Fields of Battle new British troops. (1 Viewer)

[Eazy]

I saw a few of these new FOB figures in my local model shop today.
I was so impressed i ended up buying 3! The sergeant with the tommy gun, the bren gunner and the kneeling rifleman.
These are great figures. As always the photos don't do them justice. There
is a real life like quality about them them and I give them a high recommendation.

Anyone else out there have any of these new FOB figures yet?

 

[panda1gen]

no but they are targeted.

 

[Eazy]

Yep my intention is to mix them in with the 8th Army advancing under fire set and the Indian machine gun set to provide some tough opposition for the fallschirmjagers.
Maybe throw in the FOB vickers tank and the dingo and it's good to go.

 

[lenswerks]

Yes, they are extraordinary aren’t they! I have the Bren Gunner, Kneeling Firing Tommy Gun and Vickers Machine Gun Set. WOW – Fantastico!

 

[noli-poli]

Yep my intention is to mix them in with the 8th Army advancing under fire set and the Indian machine gun set to provide some tough opposition for the fallschirmjagers.
Maybe throw in the FOB vickers tank and the dingo and it's good to go.

It is also my intention to mix & match them with EA. I wonder if the EA Brits mixed long and short pants in any one campaign in Afrika. How about the khakis and olive drab (brown) trousers? Looks like they had mixed colors. Some of the FOB Brits had even Khaki colored helmets similar to the EAs in Afrika. Experts, historians, anyone?

N-P

 

[damian]

Why can't you use them for Normandy
Regards
Damian

 

[noli-poli]

Why can't you use them for Normandy
Regards
Damian

Maybe the FOB Brits w/ green helmets, not khaki colored helmets...I guess.
N-P

 

[Canadian Samurai]

They're not accurate for Normandy for several reasons, including wrong weapons (earlier pattern enfields - the FOB ones lack the longer barrel of the mark IV), wrong equipment (different style of gasmask bag - the FOB are wearing them on the chest rather than as a shoulder satchel), and wrong uniforms (the aforementioned tan helmet covers).

The historical purist in me begs you to keep them separate.

 

[noli-poli]

They're not accurate for Normandy for several reasons, including wrong weapons (earlier pattern enfields - the FOB ones lack the longer barrel of the mark IV), wrong equipment (different style of gasmask bag - the FOB are wearing them on the chest rather than as a shoulder satchel), and wrong uniforms (the aforementioned tan helmet covers).

The historical purist in me begs you to keep them separate.

Arigato gozaimasu Samurai san! But will they work with EA?

N-P

 

[Canadian Samurai]

I assume EA is Eighth Army? They could certainly work in a pinch because that was a transition period. The weapons are fine. Gasmasks, if they were worn in the desert, tended to be slung under the arm rather than worn on the chest so that's a bit of a problem. The biggest issue is uniforms - your guys are going to look pretty hot without their tropical unis (tan shirts and shorts). But like I said, it's better than Normandy.

 

[Warrior]

CS's points are all spot on, one further one would be the helmet, as the British wore the "turtle shell" version in Normandy, not the one worn in 1940 France and the Desert.

What is terrific about the FOB British and the upcoming FJ sets is you can do some nice displays for Greece, Crete, Italy, etc by mixing and matching the FOB British with the EA's, the 25 lb gun will look terrific with these new FOB's.

Great representation for the conflicts from 1940 through 1943...........................

 

[Eazy]

Hi CS good points made there. I think at this kind of scale and for Crete you can acceptably mix the EA range and the new FOB. The gasmask is the only real problem I think but unless you are an absolute purist then it shouldn't make too much difference.
I agree with the other post that mentioned the 25lb gun and crew. That looks great with my new FOBs as does the Indian machine gun team.

But yep Normandy is an absolute no no for those figures. check out the Tommy Patrol set to see what they should look like for 1944.

 

[Harrytheheid]

I assume EA is Eighth Army? They could certainly work in a pinch because that was a transition period. The weapons are fine. Gasmasks, if they were worn in the desert, tended to be slung under the arm rather than worn on the chest so that's a bit of a problem. The biggest issue is uniforms - your guys are going to look pretty hot without their tropical unis (tan shirts and shorts). But like I said, it's better than Normandy.

CS
It gets pretty cold in the Western Desert - especially at night in winter. The desert can actually freeze over. True story - been there.

 

[jazzeum]

Yes, that is quite correct. It can get quite freezing in the desert. An example is the commander in the Desert Vickers; it shows him sporting a very warm coat.

 

[panda1gen]

Read about the wind and the cold and the rain, especially in the Jebel....

But could these FOBs and 8th Army transfer to Burma?

 

[Eazy]

I reckon the EA could. At least up until the point when jungle green uniforms came in. The FOB's uniforms look a bit heavy maybe.
Anythng's possible though i guess.

 

[Canadian Samurai]

Hi guys,

I'd considered the point about the cold desert nights but I was assuming Noli-Poli was considering mixing the FOB directly with the EA troops in which case it might look a bit odd to see guys in the tropical uni standing beside others in long sleeves. Though I guess in K&C's 25 pounder that very arrangement already exists.

Does anyone else know whether the Eighth army guys would carry their wool unis with them to use at night? Whether it gets cold or not is somewhat immaterial if the standard tommy was only issued their tropicals in the summer and didn't have access to the wool battledresses.

 

[sirsydney]

In the current (Sept 2007) issue of WWII History magazine the is a picture on page 60 of the 4th Indian Division moving forward across the desert in dark uniforms with long pants and sleeves. I guess therefore that you could use FoB's and EA in the same diorama as long as they represented different units.

 

[noli-poli]

In the current (Sept 2007) issue of WWII History magazine the is a picture on page 60 of the 4th Indian Division moving forward across the desert in dark uniforms with long pants and sleeves. I guess therefore that you could use FoB's and EA in the same diorama as long as they represented different units.

Additionally, KC produced the EA Scots in dark uniforms with long pants & sleeves (and Aussies in dark brown long pants & tan long sleeves (but rolled-up).

So, from what I read, it is safe to create a diorama mixing FOBs with EAs as there was a point in time during WWII in Afrika that these uniforms were used (lack of supplies or otherwise). I guess, the remaining issue is the gas mask...but then again there will be some soldiers who will sling it in their necks, sort of a "security blanket," if you may (the Germans were quite known for not hesitating to use these germ weapons if they are available).
N-P

 

[Eazy]

Hi guys,

I'd considered the point about the cold desert nights but I was assuming Noli-Poli was considering mixing the FOB directly with the EA troops in which case it might look a bit odd to see guys in the tropical uni standing beside others in long sleeves. Though I guess in K&C's 25 pounder that very arrangement already exists.

Does anyone else know whether the Eighth army guys would carry their wool unis with them to use at night? Whether it gets cold or not is somewhat immaterial if the standard tommy was only issued their tropicals in the summer and didn't have access to the wool battledresses.

Hey CS,
I had a look at the 25 pounder. I can't really see a problem with the uniforms.
The three people actually loading and operating the gun are wearing shirt sleeves rolled up because they are actually doing hard work in the heat.
All 5 are wearing the heavier trousers it's just that only 2 are wearing tunics.

It all depends on the way you look at this hobby i guess. It's not really like 1/6th scale where accuracy is paramount as in those figures you can kitbash easily. So it's more about creating a scene or a mood than anything else.

On a final note I can't see why for Crete you can't mix the FOB and EA. It was pretty chaotic and I guess a lot of units were mixed up as they retreated off the island.