grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 4:00 p.m. PST |
Hello wargamers. Can anyone recommend 28mm (1/72) plastic figures for the French and Indian War period? I'm interested in gaming micro-skirmish on a 3' X 3' table in 28mm, from the Beaver Wars period all the way up to Native American involvement in the AWI era. Initially, I'm more concerned about getting figures on the table, so plastic "army men" figures would be just fine. Does anyone do 28mm FIW in gray plastic (that GW-type stuff)? Also, any 28mm plastic Northeastern Woodland Native American figures for the general period that you can recommend would be greatly appreciated. This project is something of a break from a much more intensive project that I'm working on, so some day I may graduate to metal and/or resin figures for this era, but for now, I will be quite happy with plastic, even color-coded "army men" plastic would be just fine. Thanks in advance for the benefit of your experience, and sharing your knowledge of the era and the available figures. Cheers. |
Ashokmarine | 14 Aug 2014 4:16 p.m. PST |
As far as I know there are no plastics for FIW unfortunately |
Skeptic | 14 Aug 2014 4:38 p.m. PST |
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nnascati | 14 Aug 2014 4:46 p.m. PST |
No offense meant, but - TMP link Did you forget? |
grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 4:53 p.m. PST |
Oh! The 1/72 ones are 22s. Doh. So, are FIW plastics only in AIP 1/32 (54mm) and BUM 1/72 (22-ish)? The metal 28mm figures for FIW are outstanding. I guess I can buy a dozen really nice ones and make them "characters". I'm going to play RPG/micro-skirmish, anyway. I had heard there were 28mm plastics for just about everything now. Not yet, huh? :) Now where was that reply on that other thread…? I think some are coming out soon, iirc. |
grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 5:01 p.m. PST |
nnascati: More confused than forgetful. ;) When I saw that the THW games were for 28mm, and I saw the Galloping Majors figures, I pretty much settled on a scale and stopped researching other scales. The pics of the GM figs look like the original casts or something, some kind of gray plastic. It took me a bit to figure out that the figures are pewter. So, plastic in 1/72, 1/32, and some sizes like 40mm or 60mm? Bulk boxes like AIP, small sets like BUM, or join in and go for the broad range of excellent 28mm figures out there. I guess that's why I couldn't find plastic 28s. They don't exist yet. Thanks. Sorry. P.S. Those 40mm ones are beautiful. I wonder if my math is good enough to stand the rules conversion. Not today anyway. ;) |
nnascati | 14 Aug 2014 5:03 p.m. PST |
grommet, You really can use any scale with the THW games. If you go with 40mm or 54mm, you will need a larger playing area. I've played Long Rifle with 15mm on a 2 x 2 board and 40mm on a 4 x 4. Both played just fine. Keep in mind though, that the THW games are essentially solo or co-op games, not really designed for two player games. |
grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 5:10 p.m. PST |
It's for a solo campaign, but it would be great to play co-op with people I'm trying to get into the hobby, so that's good to know. Those 40s are very nice. The range of 28s is really impressive. 54s are cheap. I really like the era. Now I see how people get drawn into multiple scales! OK, but just this ONE era! ;) These Black Powder figures look plastic in the picture to me: are they resin? link So 28mm rounds to 1/56? |
nnascati | 14 Aug 2014 5:30 p.m. PST |
The Black Powder figures are 28mm metal by Conquest Games. They are probably the BEST Woodland Indians available in any scale. They are "true" 28mm, nicely proportioned and beautifully detailed. The only cheap 54mm are the ones by Armies in Plastic, the better 54mm by Barszo are rather more expensive and hard to get. The 40mm figures are a good comprimise, those by Sash and Saber cost about the same as 28mm. The Trident line from Miniature Service Center is huge and very good, but slightly more expensive. If you want to talk more about figures, rules or solo gaming, please feel free to email me I'm at – nnascati@gmail.com Nick |
grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 6:14 p.m. PST |
Nick, Ah. Thanks for the brief overview. I may well take you up on your kind offer. Since Black Powder is 28mm, and it's a "popular" enough ruleset that even my public library has it, I may start there. I guess FIW is an obscure enough period that I might as well go for the scale the "commercial" rules are in. At least to start. Thanks again. Now to hunt through the wide selection of 28s… ;) (I'm thinking BP, GM, trying to pre-order the WF plastics, and jumping in on the 28mm Mesozoic Mammal KS, so I can play not-Turok not-Xenozoic Tales of the Northwoods for B&P nights.) |
Ashokmarine | 14 Aug 2014 6:15 p.m. PST |
Yes I was referring to 28mm I plastic not 1/72. Sorry just read it again. If you are not too picky you could use or modify some of the AWI plastics by Perry or Wargames factory. |
Extra Crispy | 14 Aug 2014 6:36 p.m. PST |
Grommet: I have a bunch of those figs I'm looking to sell. Mark@scalecreep.com |
thabear | 14 Aug 2014 6:55 p.m. PST |
I think Wargames Factory are soon to release some plastic Indians in 28mm ,,,,, for my French I just used AWI sets and painted them light-grey and no-one cares. |
ernieR | 14 Aug 2014 7:02 p.m. PST |
for FIW skirmish 'Muskets and Tomahawks' by Studio Tomahawk are the rules you're looking for . Black Powder is for much larger battles . |
coopman | 14 Aug 2014 7:47 p.m. PST |
If you want to get your feet wet with paper figures, go here: link |
grommet37 | 14 Aug 2014 9:31 p.m. PST |
Thanks all, information greatly appreciated. I think the Wargames Factory Woodland Indians and AWI American Militia sets will probably be plenty of figures for me to start, when they're released. In the meantime, I'm going to look into the Black Powder Woodland Indians War Party set. And of course the beautiful Galloping Major FIW range… That should keep me busy, for a while. I will probably need about 4 Rangers, 4 Iroquois, 4 NF Colonists and 4 Algonquin/Huron to run the whole initial micro-skirmish/RPG campaign. ;) Sorry, should've been clearer. I'll be starting with THW Long Rifle, and working into M & T. BP as rules will be a long way off. Now, cheap steep hills, and bags of trees! P.S. Extra Crispy, I've ordered from you guys before. Excellent service! I'll take a look at the Blue Moon and 1st Corps sites for pics of your remaining stock when I get the chance. I'm mostly looking for recognizably NE Woodlands Native Americans, and some British and French colonial irregulars. I won't be looking for any regulars for quite a while. Cheers. |
Londonplod | 15 Aug 2014 2:08 a.m. PST |
You could try these 1/72 plastics for a cheap way into the period. link link |
grommet37 | 15 Aug 2014 8:53 a.m. PST |
If plastics really are cheap enough, I could see doing multiple scales: 1/72 (22mm) or 1/32 (54mm) to start, and 1/56 (28mm) when I get "serious" about it. 1/72 easier to store. 1/32 easier math for rules conversion? |
Griefbringer | 15 Aug 2014 1:36 p.m. PST |
Maybe better to try to stick to one scale for the time being – especially as you will also need appropriate terrain. |
grommet37 | 15 Aug 2014 6:50 p.m. PST |
Griefbringer wrote: Maybe better to try to stick to one scale for the time being – especially as you will also need appropriate terrain. Good point. I can't seem to find a projected release date for the Wargames Factory Woodland Indians or AWI American Militia sets, but the price looks enticing. In the meantime, I've been wading through the Conquest and Galloping Miniatures ranges. A very wide variety of very nice figures. It could take a bit to decide on a long term strategy, based on the available figures. I'd like to do Iroquois, OpFor (Algonquin/Huron), BA Rangers and NF Voyageurs (Beaver Wars, and frontier/wilderness raids/ambushes/skirmishes), and I'm torn between being a completist and just getting some figs on the table. Seems like a person could easily spend between 15 and eleventy-gazillion dollars on FIW figures, even without buying any regulars at all. ;) Any idea on how long it usually takes Wargames Factory to release, after a product preview? Thanks for the advice, and the heads-up on the plastic kits. Cheers. |
marco56 | 16 Aug 2014 8:53 a.m. PST |
We are waiting,waiting and waiting.I especially want the indians. Mark |
grommet37 | 08 Sep 2014 4:57 p.m. PST |
Wargames Factory FB page: link The AWI Militia are on their way to us, and will be up for sale in early September! How would you say WF plastics compare, height-wise, with the many other 28mm metal figures? |