"15mm cold war US infantry (85 to 90 era)???" Topic

Anyone suggest any ranges?

Would Peter Pig or Rebel Minis modern ranges work, or at least come close?

Khurasan will get to it eventually, but Im useless with delayed gratification.

I think QRF mentioned some are in the pipeline.

Could be wrong about that though, and they might be doing the earlier period.

For 1985/86 era, there are a number of suppliers with modern helmets. Can't recall exactly from whom though.

My interest is a bit earlier, e.g. 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and the early 1980s, when things were a bit more challenging for NATO and the USA.

Hmm, check Flashpoint for your period, now that I think about it. There are a couple of other manufacturers, I think, too.

Have a look at Irregular

link

Click on 15mm, then US Infantry of the 90's.

Irregular…forgot about them…terrible site, but they certainly have the range I'm after. Not the most attractive of figures either.

No Dragon teams, which is what I'm really keen to see in any range covering this period.

Looks to me like the Rebel Minis moderns might work as well.

Flames of War is supposed to be coming out with Cold War Gone Hot mid 80s range later this year. I'm sure mid 80s US will likely be the first released figs.

They are, and I'm looking forward to them.

But needs toys now!

Old Glory 15s have the old Quality Castings which did have M47 gunners. They were quite good in their time. Don't know if the molds have held up though.

Don't think they have, but another line I forgot about. Will check those as well.

Are the Rebel and PP ranges close, or a case of close enough?

The PP figures look pretty solid. I'd say they are "close enough" but I'm not that picky.

They are a tiny bit on the smaller side compared to some other ranges though, but not outrageously so.

27 Mar 2015 3:05 p.m. PST
I think QRF mentioned some are in the pipeline.

Could be wrong about that though, and they might be doing the earlier period.

Guide me, what do people want/need? Was looking at European theatre, early to mid 1980s, but I'm not sure when equipment changed

I think the Old Glory figs are okay for the early 1990's. Some of the Rebel Minis might work depending on how picky you are, but I think they are a equipped for a little later.

I have a few photos of the QC figs featuring their Dragon gunner in an old blog post:

link

Those QC are showing their age aren't they!

Dragon teams, plus higher command models, company and battalion figures.

I think the equipment changed around the mid-1980s Geoff, for the US, at least.

I'd like to see more figs for the earlier period, e.g. 1960s – late 1970s/early 1980s.

Flytrap makes some late Cold War/ultramodern US, but they're pretty expensive.

If someone can direct me to the correct setup for about 1982-1984… I shall start work.

As far as I can see, MLCE was replaced by ALICE in the early 1970s. IIFS was apparent introduced as late as 1988 and MOLLE didn't come in until the late 1990s, so I guess for 1980-1988 we are looking at an ALICE system.

Anything else, equipment wise, changed between, say, 1982 and 1988?

Wait, wait, wait……..

Are the East Germans, and Swedes finished?

I know the seal/sea lion are done.

;-)

Sorry, don't know enough about the webbing to be able to be accurate. I do know at the time, they sold those wide waist/canteen belts, and over the shoulder webbing to take the load off a bit, at the surplus stores.

If I had to venture to guess, I'd say the ALICE pack system is correct for most of the mid-late Cold War period.

Penguins, sealion, walrus and elephant seal are in the factory. :-)

East Germans and PBV302 are on my table under production (along with several Chinese warlords)…

I'm planning ahead

I waas in the US Army in 1989 and all I ever saw was ALICE. It wasn't new stuff either. I trained with M16A1s in basic, but was issued A2s once I got to my line unit.

What do I want? I would like to see Kevlars and ALICE for say 1985, but steel pots and MLCE 70's to say Grenada. The guys and gear from 1985 would fit up through the 90's IMO.

I know it raises a lot of heckles around here but I plan to use my Vietnam troops for my 70's Cold War games. Heck, it's better than using M47s as Tigers!!

Sounds good, Geoff.

I just didn't want you getting off track. I personally know how easy it is to get seduced by the next new thing.

I'm planning on doing the same, Tgunner.

And, if desired, you can field some of those nice M47s as M47s too, if you jump back just a decade, or so, for both the US, and West Germans.

Of course, then you'll want WWII, and/or Korean era infantry for use with them.

You sure the flytrap range is cold war? They're giving me an ultra modern vibe personally.

Not sure what the differences are between 1985/1986, and present US troops.

Same Kevlar helmets, and the weapons look like M16s/M4s to me.

I don't see any load-bearing equipment on the US Marines set, so they look pretty generic.

Perhaps different load bearing equipment for 1985 to present troops, and the addition of body armor in some cases.

The definition of "modern" and "ultramodern" are moving targets.

As I mentioned, I'm no expert on the subject, so someone who is will no doubt be along shortly, that probably used the kit during the period(s).

I guess if others don't know, you could always check with the manufacturer. A shame they don't list the time period(s) they're appropriate for.

Live and learn Mako. Many companies probably thought that gamers would lose interest in Cold War stuff so they move on to the next edition of "modern'. Funny how "modern" is becoming another historical era! Heck, it even has sub periods: early Cold War, mid Cold War, Late Cold War, and ultra-modern!

I always thought that this set of miniatures was a pretty accurate set of soldiers for my time in the Army:

link

That would be about 1989-1993. And I do remember seeing the M-47 Dragons and the M60s in use by our infantry. Although having six M60s in a pack of 50 soldiers seems a bit excessive!

I even bought them while I was in and compared them to our gear. Not too bad really.

Those plastics are superb, very fond memories of them. And I agree, they are good for late 80s.

This may help…. or at least makes interesting reading!

PDF link

It was, cheers

We got issued A2's, and Kevlar vests and Fritz helmets in 84. That was USAEUR wide. Still had the Alice gear when I got out in 89.