The finest WWII figures I have ever seen... (1 Viewer)

[Harrytheheid]

I myself like the more true 54's as they match up with scenics better,especially trees and you can put more figures in a given space.Actually my dream would be FL putting out a FIW painted 40mm range but I know that will never happen.
Mark

I'm more comfortable with 54mm as well, for the simple reason that these were the scale of the miniature figurines I used to drool over, but couldn't afford, way back in the mid-seventies.
I've thought quite a lot about this one recently and decided that although scale issues - as they apply to toy soldiers, simply because that's what they are - doesn't bother me that much as long as there's not too much variation in any particular range.

I've said many times that I do like to mix manufacturers when seting up displays and dioramas because this provides a bit more variation, and it can be done quite easily as long as you're careful to choose compatible figures.
To my mind, miniature figurines such as FL's are a bit different though, and I wouldn't dream of spoiling a display/diorama of these by mixing them with what I consider to be inferior products. I'll readily admit that I initially obtained my FL Russian Cavalry figurines with the intention of mixing them with 1/30 scale toy soldiers in a new diorama - but I've since changed my mind.

I could probably get away with mixing FL's figurines with the Russian studios figures as I'm pretty sure they'd match well together, but there's no way I'm going there. I have only one figure from the Russian studios, and the price of it almost brought a tear to my eye while handing the cash over.

Just my thoughts on this.

Regards
Harry

 

[fmethorst]

Wonderful figures and photos Frank. I found this old photo amongst some papers I had stashed away and thought I would share it with you. Hope you don't mind, it is a favourite of mine.

Thanks,

I think the aging looks great.

 

[Spitfrnd]

....
I've said many times that I do like to mix manufacturers when seting up displays and dioramas because this provides a bit more variation, and it can be done quite easily as long as you're careful to choose compatible figures.
To my mind, miniature figurines such as FL's are a bit different though, and I wouldn't dream of spoiling a display/diorama of these by mixing them with what I consider to be inferior products. I'll readily admit that I initially obtained my FL Russian Cavalry figurines with the intention of mixing them with 1/30 scale toy soldiers in a new diorama - but I've since changed my mind.

I could probably get away with mixing FL's figurines with the Russian studios figures as I'm pretty sure they'd match well together, but there's no way I'm going there. I have only one figure from the Russian studios, and the price of it almost brought a tear to my eye while handing the cash over.
...

I have some mixed now in settings where they are physically well separated from each other and it works OK for my taste, at least as a stopgap until we see some Green Jackets and Cuirassiers or Dragoons. Eventually I hope to figure out how to photograph these properly to show what I mean. Nonetheless I am inclined to agree and hopefully I will phase the mixes out as time goes by.

 

[Harrytheheid]

I have some mixed now in settings where they are physically well separated from each other and it works OK for my taste, at least as a stopgap until we see some Green Jackets and Crissie's or Dragoons. Eventually I hope to figure out how to photograph these properly to show what I mean. Nonetheless I am inclined to agree and hopefully I will phase the mixes out as time goes by.

Hmm, so what do you think? Could I get away with using the FL Hussars, out of timeframe, in a different style and in a different scale to my "other manufacturers" Thin Red Line Hairy Barbarians? See photo below for comparison. I don't think the slight difference in scale is too much of a problem to be honest, but they'd definitely have to be kept separate because the heads and hands on the nominally 1/30 scale blue-coated toy soldiers are so grotesquely out of proportion compared to the perfect FL Cavalry miniature scale figurines.

My original idea was to have the Skirted Hairy Barbarian's at the front of the dio seeing off some Russian Hussars in the same size and the FL miniatures somewhat in the distance and on a wee bit of a rise, in order to fool the eye. They'd be so crammed together I reckon it would work and the fact that I'm using the FL stuff around 40-ish years out of time won't be noticed (much), but I'm rather sensitive and don't relish being subjected to ridicule or laughed at too much - so I thought I'd ask on this forum first - before I just go ahead and do it anyway.


Rgds
Harry

 

[nasirkasmani]

harry, that's quite a formation you have there..

i would really like to see you making a diorama out of it.

i'll bet the diorama will easily exceed your previous diorama of "charge of the light brigade"

 

[Spitfrnd]

Hmm, so what do you think? Could I get away with using the FL Hussars, out of timeframe, in a different style and in a different scale to my "other manufacturers" Thin Red Line Hairy Barbarians? See photo below for comparison. I don't think the slight difference in scale is too much of a problem to be honest, but they'd definitely have to be kept separate because the heads and hands on the nominally 1/30 scale blue-coated toy soldiers are so grotesquely out of proportion compared to the perfect FL Cavalry miniature scale figurines.

My original idea was to have the Skirted Hairy Barbarian's at the front of the dio seeing off some Russian Hussars in the same size and the FL miniatures somewhat in the distance and on a wee bit of a rise, in order to fool the eye. They'd be so crammed together I reckon it would work and the fact that I'm using the FL stuff around 40-ish years out of time won't be noticed (much), but I'm rather sensitive and don't relish being subjected to ridicule or laughed at too much - so I thought I'd ask on this forum first - before I just go ahead and do it anyway.


Rgds
Harry

The Barbarians look OK to me mixed but the Blue Coats appear marginal from this angle. You would need to keep them farther apart I'd say and the Blue Coats would look probably better in the distance where the relative lesser detail would not be so obvious. Nonetheless in might work. It would be interesting to see from other angles.

 

[Harrytheheid]

The Barbarians look OK to me mixed but the Blue Coats appear marginal from this angle. You would need to keep them farther apart I'd say and the Blue Coats would look probably better in the distance where the relative lesser detail would not be so obvious. Nonetheless in might work. It would be interesting to see from other angles.

Well spotted William.
Yes, the skirted laddies aren't the problem - its the rather poorly sculpted and posed Blue Coated Hussars!!!! Maybe they were a Friday afternoon job?
I reckon the idea will work okay if I do use the excellent FL Cavalry and just leave the Blue Coated circus freaks out of the diorama.

Anyone interested in buying 10 each Crimean Russian Cavalry in two absolutely excellent and "interesting" poses?

Regards
Harry

 

[Vezzolf]

Good question, Brad. GERSTAL010 Pioneer Assault Group will be shipping to customers in about 2 weeks or so. The pre-order on the next 7 figures will start at about the same time and yes, they will be at Chicago. So all totalled, there will be 28 of our WWII figures at Chicago being displayed with at least part of the diorama that is shown on our website home page. We are unsure at this point if the Stug will be there or not. We hope to at least have a sample of one there if not have them for sale. Too early to say...

Of the next seven figures, 3 are Russian and 4 are German. I've already shown one of the Germans in another thread (GERSTAL014 Oberleutnant). Here are a few images of the masters of the other 3 Germans that will be part of the next release.

GERSTAL011, 12, and 13 - 3 x Running Gemans.

After these are released and the Stug is released, we will immediately follow up before the end of the year with at least one other vehicle and get the Stug tank riders out plus a few more pioneers/heer infantry with various support weapons. The range, which will be heavily German at this point, will then shift towards the Russians and we'll release several figures/pieces meant to blow up that Stug as well as additional types of Russian Infantry. From there, we will continue to add vehicles, guns, and more and more figures at pretty consistent pace and with additional variety of equipment and covering additional sections of the battle. We've said that this is going to be a very thorough and complete range and it will be.

So those are the broad strokes but certainly you should expect a few surprises as well.

Best,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

Matt, When do you exspect that the stug will be released?......Will it be by Sept09 or latter......Thank you

 

[FirstLegion]

Matt, When do you exspect that the stug will be released?......Will it be by Sept09 or latter......Thank you

Hopefully by the end of September, but don't hold me to it. I'll be able to provide more definitive information towards the end of August I think.

Regards,

Matt

 

[Rob]

Good question, Brad. GERSTAL010 Pioneer Assault Group will be shipping to customers in about 2 weeks or so. The pre-order on the next 7 figures will start at about the same time and yes, they will be at Chicago. So all totalled, there will be 28 of our WWII figures at Chicago being displayed with at least part of the diorama that is shown on our website home page. We are unsure at this point if the Stug will be there or not. We hope to at least have a sample of one there if not have them for sale. Too early to say...

Of the next seven figures, 3 are Russian and 4 are German. I've already shown one of the Germans in another thread (GERSTAL014 Oberleutnant). Here are a few images of the masters of the other 3 Germans that will be part of the next release.

GERSTAL011, 12, and 13 - 3 x Running Gemans.

After these are released and the Stug is released, we will immediately follow up before the end of the year with at least one other vehicle and get the Stug tank riders out plus a few more pioneers/heer infantry with various support weapons. The range, which will be heavily German at this point, will then shift towards the Russians and we'll release several figures/pieces meant to blow up that Stug as well as additional types of Russian Infantry. From there, we will continue to add vehicles, guns, and more and more figures at pretty consistent pace and with additional variety of equipment and covering additional sections of the battle. We've said that this is going to be a very thorough and complete range and it will be.

So those are the broad strokes but certainly you should expect a few surprises as well.

Best,

Matt
First Legion Ltd

Heres what i like about these figures.Its not only the quality and realism in FL figures,if you watch any episode of say 'Battlefield' or 'Line of Fire'' you see THESE GUYS!.This is such a well observed set,in the film they are always crossing a street under Fire,(actually they all make it across and then one NCO trips over his own feet and down he goes).

I appreciate figures where the producer has spotted something real and made it.A snapshot of men at war if you like.Great figures.

Rob

 

[nasirkasmani]

Heres what i like about these figures.Its not only the quality and realism in FL figures,if you watch any episode of say 'Battlefield' or 'Line of Fire'' you see THESE GUYS!.This is such a well observed set,in the film they are always crossing a street under Fire,(actually they all make it across and then one NCO trips over his own feet and down he goes).

I appreciate figures where the producer has spotted something real and made it.A snapshot of men at war if you like.Great figures.

Rob

well said rob.

this 3 pieces looks simply extraordinary, and i look forward to the diorama pics involving them.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Now I no why no one wanted to answer.Skinny little fellows aren't they.Very well painted and great poses good work FL .Simmo.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Now I no why no one wanted to answer.Skinny little fellows aren't they.Very well painted and great poses good work FL .Simmo.

Well actually I would say they are not fat big fellows with oversized hands.

 

[aujj65]

Well actually I would say they are not fat big fellows with oversized hands.

....and don't forget the heads!

Jeff

 

[Spitfrnd]

....and don't forget the heads!

Jeff

Yes I know, I was trying to be restrained.

 

[SteveDavid]

any reference to such big fellows....just as a comparison

 

[armchair warrior]

Guys

Think long and hard before you purchase any of these figures because you will never look at the rest of your collection the same way.They are just several levels above.The weapons,hands and heads are perfectly proportioned.It says right on the box 1:30 scale and with the meticulous detail they put into each figure I would trust this to be accurate.

Some of the forum members need to stop worrying about scale and asking "are they 1:30" meaning are they K&C.K&C WWII are bigger than 1:30 in my opinion.Even more telling is that within the same K&C range there are big differences in size/scale of figures.

Do this experiment: get a figure from the DD36 or DD37 sets(US paratroopers) and stand them next to a figure from WS49(German SS).They do not fit with each other and look silly in the same diorama.I collect alot of K&C and am a big fan but I am just being honest.

I have purchased GERSTAL001-005 but not any Russians yet(need to save some more $$$).However, I know that if I do get them they will match the Germans perfectly.This should be much more important to a collector than "are they 1:30 or are they 1:32".

I now have to consider if I will continue to collect FL.If I can not it will be purely because of price.The product is INCREDIBLE.

Armchair Warrior

 

[nasirkasmani]

Guys

Think long and hard before you purchase any of these figures because you will never look at the rest of your collection the same way.They are just several levels above.The weapons,hands and heads are perfectly proportioned.It says right on the box 1:30 scale and with the meticulous detail they put into each figure I would trust this to be accurate.

Some of the forum members need to stop worrying about scale and asking "are they 1:30" meaning are they K&C.K&C WWII are bigger than 1:30 in my opinion.Even more telling is that within the same K&C range there are big differences in size/scale of figures.

Do this experiment: get a figure from the DD36 or DD37 sets(US paratroopers) and stand them next to a figure from WS49(German SS).They do not fit with each other and look silly in the same diorama.I collect alot of K&C and am a big fan but I am just being honest.

I have purchased GERSTAL001-005 but not any Russians yet(need to save some more $$$).However, I know that if I do get them they will match the Germans perfectly.This should be much more important to a collector than "are they 1:30 or are they 1:32".

I now have to consider if I will continue to collect FL.If I can not it will be purely because of price.The product is INCREDIBLE.

Armchair Warrior

well said mate.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Guys

Think long and hard before you purchase any of these figures because you will never look at the rest of your collection the same way.They are just several levels above.The weapons,hands and heads are perfectly proportioned.It says right on the box 1:30 scale and with the meticulous detail they put into each figure I would trust this to be accurate.

Some of the forum members need to stop worrying about scale and asking "are they 1:30" meaning are they K&C.K&C WWII are bigger than 1:30 in my opinion.Even more telling is that within the same K&C range there are big differences in size/scale of figures.

Do this experiment: get a figure from the DD36 or DD37 sets(US paratroopers) and stand them next to a figure from WS49(German SS).They do not fit with each other and look silly in the same diorama.I collect alot of K&C and am a big fan but I am just being honest.

I have purchased GERSTAL001-005 but not any Russians yet(need to save some more $$$).However, I know that if I do get them they will match the Germans perfectly.This should be much more important to a collector than "are they 1:30 or are they 1:32".

I now have to consider if I will continue to collect FL.If I can not it will be purely because of price.The product is INCREDIBLE.

Armchair Warrior

Best post on the scale subject yet mate.

 

[FirstLegion]

Guys

Think long and hard before you purchase any of these figures because you will never look at the rest of your collection the same way.They are just several levels above.The weapons,hands and heads are perfectly proportioned.It says right on the box 1:30 scale and with the meticulous detail they put into each figure I would trust this to be accurate.

Some of the forum members need to stop worrying about scale and asking "are they 1:30" meaning are they K&C.K&C WWII are bigger than 1:30 in my opinion.Even more telling is that within the same K&C range there are big differences in size/scale of figures.

Do this experiment: get a figure from the DD36 or DD37 sets(US paratroopers) and stand them next to a figure from WS49(German SS).They do not fit with each other and look silly in the same diorama.I collect alot of K&C and am a big fan but I am just being honest.

I have purchased GERSTAL001-005 but not any Russians yet(need to save some more $$$).However, I know that if I do get them they will match the Germans perfectly.This should be much more important to a collector than "are they 1:30 or are they 1:32".

I now have to consider if I will continue to collect FL.If I can not it will be purely because of price.The product is INCREDIBLE.

Armchair Warrior

Thanks for the kind words on the figures and I'm glad you're enjoying them. In regards to price, the question you have to ask yourself is would you rather have 30 figures of lower quality or 20 figures of higher quality? This is a decision for each individual collector and there really is no right answer and there certainly is no reason why a collector can't do both for different topics. Generally speaking, however, our figures while more expensive tend to be of a higher quality than the price would indicate as you can't get anything close for under double the price at least.

Regards,

Matt