"Size Does Matter " Topic

Lately I've been seriously considering replacing my Old Glory Mondragon 75mm guns with something more accurately scaled, at least for the 28mm figures in the same range, so I'd probably be looking at French 75s from someone's WW1 range. I'd rather not do this, because there's something uniquely satisfying about using the right Mexican-designed artillery piece for a Mexican conflict, but the non-sitting OG artillerists do look a touch Lilliputian next to it.

Oversized, you ask? Well, all the photos I've seen of the genuine article show the wheels reaching to just below the shoulder on an average-size Mexican, but those on the OG model are as tall as the figures, including their bases. The model is well proportioned, which means the rest of it is oversized too.

One problem is that some of the available alternatives look too small, such as the Copplestone model in the BoB range; not much bigger than a mountain gun, with the wheels being hardly taller than a kneeling figure – so there's a danger of ending up with something at the other extreme of the dimensional inaccuracy spectrum.

I considered replacing the wheels with smaller ones, but that just distorts the relative proportions of the parts of the model and means that the rear-mounted wheel-stabilisers(?) are no longer in contact with the wheel rims, so altogether just looks odd.

While rummaging in the unpainted Mex Rev box today I discovered a pack each of neglected Outpost federal and revolutionary artillerists; neglected because I had enough OG figures for my past requirements without having to resort as yet to what are to my eyes inferior sculpts. Recalling that the Outpost federal infantry bugler figure is a giant of a man an idea occurred to me; a possible 'easy-way-out' solution to my Mondragon quandary. I opened the artillerist packs and… sure enough, they too were mostly men of gargantuan stature; the kneeling figures are almost as tall as the OG standing figures. I placed an Outpost standing federal artillerist next to an OG Mondragon gun, and… it magically shrank!

I'm still weighing up whether this is a satisfactory solution, but the moral of the story is that you can use those nice, if overlarge, OG Mondragon guns, as long as you include at least a couple of Outpost giants in the crew and strategically position them near the wheels to create an illusion of correct proportion. If I go down this road I'll be improving them with head swaps from my OG spare heads pile.

And on the positive side, the upsized gun models do subconsciously create the impression of being especially powerful pieces. Perhaps wargame model design is an art and not a science.

Wow, Henry, you really are into this period, grin! I have the OG guns and never thought anything about it. I've put games on at conventions and no one has said anything they noticed. In fact until you brought it up in one of your earlier posts, I never realized the size might be a bit big.

But hey, if you are willing to do all that work, go for it. What we do in this hobby is mostly to please ourselves. That's the way I look at it.

Me, I'm content with my collection though – like almost all my collections – I sometimes wish I would sit down and paint up the extra figures sitting in the unpainted boxes for my projects. But I have more than enough painted and mounted for evening sized (or convention) games so…..on to new projects.

Enjoy the holidays…or should I say? Feliz Navidad

If the size bugs you enough to seriously ask us, sure, go ahead and try the giant figs. What have you got to loose?

I thought others might have noticed the miniature gargantuism (if that isn't a contradiction) Chuck, and might have been equally tortured :- ).

Fear not: I will be easing off on the Mex Rev posts for a while, Mike (unless there's a sudden flurry of interest from other members).

I'd wager that those convention attendees probably aren't too familiar with the dimensions of the Mondragon 75mm gun, Mike.

I just want to add one more point:

Of the three poses in the Outpost federal artillerist pack, one is kneeling holding a shell, and the other two are clearly meant to be manhandling the wheels; so perfect for the role I intend to assign them.

Actually, Henry, I happen to enjoy your Mex Rev posts, there aren't a lot of us enthusiasts for such a seldom gamed period.

Well, you're in for a real treat then, Mike… especially if you like TMWWBK. I typed a touch too soon about taking a Mex Rev break. That thread could run for a while, methinks :-).

I do get the distinct impression the Mex Rev is steadily becoming less seldom gamed. Who knows… maybe it's the NBT.

I have not played nor even paged thru TMWWBK.

I wouldn't mind the MexRev being the next best thing but we will see.

Some years ago when I had first painted up my MexRev collection I put on a convention game and asked for 6 players, I ended up with 8! I found spots for the extra 2 as I hated to turn anyone away. Well, the group enjoyed the game and it was a wild one using a train, a town fight, various factions, etc. And homemade rules.

After the game was over one of the players told me I really should try and get the game rules published which I scoffed at. Talk about a niche in a niche hobby at that. Some also encouraged me to put on the game again next convention.

OK, so I did. Set it up for 8 this time.

I got 3 players….That's how it goes.

Protect that copyright; you just never know what might grab the hobby's attention next.

Have you thought of approaching Phil Smith at Osprey? He seems to be open to all sorts of ideas for rules (up to a point. But then maybe my idea was just a little ahead of its time) They certainly churn out the blue books at a rate I can't keep up with.

Whatever the format, if you were to publish I would advise keeping basing flexible; most people, including me, seem to have their MexRev figures individually based.

Back on the original subject of this thread, the Mondragon 75mm gun, it has another use: the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, which I'm reasonably confident is more seldom played than Mex Rev :-).