The Commander Series Forum

I have recently bought this rule set and am really looking forward to playing it. However I have not bought any mini's yet and want to know what the optimum scale for playing this game is. I already play FoW so have 15mm terrain but some reason the smaller scales such as 6mm feel more right for the cold war.

Also could you tell me where to acquire miniatures for the cold war as I am having trouble finding a retailer (I will play late US and SoVs so t-80s and M1's if possible)

Thanks all

It has to be 6mm

Suppliers - Heroics and Ros, Scotia (web site is ScotiaGerndel), Skytrex - these are a bit rough, Irregular, tanks are 'orrible, infantry can be good... Magister Militum do mainForce Infantry, and GHQ if you have the ability to exceed the Uk Govt deficit - £130 for 50 vehicles. Just not worth it.

IanS

Agree re above. I've got quite a few Skytrex in my Russians and Belgians and they paint up rather nice. Not always as crisp as some of the H&R (which I like - they have some lovely models)

I also think the H&R infantry go well with the vehicles in terms of scale.

Andy

"£130 for 50 vehicles. Just not worth it. "

Wow! I'm glad the Loonie is pretty much at par with the US Green back. Other then exchange why is the price so high to get GHQ in the UK? Shipping?

Customs, VAT etc all contribute to the UK price which basically makes $-£ 1-1. This is the case with most UK distibutors of US figures e.g. OG15 from Timecast and pretty much everything from Old Glory UK there is an explanation of it in the FAQ section of the Old Glory UK website.

http://www.oldgloryuk.com/oldgfaq.php

I too would make the case for 6mm on the grounds that it looks less silly than having MBTs lined up three or four vehicle-lengths apart.

On the other hand if all of your existing stuff is 15mm there's a lot of synergy to be had by sticking to the same scale. You can use the same terrain. Your WW2 T34/85s can see service in Korea and right through the cold war as Warsaw Pact reserve stocks, Cubans, various Arab armies etc.

In the end, though, I'd still say 6mm on cost and availability grounds.

Richard

I echo what Richard says, I'm using 15mm for all periods as I cannot face getting a whole new load of terrain and scenery. I barely have time to paint figures and vehicles hate to think what it would be like painting buildings etc too (this counteracts the advantages of a smaller scale for me).

I've downsized to 6mm for my Cold War (still have 12mm, but not sure if I will be keeping them). I went with GHQ/C-in-C as they are the best quality. Price wasn't an issue for me as they are half the price of 12mm models, so I felt like I was getting a bargain! I bought the same number of models as I did in 12mm.

Thank you for all your replies, I have decided on using 6mm firgures, probably from scotia. I will be able to use some of my 15mm terain such as hills and forrests and I think 6mm just looks right for the period. Kinda like you are flying over the battlefield in a UAV.

That way yiu at least will have correct sized trees.

IanS

You won't go far wrong with Scotia vehicles. I have to warn you off Scotia infantry though - they're too big and sometimes poorly sculpted. Some pics in a recent posting on my blog:

http://TheLandofCounterpane.blogspot.com/

Better to go with Heroics and Ros infantry.

Richard

I would also say go for Heroics & Ros infantry, not so much due to sculpting on the Scotias as the obscenely large "plinth" bases which I really don't like.

If I am to go with HR infantry should I just buy the whole lot from them to save on packaging. BTW Scotia doesn't have US infantry anyway

"£130 for 50 vehicles"

Ian, where are you looking for these prices? GHQ packs currently cost £7 for 5 vehicles, which means you would get 90 (actually 92.8) vehicles for £130. They are £1.40 each.

May have added 1/2 the painting fee. Also ha a mix of stuff in it. STILL OVERPRICED AND OVERHIKED. Said with feeling as I replace the missing barrels on my Cent 5's.

IanS

You have to buy 90 vehicles to get the 50 you want because of the way they are packaged

I have changed my mind and will do one huge order from H and R. Orders over £50's there have free shipping in the UK and they also supply the helicopters I need.

If I was starting my collection from a 'blank canvas' I'd opt for 3mm Odzial Osmy stuff - avaialble in UK from Fighting 15s. I think they look awesome with 3 or 4 AFVs per base!

But ther cost would be about the same, with 3-4 vehicles per base.

IanS

True! But I prefer the look of a group of 3mm representing a group of 'real' stuff!

"I'd opt for 3mm Odzial Osmy stuff - avaialble in UK from Fighting 15s."

...and also from Chris at KR Games of course: who often bungs discounts to this forum [& was a great sponsor of Nikfest] - cheaper than Fighting 15s & free postage too on orders over £5...

www.krgames.co.uk

Tell 'em I sent you

I am using 3mm. 2 vehicles to a base. A bit cheaper than 6mm, and a very small footprint. My bases are 25x20mm.

I play on a 2x3 foot table top.

My other scale for Moderns is 15mm, because the bulk of my wargaming is in that scale. I use the Force on Force rules and play semi-skirmish in the big scale.

6mm would get my vote for large table and fantastic looks at reasonable budget though.

Let me toss in another vote for 3mm. Like Dave, I mount two figs to a stand. Great compromise between cost, mass and footprint for the gaming table.