"20mm British Airborne and German recommendations" Topic

I have been convinced to go with 20mm for Battlegroup. My plan is to replace my FoW British Airborne platoons and was wondering – regardless of price – which manufacturer makes the most aesthetically pleasing british airborne in 20mm?

And, as I will need to provide both sides, who makes the nicest Germans?

AB, bar none! Their Brit Paras and regular infantry have the biggest selection and finest sculpts I have ever seen. Blitz would be next on my list, I think. Same with the Germans!

AB minis from Eureka would be a good place to start.

That's what I figured (no pun intended). Thanks for validating.

Yes, AB makes excellent minis.

FAA, SHQ, and the old Battleground (not sure if that is the correct name, or not, and/or if it has changed), all make excellent minis.

Elheim too, if I'm not mistaken, though I can't recall if they do British Airborne troops.

Blitz Miniatures too… and CP Models.

Using them with AB for mine.

I have several dozen AB figures I picked up at Fall-In from a friend of mine in the Flea.

I think these are the most wonderful 20mm figures I've ever had the joy to paint.

The best. My two shillings. YMMV.

Eric

From the feedback, AB 20mm it is.

Now, how about for vehicles, tanks, etc. I don't mind modelling, so I don't need easy/quick assembly, but would like models that are sturdy enough as wargaming figures rather than display models.

What is a good source for British and German vehicles that has a relatively comprehensive list so I can generally stick to one source (at least for one side)?

Thanks again!

I like PSC and S-model. Computer sculpting means they'll both look crisp and correctly scaled together. And S-model is really prolific.

Pegasus is really good, though they're mostly Russians and Paper Panzers. But they make a pair of King Tigers for an awesomely low price.

Dragon are COMPLETELY INSANE to put together, and may not withstand the rigors of gaming.

Italeri are OK but some of their molds are old, and lots have those godawful rubber tracks. Their quick-build pair kits are not as nice as any mentioned above.

Would milicast be too delicate? Particularly this model?
link

Don't forget Armourfast quick build kits. And for 1/72 plastics Caesar minis aren't bad for the price.

My Milicast models are all from their Battlefield Series and are robust models. The one you referenced is from their Premier range and it probably would be a bear to build and somewhat fragile. I have a bunch of MMS metal models as well and they match up with Milicast perfectly. Both are 1/76.

I have painted most manufactures of 20mm miniatures now and I believe the nicest are TQD British airborne from CPModels.

More photos at link

John

I converted to 20mm WWII because of AB Figures – they are stunningly well detailed.

AB German fallschirmjager are really top notch. I rounded mine out with a box of ceasar FJ. These are pretty nice and they mix pretty well and give me more poses. Although the mg-42 were too bendy for my tastes and didn't use them.

Been very impressed with the 20mm zone stuff that has been put out lately – lot of good choice late war German stuff to fire PIATs at.
Among many, big Jdpzr IV choice, lots of PIV's and I think they are about to release a massive 251 family

who makes the nicest Germans?

No-one. The Germans are the bad guys and not supposed to be nice ;)

But seriously, Armourfast and PSC are study and go together seamlessly so there's no scale issue between them; also fairly comprehensive coverage of most things you will need. Here are Armourfast and PSC pz IV's at he start of our Battlegroup Kursk game last week

Pegasus fast build German trucks are a heaven sent gift to those of us who don't want to go insane assembling complex and fiddly transmission and steering systems 10 times over; I have not tried their King Tigers, but their 38(t)'s and Soviet armor kits are simply superb. IMO none of those mentioned are fragile enough to warrant basing.

another source for cheap and cheerful models is Frontline, I'm not a fan of a lot of their stuff but for quick, cheap and amazingly simple softskins they are brilliant. Personally, I hate having to spend a lot of time and money on tows and trucks, especially if I need them in large numbers and frontline are great at avoiding this.

Just got my AB British and Germans from Eureka. Amazingly fast shipping.

And you folks were right … great looking figures. This is enough to get me to switch out my 15mm and 28mm figures for 20mm. Seems like an ideal svale for what I play… wish i had discovered them sooner. Time for a major scale change project.

I did it about a year and a half ago, Sid. I still play in 15mm (both Company level and skirmish) but the main body of my WW II gaming is now done in 20mm. I've never been happier with a collection!

Another vote for AB, and Battlefield/Blitz has an extensive range, including paras with scavenged German weapons like MP40s, MG42s, etc. If you get lucky on eBay, you can source some Drew's Militia, which are nice sculpts as well and had a ton of variety for jeep crews, recon, etc.

~iPaint

AB / Eureka without a doubt. And the sculptor just announced on this forum that he will be making additions to the range.