"Bush Wars (Africa Stuff)" Topic

Hey everyone. A few months back I finished my third SAGA army, and by the end of this month my WW2 collection will be pretty well fleshed out, I'm looking to start my next project. I've always wanted to do an Imagi-Nations project set in Africa. Crap quality troops, old soviet tech, UN peacekeepers, the like. I find google fu is failing me and want to see what you guys think. So one question. What scale and what manufacturer? Honestly, I'm on the fence between 6 and 15. I already have plenty of 28s and really want to go small on this, because I want big battles. I know in 15s Peter Pig is pretty much the go to for this (thanks to ak47) and in 6 GHQ would cover me well. In short, what scale would you pick and why? What manufacturers do you use? I have no preference between 15 and 6 honestly, both should be big/small enough for what I want. What do you think?

AK47 Republic by Peter Pig is or at least was fairly popular and it's designed for 15mm miniatures, so you probably can't go wrong with that. 10mm (Pendraken & Minifigs) would look as good if not better, is cheaper, and allows for bigger battles, smaller battlefields, or more realistic ranges, whatever strikes your fancy :)
Of course, you could also go 20mm (Liberation Miniatures) or even 28mm for skirmish actions like the Rhosedian Bush War. It's a big continent with sadly a lot of bloodshed, so the possibilities are nearly limitless.

Yeah, 10mm might be a good compromise scale, and between them Pendraken and Minifigs should have all the kit you want. Minifigs do African militia (bareheaded folk with AKs) and a technical with HMG or recoilless rifle. Pendraken's new T55 looks good and their Argentine troops would do well as African regulars.

Personally I prefer 6mm as I'm strapped for space. I use Irregular moderns & WW2 for infantry as they've that, well, irregular look, and Skytrex (now owned by Heroics and Ros) for vehicles as their chunkier dimensions looks better with Irregular inf. This blogger has some nice examples of 6mm AK47 games:

link

Saying all that, if money and space are not limiting factors, I'd be tempted by 15mm Peter Pig as they do really nice stuff!

I'd go with 15mm for the ground war, since many forces can't afford, or don't have vehicles.

20mm might be an option, depending, too.

Any troops smaller than 15mm don't have a lot of character.

With 15s and larger, you can customize them with various paint schemes, etc., for a nice looking force.

Thanks all, that 6mm Ak stuff is nicely done fleabeard.

I think I'll take the best of both worlds and look further at 10mm, 6 is a small possibility still though

The Eureka 28mm stuff is gorgeous….but skirmish only.

How much terrain do you already have that is appropriate for Africa/Middle East? That's the scale I'd go with…

If you want a slightly different thought process, 3mm or 6mm is best for vehicle-centered games, but Africa doesn't strike me as vehicle-centered warfare. Not if you're talking real AFVs.

So I'd want something big enough that I can tell the difference between individual troopers. That's 15 or maybe 20mm (those magazine-fed SAWs like the RPK are hard to tell apart from their AK cousins at 15mm).

28mm is great if you're talking ~10 to 20 per side, maybe one vehicle. But events like Blackhawk Down have several times that many Peacekeepers, nevermind the thousands of ed-off local troops.

I just started a 20mm project similar to your idea. I have a 6x10 table to play on which gives me plenty of scope for big battles plus some terrain already in that scale so the choice was obvious. I would have liked to have done it in 28mm but my Vietnam project in that scale had me rethinking scales.

I am somewhat familiar with this topic, and may I recommend 10mm? I hope this helps:

10mm African Gov't Regulars, Pendraken.

10mm IRGC/Fedayeen/Basij-types, Minifigs.

Brits, Minifigs.

USMC, Minifigs.

Israelis, Minifigs.

LRRP-types, Minifigs.

Taliban types, Minifigs.

ME/N African regulars, Minifigs.

French Foreign Legion, Minifigs.

Insurgents, Minifigs.

More Gov't Regulars, Pendraken.

Spec Ops/Insurgents/Pirates/Cartel, Pendraken.

Paramilitaries/Elite Units, Minifigs

"Operators," Minfigs.

Brit Scimitars, Pendraken.

French Panhards, Pendraken.

HMMWVs, Minifigs.

LAVs, Minifigs.

M-113s, Pendraken w/Minifigs crew.

Technicals, Minifigs.

BTR-60s, Minifigs.

BMP-2s, Minifigs.

You can check out the blog at:
blackhawkhet.blogspot.com

V/R,
Jack

Wow Just Jack, pretty impressive stuff. To answer you guys' questions I have nothing in the way of terrain for this project. I have lots of NWE stuff in 28mm which I use for WW2 and SAGA. I'm looking for a "modern" theme now and don't particularly care for us vs terrorists type deal. I wanted to do something that's quick, easy, and good fun. Crap vs crap so to speak. I think I'm decided on 10s now. Will post an update in the coming weeks once I order some stuff! Thanks everyone!

Good to man, good luck, and glad to be of assistance. If you're looking at some troops and are not sure what's what, please ask and I'll let you know (for example, my ME/North African regulars, above, are a mix of Minifigs Arab Insurgents and North Vietnamese Army).

V/R,
Jack

Hi Ethan!!!!
And welcome to the refuge of third world hell-hole Imagi-Nations….

You've picked an interesting genre to get in. You can use all sorts of equipment, all sorts of quality troops, and have all sorts of terrain, so the possibilities are pretty much unlimited….(except for Arctic stuff).

Plus you can find yourself getting 'carried away"…

If you want to develop your own "Imagi-nation", please rest assured that there are plenty out there, and that "The National African Republic of Bongolesia" is ready to welcome and recognize your fair country….

Your creativity and imagination is the only thing (as well as finances, game space, and your missus), that can/will limit what you do.

I've included a link to a post I made on my country's blog 2 years ago, when i tried to get all of my stuff on a table…yeah right….

It's grown since then…but it gives you an idea of what I have….

link

Hope you enjoy the AK period whatever rules you choose. To give you an idea of the forces allowed in AK47 you can visit the PP website and download the army events sheets for free!

martin

If you need uniform info and vehicle info ,we have plenty of albums and links to take you where to what you need,our group plays a variety of rules in various scales. Imagi-nations are a blast . link

In 10mm how similar in similar in size/bulk are the minifigs/pendraken figures. They both look good but do they mix well within units? This is probably more critical for the vehicles though, could anyone point me to a side by side comparison? Thanks for the helpful post Jack.

I've now found this thread TMP link
where the question is pretty much answered.

Try this one. I have an older edition so I haven't looked at the new one yet. There are several scenario books too. On Military Matters sells it

1-204430 Martelle, Craig

MODERN AFRICA: Rules for Modern Skirmish Battles
Set of rules to fight/refight battles on the dark continent 1960's-1990's. The majority of these battles were smaller scale fought between warlords or other dictators. The arms were either leftovers from an earlier era, state-sponsor (US or USSR) supplied, or black market purchased. These are not the latest, greatest weaponry and they may not even be wielded by trained soldiers, but the goal was always freedom.

Sources: Books written and illustrated by Al Venter, South African journalist, reporting from
both CNN and BBC during the early to mid 90's in describing numerous actions throughout the
continent, but looked mainly at Somalia.

During the mid 90's, I was attached to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) observing actions of the Somali clans, conversations with people who had been there and my impressions of
what they saw. 1 vol, 36 pgs 2014 US, ON MILITARY MATTERS
NEW-softcover, available late February 2014 ……$15.00 rct

I have a 1 page homebrew set that originated from Peter Pig's PBI that is meant to be used with Peter Pig's AK-47 troops. It, like PBI, is played on a tabletop marked off into 4" squares (or hexes.) A fast fun game. If anyone wants a copy either e-mail me or get it from my Yahoo group "Warrior Kings". I also have a campaign game called "My African Country" that goes with it.

John Kelly
jpkellysr@gmail.com

Just wondering how easy is it to head swap the figures at 10mm? I have a couple of ideas in my head, was just wondering if its practical to do it.

Hi,
link

Modern IDF with Tavor rifle.

Jeff

Hi,
Just received some Modern figures from Mini Figs, waiting for some from Pendraken. Must say i'm impressed with the detail considering the scale.
What rules are best? I have AK47 V1, Modern Africa, B'Maso, Force on Force plus Bush Wars & Day of the Rangers, Skirmish Sangin plus Maalintii Rangers & Skirmish Afrika.
I plan to use the French and Brits as Peacekeeprs in some African country securing Western civis on a Sugar Cane Plantation or as a side scenario, helping the government, fight poachers in a National Park.

Irregular Miniatures have recently released some 10/12mm figures in their Modern Bush War range with more figures to be released in the future.

Jeff

My African Imagi-Nations are 6mm, works OK at Battalion level actions and up. Heres a write-up of one link

Just Jack, you have convinced me to go 10mm on my AK47 Republic project. I'll be starting with a Colonial Army. Just bought a bunch of Vietnam War Australians from Pendraken to convert.