Consolidated Micronaut Wish List

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2017-10-01.

Don S.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2017-12-07.

Don S.

[michaelw43]

Since I have now familiarized myself with the minor fighting ships of WWII, my requests for new Micronauts will now be of that sort for some time. Minor fighting ships include mine warfare, patrol and escort ships, and coastal vessels, their smaller counterparts. First, some older ones that survived the WWI period:

1. WWI Brazil destroyer Para class
2. Pre-Dreadnought Norway torpedo boat Laks sub-class of Hval class
3. Pre-Dreadnought Norway torpedo boat Ravn class
4. WWI China torpedo boat Hu Peng class
5. WWI Norway torpedo boat Teist class
6. WWI Denmark minelayer Lossen
7. WWI China light cruiser Ying Swei

[Brutzel]

I bought the LHD Wasp. It would be great if there were LCU's, LCM's and LCAC's in the 1: 2400 scale. An accessory pack for landing operations is missing.

[dattrains]

My top 12:

WWII France heavy cruiser Duquesne class
WWII USA battleship Idaho (BB-42), late-war appearance
WWII UK frigate Black Swan class (13 + 29 modified)
WWII UK A & E–I class destroyer leaders (Codrington, Exmouth, Faulkner, Grenville, Hardy, and Inglefield)
Early Cold War Soviet cruiser Sverdlov (Project 68 bis) class
WWII USA fast attack transport Charles Lawrence (APD-37) class
Early Cold War USA destroyer Gearing FRAM I conversion
WWII UK destroyer “V & Wâ€￾ classes, long-range escort conversions
WWII USA light carrier Saipan (CVL 48) class
WWII UK light cruiser Coventry/Curlew (anti-aircraft conversion)
WWI UK light cruiser “Câ€￾ class, Caledon group
WWI UK light cruiser “Câ€￾ class; Ceres group

[Donald M. Scheef]

Replaced by updated list 2018-01-16.

Don S.

[michaelw43]

My new request for Micronauts consists mostly of minor warship types from WWI.

1. WWI Netherlands minelayer Hydra class
2. WWI China light cruiser Chao Ho
3. WWI China destroyer Yu Chang class (ex- Chang Feng class) *
4. WWI Netherlands torpedo boat G 13 class
5. WWI Netherlands gunboat Brinio class
6. WWI UK river gunboat Insect class
7. WWI Netherlands torpedo boat Z 5 class, as built
8. WWI Russia minelayer Voin
9. WWI Denmark torpedo boat Springeren class, as built
10. WWI Norway minelayer Glommen class
11. WWII Italy motor torpedo boat MAS 423 class
12. WWI France sloop Arras class (aka Amiens class)

* Note: These ships were renamed in 1918.

[Mikee]

My "top twelve" list hasn't changed much since I last posted this list in June 2015, but is now 12 ships long since GHQ did the WWI Birmingham last year. Other than that, GHQ hasn't been very good to me.

1. CA Duquense 2 ships. I've wanted this one for years.
2. DD Melpomene class. The small French DD.
3. AC Waldeck Rosseau. This WWi protected cruiser had six funnels. Maybe not a
particularly good reason to choose this ship, but it just fascinates me.
4. DD Akatsuki. Between CinC and GHQ, nearly all the other WWII IJN DDs are covered.
Only the Wakatake is left (according to my reference book).
5. BB Iowa. Not a big difference from the Missouri, but the bridge is different, and B turret
has a different arrangement of AA guns.
6. BB Idaho '44. Donald Scheef talked me into this one.
7. DD Maestrale or Oriani classes. These classes were similar, so one model could be
used for both classes. CinC already does (or did) either the Folgore or Freccia
class, so I'd like to see GHQ produce something a little different.
8. BB Malaya. The only U.K. BB that needs to be added. "Tiny Thingmajigs" on
Shapeways has one; I may order that model if I get around to making an order with
them.
9. CA York. Nobody does this ship.
10. CA Suss ex. I think this model could be used for four different U.K. CAs.
11. CLAA Scylla. Two ships in this class.
12. predreadnought Braunschweig (I don't guarantee the spelling). I want to fill out the German battle fleet at Jutland.

I may get that #12 ship from WTJ one of these days, since I imagine GHQ's eyes are going to be focused on the Italians for a year or two.

WTJ has some nice WWI and predreadnought ships from several countries. I suspect they have the Battle of Tsushima covered. I have the ships of the Battle of Santiago Bay, although I haven't gotten around to painting them yet. I didn't know until I was ordering these from WTJ that the Spanish flagship still didn't have her main battery guns. A rather unbelievable decision by the Spanish high command.

Also, I have seven battleships of the Royal navy from their 1893 Mediterrqnean disaster. I hope WTJ puts out the rest of that fleet. Kind of silly to be so interested in a fleet just because it was involved in a disaster, but I am.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2018-01-18.

Don S.

[pvt64]

Here are my top requests:

Japan
Okinoshima ML

UK
Ceres CL
Caledon CL
"A" Class DD
O/P/S Class DD
Archer CVE

France
Tourville CA
Emil Bertain CL
Bourrasque DD
Mogador DD
Guepard DD
Chacal DD

USSR
Type 7U DD

Italy
Miraglia AV
Leone DD
Spica TB

Germany
Bremse ML

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2018-05-19

Don S.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Here is my updated Micronaut Consolidated Wish List for 2018-2019. Although none of my 2017-2018 choices were produced by GHQ, I am making a few changes for this year. My choices are (in alphabetical order of country of origin):

• WWII France heavy cruiser Duquesne class: One of the early Treaty cruiser designs, these two ships were relatively fast but only lightly armored. During the war, both were refitted in the US, but I would prefer the pre-war configuration. I already have two models from Minifleet, but GHQ’s quality would be much better.

• WWII France torpedo boat La Melpomene class: This class of miniature destroyers was intended for escort work in the Mediterranean. They turned out overweight, lacking in stability, and unsuited for open-ocean work. They were fast, however, and several of them had interesting careers. There are numerous other small ships of similar characteristics that I would like modeled (see Italian Spica-class and US Admirable-class below).

• WWII France destroyer Vauquelin class: GHQ’s FRN5 is labeled as Vauquelin, but I believe the arrangement of the torpedoes and the shape of the stern is that of the preceding Aigle class. There are several classes of WWII-era French destroyers yet to be modeled by GHQ; any of the following would be welcome: Mogador, Guepard, Chacal, L’Adroit, and Bourrasque.

• WWII Germany amphibious craft: Germany had a variety of small and medium-sized amphibious craft such as F-lighters, Marinefährprahm, Siebel ferry, etc. These were used in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and other coastal combat areas. I would like something similar to USN54, Landing Assault Craft, or USN55, Landing Support Craft, with a variety of types in a package.

• WWII Germany Aircraft Pack 2 [(Fw 190A/F or Bf 109T), Ju 88 or Ju 188 (preferably armed as a dive-bomber), He 111 (preferably with torpedo armament), He 115 floatplane, and/or He 177 (preferably with FX 1400 guided bomb or Hs 293 missiles)]: All five types played significant roles in maritime combat. The Germans really need a single-engine fighter. Maybe even both fighter types rather than one of the Heinkel aircraft.

• WWII Italy destroyer Folgore class: This class of four destroyers and the similar Freccia class saw extensive service as escorts in the Mediterranean. Less than satisfactory because of mechanical unreliability, these ships still deserve to have a good model in 1/2400 scale. CinC makes a model for the Freccia class, but GHQ would be better.

• WWII Italy torpedo boat Spica: These were good-looking ships with high speed, but let down by the armament scheme. Their gun and torpedo armament was ineffective against full-size destroyers and left insufficient capacity for defensive weapons. They would have been much better escorts with more anti-submarine capability and air defenses. I would like more of these smaller warships available.

• WWII Japan late-war Navy aircraft: Aichi B7A Ryusei [Grace], Kawanishi N1K Shiden [George], Mitsubishi A7M Reppu [Sam], Yokosuka D4Y3 [Judy] (radial version), Yokosuka P1Y Ginga [Frances]. Although Jill, Val, etc. continued fighting to the end of the war, they were meat on the table for Hellcats and Corsairs. Improved Japanese aircraft make hypothetical late-war battles more evenly balanced. I was disappointed that GHQ did not include any of these when they released IJN58, CV Unryu.

• WWII Japan commercial oil tanker “Kawasakiâ€￾ type: Between the wars, the Kawasaki shipyards built eighteen essentially identical oil tankers for commercial use (Akatsuki Maru was one example). Although there are many possibilities for commercial types (targets), I selected this one because it’s been a while since a tanker or a civil Japanese ship type was produced. I wouldn’t be disappointed if another type were produced, but I hope GHQ continues producing commercial ship types.

• WWII Japan heavy cruiser Maya, late-war appearance: This Takao class heavy cruiser was badly damaged at Rabaul. After repairs, the ruined “Câ€￾ turret had been replaced by two additional twin 5-inch mounts. Although this is a single ship, I think the interest in Japanese cruisers is enough to make this a good choice for GHQ’s production.

• WWII Japan destroyer Mutsuki class, fast transport conversion: This was the last of the Japanese destroyer classes before the introduction of the revolutionary “Special Typeâ€￾ Fubuki. Considered obsolescent by 1940, they were converted into fast transports, most of which were sunk during the Solomons Campaign. This is the configuration that I would prefer.

• WWII Japan destroyer Shimakaze: This was only a single ship but many more were planned. This was a particularly fast and powerful design for a classic destroyer. Later in the war, the main gun armament was reduced to provide additional anti-aircraft protection. I would prefer the original appearance.

• WWII Soviet Union destroyer type 7U: This is a natural follow-on to SUN02 Type 7 destroyers; differing in appearance due to two funnels for a more damage-tolerant unit machinery arrangement. A significant number were completed before the end of the war. Viking Forge makes a 1/2400 model of the Type 7U but the quality is inferior to that of GHQ’s Micronauts.

• WWII Soviet Union battleship Sovyetskiy Soyuz design: This is the only hypothetical ship on my wish list. As with the German H, British Lion, and US BB-67 designs that are already available from GHQ; work was started but none were completed. I think the only 1/2400 model of Sovyetskiy Soyuz now available is a 3-D printed version.

• WWI UK battlecruiser Renown-class: This was the last class of battlecruisers completed during the Great War. Repulse saw combat in the First World War when she participated in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Although CinC makes a model of this class, GHQ’s would be better

• WWII UK aircraft Fleet Air Arm pack: By now, anyone with 1/2400-scale British aircraft has plenty of Swordfish, but none of the other purpose-built aircraft used on carriers. Blackburn Skua, Fairey Fulmar, Fairey Firefly, and Fairey Barracuda would provide some variety on the decks. For land-based designs adapted for carrier use, Gloster Gladiators and Hawker Hurricanes would also be useful in addition to the available Spitfires. All of these aircraft saw significant combat from British carriers. If a Hurricane were available, it would also allow me to put aircraft on Catapult Armed Merchant Ships (CAMSs).

• WWII UK battleships Duke of York, Anson, or Howe: Now that GHQ has produced Prince of Wales, I would like to have a late-war version of this class, with significantly increased medium anti-aircraft weaponry. Although none of these ships were identical at the end of the war, the differences are small enough that I would accept any of these three to represent the others.

• WWII UK light cruisers Scylla and Charybdis: These two ships were nominally part of the Dido class, but because of shortage of the 5.25-inch guns that were to have been their main armament, they each received four twin 4.5-inch anti-aircraft guns instead. Sometimes referred to as “toothless,â€￾ they proved excellent anti-aircraft escorts and saw significant combat.

• WWII UK destroyers ‘V & W’ long-range escort conversions. These ships underwent significant conversion from obsolescent destroyers into effective anti-submarine escorts. The extent of the conversion makes it impractical to change GHQ’s UKN43 into this appearance. GHQ has already produced the unconverted version and the even more extensively converted anti-aircraft WAIR version. I would like them to continue with this and later the fast (short-range) escort version.

• WWII USA aircraft: land-based attack and medium bombers: The Douglas A-20 Havoc and its late-war replacement, the A-26 Invader, were high-powered attack types. GHQ already makes a B-25B (with USS Hornet and in the land-based bomber set), but I would like to have a late-model B-25H or J for low-level anti-shipping strikes. Although the Martin B-26 Marauder was used mostly for medium-altitude level bombing in Europe, they participated in the Battle of Midway as torpedo bombers.

• WWII USA battleship Idaho (BB 42), after modifications of January, 1945: After this modification, the Idaho had a unique appearance, especially in the fitting of single, enclosed-mount 5â€￾/38 secondary armament. The ship saw combat in this configuration. To the best of my knowledge, there is no 1/2400 scale model of the ship in this appearance.

• WWII USA attack transport Harris (APA 2) class: Sixteen medium-sized passenger liners were built at the end of WWI to the “Design 1029â€￾ standard, also known as the “dollar designâ€￾ and the “President 535-footâ€￾ design. Most operated as merchant liners between the wars, were taken over by the Army in 1940 and transferred to the Navy in 1942. Four were sold outside the US in the late 1930s, one remained in service with the Army, three were sunk as Navy transport ships before conversion to attack transports, and eight were converted into attack transports. I would prefer these modeled as attack transports with the military transport second choice, but the civil version would be OK.

• WWII US heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) (final configuration) – We are about half-way to being able to represent all the US pre-war heavy cruiser types in both early-war & late-war configuration. A late-war Pensacola (CA-24) or Chester (CA-27) would also be welcome, but Indianapolis gets my vote because of her tragic sinking. No one makes a 1/2400 model of a late-war Indianapolis.

• WWII US oil tanker T2-SE-A1 type: Over 450 of these medium-sized oil tankers were mass-produced during the war. Most were intended for civil use but some were completed as military auxiliaries (Suamico (AO 49) class). Considering the large number built, I think that many customers would make multiple purchases of this type.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2018-05-23.

Don S.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Consolidated Micronaut Wish List Summary

Replaced by updated list 2018-06-04.

Don S.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Shortly before GHQ announces their 2018-2019 releases, here are some of the highlights of the Micronaut Wish List as of 2018-05-28. The noted changes are from the 2017-06-08 summary (just after the 2017-2018 schedule announcements).

Total number of items receiving at least one vote: 3952 (up from 3928).


Most popular item: WWII era France heavy cruiser Duquesne-class, before 1940 (49 votes, up from 42 votes). This replaces WWII era Germany MTB S-100 type Schnellboote (E-boats), with 47 votes.


By era:

Most popular Napoleonic era product: brass etched ratlines for 1st, 3rd, and 5th rates (9 votes each, unchanged)
Most popular Napoleonic era ship type: UK 44-gun razée Indefatigable (originally 64-gun Ardent class) (6 votes, up from 5 votes)

Most popular Era-of-Steam ship: Greece steam frigate Kateria (6 votes, up from 4 votes)

Most popular ironclad era ship: Confederate States casemate ironclad ram Virginia (ex-USS steam frigate Merrimack) (4 votes, unchanged).

Most popular pre-Dreadnought era ship: Germany battleship Braunschweig class (31 votes, up from 30 votes)

Most popular WWI era ship: UK destroyer “Lâ€￾ class (ex-Laforey class) with 2 funnels (29 votes, unchanged)

Most popular WWII era ship: WWII era France heavy cruiser Duquesne-class, before 1940 (49 votes, up from 42 votes). This replaces WWII era Germany MTB S-100 type Schnellboote (E-boats), with 47 votes.

Most popular early Cold War era ship: Soviet light cruiser Sverdlov (Project 68 bis) class (34 votes, up from 31 votes).

Most popular late Cold War era item: Soviet missile patrol boat Tarantul (Project 1241.MR)-class (16 votes, up from 13 votes) This replaces UK frigate Leander (Type 21) class, batch 2 with Exocet and USA destroyer Kidd (DDG 993 class) (14 votes each)

Most popular post-Cold War era item: China LPD Type 071 (Kunlunshan, Yuzhao) class (19 votes, up from 18 votes)

Most popular post-Organian Treaty era ship: tie between UFP star cruiser Constitution (NCC1700) class and Klingon battlecruiser D-7 type (1 vote each, unchanged)


Most-popular item, by nation:

Argentina: late-Cold War era Malvinas/Falklands aircraft (13 votes, unchanged)

Australia: post-Cold War era frigate ANZAC-class (5 votes, up from 4 votes)

Austria-Hungary: WWI era battleship ersatz Monarch (Improved Tegetthoff, battleship VIII)-design (8 votes, up from 6 votes)

Belgium: WWII era gunboat Artevelde (1 vote, unchanged)

Brazil: WWI era battleship Minas Gerais-class (8 votes, up from 7 votes)

Bulgaria: WWI era torpedo boat Drski-class (2 votes, unchanged)

Canada: post-Cold War era frigate City (Halifax)-class (6 votes, up from 4 votes)

Chile: WWI era battleship Almirante Latorre class (7 votes, up from 6 votes)

China: post-Cold War era LPD Type 071 (Kunlunshan, Yuzhao) class (19 votes, up from 18 votes)

Colombia: WWII era destroyer Vouga class (2 votes, unchanged)

Confederate States of America: Ironclad era casemate ironclad ram Virginia (4 votes, unchanged)

Cuba: tie among WWI era gunboat Cuba, WWI gunboat Diez de Octubre, and WWI gunboat Patrice (1 vote each, unchanged)

Czechoslovakia: tie between WWII era river gunboat OMm35 type and WWII era river gunboat President Masaryk (1 vote each, unchanged)

Denmark: WWII era coastal battleship Niels Juel (aka Niels Iuel) (1936 refit) (5 votes, up from 4 votes)

Egypt: tie among WWII era motor gunboat Al Sarea, WWII motor gunboat Darfeel type, WWII gunboat El Amir Forouq, WWII motor gunboat Raqib type, and late Cold War guided missile patrol boat Ramadon-class (1 vote each, unchanged)

Eire: tie between WWII era fisheries protection ship Fort Rannoch and WWI era motor torpedo boat M1 type (1 vote each, unchanged)

Estonia: WWII era gunboat Pikkeri (2 votes, up from 1 vote)

Finland: WWII era coast defense ship Väinämoinen-class (8 votes, up from 6 votes)

France: WWII era heavy cruiser Duquesne class, early war (49 votes, up from 42 votes)

Germany: WWII era Schnellboote, S-100 type (47 votes, up from 46 votes)

Greece: Era-of-Steam steam frigate Kateria (6 votes, up from 4 votes). This replaces late-Cold War era patrol boat La Combattante III-type (5 votes)

Hungary: tie among WWII era river gunboat Godolo, WWII era river gunboat Kecskemet, and WWII era river gunboat Sopron (1 vote each, unchanged)

Iceland: tie among WWII era fisheries protection ships Aegir, Esja, Odinn, Sudin, and Thor (1 vote each, unchanged)

India: post-Cold War era frigate Talwar class (10 votes, up from 8 votes)

Iran (Persia): post-Cold War era miniature submarine Ghadir type (4 votes, unchanged)

Italy: WWII era destroyer Folgore class (24 votes, up from 23 votes)

Japan: WWII era destroyer Kagero-class, late-war appearance (39 votes, unchanged)

Klingon: post-Organian Treaty battlecruiser D-7 class (1 vote, unchanged)

Korea, People’s Republic of (North): late-Cold War era frigate Najin-class (12 votes, up from 10 votes)

Korea, Republic of (South): post-Cold War era corvette Gimcheon (Pohang
Flight III, IV and V)-class (15 votes, up from 11 votes)

Latvia: tie between WWII era minesweeper Imanta class and WWII era submarine Ronis class (1 vote each, unchanged)

Manchukuo: tie among WWII era river gunboats Shun Tien, Tatung, and Ting Pien (one vote each, unchanged)

Mexico: WWII gunboat Durango (2 votes, up from 1 vote)

NATO: late-Cold War era tactical aircraft (12 votes, up from 11 votes)

Netherlands: WWII era destroyer Isaac Sweers (as completed in England with AA armament) (8 votes, up from 6 votes)

Nigeria: post-Cold War patrol craft Centenary-class (4 votes, up from 3 votes)

Norway: WWII era torpedo boat Sleipner-class (6 votes, up from 5 votes)

Panama: WWII era commercial transport El Capitan (3 votes, unchanged)

Paraguay: WWII era river gunboat Paraguay (1 vote, unchanged)

Peru: tie between WWII era river gunboat Loreta-class and WWII era submarine R1-class (1 vote each, unchanged)

Poland: late Cold War era landing ship Ropucha-class (10 votes, up from 9 votes)

Portugal: WWII era destroyer Dao class (3 votes, up from 2 votes)

Romania: WWII era destroyer Mărăşti class (4 votes, unchanged)

Russia/Soviet Union/Russia: early Cold War light cruiser Sverdlov (Project 68 bis)-class (34 votes). This replaces WWII era destroyer Type 7U-class (33 votes)

Siam/Thailand: WWII era torpedo boat Puket class (3 votes, unchanged)

South Africa: post-Cold War era frigate MEKO 200 class (5 votes, up from 3 votes)

Spain: pre-Dreadnought era armored cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa class (7 votes, up from 6 votes)

Sweden: WWII era coastal battleship Sverige-dclass (1939 reconstruction) (7 votes, up from 5 votes)

Taiwan: post-Cold War corvette Tuo Chiang-class (10 votes, up from 8 votes)

Turkey: WWI era light cruiser Midilii, 1917 rearmament (10 votes, unchanged)

UFP: Post-Organian Treaty star cruiser Constitution (NCC-1700) class (1 vote, unchanged)

UK: WWII era destroyer leaders “Aâ€￾-“Iâ€￾-classes (41 votes, up from 37 votes). This replaces WWII era destroyer War Emergency “Oâ€￾ class with 4.7-inch guns (40 votes)

Uruguay: tie among WWI era gunboat 18 du Julio, WWI era gunboat Uruguay, and WWII era motor gunboat Paysandu class (1 vote each, unchanged)

USA: WWII era battleship Idaho (BB 42), late war appearance (44 votes, up from 41 votes)

Venezuela: post-Cold War corvette Guaiqueri-class (2 votes, new to the list)

Vietnam: post-Cold War frigate Dinh Tien Hoang (HQ-011) class [Russian Gepard 3.9 (Project 1166.1E)] (2 votes, unchanged)

Yugoslavia: WWII era destroyer Dubrovnik (7 votes, up from 5 votes)


Most popular item, by type:

Aircraft carrier: WWII USA escort carrier Long Island (CVE 1) (38 votes, unchanged)

Battleship / battlecruiser / armored cruiser: WWII era USA Idaho (BB 42), late-war appearance (44 votes, up from 41 votes)

Cruiser: WWII era France heavy cruiser Duquesne-class (49 votes, up from 42 votes)

Destroyer: WWII era UK destroyer leaders “Aâ€￾ through “Iâ€￾-classes [Codrington, Keith, Assiniboine, Exmouth, Faulkner, Grenville, Hardy, and Inglefield] (41 votes, up from 37 votes). This replaces WWII era Japan Kagero class, late-war version, and WWII era UK War Emergency classes O & P with 4.7â€￾ guns.

Escort: WWII era UK frigate Black Swan class (40 votes, up from 38 votes)

Submarine: WWII era Italy 600-ton type (18 votes, unchanged)

Amphibious: WWII era US fast attack transport Charles Lawrence (APD 37) class (32 votes, up from 30 votes)

Auxiliary: WWI era UK seaplane tender Engadine class (26 vote, unchanged)

Small craft: WWII era Germany Schnellboote, S-100 type (47 votes, up from 46 votes)

Aircraft: WWII era Germany aircraft pack 2 (Bf 109, Bf 110, Do 24, Fw 190, Ju 88, He 111, He 115, and/or He 117) (31 votes, up from 29 votes)

Commercial / civilian: WWII era USA civil oil tanker T2-SE-A1 type (22 votes, up from 21 votes)

Sailing ships: UK 44-gun razée Indefatigable (originally 64-gun Ardent class) (6 votes, up from 5 votes)

Other: deck decals for HUS4, CVN 71, USS Roosevelt (11 votes, unchanged)

Number of ships receiving only one vote: 1946, down from 1959. 24 items received their first vote; 35 items with only one vote received at least one additional vote.

Don S.