"Any need for a 20mm WSS range?" Topic

Hi,

I'm writing this due to having recently been suggested, by a customer, to start a new range of 20mm metal figures regarding War of Spanish Succession.

To my poor knowledge, 20mm gamers of WSS use to rely mainly in the Zvezda GNW superb plastic range, with a little support of the Mars' also plastic products.

Do these brands respective ranges suffice to WSS users? Or do you otherwise believe there's a gap for another brand yet?

Thanks in advance,
Lluís
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There is of course the lovely Les Higgins "small" 20mm range which is still available

Lluis,
Irregular Miniatures do a Marlburian range in metal, but if you were to add to this with another true 20mm range (1/76th not 1/72) there are lots of us old campaigners who would be interested

That is kind of a interesting problem though. Which scae do you use? You've already sited Zvezda which usually measure a bit tall even for 1/72 scale. Or you could keep with tradition and go with 1/76 scale or "True 20mm" as mentioned above.

Uhmmm…

True, I hadn't recalled Les Higgins old fashioned but lovely indeed figures, or the invaluable catalog of Irregular (a true lighthouse for any wargamer).

I'll have to seek and check closer Zvezda miniatures, for I'm doubtful now about their actual size, and then compare them to ours own – our current Spanish Civil War range figures are around 20-21mm tall from feet to eyebrows.

Only Marlburian gamers I have come across use 28 mm, 15mm or 10mm. I am very much in the 10mm camp, but there may be some out there who are still keen on 20mm.

Well I may be the only one, but I sure would like to see some WSS figures that would fot in (size and heft) of the Zevzda ones! I am staring at the 16 boxes of those figures right now and was wishing they were true WSS and not GNW. Really, they are close enough, but the grenadiers will not work for everyone. Same with the cav. Having some personalities would also be nice.

So from me. I would welcome seeing more compatable figures on the market!

v/r
Tom

I guess that the reason WSS gamers use 10mm/15mm or 28mm is because there is no comprehensive range of 20mm figures. Speaking personally I can't see 10mm figures well enough to paint!.I am disappointed in the 15mm ranges available ( I had hopes of the Khurasan range and ordered from them but the figures, for me, failed to live up to expectations) and simply cannot afford to buy for this period in 28mm (the quantity of cavalry required being prohibitive).
If you produced a comprehensive range of figures for the WSS I would certainly finally jump into this fascinating period. For me 20mm is an ideal size as it allows both largish size games that don't look like the skirmishes that 28mm can sometimes do and at the same time gives nicely detailed figures (reasons why I buy the Newline Napoleonic ranges).

I'm curious, if the khurasan figures don't live up to your expectations, what were you looking for? Those figures are so far and away better than anything currently produced its not even funny. I would compare them quality wise to AB Napoleonics.

Not to hijack, I'd buy the out of a 20mm line with realistic proportions like a shrunk down Minden figure.

I wargame the period in 6mm, 10mm, 15mm and 28mm, my favourite period!!

Why not just stick to making ranges you are interested in?
The last thing you want to do is put the wrong hat on a Bavarian Horse Grenadier kettle drummer. Even if he is left handed.

Maybe because some of us stick to the PERIODS we are interested in, regardless of the scales. I too have WSS in 6, 10, 15 and 28mm (and that after breaking my promise to myself not to do anything in 28mm!!!).

"The last thing you want to do is put the wrong hat on a Bavarian Horse Grenadier kettle drummer. Even if he is left handed."

So you've heard about my Blavacian Drummer? Couldn't keep a beat in a jar if his life depended on it but has lived a charmed life in one of my Imagi-Nations (His name is Wilhelm Schmitski!) WSS figures are also great for Imaginaton building, too.

Why not just stick to making ranges you are interested in?

We at Minairons Miniatures started with Spanish Civil War as a logical choice for commercial reasons, due to the linking-to-WWII possibilities it offered to us.

However, War of the Spanish Succession objectively falls within our range of interest subjects too, as stated in our website: "Minairons Miniatures' ranges will usually have a close relationship with the military history of the Iberian Peninsula nations --logically, with a special accent on Catalonia itself, where the brand is born." (foundational statement).

Soooo… not that unlikely, if requests/suggestions enough are made to us (wishlist)

Cheers,
Lluís

Spanish grenadier and dragons are very interesting…..

Any thoughts on the GerMan series of plastic 1/72's? They appear generic enough for most armies of the period, not to mention the actual conflict in Spain.

GerMan is a 2nd brand of Barcelona Universal Models (BUM). If browsing about it either in Plastic Soldier Review, Henk of Holland or TMP itself you'll know more about them and the odd, soft and brittle plastic their miniatures are made of.

PSR always laments about artillery sets not having enough poses to make a full crew, so there may be a small niche there that needs filling…

The Zvezda sets are fantastic figures, so if you wanted to expand a range with proper WSS figures, matching to that range would seem a good starting point to me. They dd a great range of infantry, artillery and cavalry (sadly, ver rare in plastics IMHO).

But, they have limitations, so a quality set of metals that match them woul supplement and then supplant that range.

Nt knowing how your business model works, I would hope that you could see this as a useful range to expand on, as you initially would not need to do every figure, guns etc. SO you could start with a compatible Spanish/Duthc army, that would build on the Zvezda range.

Then, if they make money for you, personalities would be great, as those of us using Zvezda would buy them to go with your new Spanish, plus our existing plastics.

As to other scales etc. Les Higgins are lovely figures – for the 1970's. But very small (true 20mm or smaller – I do have some and cannot use them). So I guess there will be fans for that scale. But making them smaller seems a retrograde step, as the availability of plastics is, I would argue, probably better than for an old 1970's collectors' range.

So, my vote – yes please, but to scale with Zvezda

Thanks

t knowing how your business model works

I can tell you what miniairon's miniatures are fantástics….

Zvezda GNW figures checked:

Their Russian infantrymen are 23mm tall from feet to eyebrows – so a couple of mm taller than our current SCW infantrymen.

As for horses, ours are nearly identical to theirs in general proportion – perhaps a couple of mm smaller, no more.

Your thoughts?

If you are compatible with the best, then that is a good target.

Being compatible with Strelets, not so good.

Lluis;

I'm sure that many who use the Zvezda GNW figures for imaginations use either the old Revell or the Zvezda Prussian Hussars with them, which is fine. However, it would be nice to see some correct early Hussars.

The big glaring hole that I see in cavalry is true heavies. Helmeted Bavarian or Imperial Cuirassiers would be great, as would some heavies in tricorne with cuirasses either under the open coat or over. Right now the only options for these that I know of are Irregular's small ones or ECW Lobsters from someone like SHQ or Tumbling Dice.

For Infantry, the suggestion for Dutch/Spanish is a good one. Some Grenadiers in bearskins would be good as well. For that matter some Grenadiers in proper western mitres would be good as well, to save having to try and convert the Zvezda headgear.

I think Artillery is the one area that is very well provided for already as Zvezda's two sets include enough crew to provide some variety in crew size and figure pose. We could use some heavier gun models as most of Zvezda's are lighter guns. Some support teams like wagons and ammo carts with civilian drivers would also be nice.

Just my two centavos worth…

Bill

What Marc and the Major said.

Maybe start out with some grenadiers in mitres and bearskins, see how these sell, and follow up with some heavy cavalry if the demand is confirmed?

Whatever you do, if it's matching Zvezda, count me in!

Yes. Begin to make
These miniatures. Bum is too bad and to many expensive.

yes please!

Starting to think it all around…

May I guess that infantries are preferred in march-attack poses?

For me marcha.but a few miniatures attacking isn't a bad idea

The first set woukd be spanish grenadier. The secind genérico infantry or foot command.

I think some metal Officer and Standard Bearer figures to match the Zvezda GNW figures w0uld sell well. Not enough of these in the Zvezda boxes, unless you want very large battalions.

ooooooh – large battalions. Yes please. Mine are 48 figures plus command, for which Zvevda wokrs really well.

So good to see this still moving forwards. Grenadiers in bearskins would be VERy interesting, as would heavy cavalry.

Thanks

Marc

Any new about it?

Good resurrection. Any news +1

I just checked their wishlist. Two requests so far.

Doesn't bode well.

link

Italeri wants to know what the people thinks about new releases. Go to her page in facebook and add a coment and i like in the photo for wss british

Crikey – is that all. Two of us fans. OMG…

Maybe TMP is not the forum for 20mm gamers?

Time for a board. . .

PATIENCE YOU MUST HAVE my young padawan……

I'd very much like a range of 20mm WSS figures!

And me!!!! I'm sure what the first manufacturer what release a pair of good box will be rich or how we say in spain "el primero que saque algo lo va a petar"