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.

Almark plastic British Infantry and Heavy Weapons sets

Given the third word in the title of this blog I thought it might be more appropriate to post an old article by Bryan Fosten from Almark's Modelworld magazine from January 1974 on Vintage Wargaming., but I also thought I would signpost it from here, given the interest in the recent post on the metal figures.

Almark/Charles Stadden 20mm WW2 figures

In March 1973 Almark added some lead World War 2 figures designed by Charles Stadden to their two existing sets of plastic British Infantry and British Infantry weapons.

These are very elegant figures which were sold shrink wrapped onto display cards.

An original advert from Almark's Modelworld magazine from May 1973 is shown, together with pictures of some actual figures.

Information on the two plastic sets is available on Plastic Soldier Review:

British Infantry set here

and

British Infantry Weapons here

Lamming World War 2 list

From the B&B Miniatures catalogue, c 2000

Miltra

Bish Iwaszko was a leading light of the London Wargames Section, and a military modeller of similar standing to John Sandars.In 1979 he made a range of metal figures available through his firm Miltra - Military Training Aids. The company is still in existence, providing among other things replica ordnance and 1/12 scale bridging equipment for military training, although the figure range has changed hands a number of times. The figures were originally designed for museum use, by Jack Alexander of Jacklex fame. The figures were unusual in a number of ways; they tended to be in casual (standing around) poses rather than combat ones - this reflected their original purpose as museum diorama accessories; they often had separate weapons; and represented some subjects which at the time were impossible to obtain elsewhere, like Polish 1939 and French and Belgian 1940 troops.

They differed from their contemporaries in another way, being 1/72nd scale. There were some exotic figures, including Polish cavalry, and some even more exotic equipment, such as a TKS tankette and more gloriously a Cavalry Taczanka with 3 horses, 3 crew, and a Browning MG.

BW Models took on the range from Miltra, and later they passed on to Trux. I am not sure whether these figures are currently available and if so from where - any information on this would be gratefully received. The listings I have used have been taken from a Trux catalogue, I think from the 90s.

The review from Wargamer's Newsletter of the original release (British Airborne Forces) is reproduced below. I am also posting a series of articles by Bish Iwasko from Miniature Warfare, called Invasion WW11, over on Vintage Wargaming. These are profusely illustrated with photos of interesting models.

Miltra: British Infantry WW11

Miltra: French Infantry 1940 and Belgian Infantry 1940

Miltra: F2 French officer standing, kepi and binoculars

Miltra: F3 French officer standing, helmet and binoculars

Miltra: F4 French officer advancing, helmet and pistol

Miltra: F5 French infantryman standing, helmet

Miltra: F8 French infantryman walking, helmet, rifle at the ready

Miltra: F8 French infantryman standing - beret

Miltra: F11 French Hotchkiss MG with 2 crew and officer

Miltra: F12 French 81mm mortar with 2 crew and officer

Picture of mortar to follow when assembled

Miltra: German Infantry WW11

Miltra: Polish 1939

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