Wargames Foundry 20mm WW11 Range

Wargames Foundry now have their complete WW11 20mm range available again on their web site here

They have them at an introductory price of £9 per pack of ten figures and £5 per tank crew pack, so if you want some now might be a good time to get them.

WWE 22 German Tank Crew 1939-40

Wargames Foundry 20mm WW2 range

In something of an excursion from their usual business, Wargames Foundry produced a range of 20mm figures for WW2 designed by Alan and Michael Perry. The range started in 1990 and gained semi mythical status after it was discontinued, with rumours of destroyed moulds doing the rounds.

In fact, Foundry still have the moulds and recast some figures several years ago to test them. It is intended to release some at least of the figures, probably in packs, sometime in 2009.

As they are in the meantime out of general production I thought I would cover them here. I have worked from a series of advertisements in Wargames Illustrated magazine from 1990 and 1991 at the time of the release and extension of the range, not from a catalogue, so I didn't have the benefit of a catalogue with a complete listing. However, thanks to Alan, Smon and others over on the Society of Gentlemen Gamers I've been reminded that there was a full list in the original Rapid Fire rules booklet, and I have reproducesd it here. this adds some British, German, French and American figures, plus tank crews and seated trops in the equipment range, WWE 21-27. I'll add posts for these figures gradually, although I don't currently have drawings or photographs for most of them.

The advertisements for the range were illustrated with line drawings, which I have used here to illustrate the posts. They have a certain feel about them and would certainly help you identify any figures you have. I intend to add photos as and when the become available.

Infantry codes ran to 109 and there were also 27 equipment groups (crewed support weapons and tank and vehicle crews). The range covered ten nationalities plus unspecified European Resistance Movement figures, and made many subjects generally available for the first time.

British infantry

The British range contained seven infantrymen and two officers, for North African and Euopean theatres of operations. There were three supporting equipment groups, medium and light machine guns and a light mortar.

WW11 1 British officer North Africa

WW11 2 British NCO North Africa, Thompson smg

WW11 3 British infantryman North Africa, advancing with rifle

WW11 4 British NCO, Europe 1943, Thompson SMG

WW11 18 British infantryman, Europe, advancing with rifle

WW11 19 British infantry officer, Europe, advancing with pistol

WW11 53 British infantry, Europe, firing

WW11 64 British 8th Army, running with rifle

WW11 65 British 8th Army, charging with fixed bayonet

WWE 4 British bren gun team, 2 crew

WWE 5 British MG team (Vickers) and crew

WWE 6 British 2" mortar and 2 crew

I currently have no picture of this group

Empire and Commonwealth

This is my heading too sum up the two Australian and Indian infantry figures, each of which enjoyed the support of both a Vickers MMG and Bren LMG team.

WW11 34 Indian infantry, North Africa, advancing with rifle

WW11 45 Australian infantry advancing

WWE 11 Australian bren gun team, 2 crew