"Flashpoint Minis 15mm ANZAC Task Force" Topic

All,

Continuing on my descent into Vietnam wargaming madness, I picked up some more minis from Flashpoint Miniatures 15mm range, the pack is called "ANZAC Task Force." I have nothing against our Australian and New Zealand allies, but they're just not something I'm interested in wargaming, at least right now. But I what I am interested in doing is some Vietnam special forces-type gaming, and so I wanted troops in bush hats, with light weapons, that could serve a multitude of roles, such as LRRPs, Rangers, Green Berets, SEALs, Marine Recon, MACV-SOG, covert Agency-types, Nungs, and Mike Force guys. So, looking at Jimmi's web catalog, I spotted these guys and they looked right up my alley.

The whole pack, thirty guys done up in Tiger Stripe camo and on temperate, grassy bases. There were actually 31 guys, but somehow I broke one of the troops (a grenadier) off at the ankles (my own carelessness I'm afraid)…

The troops are well proportioned, weapons look good, and there's an astounding number of different poses. I will also report there is some real size variation between figures; this may be a turnoff to some, but I don't mind as 1) real life troops aren't all the same size, and 2) it will help when I want to have US troops (I'll use the big'uns) and indigenous troops in the same unit (I'll use the smaller ones).

There's one guy who is a bit miscast, hand raised but missing, guess he got caught with a booby trap. Aside from that there were no issues, no real flash, lines are very clean and pronounced, making them very easy to paint up. I'm very happy to have these in my collection, they're perfect for some games I want to do, and I can't wait to get them on the table. Let's get to the poses.

First two up are two leader type poses, officers or NCOs. Guy at left has binos in his left hand, right has no hat and the ubiquitous jungle towel around his neck. Here you can see the guy on left has an SLR; they may be cast just a shade short of real life, but this doesn't bother me as I wanted all M-16s anyway, and simply painted black I think they work pretty well.

To see closeups of all the poses, please check the blog at:
link

Well, that's the new troops, whaddaya think? I really like them and can't wait to play some games with them, but I'm not sure where I'll squeeze them in with all the other projects I have going on right now. Not to mention I've got more troops I've finished and need to show you. I'll be posting them in the next few days.

V/R,
Jack

Nice!

Tempts me do look at the British in Indonesia and Borneo :)

Yes!!! I hadn't thought of that, these would be perfect for that, maybe even Brits in Sudan, as long as you're okay with M-60s subbing for MAG-58s.

V/R,
Jack

Peter Pig's Vietnam troops work great for when you want mixed teams of Americans and Vietnamese (say, MACV-SOG troops), they're about a head shorter than Flashpoint minis.

I need to see if I can convince FP Minis to make a pack of like 20 of the medevac dudes (the guys carrying another trooper across their shoulders) to use as casualty markers for Flames of Vietnam.

Lion,

Jimmi of Flashpoint Minis has been extraordinarily helpful. If you contacted him directly I'd be surprised if he couldn't do something to help you out with that.

V/R,
Jack

Jack ! … awesome work ! I completely enjoy seeing these figures being reinterpreted ! I personally am looking forward to painting these up (with a few added beret figures and AK47s) as African mercenaries.

@ Lion, just caught up with this here, a bunch of "firemans'carry" would be no problems.

FWIW the 'medics and casualties' pack (FWF-01) is about to be expanded to 16 figs (currently 12 figs) …ie; three medics, five walking/standing wounded, three "firemans carry" figs, two treated casualties (lying supine) and three untreated casualties (lying prone). I've actually been supplying this for a short while even though the website only lists (and charges) for the 12 figures. …I sent this new formula away to be painted back in April (?) and never heard back from the guy (and with other stuff happening, like BWN boats…had forgotten about it.)

I've been slow to update this on the website because I am also about to release Aussie and VC/NVA Medic/casualty figure packs to a similar formula. The (long awaited) moulds including these are in the mail to me as we speak.

? Plain old Casualty markers ?? have these too by the dozen … for US(Army or Marines)with M16's or Marines with M14's , plus Aussies (with SLRs and M16s) and VC/NVA with AKs.

"when I need a rifle, there will be plenty lying around"

Jack,
Great idea and better painting than me : (
I am actually using those guys as part of my french force both for Vietnam and Africa. The other half will be PP mercs mounted on nickles to get the height right. The left overs will be recon troops.

Joe

@Capt Jimmi: Awesome, will drop you a line when I find some more $$ to spend on the hobby.

I use the downed casualty models on the medic bases for FoW. My friends think I have a problem, I have nearly a battalion of infantry (at 3 figures per stand, so squads are only 6 strong. Damn Division HQ for sucking up all the spare bodies!)