Questions from someone very new to this.....

[Atticus]

Hi, I'm very new to this whole miniatures wargaming thing and have yet to purchase any. I've been browsing around the site to see what I'd like to start out with. I'm thinking about modern. Does anyone have any modern US infantry pictures? The pictures of them on the site isnt very good quality. I was actually thinking about getting the Israeli Infantry and paint them with US colors, the weapons and helmets are pretty much the same, although I saw one with an RPG but I think I could just cut off the rocket tip and it'd look like a carl gustav or something. But if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear em.thanx

[chrisswim]

Do you prefer infantry or tanks? My thought is if you prefer infantry, you may consider the 10mm, 15mm infantry even if modern. I you like tanks, micro armor is for you. Playing 1 to 1 for 6mm infantry is difficult. Very tactical game in my opinion. I prefer tanks, AFV's, Helos, etc. You could start with the nationality of the force you like, such as US. Pick up a command pack or two, three or four, then some infantry. Then look for an oponent. So Abrams and Bradleys as you get started unless you like some older stuff. Hold off on the arty for now. Some AA is good, maybe mortars.

If you like German after the US, then could have a NATO wargame, or a battle. Pick up some Leopard 2A6, Marder 1A3, Luchs & Fenncks, Gepards & Rolands. Could use Israeli, too.

What size force are you thinking of? What nationalities?
Hopefully, that is an idea for you. What do you think?
Chris

[1ComOpsCtr]

There are dozens and dozens of color reference books available that provide an excellent guide to the uniforms of every nation that participated in WW 2 and in most modern conflicts to date. Osprey has a whole series on uniforms from almost every country and period.

Here is a picture of some of the Viet Nam period GHQ figures:

The other period figures available are rendered with much the same detail.

There is an excellent web site available that provides color photographs of original uniforms as well as photos of copies of period uniforms.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uni ... forces.htm

The link below gives you the American Regiments that made up each Army Division during WW 2. You can go to the Regimental web sites for more detail if you wish, but the initial uniform information can be obtained from the site above or from the hundreds of books and pamphlets.

http://www.warchronicle.com/units/US/WW ... isions.htm

The finished product will be worth the effort...

Will

[RoughRIder]

I think that he was asking if anyone has any of the modern infantry painted up, cause he cant tell how the models are from the pictures.


But.... could be wrong.

[jb]

...I was actually thinking about getting the Israeli Infantry and paint them with US colors, the weapons and helmets are pretty much the same, although I saw one with an RPG but I think I could just cut off the rocket tip and it'd look like a carl gustav or something. But if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear em.thanx

... no need to paint IDF infantry as US. As a matter of fact the helmut and web gear are not even close to the US. If you want Now day modern US infantry,just use the GHQ US Modern infantry as is-they are wonderful. If you need US pre 1980 infantry use the US Vietnam infantry. The only discrepancy would be the rolled up sleeves,but to make them unrolled just paint them-you won't know the diffrence.

[Mk 1]

My humble suggestions (subject to all possible disclaimers*):

1 ) Check out the "Show us yer Stuff" thread.
You can spend a great deal of time enjoying the many many pages of that thread, and you will see many wonderful pictures of superbly painted GHQ minis. Note in particular JB's posts on infantry -- they include a fair number of US Vietnam era and moderns. Note also Ritter's posts on infantry -- not so much focussed on moderns, but truly inspiring to those who want to paint GHQ micro infantry forces.

2 ) Disregard all suggestions of going to 10mm or 15mm!
No, those posted suggestions are not "wrong". There is much fun to be had at those scales, I'm sure. But ... if you want to get going with 1/285th (6mm) infantry, don't be put off! You can have some wonderful wargaming experiences with this scale, even doing primarily infantry combat! If you really do want to focus on infantry, look for rules that are "fire-team" or "half-squad" based. These usually focus on 2- and 4-man teams, making a squad (of 8-12 men) by combining one or two fire-teams of 4 men with a 2-man support team or two. They provide generally provide for very interesting tactical action, in many ways better than the 1-to-1 skirmish rules used with some of the larger scales.

3 ) Don't start out by thinking of kit-bashing Isreali's into US.
It is indeed possible, and quite enjoyable, to kit-bash the GHQ stuff around. But it is probably not a good place to start. This scale is really small. You will be better advised to develop the skills of painting and mounting up the units as they are first, so that you can also get going with gaming. Then you can start kit-bashing and customizing stuff to your personal tastes.

Photos of some of my experiences with micro-scale infantry, to wet the appetite:


My WW2 Italian infantry, completed a few months ago. These are GHQ figures.


WW2 Italian AT and AA guns to support my infantry. Again, GHQ figures.


My WW2 Soviet light armor overruns a German OP during a wargame with a friend. All GHQ in this pic.


WW2 German sappers blow a bridge as mortar rounds fall about their ears during a Kursk scenario I put on at a gaming con more than a year ago. Paloalto (of this forum) won a GHQ gift certificate for this particular action by his troops. Figures are GHQ.


Modern US and Iraqi infantry fight it out for a bridge in a scenario I played taken right out of a US War College study. This is probably the most topical. Vehicles and figures are GHQ. Infantry are modern Soviet and modern US GHQ figures.

How's that? Enough to get your engine started?


-Mark 1


*Note: This is an invited editorial, and does not necessarily reflect the views of management. Your mileage may vary. These are skilled professionals, do not try this at home (well, actually, DO try this at home). Published results not typical. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. blah mumble blah ...