| Patonius | 02 Dec 2012 5:49 a.m. PST |
Are the minis suitable for Normandy, or are they clothed up for the Ardennes only? |
| Archeopteryx | 02 Dec 2012 6:01 a.m. PST |
Both Peter Pig and Battlefront make US Airborne suitable for Normandy (and no doubt many others!) – in fact the hype around Ardennes is because Battlefront/FoW are releasing a scenario book for that battle just now, but a preious book covered the airborne assaults in Normandy (D-1, I think?)… Just bought a load of Peter Pig germans and they are great minis – I'm sure the US are the same… peterpig.co.uk/us.htm Website is a museum piece and probably needs a prservation order slapped on it, but dont be fooled, service and product are excellent.. |
| Patonius | 02 Dec 2012 6:08 a.m. PST |
Just curious whether the above code, released by Battlefront, would be suitable for Normandy, or whether the minis are specifically for the Ardennes. Cheers Darren |
| Archeopteryx | 02 Dec 2012 6:28 a.m. PST |
I just took a look, the minis themseves should be ok, not a lot changed in terms of uniform and equipment – I'm not sure about the special rules, though – although why not if your opponent is happy aboput it? |
| vforvictory | 02 Dec 2012 8:14 a.m. PST |
Some are depicted in great coats and all should in theory be wearing the M1943 field jacket and trousers with airborne embellishments. However, at 15mm the differences between that and the M1942 Parachute jacket and trousers is really just the colour you paint them. Indeed some of the figures are actually standard Para figures that started life in the D-1 range. I'm painting them all up in tan and using them as character/NCO figures for Italy and Southern France. Rather than 506 they are going to be Gingerbread men of the 509 PIB. A battalion with an incredible combat record. Geronimo! |
| War Panda | 02 Dec 2012 9:46 a.m. PST |
I agree Peter Pig German's are fantastic and I love the fact that you have a choice of what body positions/weapons you can buy…great if you're wanting variety or a certain balance to your troops …and they mix perfect with BF if desired… Should definitely check out their website…also great ww2 accessories available that I just received in the post…nice if your like me and enjoy adding a little detail to your normandy games…I agree about their service …they post very reasonable to Canada and gets here super quick (not sure how they do that but it gets here faster than anyone else… I ordered their US paras also and they're very nicely modelled…maybe smaller than BF?… but nobody has pointed them out on my stands and I have them mixed… |
| kevanG | 02 Dec 2012 2:29 p.m. PST |
"I'm painting them all up in tan" Yep, I can think of at least two online websites that tell you 'authoritively' that sand, or beige or tan is the correct colour…and one even warns about other websites painting guides suggesting 'green' are wrong. Here are a couple of examples of wargamers getting it a bit wrong….. link PDF link Here is a photographic illustrator doing the same…with cheap renactment gear. link Here is how a uniform manufacturer for the reenactor market deals with the above wargamery misinformation…Be warned, He isn't gentle. link I would note that the BF painting guides suggest shades of olive drab for both early and late uniforms. Here are pictures of the early and late renactor uniforms Early
Late
|
| War Panda | 02 Dec 2012 3:17 p.m. PST |
kevanG's last link is hilarious |
| Archeopteryx | 02 Dec 2012 4:28 p.m. PST |
Hehe, great link… I always worry about absolutists in life as well as wargaming – "there is only one uniform that is correct" etc. As a retired naval officer, I can confirm that you hang onto what you like, discard what you don't, pick up stuff that's cool and it all gets covered in crap anyway… Of course good research is essential and one of the great parts of all of this, but on the table its about creating interesting and lively units that evoke the spirit of the time they represent, and if that takes a bit of artistic licence, well interesting and lively units usually had plenty of that! |
| DuckanCover | 02 Dec 2012 10:51 p.m. PST |
I'm certain a link was posted on a topic in TMP to a manufacturer of WWII German reproduction uniforms, when similar issues were raised about the accuracy of their uniform colors. That manufacturer wrote a rebuttal for the reenactor uniformistas which was similarly acid in it's tone. Classic! Duck |
| The Gonk | 03 Dec 2012 8:55 a.m. PST |
>kevanG I'll have you know, I am taking into effect atmospheric-based color lightening, treating the small scale as figured viewed from a great distance.  Thanks for the link, glad to know, but I shall live with my imperfections rather than repaint!! |
| Bandit | 03 Dec 2012 2:19 p.m. PST |
Patonius, Mostly I'd say they'd work during both campaigns for the same reasons others say. The US887 isn't a platoon itself but the "special stands" that can be added to an existing PIR for use with the Nuts! rule book. I concur with most of what other people are saying about the uniforms for whatever another opinion matters. The early uniform was a very funny color, looked more tan and sandy when standing against a light background, more green when standing against a green background. That said, next to the late uniform the early uniform *looks tan* in comparison. The late one is a deep enough (dark enough?) green that it looks green always. Cheers, The Bandit |
