"What New Miniature Range?" Topic

Ok chaps, here's a topic that pops it's head up every so often.

I know we live in the golden age of miniature wargaming, with probably every period well covered – but what new range would you like to see?
Perhaps something entirely new or a revamp of older ranges. Maybe for an entire conflict or just a small contingent. And in what scale?

The 1848 Hungarian Revolt in 28mm.

1)The army of the Bourbon Restoration (for Spanish Intervention, Morea Expedition, and the invasion of Algiers.)
2) British infantry between the adoption of the Martini Henry and the Home Service Helmet.
3) Dark Age and Archaic Greeks
4) ancient Greek civilians (a real dearth compared to Roman civilians)
5) ancient Celtic and Germanic civilians

I was thinking about that earlier in the week. For me, cheap hard plastic tricorne era figures like the old Spenser Smiths only smaller--about 20-25mm. Simple enough to be "generic" and and paint quickly, and cheap enough to be bought en masse to create a nice-looking table. It's an indulgence: I don't really need more armies.

Second choice would be SF figures small enough to blend with my old Heritage John Carter of Mars and West End Games Star Wars figures. The new 32mm lines do me no good unless I'm prepared to throw everything away and start over--which I suspect is the idea.

Third choice is Famous Actor heads in 28mm, so Charlton Heston can command my SF mercenaries--or my War of 1812 US--John Wayne is a cop in Mega City One, and Jim Hutton commands my scouts. And I'm sure I could find a use for a Samuel L. Jackson head with or without eyepatch.

Fourth is 28mm SF crew-served weapons. (Don't forget Squat crews!)

I will not live to paint what's already in the house and garage, you understand. At this rate, I may not live to see those kickstarter space dwarves I've already paid for show up.

More Space Marines!

Just kidding😇

Special for Steve Jackson Games: plastic Combine vehicles for OGRE. I really expected them by now.

Hard plastic Boers (foot and mounted) I can convert to Metis for the Riel Rebellion…I'm a reasonable guy…

I have always wanted Old Glory to produce Napoleonic Brunswickers and Dutch Belgians.

hard plastic tricorne era figures

Agreed, Robert, but to replace or fill in the gaps in existing polyethylene SYW figure ranges. They wouldn't replace my 18mm SYW, but would get used for the WAS or an Imagination force.

I'd like a weird WWII and WWII ‘46 range in 20mm which I could integrate with my existing figures and kits.

For 28mm Spanish colonial figures see Dayton Painting Consortium's range -- dpcltdcom.org/rsm95_010.htm – formerly of the London Warroom.

Here are some I painted a while ago -- link

Jim

I'd like to see WWI Japanese infantry (also suitable for the 1920s in Central Asia as alllies of the Mad Baron). Also, I'd like to see Japanese Imperial infantry, cavalry, artillerymen, and policemen suitable for the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877.

Quantum Mechanic, have you checked out Badger Games' Barbary Coast pirates link

Also, Eureka Miniatures has Turkish pirates link

A really good range of 12th C Medievals -- Anglo-Normans, French, Germans, Italians. In 28mm & 15mm. There are some out there, but to my knowledge not a lot.

Damon.

I can only list the things I can't find:

• 1/72 Napoleonic Spanish
  
• 1/72 Napoleonic Portuguese
  
• 1/72 plastic AWI troops of all nations in proper 18th C. poses (marching, firing, loading, standing, advancing, etc. – just not running or jumping or or waving arms around) as nicely sculpted, proportioned and detailed as the many Napoleonics sets around.
  
• 1/144 3D printed WWII aircraft (not STL files). The growing glut of gorgeous 1/200 STL files is amazing, but 1/144 is a better scale, and I don't want to start another hobby (3D printing).
  
• 1/300 WWII bombers in plastic or resin, with good proportions and great details
  
• 1/1200 (or 1/1250) 3D-printed WWI/WWII vessels with great detail, no stair-stepping, and reasonable prices. Think double-sized GHQ models.
  
• 1/1200 French ironclads from the 1870-1890 period
  

The Greek-Italian War during WW2. Complete lines that cover all the various units that were involved.

Grattan +1

15th Century Byzantines for defense of Thessalonica and Constantinople or the wars in the Morea.

I would like to see more Mycenaean Greeks, particularly civilians and mythological characters.

Grelber

Yellow Admiral…1/72 (20mm) Spanish and Portuguese Napoleonics are available from Newline.

Colonial Afghan regulars in true 25mm to go with my RalPartha collection.

Perry brothers creating a comprehensive range of 32mm/34mm figures for SHADO forces and the aliens for the old TV show UFO.

I've posted this as an April Fool's Day joke back in the day and it received a lot of interest.

Would love to see them make it happen.

Bashytubits: have you seen the Steve Barber figures for the Hungarian Revolt ?

link

Ask 50 miniature wargamers and get 49 different answers.

Anything that has market viability has been made countless times in all the desired scales.
All manufacturers are doing now is fighting for market share or niches -- or as Warlords-- create yet a new scale.
This has been the case for some years now -- Old Glory included.
But, what do I know as just an uninformed amateur?
I am sure some of the wise old venerable one here have much greater knowledge.

Russ Dunaway

Russ, LOL!

15m Tirailleurs Tonkinois, Tirailleurs Annamites, British troops in home service dress, servants.

Old Jar Head is speaking to me!

I love 15mm and especially 19th century colonials, but please something beyond the British.

This is a list I have had posted on my old web-site since before the turn of the century:
A few may have been made, but only a very few.

Colonial Period Figure Wanted:.
Netherlands in Indonesia: Dutch and Natives (Malay and others)
Portuguese in Africa: Portuguese, Askari, Ally, Tribals

Belgian Congo (free state): Belgian, Askari, Tribals, Arabs

Germans in:
Africa: Schutzzen, Askari, Ally?, Heraros, Hottentot,
Pacific Samoa: German navy, marines, constabulary, Samoans

British in:
Burma: UK, India, ally?,Burma, tribals
New Zealand: UK, Police, Civilians, Ally, Moari

Russians in:
Asia: Russians, Cossacks, Pathan, Mongols, China, Japan
Alaska: Russians, Eskimos, NW Indians

United States in:
Philippines: USA, Askari, Spain, Filipinos, Moros
Korea 1871: USA, Koreans

France in:
Sub-Sahara Africa: FFL, Senegalese Tirailleurs, laptots (African french sailors), Tribals
Dahomey: FFL, Amazons, Tribals
French-Indo China: FFL, Tonkinese Tirailleurs, Animite Tirailleurs, Viet natives, Chinese, Flagmen

Spain in:
Cuba: Spain, Cuban militia, Cuban rebels, USA
Philippines: Spain, Filippinos, Moros, USA
Morocco: Spain, SFL, Arabs

I think that sometimes the beauty of the hobby is the sense of "making do," with what is available. I guess I've been doing this long enough that substituting this for that was common when I began gaming in the '70's There has never been so much cool stuff available, so if something is missing, I'm assuming it's my problem.

QM--I did the Burr Conspiracy, used the OG MAW figures. The big change in the uniform is the shortened coats. It's okay, no players or observers noted the difference. I also used the Spanish from Dayton Painting Consortium as ColCampbell suggested. They worked well and I enjoyed painting them.

@Grattan54 you should check out Studio Historia's line for the Greek-Italian front in WW2

link

Really nice stuff; I've seen them printed in 15mm, 20mm, and 28mm and they look great.

DyeHard!

Perhaps some 15mm joy for you.

Malay, Ilunan, Dyak, and Chinese "Pirates," as well as their distinctive warships--but no Dutchmen, as yet--and more may be seen here: link

And your list of figures for Cuba and the Philippines in '98, including Insurectos in both locales, Moro's (and their war canoes), and Spanish troops in a variety of regional uniforms, plus field artillery, etc, may all be found here: link

Rules for both subjects are available here link and here link .

We still have our 25mm "Knights of the Pacific Northwest" range of Tlingkits, Inuits, trappers, etc, on the shelf, with the TSATF rules variant that can be brought back into production ahead of schedule, if that floats your kayak!

TVAG

Yellow Admiral…1/72 (20mm) Spanish and Portuguese Napoleonics are available from Newline.

I have some Newline 20mm miniatures. They're beautiful, but small compared to the plastic 1/72 miniatures. I will probably build some Newline cavalry units anyway.

It's not that there aren't any 1/72 Spanish or Portuguese Napoleonics – HäT produced a whole range of bicorne-era Spanish infantry, and Emhar once produced sets of Portuguese infantry (now long out of production) – it's just hard to build a big 1/72 Peninsular War collection without converting figures from other periods/nations. If this market niche is ever filled, it will probably be with 3D printable STL files.

I have no expectation that anything on my list is more than a wistful wish. I am sometimes pleasantly surprised by a sudden expansion of a niche (e.g. 1/200 planes, 1/300 WWII naval, 1/700 sailing ships), but that usually happens either because of a new game system taking off (Blood Red Skies, Cruel Seas, Black Sails, etc.), or a new technology (3D printing).

- Ix

You're absolutely right, Russ. I'm sure no one here has your experience or knowledge. It's just a fun and interesting topic.

I actually agree with you KSmyth. I enjoyed the old Airfix Mag articles on how to cut up their plastic figures and convert them into other armies.

To give an example as to how the market has changed-- many years ago when I decided to release the first reasonably complete AWI and FIW wars range in 25mm I had more then one manufacturer warn me that I was stepping into a " black hole." Now look at these periods!!
I also often say, half kidding and half sincerely-- the whole Hobby pivots and exists because of four Armies in history-- Roman's,French Napoleonics,Confederates,and Nazi's -- everything else is subordinate.

Russ Dunaway

Yellow Admiral: Keep an eye out for the manufacturer 42nd Highlander Miniatures (Massimo the sculptor). I saw cast examples of Napoleonic Spanish guns, limbers and crews for sale at Dioramica 3 show in May. The detail of his 1/72nd scale sculpts is amazing. From what you posted, I am pretty sure these are what you are looking for. (Cast in white metal)

The problem is most of the well-researched periods have existing figures available. That leaves only very unusual periods with not enough research sources in the most common languages that wargamers can read to garner lots of desire for collecting. The English-speaking world probably has the largest group of collectors. So other language sources don't get widely disseminated to create interest or desire for figures. If there is a small market desire than the creators can't make enough money to warrant the expense of making the figures.

Follow the # number of books published.

Russ Dunaway

I made Ozz because It was something I wanted since childhood accepting the fact it will never be anything then a niche thing.
If you really want something then spend the money, take the risk and venture out, don't wait for others to take that risk for you. Easy enough done.
I suspect it is the same with some of the products the Perry twins have -- aided by their fortunes made at GW and not having to pay sculpting fees so the risk is somewhat minimimized for them.
If so, then eventually you will see your dreams come true in metal or plastic -- so no worry.
The same way we see endless fast food hamburger and fries chains-- and no liver/onion and spinach fast food chains?
Ever wonder about that?
Just a small dose of real world business reality.

Russ Dunaway

28mm 2nd Boer War foreign volunteers fighting for the Boers.

28mm WW2 early war German and Allied Sappers who are actually building things like bridges.

28mm WW2 French Peugeot DK5 truck.

28mm town and city buildings for the AWI.

28mm AWI Philadelphia Associators

28mm AWI Lafayette's Light Infantry.

28mm WW2 French Anti-Aircraft Artillery

28mm WW2 German and Allied airfield personnel (French), mechanics, refuelers, etc.

The Perrys love sculpting. They will always find troops to sculpt, no matter how obcure. They probably are unique in their situation, as Russ alludes.

Love the fast food chain analogy. Too true.

Steve Barber makes the 48/49 revolution in 28mm. He also does sculpting commissions.

Ming for the Imjin war and transition period.