"What should miniature manufacturers make next?" Topic

Okay, what is missing in the form of needed miniatures that manufacturers should be thinking about making and making available to the gaming community?

Please don't suggest the silly stuff like "Jenkins Ear". What is something that you have wanted to do but have not found figures for in order to accomplish that desire? Also, what scale are you interested in doing the project in, and what besides miniatures would you wish was also available to augment that line of miniatures/

There isn't much 20mm scifi.
There's a small amount of 3mm scifi. I would certainly like to see more.

One omission is vehicle drivers and crew that actually fit the ranges and vehicles. There is some industry improvement, but by and large, I see lorries and other vehicles racing around the board with nary a soul on board.

Obscure perhaps, but every vehicle should have a matching crew or at least a driver to make the model come alive. I have had to convert or search and search for an appropriate figure, or do without in so many cases. That's why recent announcements like the Empress crew for the Airfix Supacat are so interesting to me.

I am most interested in 28mm, but this could apply to larger and smaller scales to a point of diminishing returns.

Some 18 mm Black Troops for both the ACW & AWI Blue Moon Lines would be very welcome additions!!

Well, I do keep hoping for28mm 15th Century Byzantines. Yes, it is obscure.

Grelber

Modular 20mm vehicles for scifi or Imagination factions, turret switching, mix and match tracked chassis/grav chassis/wheeled chassis and so on.

more alien flora and flora.

A archeology or planetary survey camp with gear, tents/habitats…

service vehicles for landed starships/shuttles.

Pain in the Ass Civilians.

I see you've got this going on two threads. OK,I'll bite here too,and second Kenneth,at least to some extent. Here's a little story:
When the Old Glory Maori Wars line came out,I(among others!)was dissapointed to see the 1860's Brits were in the 1840's headgear. I felt bad about pointing this out,as I (among others!) had been begging for them for years. This was at a Historicon and Russ said to "ask Andy,over there" about them. Andy (Copestake, I presume) said it was his fault,as he hadn't gotten the reference material to the sculptor "in time". A surprising revelation. I guess I don't know how miniature manufacturing works. It would be an odd sort of thing to hear if you were say,buying a car.

In any case,I asked Russ about it a couple of of times at later cons,and his response was "Yeah,I've got to fix those".

This is maybe a minor issue,but would it be that difficult to fix heads,maybe when it's time to replace molds? I realize it's more exciting(and profitable)to start new lines,but,you did ask what was missing(which I'll take as "needed"),and I think a lot of gamers would put correcting and improving existing lines into that category.

Sorry to be picking on OG,it's only because most of my figures are theirs,been buying them for decades,so that's what I'm most familiar with. "You always hurt the one you love".

Would love to see pre-Columbian Woodland Indians (tomahawks, clubs,knives, bows) added to the Grand Scale 10mm line.

It is just my hobby horse but 1/4800 is really the perfect tabletop naval scale for 20th c ranges and nobody does anything for WW1 to any extent other than a few MY models that are at best, fairly basic and old.

In 6mm there is a dearth of Byzantines which is disappointing as many of the ancients lines are fairly full.

In everything 10mm and under and even 15mm to some extent, after you get past the numerous Zulu, Mahdist, NW Frontier getting walloped by Brits, other than FFL there is little to nothing in terms of the broad range of colonial action and figures such as Boxer, South and Central America and Africa sans maybe Boers in addition to the usual suspects. A range of basic Marines and Seamen coupled with the bog standard infantry/cav that is already available more commonly would be nice.

I would like to see the Mexican American War extended to 10mm as well since there are already the Mexican-Texas figures.

18mm figures in the theme of barsoom. Some not tharks and not red barsoomians would be great. Some dedicated war of the worlds in 6mm would be nice as well.

It would be really nice if Irregular added a few more modern vehicles to their 2mm range, so I don't have make BRDM and Shilkas by filing down Sdkfz 222 and Hummels respectively, nor Scimitars out if Warriors.

However I suspect it is never going to happen, so back to filing.

A lot of people complain there aren't any 15mm WW1 East Africa figures, although it is easy enough to bodge them up from existing ranges.

I keep telling people, but only some of my ideas have been put into production.

I'm told the info is out there, on the inter-webs, for all to see……..

A comprehensive, nuts-and-bolts with added chrome, line covering the 1790's "pre-Napoleonic" period of the Wars of the First and Second Coalitions. There are a lot of lines that cover just bits and pieces, or even worse just the French with practically no opponents. I suppose the Eureka line comes closest, but everything below 28mm is very hit and miss.

Cold War East Germans in 15mm.

Soviet mine clearing figures for use in Afghanistan in 15mm

Cold War US OG107 uniformed figs for the Cold War in 15mm and 28mm.

28mm Micronesian warriors circa late 1700s/1800s.

1/100 or 15mm Mig17, Mig23, F100, A4, A7, F5A, OV10, A37, Skyraider, AH1J.

Lots

10mm Greeks for 1897-1922 period. One could proxy the line infatry for 1897 using other ranges, but the Evzones are hard to do so.

For 1912-1922 it is very hard to proxy due to the distinctive Greek kepi. Once more Evzones are impossible to proxy.

Evzones in doulama would be usable for the whole 1897-1930 period, and at a stretch to 1940. This covers the Greek- Ottoman War of 1897, the First and Second Balkan Wars, World War 1, the Greek Expeditionary Corps in Ukraine, the Greek-Turkish War of 1919-1922, what if wars with Bulgaria and Italy in the interwar era, and at a stretch 1940.

I repeat no one makes Evzones for this era in 10mm, which is pity.

Greek Balkan Wars infantry (including Cretan Gendarmie) would cover the First and Second Balkan Wars, World War 1, and second echelon forces in the Greek Expeditionary Corps in Ukraine and the Greek-Turkish War of 1919-1922. They could be used as Gendarmie in 1940. In adrian helmets, puttees, or side caps they can be fully used for 1919-1930.

10mm Romanian Army for the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The line infantry can be proxied but their is nothing that can be used for levy forces that had a unique uniform.

10mm Montenegrins, Romanians, and proper Ottoman nizam for the Balkan Wars.

any scale (but preferably 10mm) Turkish National Army for the 1919-1922 period. No one in my experience is making proper figures for the distinctive dress of the Nationalist Army. They can fight Greeks, French dressed Armenians, Russian dressed Armenians.

I'd love to see AB add more to their Peninsula range. Portuguese artillery, cavalry, line flank co skirmishers and staff.

I'd also like to see AB Spanish Irregular lancers.

I wish Victrix had gone for 1/144 WW1 plane kits not the 1:100 WW2 range they did. I know we can buy Wings of Glory and Valom kits but really I think there's a market for simple to build plastic WW1 planes designed for gaming. Or even if Revell would add 1/144 WW1 to they simple pre-coloured kits.

I'd really like to see Raiden/I-94 add to their range – lots on the list that never appears and a really out of date website.

I'd like to see the Perrys fill out gaps in the Sudan range, like doing the Ansar in the same variety as the Beja.

World War One in East Africa, in 15/18mm

For pulp gaming a 28mm Cris Craft motor boat like the one in The last Crusade and many old serial and adventure movies.
Also in 28mm a 1930's type small passenger plane like the Lockheed 10.

15mm Sci-Fi US Marines for Space Above and Beyond, 28mm Iraqi Army and Republican Guard for 2003, 28mm early World War 2 Marines for the Canal.

While they exist we could use more options for the Tai-Ping Rebellion and the Great Paraguayan War.

WW2 US Army for the Pacific Theater, 1942-1945; in 15mm or 28mm.

25/28 mm Balkan Wars, Balkan World War 1. There are two companies that make some Bulgarians, but nobody makes any Romanians. There is scant coverage of Serbs, Bulgarians, Greeks, Montenegrins. As KTravlos mentioned, the Nationalistic Turkish army from 1919-1922, just need different headgear on already existing Turkish Troops.

10mm Romanian Army for the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The line infantry can be proxied but their is nothing that can be used for levy forces that had a unique uniform.
That's nothing at all like the War of Jenkin's Ear is it?

In the sense that I've actually gamed the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, whereas Jenkins Ear is something of a TMP running joke, no. 1877 is pretty mainstream, certainly as mainstream as East Africa or the Boxer Rebellion.

So many wars, so little time….

Actually, the War of Jenkins Ear is not that silly a subject.
It is a silly name for the larger War of Austrian Succession. Uniforms in this war are close to both the Marlburian Wats and the Seven Years War, while not quite being either. There are significant differences. As far as I know, no 28mm manufacturer covers the WAS.

Back to Jenkins Ear, it would fit in quite well with pirate figures, and the various colonial uniforms are different, colorful and not covered by any manufacturer.

A massive King Philip's War range (6 Old Glory packs? ) would complement the Brigade Games range. Indians with armor! "Pilgrims" with matchlocks!

In 28 mm WWII Bulgarians, Hungarians, Romanians and Greeks. Also Chinese.
Modern 1/56 scale helicopters and crews used in the Middle East.

BTW, Joel. Old Glory is already partially into the War of Jenkins Ear. The British Marines in the piracy range are perfect for WoJE …. British marines.

Early to mid 18th century Spanish on the U.S. south west frontier, along with Southwestern Indians with early weapons, spear and bow. Regular Spanish sculpts would not do, due to the changes in uniform and cavalry shields. Any scale.

As far as I know, only Trent makes figures for the Irish figures in the '98. I find them kind of fat and stiff. It would be great to see OG do them, and bring back the French Revolution figures into production.

Agree with McKinstry's post about 1/4800 naval. I would love to see GHQ quality, but in 1/4800 instead of 1/2400. I think Shapeway (?) might be doing this somewhat, but not sure if the entire WW2 IJN is available yet. I would jump at the chance!

All 28mm:-
I'll echo Grelber, 15th Century Byzantines would be good.
I also have a hankering for some fantasy female Napoleonic
hussars (after reading Nadezdha Durova, The Cavalry Maiden).
Some more fantasy – D&D Gnolls as Egyptian NKE adversaries.

For those wondering about the double posting, I believed that neither one of them made it to the message boards, as I keep getting an error message when trying to post them. That is why there are two threads on the same subject.

Some good answers and information.

Calpe Prussian Cuirassers
More French from Calpe.

If I name only one thing, will someone please make it? A 3" Mechanikong. I doubt Bandai will every make it as a gashapon, so I need to go bootleg.

Things I would like to see Old Glory make:

25mm Timurids
25mm Crimean War
more 25mm terrain
25mm Thirty Years War
25mm Feudal Italians (e.g., Communal Italian)
25mm Crusades era Mamelukes, Fatimids
25mm Seljuq Turks
25mm Achaemenid Persian subject cavalry (Arachosians, Bactrians)
25mm Early Sassanid Clibanarii
25mm Arab Conquest/ Ummayad/ Abbasid
25mm Central Asian Turks, Sogdians
25mm Warring States Chinese
25mm Chou Chinese

15mm figures for 1914 (early WWI)

Thanks!

Bill

DoctorG for the win!

Late 19th century (Austro-Franco-Dano-Italo-Prussian) in 28mm. A bunch of companies do maybe one conflict.

10mm command for ancients to renaissance. I understand the economics, but for most armies there are 1-2 commander types total across the 4-5 10mm manufacturers.

15mm WWI Balkan front, or really anything besides Western front.

I agree with Zagloba about the WW1 Balkan Front, but would prefer 28mm. Though WW2 Balkan Front is nice also.

I'd like to see OG make complete lines for the French Rev. period and the Franco Prussian period wars.

28mm Star Trek miniatures. I know there are Victory Force and other substitutes, but an official range is long overdue.

The problem with that Simon is that the fee to the company who owns the rights to the name would be very expensive. So although a good idea it would cost entirely too much for Old Glory to do that.

Leadjunkey, what are you talking about? Old Glory has a huge range of FPW figures. I know because most of my huge collection is O.G. The only thing they need are French Marines (Blue Division) but fortunately Essex makes some figures that work quite nicely.

Yay! Here we go again with the OG/OG15 confusion that Russ maintains should not and cannot exist!
Who wants to bet that Leadjunky was talking about:
A: Old Glory 28mm
2: Blue Moon 18mm
or
D: 19th Century/Battle Honors/Old Glory 15s

Any odds?

There is no confusion. Never has been. Never will be.

So, in summation, the general consensus on TMP is pre-Columbian Woodland Indians (tomahawks, clubs,knives, bows) added to the Grand Scale 10mm line. I guess I can support that.

Profeit.

@Disco Joe
Pardon my ignorance. I was responding to the "What should miniature manufacturers make next" question and didn't realize this was Old Glory specific.

Norrins,you're right,the OP wasn't,just kind of turned into that,for obvious reasons.
And Joe,given various past examples,an "enterprising" company could produce a "Stellar Track" line,featuring Captain Smirk,Commander Spork,"Skulls","Irish",and of course,Lts. Zulu and Usuthu.