"Bolt Action Details / Miniatures" Topic

I want to get into WW2 gaming at the Section/Squad/Platoon level. Is Bolt Action the right ruleset for that?

Also, who makes the best looking 28mm WW2 figures (don't care about price)? And who has the best combination of best looking figures and completeness (more than just the big 4) of the line?

Thanks.
sky

I assume you mean a base is a section and a player commands one or more platoons?

Can't comment on figs…

Bolt Action and Disposable Heroes are both very credible options. Disposable heroes is more detailed – and a little longer to play. Bolt Action is a quick play. Both games produce results that feel right.

I am entirely promiscuous about my miniatures. I like both Artizan and Bolt Action. Bolt Action is somewhat more complete, except does not cover North Africa. For that you have Artizan or West Wind. Perry is working on plastic models for 8th Army and DAK. Brigade has the best Pacific ranges for Aussies, Japanese and USMC, though Bolt Action has Chindits.

TO my eye all the figures mix well together – Brigade's offerings are more slender, but the Hard Plastic will be more slender as well.

I don't have any of the plastic figures – ordered Americans and Germans in Spetember from FLGS and he has not gotten them in yet. I did get the Plastic Soldier Company Soviets, both the Infantry box and the heavy weapons. It is a great deal, though the minis are more of an Old Glory quality – fine for masses, but not pieces of art by themselves. I own many Old Glory and mix them on my table, the minis are workmanlike.

I recommend you also check out Victory Decision as an alternative. It has a bit more detail than Bolt action and is the rules are a cheap PDF. It is also a great deal of fun!

Lost Pict

What do you mean by section/squad/platoon?
Which theatre? Which time frame?

I like Artizan, Bolt Action, Black Tree Design, Foundry 28mm models. I tend to mix manufacturers and these companies – for the most part – mix well together.

For Pacific you would want Brigade Games and The Assault Group.

I mix Artizan and Bolt Action metals. Love 'em both.

I'm also a fan of DH. It's a bit detailed, but great once you get the hang of it. I'd love to try Bolt Action, however.

Maybe this winter…

Good luck and enjoy.

Frontline Command is the rule set we use:

link

It really depends on what you are looking for; for instance – Frontline Command WWII rules are more of a historical rule set, ranges, armor and such based on historical data. B.A. has more of a "Warhammer 40k" fell but very simple from what I have gathered from others post (I have never played or read and would suggest you read the many TMP reviews/links – pros and cons) and easy to understand.

As far as miniatures, I am with some here that I mix and match mine as well, I think there are strengths/weaknesses in all of the lines out there and would suggest you check them all out for your self. Go on the internet and type the various company names and then 28mm WWII and you will get a lot of examples of the miniatures in games and being painted and so on.

It is a great time to be into 28mm W.W.II

Hope that helps

How difficult are the Bolt action figures to assemble? Some plastic are easy but others not so much.

Someone actually posted about that too, did not like the experience (parts and time). I have not built those but the WGF ones and there a lot of parts, you can't beat the price though but they just take time.

However some like the plastics, many different options. I like them because I can make crew for my open-top vehicles and such.

Personally I would use the plastics for odds and ends but purchase the metal ones for my army, take more of a beating in transit and easier to get to the table.

BA and WGF plastics consist of the body, a separate head and arms, and with the Warlord plastics, a separate weapon. So if you've ever put together 40K minis, the Warlord ones are pretty much the same.

I like my BA plastic minis now that I've got them built. I'm still halfway through building US platoon and have zero Germans bought/built.

I said several not-nice-things while building them.
They are so detailed that it can be unhealthy :)
Nevertheless, breathing deeply, counting 10 and reminding yourself that you too can master modeling help.

My BA commandoes were a complete nightmare to put together. If you asked me if I'd do it again, I'd say no and buy Artizan.

However, I'm really delighted with the results now the job's done. I like the figs very much…

I'm totally sold on Disposable Heroes! I've played several differnt sets and DH is the most playable by far. I've played BA many times but find the rules rife with gimmicks that detract from the game.
As for the figures, BTD and Artizan are my favorites for ETO. The Pacific theater ranges from Brigade and TAG are really nice!
Enjoy!!!

Disposable Heroes is what i like, haven't played Bolt Action. Battle Honors, Artizan, Crusader, and the Bolt Action metal figs with a few West Wind and Black Tree thrown in the mix.

I like Artizan fiures, paint up nice, and I like Arc of Fire as a rule set.

I find that if you glue the weapon into the trigger hand before attaching to the shoulder they go together much easier. I wish the BA German Infantry box had more Kar98s (be careful those suckers break easy during assembly). I found that the faces were really well sculpted and that made painting them easier.

We played Bolt Action with late 1918 WW1 troops last night, 2 platoons a side with mortar and MG supports – worked quite well.

As to figures, we had a large range of various manufacturer's figures on the table – Eureka, Tiger, Tradition, Renegade, Gripping Beast, Brigade, Scarab – just get figures you like :-)

ARTIZAN #1

Personally I really don't like plastic minis and much prefer metal. Two reasons mainly, firstly I don't have much time to put them together, secondly though it's they just don't look as good as metal. Arms out at funny angles, awkward poses etc. Obviously a matter of taste of course…

Sorry guys, I DON'T like Artizan that much. They are OK (some of their minis to be fair are acrually very good…) but many of them are quite characateur-ish. Bolt Action minis are ranging from excellent to average at best, although their vehicles are excellent generally. Die Waffenkammer by JTFM are top of the line however for my money when it comes to vehicles. Here's a list of manufacturers for minis and vehicles, in no particular order;

Figures (28mm) – From UK and USA mostly
Westwind productions – westwindproductions.co.uk
Wargames Foundry – wargamesfoundry.com
Artizan Designs – artizandesigns.com
The Assault Group – theassaultgroup.com
Victory Force – victoryforce.com
Renegade Miniatures – link
Dixon Miniatures – dixon-minis.com/dixoncatalog … aintype=34
Crusader miniatures – crusaderminiatures.com
gorgon-studios.com/index.php … 406a28fafa
greatescapegames.co.uk/minia … ement.html
1stcorps.co.uk/online_shop/i … 19171e96c5
Warm Acre – warmacre.com
Offensive minatures – offensiveminiatures.com/#
eBob miniatures – ebobminiatures.com/index.htm (vehicels too)
Wargames Factory – link
Plastic soldier company – theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/i … cts_id=201

For fun some Nazi zombies (still WWII -ish)
East Riding miniatures – shop.eastridingminiatures.co.uk … 1966-p.asp
Studio miniatures – link
Darkson Designs – darksondesigns.com

For vehicles (28mm -1:48/50/56/60th scale)
Westwind productions – westwindproductions.co.uk
Army Group North – agnminiatures.com
S and S models – sandsmodels.com
Corgi vehicles – corgi.co.uk
Die Waffenkammer – diewaffenkammer.com
Frontline Games have 1/50 vehicles.
Blitzkrieg Miniatures have 1/48 vehicles.
verlindenonline.com/store/in … ath=54_162
Force of Arms – forceofarms.co.uk
Brigade games – brigadegames.com

Have a gander at these websites and come back with any Q&A you have,, there's almost too much to suggest but get a feel for what you like the look of and go from there.

As for games systems are you more history orientated or 'just want a fun game'? This will probably help you decide which game to settle down to ultimately. Personally I am all about the history, and the more I read the more I go that way. However if you just want a blast and don't mind if the game cuts corners then that will mean a different system for you.

Hope that helps! :)

My favourite rules are Bolt Action. they are "fun".

Most 28mm metal WW2 figures match up fairly well against each other.

Most plastics are quite a bit "slighter" than most metals.

I also use figures from a number of the manufacturers listed above. All have their strengths.

HATE Black Tree design metal vehicles. Avoid like the plague.

If gluing plastics use a proper modelling plastic glue, not super glue etc.

Andy

boltaction.net

Check out the Bolt action/WWPD web site. It has fig reviews and a lot of info on BA, game, Rules, AARs etc..

SFC Retired

You may also wish to look at: I Ain't Been Shot Mum!

Plastic Soldier Company: good assortment for a good price.

I haven't played their games, but Troops, Weapons & Tactics (TW&T) by Too Fat Lardies (TFL) is for more of a platoon sized game isn't it? I Aint Been Shot Mum fron the same chaps is a larger scaled (company and up?) level from what I can gather, can anyone clafiry? From what I've heard both are fun games and well done. I've not heard much bad said about these systems to be honest.

Oh, also I would say Andy (CptKremmen) is correct in his comments, none more so than the advice to stay away from Blacktree Designs' lead vehicles. Their minis are reasonable to good and they have a wide selcetion with sales and deals on quite regularly.

However their vehicels are a nightmare to put together and take a lot of work (drilling, filing, filling in…) to look like the business (they will look good, just takes an awful lot) You'd be better spending a bit more or the same amount on some nicely cast resin vehicles (and now some plastic kits too) and have a model that is made in under 15mins, at the right scale and looks better for less effort.

Have you decided what 'flavour' of game you would want? (more historically orientated or more quick play and fast results?)

Ark

For really nice figures the Perry's Afrika Korps and 8th Army look the ticket if you are thinking or contemplating Africa .They will also be useable for Italy as well with some modifications.

The drawback is that they havn't been released yet.

Do not over look The Assault Group figures. Very good detail and they seem to be easy to paint.

Another credit for Crusader, don't forget Brigade Games

Westwind vehicles are way too small and scale better with Valiant WW2 stuff.