WW2 coastal forces advice sought

[Craig Austin]

Guys & Girls, I’m thinking of trying out this as a new period & would appreciate any advice or thought:

Firstly scale – it seems the choices are 1/600 or 1/1200. Is the latter just a bit too small?

Models – it would seem the easiest to get are the ex skytrex 1/600 (now heroics & Ross) or GHQ from Magister Militum for 1/1200. Any thoughts on which are the ‘nicer’ & are there others?

I’m quite happy to pay a bit extra for nicer models especially as I’m going to start with smallish forces (at least while my wife’s looking!)

I’m initially interested in clashes in the English Channel but if I can get others in my club interested might also consider expanding to include the med.

Im planning on attending Colours in 2 weeks & as both Magister Militum & H&R are going I would like to order a few. Don’t know if H&R carry them as stock  & understand that MM don’t so it looks like if I’m gonna buy from them I need to pre-order so any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Thanks Craig

Craig

[DM]

Hi Craig, I’ve been a coastal forces wargamer for about 30 years. I wargame in 1/600, 1/700 and 1/1200. The choice between the three (or rather two as you can lump 1/700 – which I use for Pacific games – and 1/600 – which I use for Channel, Baltic, Med and Black Sea games – together). 1/600 is great for small t medium sized actions. I wrote “Action Stations” for 1/600 games on a 6×4 or 8×6 table with small convoys and a division or two of boats on each side. Another big plus is you can go to town on the models and really have fun personalising them, adding extra detail etc. If you are starting out I’d have that as my first choice.

1/1200 works better for larger actions – bigger convoys essentially. The MM models are gorgeous but of course that much smaller so you won’t really notice the detail once they are on table. But they are gorgeous 🙂 For this kind of action you need a rather more streamlined set of rules than AS! I came up with a fast play set aimed at larger 1/1200 games. They are currently available free if you drop me a line 🙂

There are other 1/600 models available. PT Dockyard in the US make some lovely models in resin, and quite a few types that Skytrex / H&R haven’t f=got around to yet so well worth checking out. Stronghold in Scotland bought out the old SDD coastal range which again has all sorts of unusual types to compliment the Skytex/H&R range, Alas I’m not sure if they are available at the moment. I have a soft spot for these as I made quite a few of the masters for them.

[Craig Austin]

Thanks David,

Ive tryed looking for the old SDD range but they seem to have gone AWOL.

Part of my dilemma is that neither MM or H&R show pics of these ranges on their websites – frustrating!

Ive already downloaded your ‘schnell rules for schnell boats’ rules – were these the ones you were referring too?

If my Maths are correct a 72ft MTB works out at 36mm – 1.5 inches long  in 1/600, so 1/2 that in 1/1200 & <!–more–>yes quite small.

I see Tumbling Dice do a few boats & accessories in 1/600, so I can look at those at Colours.

I’m Tempted to order a few each from MM & H&R so I can study at leisure but that stops me buying enough to get started.

 

Craig

[Rules Junkie Jim]

Stronghold Miniatures were the last company to own the SDD ranges, and IIRC the owner didn’t enjoy the best of health and took an extended break from selling, but with a view to re-starting the business. The website no longer works, so it looks like SDD stuff won’t be available for the foreseeable future. A real bummer as their ranges included some interesting and unusual items in a variety of scales.

Anyway, some visionary archived Skytrex’s site when they owned the 1/600th coastal range, and you can use the lonks to see the photos from here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20100911231902/http://www.skytrex.com/338/1600th-coastal-forces-fight-for-the-narrow-seas

[Rules Junkie Jim]

BTW, “lonks” is “links” in English.

[DM]

Craig, if you want to see them in the flesh feel free to pop up to our place near Slimbridge. The Wargames HQ is getting up and running after being relocated and I can get the ships and boats out to show you

[Craig Austin]

Guys, thanks for your replies & apologies for not posting for a few days – the w/e was kinda hectic.

Rules Junkie: thanks for the link to the old Skytrex catalogue. Must say the models were  nicer than I thought they would be & David thanks for the invite to see yours.

I’m still undecided! 1/600 would be nice but will need more work (better paint job) to get them on the table. Plus will be more expensive & the cost will start to mount when you add in a convoy to attack / protect. While theGHQ 1/1200 models do look very nice on line.

So may just get a few of each at Colours.

Thanks guys for your replies.

Craig

[DM]

Craig, if you are still reading this take a look at James Clay’s old “Felix Enterprises web page, where yoy will find photos of some of my 1/600 models:

http://www.ifelix.co.uk/phohist8.html

 

[Craig Austin]

Thanks David, that’s very handy & they look great.

I picked up some of the ex Skytrex at Colours & have assembled & prepared a few for painting. Also got a couple of the Osprey’s on this so getting quite into it.

Your pics will also help with my painting so thanks again.

Craig

Craig

[Author]

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