Modern Soldiers? (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

On another thread there was discussion about the lack of modern soldiers made by current manufacturers.

If someone moved into the modern era, what would you like to see? Afghanistan seems to be heating up, with many nations involved.

Would there be more interest in figures in action, on parade, or just single figures depiciting soldiers from a variety of branches of service or nation?

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

As I've expressed before I would like to see Mogadishu '93! Figures of Matt Eversman, Danny McKnight, Norm Hooten, Randy Shughart, Gary Gordan, and Mike Durant. The rest of the figures would clamshell sets, you would need running, firing standing, firing kneeling, firing laying, and taking cover for Somali militia, Delta Force, and the Rangers. And then lastly a limited edition Black Hawk Helicopter with 2 Army Rangers fast roping! Now in my mind this would make an excellent 21 figure series...Vick

 

[lancer]

Check out McFarland figures. They do outstanding modern figures in different scales. They are plastic but very detailed and realistic. -- lancer

 

[binder001]

Didn't Andy shy away from his "Special Forces" series because of poor sales? Otherwise the Afghan conflict would seem to quite an opportunity - multiple nations, some interesting light infantry units, local troops, the Taliban fighters, etc. Maybe the active conflict is still too fresh for people to want to reproduce it in miniature? Oddly, WW2 does well, but Korea is almost unseen, Viet Nam is a sideline, and the Mideast conflist have mixed sales and all those have interesting armor, vehicles and artillery to go with them. NATO troops seem to do OK but not selling great guns.

Gary B.

 

[theBaron]

Did 21st Century Toys or Forces of Valor have contemporary US infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also terrorists, in their catalogs? Del Prado also has some individual figures, I think, or were they sold in the Hachette line? But there is a general dearth of figures from the current conflicts.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Wraith]

A big fan of 'modern' conflicts, and by modern, anything post 1980s works for me. I'd like to see more of the likes of the K&C SF series, Figarti's Iraq War series and I'll be getting all that Britains chucks out in their Elite Forces range, along with the Black Watch 2006 figure.

Not too interested on a personal level with parade sets, but as has been said, their's a whole untapped market out there, with multiple nations, interesting weaponary and AFVs.

I think in the latest issue of the Collector, ACN has said that he doesn't shy away from controversial subjects, so that shouldn't stop him (no pressure )

Simon

 

[Wraith]

Check out McFarland figures. They do outstanding modern figures in different scales. They are plastic but very detailed and realistic. -- lancer

I've got some of the McFarlane figures, in both scales, and they are very good and great value for money. The only downside to the 3" range is the choice of DPM uniforms which is a bit of an odd choice.

 

[Wraith]

Did 21st Century Toys or Forces of Valor have contemporary US infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also terrorists, in their catalogs? Del Prado also has some individual figures, I think, or were they sold in the Hachette line? But there is a general dearth of figures from the current conflicts.

Prost!
Brad

FOV have done, and still do, a great line in AFVs. Unfortunately, their figures don't match the quality of their vehicles, although their more recent WWII figures sem to have improved in rspect of body proportions.

 

[Gideon]

I'm not sure how to say what I think but something along the lines of people tend to collect soldiers based upon another time - not so much the one they currently live in. Something that gives them some connection and perspective to the psychology, the classic vehicles and weaponry, the ideologies, etc of the time they are interested in.

While FoV and other companies produced modern fighting vehicles at an affordable price, the market never really seemed to materialize for figures - especially in metal and above $15 per piece.

I also think ceremonial sets would be a good gamble but they've been done many times over. Tho, I've never seen a ceremonial set depicting Tomb of the Unknowns. If one were brave enough to tackle that, you'd better make the uniforms as perfect as the soldiers who stand watch make theirs.

 

[theBaron]

On the other hand, back in the heydey of Britains, they were very topical and current with their offerings, bringing out sets in khaki to represent troops fighting in the Boer War, and Kommandos, and sets of Russians and Japanese for the Russo-Japanese War.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Gideon]

On the other hand, back in the heydey of Britains, they were very topical and current with their offerings, bringing out sets in khaki to represent troops fighting in the Boer War, and Kommandos, and sets of Russians and Japanese for the Russo-Japanese War.

Prost!
Brad

That's very true. They were a form of current events of their time and I have always found that fascinating. But, they were primarily childrens toys of the people in uniform they were connected to and admired. They weren't aimed at an adult audience as they are now.

 

[Carnahan]

I don't know about the argument that modern times and conflicts are too controversial regarding what gets produced. I have seen plenty of 1/72 sets depicting modern soldiers from many countries including the Middle East to Chechnya, even a set of "urban resisters" (terrorists). Dragon also has a wide range of 1/35 sets focusing on modern forces as well as Vietnam. Keeping this in mind, the lack of 1/32 soldiers in plastic and metal is even more curious (and frustrating).

 

[Currahee Chris]

I also think ceremonial sets would be a good gamble but they've been done many times over. Tho, I've never seen a ceremonial set depicting Tomb of the Unknowns. If one were brave enough to tackle that, you'd better make the uniforms as perfect as the soldiers who stand watch make theirs.

That's a fantastic idea- though I think all the manufacturers would fail to reach the standards of the old guard.

At this stage in the game, Figarti has it covered- would like to see them do a Bradley however but they are there- some more opposition would be nice- even fedayeen. Kitted Land Rovers would be neat too.

I think modern figures are actually quite popular, the forum just doesn't reflect it- just not perhaps in 1:32nd scale- they seem to be doing really really well in the premium 1:6th line.