Models

At the moment I'm obsessed with idea's for Rocketman Extremis, and buying various stuff to build up the forces I shall need to run a multiple tank per side battle. The idea is, to run a five game campaign where the 'good guys' have only limited resources. To that end I have recently purchased a few models. I still have a lot of purchases left to complete what I need, but in the mean time, here is a review of the quality of various vehicle models.

Vickers Mk II medium tank
By Copplestone Casting
Price: £19:00

This is the model which inspired me towards a full on tank vs tank Rocketman game. I've always regarded the Vickers MkII as the quintessential example of 'daft pre war tank design'. It was designed to be a light tank, but in those days when they had tanks so small they called them tankette's, the Mk II was something of a heavy weight in the British arsenal. It had five crew and no less than seven weapons. The British used these tanks in Africa but they never really saw combat.
The model is approx 1/50 scale, and as far as I can tell, is exactly the right size for 28mm games. As you can see in the images below, the top of a mans head is about level with the rear of the tanks body (so much for low profiles) and the Copplestone model is exactly the same. The model itself is resin, comes in four main parts (with four metal gun barrels) and is extremely easy to asssemble. The only minus is the quality of the cast, which mine has slight air bubble damage and a few blurred details (but not enough to prevent me from buying three more of these in the not too distant future I hope). 5/5

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Austin armoured car
By Sloppy Jalopy
Price: £15.00

I got a shock when I opened the packet and saw this monster for its a huge model, so big that I thought there had to be an error of some kind.
The problem is, this model is 1/48 scale and although some people prefer this scale for wargaming in 28mm I think its fairly obvious that the vehicles are just too big. You can see how big the Austin really was below, where the top of the tallest guys head comes to the lower edge of the turret. By comparison my 28mm figure's head comes to about half way down the vehicles body. I can get around this problem by using the Austin model as an armoured truck based on the Austin armoured car but its a hassle when a model is sold for 28mm games, but is so innacurate. Whats even worse is the model isn't even very well made. The rivets on the body are very badly done and the cast is messy and full of flash. The model comprises of one resin body and 18 metal parts. 2/5

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Ford AA pick up truck
By Sloppy Jalopy
Price: £11:00

A far better model than the Austin armoured car, and a model not uncomfortable with being 1/48 scale in a 28mm game. Yes its a tad big, but its a truck and it looks right, and thats what counts.
The Ford AA was manufactured in huge numbers, and was built in the Soviet Union as the GAZ AA, so its a great model for the 1930's period, and I may buy another at some point. There are four different versions available.
The model is all metal and has 23 parts. Some parts do not fit together very well, but a little filing and some green stuff can see it right. 3/5

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Morris 15 CWT
By Company B.
Price: $30:00

On the Brigade games web shop, this model looked great. Since it says 28mm in the page header I assumed that the driver in the picture was a 28mm figure, but alas, he isn't. He's more like a 25mm figure, and a small one at that! Consequently my heart sank when I saw the model for the first time. Instead of a heavy duty truck, I've bought something that looks like a soap box go-cart. I'm so disapointed with it that, try as I might, I can't see much use in it. I may scrap this model and convert it to a destroyed vehicle unit. A few other companies make similar models (but are mostly SAS desert Chevrolets) so I may have to find a decent replacement. The problem is, this model is a 1/56 scale model and 1/56 is just too small. I maintain that 1/50 scale is the best scale for 28mm figures, but so few models are made in 1/50, where as, 1/56 scale is pretty wide spread. I wouldn't mind if it just didn't look so stupid!
The model itself is okay, as a model. It has two main resin parts and 12 metal parts. It gives you the choice btween a soft top up and down and the driver has a choice of three heads. If it were just the right scale it would be perfect, but as looks are everything in 28mm gaming models, then I'm afraid this model was a waste of money 1/5

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Ford model T
armoured pick up
By Company B.
Price: $17:00

I bought two of these under the same false advirtising as the Morris 15cwt. Assuming they were compatable with 28mm figures, I was amazed and dsimayed at how small and ridiculous these models looked. The machine gunner figure which sits in the back looks like a child compared to my regular 28mm figures. Once again the 1/56 scale, this time coupled with the small size of the Ford Model, T is the culprit. The models are decent enough, as models, but they are practically useless for the purpose I had intended, which is a shame because these models would be perfect for 1920's to 1930's period games, especially dealing with Bolsheviks. I'm not sure what I'll do with these. (I wonder if Oleg has any use for them as qionst vehicles...?)
The models have a single resin body and 17 metal parts. 1/5