleet known to man during both world wars plus a few pike regiments. Very cheap, reliable stockist, doesn't tend to stab fingers (strong but flexible).

Of course you will need a pin vice (a tiny hand held drill) Games Workshop always have them in stock and a pair of wire cutters (GW or B&Q).

Hope that helps

Rich

I had to remove the metal wire masts from some of my C-in-C ships because I got tired of impaling my fingers. If I try to put masts on ships of this scale again I'm going to use some thin flexible bristles of some kind, perhaps plastic. That way I'll be able to get the look without the pain…