Flames of War

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:43 am

I am on vacation, just getting over being sick and it is raining. I headed out to a nearby Hobbytown USA and was cruising the isles looking to be inspired by something to build or tinker with so that I could burn up a $30 gift card I was given for Father`s Day.

This is when I came across a new or at least new to me, set of miltary minitures that are used with a game called "Flames of War". I was taken in by the pictures of the fantastic models that came in boxes as simple kits. They had Sherman platoons (five tanks) US 105 artillery batteries(four guns, crew and fire control post), German and US armoured infantries with halftracks, airborne platoons and so on and so on. The selection was amazing. I figured I would grab a few sets so I picked out the M4 platoon set, US artillery set and a German PzkwIV platoon. At that point, I looked at the price tags and was a bit shocked. The tank sets were $50 each and the artillery set was $60. I figured that I am on vacation and not spending anywhere else do to my condition, so I put a couple Lindburg airplane models and a couple Tamiya tank kits back on the shelf and went back for the FOW sets.

I was impressed with the photos of the minitures on the box and then I decided to read the fine print and saw the models were unpainted. That kind of doused my interest. I was thinking that they would have come prefinished like many of the small plane kits do lately. I would guess that $10 a tank would not be a terrible price for a vehicle kit if the detail was good. They are the size of the new Axis and Allies pieces I collect and they are a couple bucks less epensive than the finished A&A pieces and you can get what you want as opposed to the random fashion of collecting A&A pieces.

In the end, I put them back partially out of not being interested in painting right now and the seemingly high price. But I am still considering them. I was interested to hear if anyone here has had any experience with these kits and game. Here is a link to see what I am talking about.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0 ... mes+of+war

Thanks for listening to my mindless babble...

TJ

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:33 pm

I've seen these FoW on line for several years. I did not know that they were available, retail, in the USA. They look like pretty neat little vehicles and there is quite a range available but they never fit in quite right scale-wise and the fact that they come as kits was a big drawback. They come out of, or are the basis of, the FoW game which is a table-top affair. You can get all sorts of terrain (or make it) and the pictures/dioramas I have seen make me lust after them, but not enough to buy them given their expense and kitful nature.

[CAT]CplSlade · Post by **[CAT]CplSlade** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:03 pm

Metal miniatures have always been pricey compared to their plastic brethren, and have generally always needed assembly and painting.

Perhaps you'd prefer to paint and assemble the GHQ line of 1/285th scale military miniatures - INCLUDING INFANTRY!

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:12 pm

[CAT]CplSlade wrote:Metal miniatures have always been pricey compared to their plastic brethren, and have generally always needed assembly and painting.

Perhaps you'd prefer to paint and assemble the GHQ line of 1/285th scale military miniatures - INCLUDING INFANTRY!

Ouch. My eyes and my carpal hands are hurting just thinking about that scale.

I find myself, like Itcbj, semi-lusting after these kits sets. I might get just one and give them a try. I can stop at just one, I can stop at just one...

We`ll see.

TJ

Hanomag · Post by **Hanomag** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:03 pm

I don't play the game but I do collect some of the miniatures. I like painting them and making an army or squad how I want it. You can go to www.flamesofwar.com
to find out more about them, specifically the section "boot camp".

If you want to REALLY check it out there is a convention in Pennsylvania at Lancaster Host Resort Hotel in Lancaster on the 16th through 19th of this month.

There is also one in Baltimore around the same time (if it's closer) and imagine there will be SOME Flames of War stuff there.

http://www.historicon.org. -for more info.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

-H

Tshintl · Post by **Tshintl** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:54 pm

Flames of War is very popular around the world and has a huge following (especially in the US). They're 1/100 scale (15mm) and manufactured in New Zealand. They're designed for wargamers so they're not prepainted. You can usually find them in any well stocked hobby store. They have an excellent forum connected to their website. You can find more about them and wargaming in general at The Miniatures Page (link below). Be warned though, that website is massive and can be overwhelming and confusing the first time you try and navigate it, especially the forums. Over 22,000 members and over 100,000 hits so far today alone.

Main page

http://theminiaturespage.com

WWII forum

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/topics.mv?id=22

Main forum page

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:00 am

I collected 1/285 scale for over 30 years. The best players in that scale are CinC and GHQ. They both have websites you can access and there is a tremendous range of vehicles from trucks to tanks and Hummers to H-35s, both in terms of period (pre-WW2 to contemporary apocalypse) and type. Including aircraft and landing boats. Yes. infantry too. And there are games, rules and forums if you are interested.

The only reason I quit the scale was that I got cataracts and could no longer see the darn things. Now that they (my eyes) have been properly repaired I can once again make out (most of) the detail but now I am just too shaky (you don't have to be very) to paint 'em up.

CinC is probably a bit truer to scale and is the smaller of the two companies. Their models are quite crisply cast with excellent detail, down to about all that you could see on a 1/285 scale vehicle. GHQ is a tad out of scale, casting rivets that you can see (and would be canteloupe sized in reality) and the turrets are a bit outsized as as well, as a general rule. The turret race for the CinC tends to be quite large and shallow allowing for solid castings. GHQ uses a very narrow hole in the hull that the turret spindle goes through and a hollow hull. I personally prefer the CinC models although teh GHQ are a bit more visual.

Both companies also produce lines of 1/2400 ships as well. Check 'em out....

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:44 am

I did go back and pick up a US Tank destroyer section with two M10s, two jeeps, one M20 and a handful of infantrymen and the German Panther/Stug set. They clean up easily and go together well. I just finished painting the vehicles and will start on the men soon. I will post a couple pictures when I finish them.

Thanks for the info about FOW. I did go to the site and it is very extensive. I have dabbled in the Axis and Allies games but I tend to be more of a collector than a player at this point.

I have heard of GHQ before. I ordered a couple of their models, a couple tanks and a couple WW1 ship models. I never heard of CinC but I will check them out too...

TJ

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:50 am

CinC:

http://www.pfc-cinc.com/front_page.html

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:21 pm

Nice stuff. I am slowly getting hooked on this stuff. Thanks for the link.

TJ

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:20 pm

I like some FoW, but I also use Q.C. for games..esp the infantry, since IMO I can not stand FOW's pumpkin heads with their oversized weapons.

Q.C. is much more true 15mm, and in terms of AFVs..well both have their gems and their duds. IE FOW makes better Tigers and Panthers, but Q.C makes better HTs and A/Cs def.

Although both make things you can only get in their lines, like FoW Flakpz 38(t) or late Sdkfz.10/5...or Q.C.'s 251/3 D or 250/8 Neu

http://oldglory15s.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=6 < for Q.C.'s all metal 15mm line.

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:59 pm

Nice stuff again. I like the M3 Stuart they have. The issue with the pumpkin head soldiers in the FoW line was something I would live with I guess. They sort of remind me of the old D&D figures for some reason, even though I never played that game.

Thanks for another fine selection of stuff to spend my money on. You guys are trying to get me into trouble with my wife, aren`t you?

Thanks again guys.

TJ

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:28 pm

15mm ARE easier to hide than 1/18 atleast.

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:00 am

You can hide an entire company of 1/285 scale light tanks or a troop of Chieftains in a match box ( the small ones) .

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:15 am

Or a Regiment of Chieftains inside a 1/18 Tiger (augmenting its firepower considerably) along with its entire logistic and command tail.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:57 pm

I have 2 dozen 1/285s..you want them?

88s, Kubel, Pz IV, StuG, 251s, Tiger IIs.

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:25 am

Sure. send me a PM and let me know the particulars. Thanks.

TJ