Airfix 1/72 vs Platoon 20 (20mm), First World War

The photo above compares three plastic figures from Airfix (A,C,E) with a pair of metal soldier from Platoon 20 (B,D). Click on the image to see 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. These two figures are found in pack G-G1 “German Infantry Command (Pickelhaube).” This code includes 4 figures in 3 poses. Platoon 20’s First World War range covers Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. The German contingent includes 8 codes, 2 of which are mounted. Some of the figures in this range were previously manufactured by Lancashire Games

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured to eyes): 21mm.
Height (measured to top of head): 23mm.

Availability and Cost:

East Riding Miniatures sell most of the Platoon 20 figures in packages of 4, with multiples poses, for £2.50.

The website can be found here:

http://shop.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Airfix figure on the left (A) is from box 01727 “WW1 British Infantry.” The box was reissued by HaT as set 7002, with the same name. It includes 44 figures in 20 poses.

The Airfix figure in the middle (C) is from box 01726: “WW1 German Infantry.” The box was reissued by HaT as set 7001, with the same name. This box features 45 figures in 20 poses.

The Airfix figure on the right (E) is from box 01729: “WW1 American Infantry.” The box was reissued by HaT as set 7004 as “WW1 US Infantry.” This box features 48 figures in 19 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

01726 (German) Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.
01726 (German) Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 23mm.

01727 (British) Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.
01727 (British) Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 23mm

01729 (US) Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 21mm.
01729 (US) Height (measured from sole of foot to top of head): 23mm

Availability and Cost:

The Airfix figures were introduced in the 1960s and have been in and out of production ever since. All three sets are back in production once again.

Metal Manufacturer Website Changes

Carrying on from the previous post on metal manufacturer and dedicated distributor websites - the following three firms have updated their websites to new addresses:

Lancashire Games
http://www.lancashiregames.com/
25mm ranges: (these are actually 28mm figures)
Ancient
Medieval
Renaissance (new in 2011)
Napoleonic
20mm range
World War Two

Sergeants Mess Miniatures
http://www.sgts-mess.com/
20mm ranges:
ACW
World War Two (including civilians)
British Navy, 1919-45
Note: They no longer carry the TQD range.

Britannia Miniatures
http://www.britannia-miniatures.com/catalog/
Following the untimely death of Dave Howitt earlier this year, production of the range has been taken over by Andrew Grubb, the owner of Grubby Tanks.
20mm ranges:
World War Two
Cold War
World War One
Vietnam
Afghanistan (1979 onwards)
25mm ranges:
Ancients and Dark Ages
American West
Crimea
Colonial

Lancashire Games vs Matchbox, WW2 Infantry

The photo above compares three metal soldiers from Lancashire Games (A,C) with a pair of plastic figures from Matchbox (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets).

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer's Designation and Number of Poses:

The Matchbox figures come from two different sets: the blue-gray figure on the left is from box P5003 “German Infantry”; and the brown figure to the right is from box P5001 “British Infantry.”

The British Infantry and German box each includes 49 figures in 17 poses, plus a mortar.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes):
P5003 German Infantry 19mm
P5001 British Infantry 18mm

Availability and Cost:

Matchbox no longer produces these sets. Used figures can be found on eBay or similar places. Complete boxes also come up occasionally, but they sell for high premiums to collectors.

Lancashire vs Airfix, World War 2 Infantry

The photo above compares three metal figures from Lancashire Games (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic figures from Airfix (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

Figure B comes from box 01718 “World War II Japanese Infantry.” This set was also released by Heller as 79618.

Airfix figure D comes from box 01705 “WWII German Infantry.” Specifically, the figures come from the later version of this set. This set was also released by Heller as 79605 “German Infantry”

Each box includes 48 figures in 15 or 16 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

01718 Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm.
01705 Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 19mm.

Availability and Cost:

Both sets are currently in production at Airfix. New boxes can be purchased directly on the manufacturer’s website at a cost of £4.99.

Lancashire vs Esci and Italeri, WW2 US Infantry

The photo above compares three metal infantry figures from Lancashire Games (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic paratroopers from Esci and Italeri (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures came from Italeri set 6063 “WWII US Paratroopers 101st Airborne,” which is a reissue of set 209 from Esci, titled “WWII US Paratroopers 82nd Screaming Eagles". The set contains 48 figures in 14 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

Italeri continues to produce these figures, and they can be found easily in hobby shops.

Lancashire vs FOV, WW2 US Infantry

The photo above compares three metal figures from Lancashire Games (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic figures from Forces of Valor (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The FOV figures are included in set 85242 “US Landing Craft LCM 3.” FOV offers pre-painted figures with several of its diecast vehicle models, as well as issuing a few small sets of figures and accessories. A complete list of their figure offering will be forthcoming.

Figure Characteristics:

Height (measured from sole of foot to eyes): 20mm approximately (neither of the figures are fully upright).

Availability and Cost:

FOV retires its releases from time to time. In general though, FOV products can be found in a wide range of online and retail stores.

Lancashire vs Revell, WW2 US Infantry, part 2

The photo above compares three metal infantry figures from Lancashire Games (A,C,E) with two plastic paratroopers from Revell (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The Revell figures come from box 02517 “WWII US Paratroopers.” This box includes 44 figures in 12 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

According to PSR, this set was first released in 1995. It is currently in production at Revell, and can be found online and at local hobby shops.

Notes on the Samples:

The Revell figures were obtained in a trade with Eric Yin.

Lancashire vs Revell, WW2 US Infantry part 1

The photo above compares three metal miniatures from Lancashire Games (A,C,E) with a pair of plastic figures from Revell (B,D). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturers’ Designation and Number of Poses:

The Revell figures come from box 02506 “WWII US Marines.” This box includes 50 figures in 12 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

According to PSR, this set was first released in 1993. It is currently in production at Revell, and can be found online and at local hobby shops.

Notes on the Samples:

The Revell figures were obtained in a trade with Eric Yin.

Odemars vs Lancashire, WW2 Infantry

The photo above compares three American soldiers from Lancashire Games black-washed metal) with a pair of plastic Germans from Odemars (tan plastic). Click on the image for a larger version.

THE METAL FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The metal figures come from Lancashire Games’ 20mm WWII American Range. They can be found in set 20/WBP32, which is a large battle pack titled “American Infantry.” The figures can also be found in smaller sets in the range. Lancashire offers 13 different sets of US Infantry, including several modeled in greatcoats. Each code includes several poses. Other US sets in their WW2 range cover the Marines (7 sets) and Paratroops (6 sets) .

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

These figures are currently available from Lancashire Games. 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.

THE PLASTIC FIGURES

Manufacturer’s Designation and Number of Poses:

The plastic figures come from Odemars set PF17 “The Last Defenders of Berlin.” The set contains 42 figures in 14 poses.

Figure Characteristics:

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

Availability and Cost:

Although Odemars shut down production in 2009, their figures are still available in hobby shops and online stores. For instance, Drum and Flag is currently selling the set for £6.95.

Notes on the Samples:

The Odemars figures were obtained in a trade from Eric Yin.

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.