SHQ & Kennington vs Mars, ECW Infantry

The photo above compares three plastic Scots from Mars (A,C,E) with a pair of metal ECW miniatures released by SHQ and Kennington (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures are offered by both SHQ and Kennington using the same catalogue information. They are catalogued as ECW 29 “Pikemen in Breastplate and Cabacete Helmet Marching.”

The Kennington & SHQ English Civil War range currently includes 62 foot poses: 26 pike, 24 musketeers, 8 lowland Scots, 3 officers, 2 artillery. In addition, the range includes one gun and 15 cavalry poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 19mm.

Availability and Cost:

The metal figures are currently available and can be ordered from the manufacturer. SHQ offers the infantry in packs of 4 figures (in a single pose), at a cost of £2.50 UK. Cavalry come in sets of 3 figures with horses, at £4.50.

Notes on the Samples:

The models were generously provided by SHQ.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures have been recently released by Mars as set 72034 “Scots Mercenaries (Thirty Years War).” The box includes 48 figures in 12 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.

Availability and Cost:

As mentioned above, this is a very recent issue, which can easily be found at hobby shops and online retailers. For instance, Harfields is selling the box for £7.50.

Notes on the Samples:

The Mars figures were obtained via a trade with Alan Dearn.

Larger Garrison Romans

These two figures were included in the mixed lot of Garrision Romans which I picked up from eBay recently. They are substantially larger and heavier than the others, which makes me assume they come from the 25mm range. Click on the image for a larger version.

The foot figure has "Garrison" printed on the bottom of his base, and covered in resin or varnish of some kind.

As with the smaller models, I cannot find a catalogue number and description on the current website for Garrison that matches these figures precisely. If you do know the code for either of these miniatures, please reply to this post.

ACTA vs Newline, British Colonial Infantry

The photo above compares three plastic figures from A Call to Arms (A,C,E) with three metal miniatures released by Newline Designs (B,D,F). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Newline Design figures come from their Zulu War Range. The specific poses are

ZW6: British Infantry at Ready, (D,F)
ZW2A: British Advancing Firing (B)

The Zulu War range from Newline includes 25 different codes for the British side (some with multiple poses). Coverage include infantry, cavalry (mounted and dismounted), command and artillery.

Figures Characteristics

Height (from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm
Body Build: Average

Availability and Cost:

Newline Design figures are currently in production, and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Foot figures are sold in packs of four, for £1.75. In addition, the firm offers larger volume deals, such as 24 packs for £9.50, or 100 figure packs for £29.50.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The A Call To Arms figures are from box 57, “British Infantry, Zulu War.” The box contains 32 figures in 8 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

ACTA’s figures are currently available and can be found at hobby shops and online retailers. For instance, Michigan Toy Soldiers sells the box for $13.99.

Valiant vs various metal makers, WW2 Infantry

This image was posted recently by "Big P at GMG" on TMP. It shows a plastic figure from Valiant, compared to five different 20mm manufacturers. Click on the picture for a larger version.

The Plastic Figure

The Valiant figure comes from set VM003 "American GIs 1942/44." The set includes 64 figures in 16 poses.

The Metal Figures

As indicated in the picture, the metal miniatures come from the manufacturers below.

Britannia Miniatures: Offers a broad range, covering all the major combatants in depth.
Battlefield Miniatures: Offer a small number of American, Japanese, French and Russian figures, as well as more substantial British and German ranges.
SHQ Miniatures: Also provides a very deep range with all major nations covered.
Liberation Miniatures: Currently this maker is only producing post-1945 figures.
Elhiem Figures: Have released WW2 figures in two series. Their newest series covers the Red Army, US troops in winter gear, and a number of German subjects. The older series also covers some other topics.

US in Vietnam: Rafm vs Esci, Italeri, Revell

The photo above compares three metal figures from Rafm (A,C,E) with three plastic figures originally released by Esci (B,D,F). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturers’ designation and Number of Poses:

The Rafm figures come from the “Charlie Company” range; the specific figures come from the following codes (each code comprises multiple poses):

A.RAF 06993 “US Army Rifle Squad”
C. RAF 06971 “USMC Rifle Squad”
E. RAF 06970 “USMC Command”

Rafm has 14 different sets available in the “Charlie Company” range. In addition to the figure sets, the company also offers a helicopter and a 105mm gun with crew.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

Rafm’s metal figures are currently available, and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. The Army Rifle Squad and USMC Command sets both cost US$7.95 for nine or ten figures (in different poses). The USMC Rifle Squad costs a dollar more, and includes 14 figures.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures were originally released by Esci as set 228 “Vietnam War, US Elite Forces.” The box included 50 figures in 15 poses.

The set was reissued by Italeri as set 6078, “American Special Forces, Vietnam War.” Revell also produced it, as set 02527, with the same name as the Italeri set.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

The Italeri and Revell versions of this set can be found easily. For instance, Ye Olde Toy Soldiers is selling the Italeri version for $9.99 US.

ACW News from 20mm Nostalgia Revival

John Cunningham of 20mm Nostalgia Revival has announced the return of Wodensfeld's ACW generals to production. Castings now available include:

Robert E Lee
Major Taylor
Stonewall Jackson
James Longstreet
Officer in kepi, 2 variants
Officer in hat, 2 variants

The firm does not yet have a website, but orders can be sent to CunnJoh@AOL.com

Garrison Roman Mounted

These 20mm mounted figures came in the same used lot as the foot figures I posted a couple of weeks ago. Based on the response to that posting, I think it is safe to assume these are Garrison / Greenwood and Ball figures.

Again, they do not match any of the pictures on the Garrison site, or the descriptions for the other figures available. Presumably then these figures are not currently in production.

If anyone has any further information on these particular models, please share.

ACTA vs Jacklex, British Colonial Infantry

The photo above compares three plastic British regulars from A Call to Arms (A,C,E) with a pair of metal colonials from Jacklex (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer's Designation and Number of Poses:

The two Jacklex figures come from their Colonial Wars range. They are designated:

B: B18, “Indian Regular Officer firing pistol”
D: B16, “Highland Infantry Marching.”

The Colonial Wars range from Jacklex is primarily comprised of British troops and their enemies, but does have a small component of French Foreign Legion. They are probably best known for the accompanying equipment though, including wagons, a variety of artillery pieces with limbers, and teams of horses, oxen and mules.

Figure Characteristics:

Highlander Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 23mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

Once an independent line, Jacklex figures are today produced and sold by Spencer Smith miniatures. The figures are sold individually, for 45p each or 85p mounted

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The A Call To Arms figures are from box 57, “British Infantry, Zulu War.” The box contains 32 figures in 8 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

ACTA’s figures are currently available and can be found at hobby shops and online retailers. For instance, Michigan Toy Soldiers sells the box for $13.99.

ACTA vs Newline, British Napoleonic Infantry

The photo above compares three metal Napoleonic highlanders from Newline Designs (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic British Regulars from A Call to Arms (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Newline Design figures come from their 20 mm Napoleonics range. They are from pack BR03 “Highland Command Advancing/Marching.” This pack includes four figures: the three shown above, plus a double of one of them, which varies by pack.

The Napoleonics range from Newline Design is extensive and covers all major participants. For the British, Newline has 89 different codes in their catalogue, some of which (such as the one illustrated here) have multiple poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 19mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

Newline Design figures are currently in production, and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Foot figures are sold in packs of four, for £1.75.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The A Call To Arms figures are from box 50 “British Infantry 1815.” The box contains 32 figures in 8 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 22mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

ACTA’s figures are currently available and can be found at hobby shops and online retailers. For instance, Netmerchants sells the box for £4.75.

Notes on the Samples:

The plastic samples were donated by Liam Sullivan.

Lancashire Games WW2 US Infantry

Lancashire Games is a British manufacturer offering troops in 20mm for World War Two, and 25mm for Ancient, Medieval and Napoleonic campaigns. The photo above shows several poses from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American range. (Click on the image for a larger version.)
I believe the figures include poses from the following codes:

20/US1 Infantry Command
20/US2 Infantry Advancing
20/US3 Infantry Firing
20/US4 Infantry with SMG

I picked these figures up in a “bring and buy” in a single battle pack. It was marked as “20/WBP32,” which is the code for “American Infantry.” However, as shown above, the bag contained 31 figures, while Lancashire’s website only promises 24 figures in a battle pack. Perhaps they used to release larger battle packs, or maybe my bag had been supplemented by the original owner.

Besides the Americans, Lancashire offers a wide range of figures covering the well-known, and the not so well-known, participants in the Second World War. They include:

American
American (Paras)
American (USMC)
ANZAC
ANZAC (North Africa)
Bandits/Natives (Far East)
British (1944)
British (8th Army)
British (Far East)
British (Paras)
Bulgarian
Chinese (Communist)
Chinese (Regular)
Finns
French (1940)
German (Afrika Corps)
German (Paras)
Germans (1944 Camouflage)
Germans (1944)
Germans (late war)
Greek
Hungarian
Indian (North Africa)
Italian
Italian (North Africa)
Japanese
Norwegian
Partisans
Rumanian
Russian
Ski Troops
Winter Troops
Yugoslavian

Prices for the 20mm figures are as follows:

Battle packs of 24 figures are sold for £10.50 with a discount for purchases of multiple items.
Standard packs with 3 figures sell for £1.50.

Platoon 20 vs Esci, Revell, Italeri VC and NVA, Vietnam War

The photo above compares three metal Viet Cong figures from Platoon 20 (A,C,E) with a similar number of plastic NVA and VC troops, released originally by Esci (B,D,F). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures are from Platoon 20, currently manufactured by East Riding Miniatures. The “Vietnam Wars” range currently offered includes figures for the Vietminh to fight the French, as well as NVA, and VC for the later period.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 18mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

As mentioned, Platoon 20 figures are available from East Riding Miniatures. They are generally sold in packages of 4, with multiples poses, for £2.50.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures were originally released by Esci as set 229 “Vietnam War, North Vietnamese.” The box included 50 figures in 15 poses.

The set was reissued by Italeri as set 6079, “Vietnamese Army/Vietcong, Vietnam War.” Revell also produced it, as set 02526 “Vietcong, Vietnam War.”

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.
Body Build: Average.

Availability and Cost:

The Italeri and Revell versions of this set can be found easily. For instance, ModelsForSale.com is selling the Italeri version for £6.50 and the Revell version for the much lower price of £4.88.