"Forged in Battle 15mm German Paras" Topic

Apart from Anatoli's Game Room, there doesnt seem to be a lot of noise on the net overall regarding Forged in Battle's 15mm WW2 infantry. So I thought I'd give up some opinions about FiB's new German Para Platoon link in order to provide help to those gamers like myself who might not be able to see them in the flesh before they buy.

The figures arrive in a sturdy sealed plastic blister. A plus point on their FoW brethren. Don't expect any TOE. This is NOT a German Fallschirmjager platoon – just 40 assorted German Paras. My blister contained 1 officer, 3 MP40/NCO's, 2 MG42 teams, 2 guys running with amo boxes and 30 assorted riflemen as seen in the photo below:

No cleaning of mould seams or flash of any kind was required. A major bonus. There's a few tabs left over from vents on the ends of weapons etc but these are easily removed. The figures' stands are small and several figs arrived with little islands of stand around each foot.

The German Paras are wearing the 3rd Pattern Fallschirmjager smock which puts them Mid-Late War and they very definitely have that Cassino to Ardennes feel about them. The smock has been captured very well, some worn closed round the leg, some loose.

FiB has also captured the essence of the distinctive German Para helmet. I particulary like the way some men wear it pushed back as seen in photos rather in some shop window display dummy fashion. Two poses have Fliegermutze side caps on the blister art (I only recieved one pose). Adds a bit of character to the unit, thoug I would have preferred the Einheitsfliegermutze or similar.

Kitwise, they are wearing belt order in the main, reducing the pain of painting messtins et al, but leaving plenty of room to paint splinter pattern camo!

The figures average 15mm to the eye. They fit in very nicely with Peter Pig and some FoW 8th Army I had to hand. The officer is smaller and tinier in stature than the rest which is disappointing.

Poses? Only one duff pose in the entire pack, but unfortunately I got 5 of the ! The NCOs/SMGs are full of character – great BIG Men! And I was surprised at how well the other poses worked and have a natural synergy when placed together on a base. Stylistically I find the figures closer to the Skytrex/Command Decision Fallschirmjager than anyone else's.

There's been some comment about FiB weapons. Not really noticable with the German Paras though the BARs on the US Paras were disappointing – but that's for another review. I feel they have missed a win by not including a Panzerfaust and maybe one or two late war weapons such as Stg44 or FG42.

There are no bases included. Fine for me as I rarely use the supplied bases in FoW blisters. If it means they can be cheaper as a result, so be it!

I bought these FiB for the Ardennes and they do the job. They have an Artizan Miniatures in 15mm feel to them. Overall I certainly prefer these Fallschirmjager to any of the others on the market. However, I am going to have to round them out, using Skytrex's Platoon HQ pack link

Final thoughts. I'm not sure who these figures are aimed at? Whilst certainly much cheaper than Flames of War or even Peter Pig, especially if you buy from Maelstrom Games, they need to be rounded out from other manufacturers selections to create even a basic late war platoon (1.5.44: 6 MGs and 9 SMGs). So the price creeps up, especially with the additional postage required. Even gamers who play more operational level rules generally like to have Panzerfausts and similar in the mix.

I wanted a pack of figures to use with Axis & Allies Miniatures rules in the first instance, and that's what I got. So, really nice minis, in my opinion let down by weapon mix and pack composition. To rectify this for other rules systems and even just to fill out a Late War Fallschrimjager Platoon means that cheap isnt really that cheap after all.

Cheers
Mark

Nice review! Which poses don't you like?

Thanks!

Poses. Second row, second from left (x5). The helmet is wrong, shoulders too skinny, just doesnt look right.

Cheers
Mark

Stylistically I find the figures closer to the Skytrex/Command Decision Fallschirmjager than anyone else's.

Not surprising, Russ of Old Glory has stated on TMP that they are sculpted by the same person.

Useful review, I generally like the look of FiB infantry, only have the Vickers MG pack so far and very happy with those. Somewhat annoying that you can't build units as yet with some e.g. lack of bazookas in any US pack and the odd silly error such as MG loaders on the wrong side (although these and the Vickers are correct AFAIK) Have to admit I did not notice this until it was pointed out on TMP!

Will probably get these to add some variety to the BF Company I have.

This is what I didn't like about FiB infantry to begin with. It's just 40 figures and no proper platoon composition to speak of. It's fine for Russian hordes, but not for everyone else.

Yet British packs provide 2" mortar and Piat so you can get a platoon from one pack. Other packs are ok when building forces for BFWWII and BKC but now I'm in to IABSM3 so need to get to 1:1 so mix and match is necessary. Happy to do that anyway so not too much of a problem.

Just got my 2 packs, like you a bit disappointed. I had plenty of that same guy you don't like, peering round a non-existent corner ( and looking like he's filled his pants!)
My 2 packsdid contain 4 prone MG42's, with a variation of 3 of one loader and one of another. My 2 guys lugging ammo boxes were acompanied by two guys carrying what look like MG34's at the trail. Some of my figures had mould line flash between the legs, where the 2 mould halves had been badly aligned. I didn't particularly like the representations of the MP40's, and I thought the officer was a little on the small side. These definately aren't as good as their early war figures.
Have you noticed none of their packs has any radio equipped troops, snipers, or men throwing grenades?
As an aside, I saw some of their Soviet SMG troops at Smoggycon and thought they looked by a different sculptor, over large and not appealing at all. I didn't buy any.

Thanks for the heads up Jarrovian. I was going to buy the Soviet SMGs as bulk fillers for Berlin games – saved me some disappointment there.

Strangely I did like the MP40 figures. But yes the officer is tiny and out of scale with the others.

I think my best bet is to stick to the tanks.

Cheers
Mark