Which era/armies have the best 1/72 plastic coverage?

[Hergrmir]

Hey all. I just ordered the FoG rulebook and the Rise of Rome and Immortal Fire books, and I'm wondering which lists might have the most complete range of figures available in cheapo 1/72s. The particular reason I ask is that I know nobody who's interested in ancients, or really anything prior to gunpowder, and so I want to build two armies, perferably that will look good next to each other and that were at war with each other. Enter 1/72s. I've never worked with these before, as all my previous gaming has been fantasy or sci-fi so it's been hard plastics and metals before.

I found plastic soldier review, but quite frankly I'm such a newb to this business that the huge variety of reviews seem beyond me. I've managed to gather that Zvezda is quite highly recommended, as things go - would it make sense to build matching Carthaginians and Romans from them, or is this the sort of thing where manufacturers have multiple styles and sizes even with their own ranges? HaT looks good as well, but I don't know where I might find those here. The other thing is that I'm not terribly sure how to go about forming these up into battlegroups. So many of the ranges seem like they're designed for modellers or dioramists and so on, that I'm worried about getting together a nice block of cohesive infantry. Is there any manufacturer or range that you'd recommend?

Finally, what about the Greeks and the rest of the Hellenstic world? I've so far just managed to get through a bunch of the Punic Wars reviews on PSR, and dread having to go through yet more to look at Greeks.

BTW, I'm from Toronto, ON, if anyone in the GTA feels like playing a game or showing it off to me sometime.

Now of course, if WF would just hurry up and get on with bringing around May 23rd, I could just go for a type of model I'm much more comfortable with, but I don't know what else is on the plate beyond the one box as far as the Late Republic goes.

[hammy]

I would say that from a wargamers point of view the Hat figures are probably best but the quality of figures from Zvezda and Italleri are much better. As to where to get them Google is your friend. I use a UK company called harfields but I am sure there are companies in Canada that import them too.

The Hat Macedonian and successor range is pretty good, I have the figures to do an army worth of them. I also have Esci and Italeri Romans and Gauls which are nicer individually but a bit harder to make into nice BGs.

Plastic soldier review is a super resource as it lists figure counts for each pose.

If you are a total newbie ancients player you could pick an army that has a history you are interested in and an opponent for it or just wait for Wargames Factory to start production, it won't be long now.

[Quintus]

I'm halfway though painting an Ancient Spanish army (Hannibal's Spanish Infantry) using 1/72 figures from HaT. I just based several BGs of Spaniards before coming online.

It would appear that the Punic Wars is well-covered by 1/72 figures. (What put me off Macedonians - which I love - is the fact that the figures hold long spears or pikes horizontally which is a bit of a bind when wargaming.)

I have also bought Republican Romans from HaT too. I understand what you mean about the variety of figures; this isn't a problem with barbarian soldiers but regular troops need some "regularity". The way I intend to do this with the Romans is to group figures into 4 identical models and base them as a group. Some of the figures are a bit deeper than the standard for FoG, but the rules suggest deeper bases so that should be all right. My solution is to put most of the figures in two rows on double-depth bases and have a few single bases (of figures with smaller "footprints") as spares in order to simulate casualty removals and to face flanks etc. I have the Roman figures and suitable MDF bases and it works.

I will be putting cavalry on slightly deeper MDF bases because of the lengths of the models - not strictly necessary but I dislike painting and don't want to risk noses and tails having their paint rubbed off.

[willb]

michigan toy soldier company carries almost all the plastic figures.
http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/this ... month.html

[thabear]

Like you i am also painting two opposing armies in 1/72 for FOG , Romans and Galatians .
I have several armies in various scales for several different periods but i'm always drwn back to the 1/72's .
Ive not found a problem picking a period in 1/72 plastics that i really like , all the "big names " are well represented .
Of course there are a multitude of "ancient soldiers " missing from the 1/72 sets available but if you're looking at the FOG supplements you should be able to find what you want fairly easily and some figures can easily "morph " into what you want .

I'd suggest you pick an army that you personally like , perhaps draw inspiration from a film ? , although most of Hollywoods efforts are a bit offputting they can be a great source of inspiration for an Anciernts army project .

Some 1/72 sets are worse than others , and i think you will be able to tell that yourself by looking at the pictures on PSR ( some are real shockers ) . Generally you cant go wrong with Zvezda , Italieri and most of HAT's products , i prefer not to use the others mainly due to the cost here in Australia , i may as well be using metals .

Romans are probably your best bet and very well represented for most of their incarnations , they were everywhere for a long time and had enemies in every corner of the world , it just depends on which period of Romans you like . Then just take your pick of the plethora of enemies available .

1/72 plastics should be very easy ( and cheap ) to pick up through the internet , and sometimes much cheaper on Ebay .

Also check out a site called "fanaticus " section "eye candy " its a website devoted to DBA but there are quite a few 1/72 scale armies there and will give you an excellent insight into how to base your figures as they are DBX basing the same as used in FOG .

Let us know how you get on , i'll be very interested to hear of your progress .

cheers tom

[thabear]

Like you i am also painting two opposing armies in 1/72 for FOG , Romans and Galatians .
I have several armies in various scales for several different periods but i'm always drwn back to the 1/72's .
Ive not found a problem picking a period in 1/72 plastics that i really like , all the "big names " are well represented .
Of course there are a multitude of "ancient soldiers " missing from the 1/72 sets available but if you're looking at the FOG supplements you should be able to find what you want fairly easily and some figures can easily "morph " into what you want .

I'd suggest you pick an army that you personally like , perhaps draw inspiration from a film ? , although most of Hollywoods efforts are a bit offputting they can be a great source of inspiration for an Anciernts army project .

Some 1/72 sets are worse than others , and i think you will be able to tell that yourself by looking at the pictures on PSR ( some are real shockers ) . Generally you cant go wrong with Zvezda , Italieri and most of HAT's products , i prefer not to use the others mainly due to the cost here in Australia , i may as well be using metals .

Romans are probably your best bet and very well represented for most of their incarnations , they were everywhere for a long time and had enemies in every corner of the world , it just depends on which period of Romans you like . Then just take your pick of the plethora of enemies available .

1/72 plastics should be very easy ( and cheap ) to pick up through the internet , and sometimes much cheaper on Ebay .

Also check out a site called "fanaticus " section "eye candy " its a website devoted to DBA but there are quite a few 1/72 scale armies there and will give you an excellent insight into how to base your figures as they are DBX basing the same as used in FOG .

Let us know how you get on , i'll be very interested to hear of your progress .

cheers tom

[thabear]

Like you i am also painting two opposing armies in 1/72 for FOG , Romans and Galatians .
I have several armies in various scales for several different periods but i'm always drwn back to the 1/72's .
Ive not found a problem picking a period in 1/72 plastics that i really like , all the "big names " are well represented .
Of course there are a multitude of "ancient soldiers " missing from the 1/72 sets available but if you're looking at the FOG supplements you should be able to find what you want fairly easily and some figures can easily "morph " into what you want .

I'd suggest you pick an army that you personally like , perhaps draw inspiration from a film ? , although most of Hollywoods efforts are a bit offputting they can be a great source of inspiration for an Anciernts army project .

Some 1/72 sets are worse than others , and i think you will be able to tell that yourself by looking at the pictures on PSR ( some are real shockers ) . Generally you cant go wrong with Zvezda , Italieri and most of HAT's products , i prefer not to use the others mainly due to the cost here in Australia , i may as well be using metals .

Romans are probably your best bet and very well represented for most of their incarnations , they were everywhere for a long time and had enemies in every corner of the world , it just depends on which period of Romans you like . Then just take your pick of the plethora of enemies available .

1/72 plastics should be very easy ( and cheap ) to pick up through the internet , and sometimes much cheaper on Ebay .

Also check out a site called "fanaticus " section "eye candy " its a website devoted to DBA but there are quite a few 1/72 scale armies there and will give you an excellent insight into how to base your figures as they are DBX basing the same as used in FOG .

Let us know how you get on , i'll be very interested to hear of your progress .

cheers tom

[thabear]

i didnt actually answer your question ,at the moment , with whats available i'd be batting for Persians , Greeks , Alexandrian Successor , Romans , Celts and Carthaginians ,,,,,,,, then theres the biblical ranges and the much later mediaval ranges .

good luck , tom