Atomic Cafe 1957: List of compatible miniatures

[Christian]

Hi all, I've been revisiting my interest in this game recently, and thought it might benefit from a list of miniatures suitable from a variety of sources. Aside from the official Brigade releases, it looks like there are plenty of other figures out there that are suitable for this great game. I was surprised that I had a fair few figures already in my collection that could be of use. This will definitely make it easier for me to get started!

The Brigade minis are obviously the best choice, but I think some other ranges can be cherry-picked too. I'm pretty sure the distinct flavour of AC1957 can be maintained...

So... on with the list...

Brigade Games - Official miniatures and rules
http://www.brigadegames.com/Atomic-Cafe_c_168.html

Lead Adventure Miniatures - Giant rats, survivors, mutants and zombies
http://www.lead-adventure.com

Tengu Models - Zombies (including clowns, a hillbilly and dogs!) and mutants
http://www.tengumodels.co.uk

East Riding Miniatures - Retro characters (including a great sculpt of Ro-Man from the 1953 film "Robot Monster"), zombies and other bits and pieces
http://shop.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/golgo-island-171-c.asp

Hasslefree Miniatures - Some retro characters and zombies
www.hfminis.co.uk/

Artizan Designs - KKBB, Thrilling Tales pulp, WW2 Soviets, Americans and Partisans might prove useful
http://www.artizandesigns.com/index.php

Pulp Figures - Plenty of potential for characters... including Mounties!
http://pulpfigures.com/home/

Copplestone Castings - KKBB, Hillbillies, Texas Rangers, Guys in suits, scavengers etc. also terrain pieces
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/

Brittania/Inkerman - Hillbillies with assorted weapons, some too early, but most ok

1st corps - Korean War Chinese, British & IIRC Americans

Blue Moon Manufacturing - Hill Billies

John Jenkins Designs - Chinese communist Zombies (sadly now OOP)

Acheson Creations - 1950s Chinese and American troops
http://www.achesoncreations.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=75&Itemid=1

Crooked Dice - Some useful retro characters and henchmen, scientists and other useful figures
http://www.crooked-dice.co.uk/wp/

More to come, hopefully. Feel free to post suggestions below! Vehicles, buildings and things would be especially helpful.

[NurgleHH]

You should add the Range of Pulp-Miniatures and Artizans Thrilling Tales.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Copplestone castings - Hill billies, Texas rangers, Scavengers (will need weapon swops), guys in suits w/ an assortment of weapons (not too bad to represent old folks), Chinese (for those that want to go a bit Fallout with Hordes of chinese invading the US rather than the soviets...!)

Brittania/Inkerman - Hillbillies with assorted weapons, some too early, but most ok

1st corps - Korean War Chinese, British & IIRC Americans

Blue Moon Manufacturing - Hill Billies

John Jenkins Designs - Chinese communist Zombies

[NurgleHH]

I forgot Copplestone castings Gangsterstuff and the zombies from studio miniatures

[Christian]

Some interesting suggestions there guys! Thanks!

I'd forgotten about Copplestone's missile silo and other terrain bits and pieces.

Those hillbillies are pretty good, too

I guess some of the gangsters look a bit out of date, but they'd fit in with a bit of converting, surely.

[Arlequín]

I've been to do some stuff in the 1950's, but suitable figures have been difficult. Most of the stuff in the gangster ranges is definitely too 20s & 30s and one usable figure in a pack gets expensive. Reaper Miniatures have the odd figure in their ranges too, but I couldn't comment about compatibility with the Brigade AC57 figures.

Thanks to VLD for pointing out 1st Corps' Chinese though... they look quite good! 

[v_lazy_dragon]

The TAG M14 equipped Vietnam guys are 2 years too late, but that may not be an issue to some folks...

USMC raiders in the pacific (especially the ones not in helmets like some of Brigades) might also be useful...

And no trouble Jim - glad to be useful! I did have some at one point, bolstered with some copplestone Chinese in furry hats and a few repurposed VC (Baker Co, TAG & WestWind's IIRC). The VC were there to add some Post apocalyptic character - Collie hats, sandles, Mao caps and assorted US weapons and equipment...

[Arlequín]

The TAG M14 equipped Vietnam guys are 2 years too late, but that may not be an issue to some folks...

Not even that, although it was accepted for service in 1959, it wasn't until 1962 when decent numbers of them came through and even then the Airborne Divisions got them first. Even by mid-1962 only one of them was fully equipped with the M14. Had a war occurred in 1962, the vast majority of US forces would have been fighting AK47s and SKS carbines with M1 Garands and M1 Carbines.

You could get away with late WW2 figures, but not the ones in the short jacket and spats combo... if you're being 'historical' at least. If it was 'AC47' life would be easier.


Still to me the whole attraction is the 'look' of the era, if I have to fudge it by using earlier figures, I may just as well be playing WWW2.


*Edit* - If anyone wants good reference sources for around 1957, try watching 'Them!', the original 'War of the Worlds' or even selected episodes of 'Sgt Bilko'.
 

[v_lazy_dragon]

http://www.achesoncreations.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=75&Itemid=1

The link as two more Korean War packs that I'd not come across before - more Chinese, and winter Americans.

It's interesting to hear that the M14 took so long to come into use...!

[Arlequín]

Nice find with those too... hope they look a bit better under the paint though. 

http://www.achesoncreations.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=75&Itemid=1
It's interesting to hear that the M14 took so long to come into use...!

I was surprised too, I think we tend to see an introduction date and subconsciously assume all the soldiers woke up one morning thinking Santa had been. IIRC the M-14 magazine pouches were available long before the actual rifles, so you occasionally get soldiers with the 'new webbing' and carrying a Garand. I have a photo somewhere of US Marines near Detroit in 1962 and they look like they're doing a WW2 re-enactment with the kit they have.

The same year we have a SEAL team carrying AR-15s for the first time (despite their CO getting one torn off for his extravagance with the 'open purchase' scheme), so go figure. Even in 1965, Special Forces were routinely carrying M3 Grease Guns, Thompsons, and M1 Carbines. While his men had M-14 rifles, Philip Caputo was carrying an M1 Carbine in 1965, as he wasn't 'allowed' an M-14.

Not that I've looked into any of this or anything... 

 

[carlos marighela]

Some interesting photos of US Marines circa your period.

In Lebanon 1958:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?73311-US-Marines-in-Lebanon-1958

At home: http://www.8thandi.com/mem50.html

Only differences to USMC for WW2 are the flak jackets ( not always in evidence) and high combat boots, rest of the kit is pretty much straight WW2.

[Christian]

Well, that's certainly given a new lease on life for my WW2 Americans! I had kept them aside for some unknown purpose... must have been AC57 There's no reason why they wouldn't be able to get their hands on some older gear. This is great

[Arlequín]

Well we're talking 'post-apocalypse', so who knows what dodgy militias would be trotting around in surplus WW2 G.I. gear, there's enough of them now.

[area23]

Addition:
Apart from the Copplestone stuff, his older scavengers from Grenadier are available from em4 and others.
They are the exact same size as the AC57 figs.

West Wind weird wars range has native american Dog Soldiers. Would work very well as a gang/militia.
Also, their normal weird war american soldiers have futuristic WW2 kit.

Warlord Games has the old Bolt Action WW2 figs. The older ones are by Paul Hicks, and the vehicles are very nice.
I think the M16 halftrack for example was used until the 1960's.
Warlord also has native american zombies in the Conquest Games french-indian war range. I want them, as a zombie-mutie gang.

[Maichus]

There are also Raven Painting's Midnight Riders, which imho would make nice gang of survivors. I'm no expert but the weapons and clothing  look suitable for 1957 to me.