"Why are WW1 Serbs neglected by manufacturers?" Topic

With the 100th Anniversary of WW1 arriving and all of the outstanding WW1 miniature figure makers out there, I'm wondering why there is so little interest in offering Serbs.

Other than very slim offerings from HaT (1//72 plastic), Old Glory 25s (25mm), and Battle Honors (28mm) – all of which are quite dated now, it seems manufacturers have no interest. I believe the pickings are even slimmer for Romanians, not to mention Greeks.

Just wondering … and also issuing a plea to any manufacturers out there who are looking for a new release timed with the 100th anniversary om 2014.

Perhaps manufacturers have decided from sales of the three "dated" ranges you mention that they would not sell.

It's a business, not a charity.

Eureka makes 15mm Serbs.

Irregular makes 15mm Serbs and Greeks.

Tiger Miniatures makes 25/28mm Serbs and Greeks.

Pendraken do them in 10mm

IT Miniatures – now Frontline – do them in 20mm as do Tumbling Dice.

Because, no offense, they are an obscure part of a war that isn't really that popular of a subject for gaming.

I'm pleasantly surprised there are so many lines available already.

Eureka does 15mm Serbians, but I'm not a fan of those particular sculpts. I was hoping Peter Pig would do them, but they replied to my email that they are really far off in the production line.

Alpha Cast was the only 15mm figures for Romanians, but the owner died and the wife hasn't continued the business. If they ever come out again I'm buying a bunch of them, before they disappear again.

When FoW branches out to WWI (and I predict they just might at some point) you will see more attention to the period.

I tend to prefer 10mm for the period but then again, I don't do ground troops for the period and my bias is because I love 1/144th scale planes for WWI.

A question; do you do large battles or are you doing more company/battalion level games? My assumptions for the period have always been you need a huge amount of figures?

I may actually have some interest in the period (ground combat that is). I have an ancestor (probably great grandfather or granduncle) that was a colonel on the Allied/Italian side. He lost while in command at some battle! lol I don't know if I will ever have interest in mass battles or trench warfare though….

I prefer larger battles where each infantry unit is a battalion or company.

Sorry you don't like our Serbs, but I thought I would mention that we have Greeks as well – we hope to add them to the web site soon. If you would like more information before then, contact us at Eureka.

Nic Eureka Miniatures

I'll be watching for the Greeks, Nic!

The Salonika Campaign certainly gives you a chance to field a variety of different uniforms, since so many of the allies participated in the campaign.

Grelber

Thanks for the info on Tiger Miniatures. I was unaware of their rather substantial offerings and that they had a U.S. supplier.

Anyone know how these match up with other 25/28mm figures? Are they on the bigger size, or smaller end of the scale?

Thanks!

Don

I think they are more 28 than 25. If you drop Recreational Conflict a line I am sure they can let you know for sure. (They have called my name many times but I have always been able to resist.)

Well, the Balkan Campaigns may be obscure and unpopular, but they are where WWI started!

Well, the Balkan Campaigns may be obscure and unpopular, but they are where WWI started!

Quite true. But, as John accurately states, that fact won't sell figures.

@ Bowman;

Maybe.Maybe not. Perhaps for the centenary. Besides there are always some folk who prefer the more esoteric theatres of the war. The Western Front can get pretty boring! Serbs and Montenegrins vs. Austrians in the early war uniforms would be fairly interesting! I might even start some in 20mm. Won't be ready for the centenary, I'm afraid!

Give Old Glory a shout. At Cold Wars I was told by one of their employees that they have more esoteric forces available for WW1. An individual had commissioned them and they have some for sale. I forgot which nationalities were involved, there may have been Greeks. I don't know why they are not included in their catalogue.

Bowman, that's news to me. I've been told by Old Glory that they are presently concentrating on the expansion of their 18mm Blue Moon series only.

I'd love to see them fill some of the holes that presently exist in their 25mm 'Trench Wars' line.

My favorites thus far are the Alphacast figures. They were nicely cast, good detail, great animation. But, I have also seen the Eureka figures and Peter Pig's Austrians are excellent.

To push Serbs more to the forefront, what is needed is an excellent book on the opening months in Serbia, written in English, to go along with a wargamer's guide and perhaps a scenario booklet. If those things were readily available, you would see increased sales since gamers would have easy access to build their armies and have scenarios ready to use.

Just started my balkan war range I am going for the pre ww1 period but I am sure a lot of uniforms cross over into later period. I have started with the Turks but the Serbians will be started in the next couple of months. Lancerminiatures.com