REWORKING THE WW2 GERMAN INFANTRY

[IRON FIST]

I have suggested to GHQ that they should consider reworking the WW2 German infantry. The last several packs I have bought most of the MP40 submachine gunners were missing the barrels and there never was a clip to the MP40 that could be seen like in the German Paratroop and DAK packs. I know this was one of the first packs GHQ kicked out, but they just don't seem to be up to the standard of later packs. I welcome anyone elses comments or suggestions.

[Ritter]

I agree Iron Fist.

I too would like to see the German Infantry redone - or maybe a mid/late war blister with smocks! Currently, I am looking at all their German Infantry Blisters for figures for Panzergrenadiers. The DAK Infantry look good as do the winter Infantry in smocks (but with a helmet shave or replacement).

But what a compliment to GHQs ever-increasing sculpting detail that we have to compare them to themselves!

Troy

[Brian-Edmonton]

I would like to add that I would like to see GHQ re-work their WWII Soviet infantry to include more Rifles and SMGs rather than the AK47 looking weapons. Most of my Soviets look like they are firing AK47s : ) . But still I think the quality is excellent.

Brian in Edmonton

[Extra Crispy]

I think they're fine as is. Frankly I can only tell as I paint them. After that I can't really tell what weapon they're carrying anyway. But then I don't do armies more than once. Any German I paint up will serve from '38 to '45 no matter what he's wearing or carrying.

[Cav Dog]

I agree Iron Fist.

I too would like to see the German Infantry redone - or maybe a mid/late war blister with smocks! Currently, I am looking at all their German Infantry Blisters for figures for Panzergrenadiers. The DAK Infantry look good as do the winter Infantry in smocks (but with a helmet shave or replacement).

But what a compliment to GHQs ever-increasing sculpting detail that we have to compare them to themselves!

Troy

I worked some DAK figures in with regular German infantry to get the soft cap effect and it worked out well. At least for summer scenarios. I've been debating painting some winter infantry up in pea dot camo instead of white to replicate smocks.

[Ritter]

Something of note:

Looking through the various infantry figures - I noticed that the Polish and French Infantry are almost Identical in uniform (aside from a very minor helmet difference - not noticable in this scale). The poses are different for each army and this allows for at least you to mix them for many different looking squads. Also there is no grenader for the Polish - simply use a French grenadier. French (Boys) ATR? Use Polish. etc...

But I still would like to see some Staff figures and late war germans...


Troy

[Wayne]

I would like to know if GHQ would make casualties of WW2 figurines. I suppose they could make dead, wounded (walking with arms in slings or stretcher bearers carrying the wounded in stretchers etc. or wounded lying next to tanks or buildings etc. Anything different in poses would be nice on the table or dioramas. I`d also like to see maybe barrels & boxes and all sorts of other things that might be used for warring and dio. How about extra tracks for German and US or Brit tanks, roadwheels weapons etc.

[voltigeur]

Along with casualties I'd like dis mounted crew figures. And commanders for the artistically challenged.

But first tings first US WW2 Airborne and rework the US infantry.

[ACWBill]

I love the DAK, Paras (Both Brit and German) but the US, USSR and Japanese are not good. If all the packs were up to the aforementioned standards I would agree that they are the best around. In the meantime, I have many as many Adler figures as GHQ. Adler makes awesome US Paras, Infantry, mortars and gun crew. The gun crew are great and are made for Lt, Med and Heavy guns. What I would like to see GHQ do is bring their infantry lines up to the same variety and standards as their vehicles.

Rework:

US, USSR, Japanese, German infantry packs - US needs MMG and HMGs. (PS, not everyone wore a helmet all the time)
German and USSR winter infantry were dissapointments - there are no greatcoats and the USSR has no riflemen! Throw in some softhats for both sides.
ALL the heavy weapons packs need medium and Heavy Mortars
Get rid of the one guy firing as though he were in the rear rank of a Seven Years War formation!
Should the guy kneeling be as tall as the guy standing?
What is the Japanese Officer doing and why are there so many?

Add:

ATG Gun crews
US Paras
US Winter Greatcoat inf
Open topped vehicle crews for all nations
Koreans for 1950-53 (WITH RIFLES!)

I know this will never happen, but since most of the other stuff won't either.....how about finishing the ACW 10mm line.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Wayne]

I`d like to see more agressive looking cavalry in a charge and not just standing. Is it possible to make some of the horse rearing up as some might see in a movie? Just asking.

[tstockton]

ACWBill,

I know this will never happen, but since most of the other stuff won't either.....

Bill, I'd like to think you're mistaken here -- after all, for a fairly small company producing rather specailized products for a limited number of buyers, I think GHQ is doing pretty well! After all, look at the amount of "new stuff" they've put out in just the past year! And from some of the "new stuff" I've seen, they DO listen to a portion of the suggestions we've made here on the message board and bring out models we've requested... just not enough so that we all have what we want, as quickly as we want it.

I still keep hoping for GHQ models of the M-103 heavy tank and the Swedish "S" tank... And who knows -- maybe one day I'll try my hand at some 10mm's... those artillery pieces look mighty tempting!

Regards,
Tom Stockton

[Mk 1]

Wayne wondered:
Is it possible to make some of the horse rearing up as some might see in a movie? Just asking.

Why I 'spect it is! Should be fairly straight-forward, too.

Just get a hold of the wife's manicure/pedicure kit. Snip snip.

Then get out yer ol' trusty needle-nose pliers. Gentle now. Bend bend bend.

Not only possible, but relatively few steps in the process. Oh, and please do take a picture or two for us when your done!

[ACWBill]

How can one be mistaken about one's own opinion? No, I am pretty sure thats what I think.

[tstockton]

Bill,

Of course, you are correct. I guess a better way to have put it would be "I hope you're mistaken". (It seems to be so easy for me to try to say something and have it come out another way... )

It would be interesting to know which lines, time periods, nationalities, specific models, etc. allow GHQ to turn a decent profit -- and which ones they carry just to help fill out a line. That would help us to know which "requested" or "not-yet-made" items might most likely be made...

But not always. I also collect 1:1200 / 1:1250 scale ships -- and I have read that often models get made "just because" a model maker wants a particular model -- then makes a master model, makes molds, casts copies, and sells the copies to others who are interested. Often, it seems the "production runs" are very small in number -- maybe as little as twenty. And when they're gone, they're gone!

If I read correctly, GHQ's process allows for the casting of (literally) thousands of a particular model. And also if I recall correctly, that process is more expensive for the "set up".

All in all, it is an interesting business. I just wish I had the skills to make the masters myself... (sigh) Just another in a long list of things I wish I could do but I can't...

As an aside -- I look forward to seeing more of your pictures posted someday!

Regards,
Tom

[ACWBill]

Didn't mean to sound like a sarcastic sphincter. None the less, thats how it came out. I do hope you're correct. As far as posting more pics, I have a new PC and software which I got for Christmas. Perhaps I will now have a little more flexibility to sizing my camera shots. That has been an issue for me in the past. I will be making another attempt soon.

I have tried numerous times to modify/convert micro scale figures with mixed success. As Austin Powers would say, its not my bag baby. I have been a little more successful with the 10mm stuff and there are other lines available. None, unfortunately, are up to GHQ standards. The Adler stuff ain't bad though. Have you tried them?