"Advice sought for what models to buy" Topic

I was just researching so models to buy when I had a thought of instead of looking at the available companies websites, I should ask for advice here as people are very helpful and I would also get brief honest reviews as well as information as to what is available.

So, I am looking to round out an early war German force with some vehicles. I am very much at the 'wargame' rather than 'modelling' end of the market but the way. Easy build rather than 130 pieces, cheap is better than expensive and I can live with a few flaws in the models as long as it isn't anything to glaring.

Some of the models I am pretty sure I know what I want to buy but though i Would put up everything just in case there is something I do not know.

So any recommendations on

Pz 1
Pz 2
Early war Pz IVs with the short gun.
Either and/or the 35 or 38 Skodas.
Ealry war A/Cs – sidkafizz 222s 231s – any other that look particularly cool that I should get?
37mm and 50mm at guns – and tractors
88mm flak and tractors?
Early War 1/2 tracks
Opel Blitz
Motorbikes and motorbikes with sidecar
Any other general vehicles / trucks / these are decent models and it would not harm to have a few as the turn up loads in German TO&Es?

Cheers in advance

Nearly every thing you want can be purchased from the 20mmZone (former Skytrex) or its sister companies Early War Miniatures & Shellhole Scenics
Ian ( 20mmZone & ShellHole)

Battlefront will have just about everything on your list and you can flesh out with plastics if you want

I like Frontline for robust and inexpensive resin 20mm vehicles, good early war coverage.

frontlinewargaming.co.uk

Check out Hat Industries and Armourfast.

Second the Frontline option for value for money, my 'Blitzkrieg/Barbarossa' collection of German armour mirrors your list and is mostly Frontline resin with some Matchbox 232's too, artillery from Hat and Minimi too ( they also do some more resin vehicles that are suitable- French trucks and Stug spg's-early version etc)

If you want 1/72 scale plastic kits that are easy build I recommend S-Model kits. They come two identical kits to a box and at a decent price. S-Model has been focusing on Early War subjects, and for the Germans you can specifically get the following:

Panzer I
Panzer II
Kfz 13

Pegasus Hobbies makes a German Army truck and the Panzer 38(t), again in the two kits to a box fast build format.

ArmourFast makes a Panzer IV Auf. F with the short 75mm gun and a Sdkfz 251 halftrack, so between the three sources you've got the necessary models to put together an early war German kampfgruppe fairly quickly.

Hope this helps!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

First port of call for me would be Plastic Soldier Company – they also have the Minairons and S model stuff. The site list of German 1/72 stuff is here:

link

I also note they have Pz I command tanks, Pz 38, etc, and the prices are pretty reasonable. Not so much artillery and tractors though.

All good suggestions above – scale is the big issue. You do not specify, which is why some are giving you 15mm and some 20mm.

Oh blimey. As I posted it in the 20mm model review board sort of assumed that would mean it was 20mm models that I was interested in.

So to clarify, yes 20mm.

Also, any advice on a good source of transfers?

Doms Decals – I know he does 15 mm but I find that they fit better on 'busy' AFV sides etc……I have even used 1/300 Balkan kruez from aircraft ranges because they fit better in available spots on turrets etc…….

Aleran – expensive high quality dry transfers
PSC – EXCELLENT wet ones!
Bison – specialist subjects
Skytrex – cheap, decent wet ones, some still around and apparently being re-marketed

15mm are tiny!

Archer dry.
Fingerprint design and bison for waterslide.
Dry are way better on flat surfaces.

The 6 wheel ac were used in poland.
I would also consider the 75mm ig.
You know the pak38 wasn't used until 41, and even then the pak36 was still the main atg?

Frontline are definitely good value, but you probably want to see some examples before you buy. Eg the pegasus 38t would be my preference.

Actually, the 6-rad were used during Fall Gelb and Fall Rot. After the fall of France they were phased out in favor of the Sdkfz 232 8-rad.

When using water slide decals a decal solvent such as MicroSol is essential for best results, especially when applying the decals over irregular or contoured surfaces. Dry transfers are as others have said fine for flat surfaces, and once sealed under a clear fiat finish safe to handle, but alas they're useless for any surfaces with raised details such as riveted armor on a Panzer 38(t).

What I for one am looking high and low for is a water slide decal sheet of 1/72 scale German tactical numbers in the style suitable for the French Campaign. So far whatever us available are either later war or a hodgepodge of mismatched or out of scale offering or dry transfers that simply will not work on a riveted or irregular surface.

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Try Andy Grubb at Britannia Miniatures………