Figure Review - Main Force VC Rifle Platoon

Lacking a supplier in Victoria, I ordered my pack of figures from Dragonfire Games in Brisbane for AUD$35 and Dragonfire Games doesn't charge for postage, which was great.


The product code fore the Main Force VC Rifle Platoon is FPV014 for those wanting to order a pack or three. The picture below is from the Flashpoint Minatures web site. As bases are not included with the miniatures, i also purchased a pack of FoW bases from Dragonfire Games.





In total there were 39 figures in the pack:
2 x Officer standing with rifle slung
4 x VC with RPG
4 x VC with RPD Machine Gun
4 x NCO with arm raised
25 x Rifleman in various poses

This works out at around .90 cents (well .897 cents) a figure.

Looking at the photos on the Flashpoint web site and forum, i am not sure if i am meant to have two officer figures

There is a little bit of flash to clean up which isn't a problem, as this is easy to clean up.
I am very happy with the figures, especially after getting over the shock of how small they were... i am used to 20mm and 28mm figures.

The paint i was going to use to paint them has dried up, so i will have to buy some more paint before getting stuck into them, which i am keen to do.

Figure review - USMC Rifle Company HQ

I picked these up (once again) from Olympian games for AUD$30. So whats in box FPV016... (This is the official Flashpoint Miniatures pic, which has used Flames of War bases.)

The first thing you have to understand is that a Company HQ is relatively small, so a large portion of the pack is dedicated to casualties. Just how many I didnt realise, as its a large percentage of the blister.

Figure wise you get (all with helmets unless otherwise stated):

• 1 Officer standing, firing pistol


• 1 RTO with M14 (same figure as the Rifle Platoon)


• Leader figure with M16 (same figure as the Rifle Platoon)


• Marine with M16 signallign with clenched fist


• Marine, bare head with M16 (same figure as the Rifle Platoon)


• Medic, unarmed (same figure as the Rifle Platoon)


• Standing wounded, bandaged head, unarmed, bare-headed x 3


• Standing wounded, bareheaded clutching left chest x 6


• Lying on one side wounded, clutching chest, bare headed, unarmed


• KIA facedown on penny sized circular base x 10

Thats 26 figs for $30, or A$1.15 per figure.

Once again the figures are well detailed and crisply cast. There is very minimal flash and mold lines.

Overall, the figures are very nice, but I cant help feel that this pack is less value for money than the rifle platoon. The figures are of the same high Flashpoint sculpting standard, but of the 26 figs, 20 are casualties which I didnt expect. Thats sufficient casualties for more than a company with every squad having one, so I guess that game requirement is covered off! So the figs are necessary for the game and do give me the Company HQ, but if its firepower and figures on the table you want, this pack isnt what you are after.

USMC Painting Update

My leathernecks are coming along well with all the figures now basecoated and some detailing completed.

I started off by dividing them into squads and fireteams, which I find a bit more manageable to arrange and not so daunting to paint.

Here is the Platoon HQ stand - 2Lt, RTO and Medic

And 1st Squad (the other two are done as well but look pretty much the same)
Squad Leader and Fireteam 1:
and the other 2 Fireteam stands:



Some detailing (eg flesh washes) and basing yet to be done, but you get the idea and now you can see what the figs are like.

Colours Used
Basecoating order and colours:
1) Medium drybrush with Coat d'arms 226 Olive.
Maybe a little too bright up close, but I think it looks just right from a normal gaming distance
2) Flesh: Coat d'arms 214 Suntanned flesh and 216 Negro flesh on about 1/3 of the troops.
3) Reblacked boots and weapons using Tamiya: XF-1 Flat Black
4) Weapon colouring using very old (15years!) GW: Bolt gun metal for M16 centre sections, grenades, M79 barrel and tops of M14s. yes, its too bright up close, but you can see it from 3 feet away
5) Ral Partha Dunkel Brown for M79 and M14 furniture.
Detailing
Because I preominantly use drybrushing techniques (because I am lazy), it means not too much detailing is required, and I'm doing wargaming standard figs not character figs (not that I am capable of super detailing anyway!)
Very light drybrush with GW Burnished gold for M60 bandolier ammo belts
Comments and suggetsions welcomed as always!

Aussie WIP

Spurned on by my relentless harassment, my mate Owen has revitalised his 15mm Australian infantry force he has had sitting around for a couple of years.


Here you can see an Infantry section and the Plt HQ and he has used foamcore for the bases. The figures and vehicles are both from Peter Pig,'s 15mm Vietnam range "The Men of Company B", which you can see here:
http://www.peterpig.co.uk/range1.htm

Now get on with it and finish off your painting and basing mate!