"The Canadians Are Coming" Topic

Hello all,
As some of you may have heard Canuck Miniatures will be hosting a kickstarter to raise funds to produce a Cold War early to mid 80's Canadian line of miniatures. I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself and give you an idea on what we are hoping to produce.

Canuck Miniatures is based out of as you may have already guessed, Canada. Being a Canadian and ex military my passion has been to produce an accurate Canadian line of miniatures to use for war gaming. For far too long we gamers have had to cobble together from different lines a makeshift Canadian army if we wanted to game anything Canadian Cold War. We've had to make due with inaccurate and in most cases poor or out of date miniatures. We at Canuck Miniatures have finally said enough. Our mission is to represented Canada properly, accurately and with 21st technology quality. This Kickstarter will be centered around the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group circa 1985. Infantry will be equipped with '82 Pattern web gear FNC1 and 2's, GPMG, Carl Gustav, 60 and 81 mm mortars. For the armoured forces our goal is to produce the Leopard C1, M113A1's, M150 TOW, Lynx Recon tracks, M109's and if possible M557's,Cougars,Grizzlies,Iltis jeeps and even an CH-136 Kiowa. This line will endeavor to also cater to those who wish to model a Canadian Air and Sea Transportable Groups as well as units from 4CMBG.

So why a Kickstarter? Well, let's be honest, like any other new venture we lack all the funds to develop, manufacture and distribute the miniatures. As Canuck Miniatures is a new company hence the Kickstarter. Saying that we have decided to partner with another more experienced manufacturer. I'm now proud to announce that we have partnered with Keith Armstrong of Armies Army. Keith will provide the support for this Kickstarter and due to his schedule we will be starting this project around May.
As this is a new line I look forward to the feedback from those who decide to back this Kickstarter. I look forward to hear what backers think could be done, what if anything needs improving and what you may like to see if not already on the list.

Now for the good stuff and to get those juices flowing this is whats being whipped up right now.

[URL=http://s229.photobucket.com/user/werwulfD/media/12443393_10154256505758974_1341002269_o_zpsdggmeyks.jpg.html]

Stay tuned for updates or go to our Facebook page for quicker updates. Thanks again and keep tuned in.

Quick, grab the women and children and run………..

Actually, you might be doing us a favor if you follow the 1812 precedent. ;-)

On a more related note, glad to hear there will be some new minis to play with, soon.

So most important what size\scale will they be?

Gunner they are 15mm.

Good! I need some "Black Hats" for my alternate cold war games and this will fit the bill. Canadians versus Mexicans fitting over a post apocalyptic USA. Gives a wholle new slant to "Wolverines!"

Ahhh now I am interested

[Looks at half-done 15mm Canadian decal sheet in his masters folder.] [Adds it to the "FFS, find an hour or three, Skelton" list….] ;-)

Now, where's my copy of First Clash…?

Is there a link to Kickstarter for this project?

I am very much looking forward to supporting this venture!
Hopefully many more will follow!:)

Im confident it will fair just as well and my own British and VDV range of troops and will be a great supplement! It's a real shame we can't release now, however I've my own customers to deliver to very soon!

First Clash was an interesting but bizarre book. Fun to read.

Coolness.

Good luck with your project.

@gunnerphil, yes this project will be in 15mm. @paulgenna this kickstart has not be started yet. We are looking at a launch at the beginning of May.

Looking forward to them to bulk up my AMF Northern flank force.

Just curious as I have no idea of what would be involved.
I have 20mm 1/72 for my cold war stuff.
Since you have to do all the design anyway how hard us it to offer 15mm and 20mm sizes of the same figures.

Thanks Canuck

Looking forward to this…might be early tithe wish pile, but…a mix of old style bush caps and helmets and berets would be pretty great…FN's…smiggies…Charlie G…

Good luck

@Frankss, I wouldn't know either as this is my first venture. IF it's possible I will look into it, but for now this will only be 15mm.

Assuming you are going to stay away from kit that Battlefront already do, or will do, that can be used for 4CMBG, I guess the big question is if they will do the Leo I or Leo II for the Bundeswehr release at the end of the year…If they go with the Leo II then I think you would have a lot of interest in a Leo I for Aussies etc…

I'd strongly recommend staying away from building M113s, M577s, and M109s, too many competitors (not least of which are Battlefront's plastics!).

If there are unique details on the Canuckistani versions, I'd look at making conversion kits instead of the whole model.

I'd have to disagree there – making your range a mere accessory to someone else's, rather than something that stands alone, is tantamount to telling punters to shop elsewhere as much as possible. Yes other people do the more common models, but a piece of the M113 market is likely to be worth more than the entirety of the Lynx market. There's a very good reason why everybody does the common stuff….

If you make your range based on another company's products you are at risk if they change or stop production. Make your self the one stop shop for all things Canadian

Absolutely. Doubly so as people are talking about Battlefront as the go-to range, when they've had a lot of availability problems of late, so you risk making accessories for a model that people struggle to get hold of.

Do it all and I will try and shoehorn it into "the plan" but a partial line or bits – forget about it. Had too many sad stories in the 1970s and 1980s…

Hey all,
Thanks for all the feed back. Canuck Miniatures started this venture from the frustration of having to piece together from different manufacturers, making due with what looks close or what's available. It is our goal to stop this. Therefore we will endeavor to produce as many Armored Fighting Vehicles used by the Canadian Force and specifically 4CMBG circa early to mid 1980's as we can. Thank you for your support and for the feed back.

I appreciate the reasons for sticking to 15mm \ 1\100 initially but 1\144 would be most welcome in future. Its a far better scale to play in for armour games

I'd sure like to see those CF figures when they do show up.

Please do at least a section's-worth of infantry with optional helmet and combat hat heads in 28mm.
Please!
I could find all kinds of uses for them.

Further to my above request, and by way of example, Loud Ninja Games did that very thing with their Space Raptors KS.

link

The project was 15mm, but if you scroll down you'll see the $5,000 USD stretch goal was a six-figure squad of 28mm figs.
I have them; they're excellent.

Old Wolfman, we are looking at a May start.

May? Outstanding!!

Mako: "Quick, grab the women an children and run!"

Wasn't that for Scots?
Or was that Normans?

Guys… Any update on a start?

Years ago (mid 80s)sat in an OP at Sennelager Training area we were alerted by some loud music. We then observed a unit of Canadian infantry out running in full kit, with on of the chaps in the front rank carrying a big boogie box on his chest, strapped around his neck, might make a good figure!

Tally Ho!

Looks like BF will be doing a Leo I, albeit in resin. Might be something to consider in your plans if you want to complement, rather than compete, with their range. Very excited to see what you are bring out!

I believe the Kickstarter will begin Very soon!. Canuck miniatures are just finishing one or two bits off before realising! I'm some they will be here to update soon!

Sorry to go off topic, but that was us in the mid 80's in the Sennelager Training area. I'm guessing the the fellows with the boom box were either AD Platoon, or the RCEME group. I remember (more or less) some great pub crawls in Paderborn on our days off. Our unit was 2PPCLI.

Cheers
Dean

On second thought, it's more likely that the unit with "boom box" were the Van Doo's (R22eR)

I forgot that they might have actually done some real training over there….. nudge nudge wink wink.

Cheers
Dean

Now we can do my favourite battle.

link

I haven't heard whether this project got started or not?

Anyone know?

Brian

There's a test link on Armies army site but that's all I can find.

Ap 26 since any 'official' post.
5 months + and no update, I must say thats hardly a reassuring sign in any venture.

I wish them all the best just the same.

Its coming…funnily enough working on the items right now :)

However as part of any new venture, situations do arise. None of these are in regards to Canuck Miniatures I add, however in his production team myself. Basically I wanted to complete and finish a British Kickstarter range before starting another. Not out of anything other then respect for my supporters and the ability to actual deliver the items as close to the proposal as possible.
Many companies like armiesarmy rely on several others in their manufacturing process and the large majority of them are like myself in terms of 'full time job's and this job. I have been dropping BIG requests for production on them, Dropping another would certainly impact them further and then 'when' it could be produced would be anyone's guess??
A guess that myself and Canuck Miniatures were unwilling to take.

Now that is 99% out the way and production/stock levels are being readied for normal sales Canuck Miniatures and myself have plans to start very soon.
Ill give a definite date as soon as I can on this!

For starters :)

Keith

Cool, thanks for the update.

Brian