"Suggestions for the most useful set of plastics 28mm?" Topic

I've been collecting and gaming WW2 in a no. of scales (6mm, 15mm, 20mm, 28mm) over the past decade.

However, as I am probably more of a modeller than a gamer, the steady stream of really excellent plastic sets coming out of companies like Warlord or Wargames Factory has meant that 28mm & 1/56 scale has been become my preferred scale.

I have a no. of armies (Eg. Various German, Soviets, Finnish, US), and one thing I seem to always find a use for, in either the army options or in setting up scenarios, is miniatures in civilian clothing….

That could be as Partisans, Volkssturm, militia or even refugees.

Civilian clothed miniatures are also used in many other types of games, eg. Pulp, VECW, RCW, SCW ect.
These is a pretty varied choice of metal miniatures for thse subjects, but no plastic options.

I think a generic 'First part of 20th Century' plastic set of civilian miniatures would be a real seller!!

A company such as Warlord, with various separate weapons sets, could probably pull it of with the greatest versatility….

Any thoughts, guys?

You correct there are loads of metal options already out there , my favourite ones are the dads army lads in civvies.
If I were to hunt for plastic civilians now I would check out the pre moulded boardgame models like zombicide.
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Out of stock but Preiser O scale look rather good and lots more options from 1900 to present day . Would the 1/43 scales work do you think? link

Alas like you we will have to see if a WW2 multiparty civvie kit will come out.

I like the idea, but doubt the practicality of it. You could certainly make a multipart 'gangsters' or 'resistance fighters' set, and I'd buy it, but I question whether it would have the kind of sales necessary for a plastic set to cover its own costs.

You have to market a product with an easy-to-identify name. You can't sell something as 'armed citizens in pre-1950 clothing'. And, since wargamers can be notably unimaginative, half your potential buyers of partisans will not look at gangsters, and vice versa.

I like the idea as a modeler. I'd see it as a poor commercial choice for the seller.

1/43 figures are about seven or eight feet tall compared with 28mm wargames figures.

Just remembered these survivor box sets.
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There are hundreds, maybe only scores it just seems like I have hundreds, of lead civilians from the first half of the 20th century. Almost every company that makes World War II figures has some partisan types, there are Irish war of Independence civilians, lots of pulp figures gangsters civilian types, VBCW figures now abound . There are a number of companies that sell separate weapons so you can arm these civilians. Warlord/bolt action often have sales on weapons sprues.

Feet up now……I have both of the WGF "Survivors" sets and the figures are very well done and the wide choice of weapons is worth the price of the sets. Problem is the people are lightly dressed as if it was summer. That said there is a lot of potential there. I have quite a few Warlord and WGF plastic WWII sets and you end up with lots of spare weapons and kit, extra arms and heads. I should point out that other than hand weapons like chainsaws, etc., all firearms are post-WWII.