I was wondering if anyone knows where one could get a good representation of the figures described in the Contracting Trouble scenario?

The Marine squad is 13 figures: 1 Corporal, 3x Fireteams (3x Riflemen, 1x SAW). Since this is my first foray into modern combat, what is a SAW? Semi-Automatic Weapon?

Insurgents: 4 leaders, 2x Insurgents with RPG, 12x Insurgents with AK47

Civilians: 2 (I think I can find these)

I'd like to get figures that model the weapons and looks of soldiers today. I have a friend who is a stickler for WYSIWYG at times and it is nice to see a figure and not have to wonder if that weapon is a pistol or a bazooka. It is also my first foray into modern, or even WW I and later, systems.

The demo mentions Peter Pig but I think they are all 15mm. They also mention Cannon Fodder but they also look to be 15mm. Since both companies are non-USA, who sells them in the USA? I'd like to go 20mm to give that scale a try. I've checked a couple of the sites mentioned (Syr Hobbs, mostly) but not all of the items have pictures of them and/or do not describe the weapons.

I know, it is a pretty lame request but I am so unfamiliar with the scale and the make-up of the various armies. Perhaps the demo can be edited to actually give suggestions for which figures to buy. I guess I am one of those gamers who likes to buy starter sets and then expand from there.

Anyway, I hope all the above makes sense and that some kind person can help an ignorant soul spend his money wisely.

Not a lame question at all! Unfortunately, I don't know enough about 20mm figures to give a good "first hand" recommendation.

How about some of you 20mm buffs out there? If you were going to buy figures just for scenario 1, what would you get?

_________________
Shawn Carpenter
Game Designer, Ambush Alley Games

"I don't wanna be remembered as the guy who died because he underestimated the threat posed by a monkey."

Hi Shawn/TriOpticon,

I can assist here. I'd recommend a few packs from Liberation Miniatures (either http://www.rhmodels.com/ in the UK or Syr Hobbs in the US (http://www.syrhobbswargames.com).

The USMC fire teams can be accurately represented by US02SQ3 which gives you ten M16A4 rifle armed Marines (the M16A4 is the current issue M16 with flatop receiver and ACOG optical gunsight).

Add a pack of US02SAW1 which gives you three carrying the M249 SAW- Squad Automatic Weapon (basically a box fed light machine gun).

If you want to mix it up a little, grab a pack of US02COMA4 which has three command types again with the current M16A4.

For the security contractors, try USS6 which is four bareheaded guys with M4 carbines (a common contractor weapon)- you can paint these guys in civilian clothing. Or take a look at the current US Special Forces in baseball caps- all carrying 'tricked out' M4s.

Insurgents- if you want very Iraq specific bad guys go STSAK (ten Iraqis with AKs in a mix of bareheads and headbands) or STSAKAR (which are the same poses but in Arab dish dasha style headgear).

If you want more generic jihadists, try PLOAK47 which has ten guys wearing the keffiyah (the checked wrap around headgear) with a mix of AK47s and AKMs. Command figures are in PLOCOM (4 guys) RPGists are in PLORPG (2 gunners). Similar packs are available in the Iraqi Insurgent range.

Liberation provide the absolute best modern 20mm miniatures out there. They research all of their figures and are historically accurate in terms of weapons and dress. I have over 1200 of their miniatures covering Chechnya, Afghanistan (both 1980s and current), Falklands, Iraq and Somalia- highly recommended.

20mm also has the advantage of inexpensive vehicle options- take a look at Dragon's pre painted 1/72 range- AAVTP7s for the Marines and Bradleys for Army grunts. Trumpeter has just released a kit of the M1126 Stryker (a great kit for wargamers- one sprue!) so a pre painted version should be out next year.

I might even post some images up but to be honest I'm not sure how to- Shawn, any assistance for an old guy??

Hope all of this helps.

cheers,

Leigh

If metal is not your game, you could go Caesar Figures - soft plastic - also in 1:76-1:72 (aka 20mm).

These are cheap and easily available - at least using mail order, and you will only need the Modern US Infantry and the Modern Insurgents, and these will give you all the figures not only for that scenario but others.

For vehicles in 1:72 - Dragon, Forces of Valour, Easy Model/Trumpeter and, if in EEC, Altaya Die-cast provide you will ready to play die-cast and plastic AFV s and other tactical vehicles.

For Civilian stuff go for 1:72 Cararama, also availavle form Schuko.

I hope this helps

Faustnik

Hi Faustnik,

Good to see a few faces from The Guild over here. I bought the Caesar packs for a mate on a budget- wasn't that impressed to be honest plus no SAW gunners. Thought the insurgents were much better than the US though.

Just my 2p/10c

Leigh

Leigh, thanks for the great info. I would like to see any pictures that you have. Probably best to post them on the Figure Gallery forum, though.

If you have your pictures on a website, just click the Img button above (when posting a message) and put the URL of the picture between the tags:
If they are not on a website, there are several free picture websites where you can upload them and then post the link to them. Such as Flickr or, if you have Gmail, you can use their Picasa web album.

Thanks again!

Faustnik, thanks. I am not picky when it comes to plastic versus metal. Do you have any good online sites for ordering/viewing the figures you mentioned? I must say how surprised I am by how many stores and figure makers do not have pictures of the items.

Thanks!

Hi TriOpticon,

No problem, I'll give the photos a try tomorrow- just finishing building those two 1/72 Strykers at the moment. I have a lot of in game shots which should help- all miniatures are Liberation.

PS worth registering for an account at The Guild- they have a great 'living catalogue' of Liberation http://theguild.informe.com/

cheers

Leigh

Sorry, but Caesar Modern US Infantry do have SAW gunners.

About the quality, their main problem is the plastic, too soft for some people (I'm still using the Revell box for my Iraqi/Afghan scenarios).

For a good quality, but expensive try Preiser Modern Infantry, as they are hard plastic and multipose - expensive (only 12 figures) and hard to find

Faustnik

Well shit there you go- I had to give my mate a few Liberation SAW gunners I had spare to make up his fire teams- the Caesar figures did come loose in a bag within the box so possibility exists that the QA wasn't exactly up to speed that day.

Thanks for the info, Leigh. I am registered there now, too. I also joined the 20mmModernWargames group on Yahoo! So, I hope no one gets tired of me asking questions. Hopefully I'll post pictures of my figures once they arrive and I paint them.

To my memory Bullshot had presented in this very forum some pictures of Caesar Figures.

http://www.ambushalleygames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=95


If your are in the USA try Squadron Signal online http://www.squadron.com/

Or Brookhurst online http://brookhursthobbies.com/INDEXtest.HTM

As both seems to be the most reliable, that side of the pond.

A+

Faustnik[/url]

Yes, Bullshot did post a picture of them. Definitely some great painting, though. Thanks for the online links, too.

Hi Faustnik

Was talking to my buddy today about those Caesar US grunts and lack of SAWs or not- he definately didnt get any- the M240 yes, the M249 no. Got me thinking so I went to PSR for a look and nope their images and review show no SAWs;

http://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review. ... &code=H030

If you got SAWs I think you were very lucky

cheers

Leigh

First, thanks again to everyone's help. I went with the Liberation figures. I purchased them from Syr Hobbs Wargames. Duane was very helpful.

I purchased US02-SQ3, US02-COMA4, STS-AK, USS-6, PLO-COM, US02-SAW3, PLO-AK, US02-SAW2 and PLO-RPG. Definitely should give me enough figures to keep me busy painting and playing.

They arrived yesterday, along with some 20mm zombies (The Dead Shall Consume). The zombies came with round slottabases. The Liberation figures did not. What do you recommend for bases? I assume a washer? What size would you recommend?

I plan to clean some of them tonight. I will probably do 1 pack (1 pack of modern and 1 pack of zombies) at a time. Hopefully I will post some pics in the figure gallery soon.