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Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: brunei35 on 30 November 2021, 10:11:13 AM

Title: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: brunei35 on 30 November 2021, 10:11:13 AM
Do any of the manufacturers do a range of models for the Chinese Army in the 1980s and if not anyone have any thoughts on what could be converted? Having got a platoon of the excellent Eureka and Mongrel Miniatures Soviets I find myself with no opposition and do not fancy building my own Afghanistan or Cold war European force. Thinking a few 'what it' border conflict solo games.

Thanks

Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: carlos marighela on 30 November 2021, 10:55:17 AM
Alas not and I have tried to spark some interest. The forthcoming Rubicon Vietnam war North Vietnamese are a potential conversion source. A ridiculously high proportion seem to be wearing tunics as opposed to shirts, making them less than ideal for PAVN. You would need to source GK80 helmets or Mao caps. Rubicon are tooling Type 63 APCs so maybe, one day they might make Chinese infantry.

For the two piece camo suits you could proxy the older Eureka Musorians, albeit the webbing is wrong and the helmets would need filing to get the shape of the Chinese version or use plastic Japanese helmets as rough proxies.

It’s a pity nobody makes the PLA as they are a fascinating subject and a Sino-Soviet conflict was in many ways more plausible than an attack on NATO. Some years ago I spoke with Kosta at Eureka and he was vaguely interested in doing Chinese in propaganda poster style heroic poses but nothing came of it. Maybe Empress would contemplate further opposition for their North Vietnamese.
Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: commissarmoody on 30 November 2021, 11:19:50 AM
Just had a discussion with a buddy about this the other day and Carlos pretty much offered everything I was going to say for conversion fodder. And that would be cool to see a Sano-Viet war line from Empress in the future.  :D
Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: Kourtchatovium104 on 30 November 2021, 11:38:11 AM
You're right, it would be a great idea. I would love to see a game starting with the Damansky/Zhenbao Island conflict.
Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: brunei35 on 30 November 2021, 11:54:15 AM
Thanks for initial thoughts.
Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: carlos marighela on 30 November 2021, 09:20:20 PM
Well, thinking outside the box, another potential foe is Iran. There was a shoot down of Iranian AH-1 helicopters that strayed into Soviet airspace and despite some arms deals, Khomeini’s Iran and the Soviet Union were far from being best pals.

The Eureka ZANLA troops are easy to convert into AK wielding IRG, just add M1 helmets or  attach tinfoil/putty headbands. I did about a squads worth a few years back.

The Underfire range of West Germans might be a source for G-3 armed Iranians.
Title: Re: Chinese army in 1980's in 28mm?
Post by: brunei35 on 01 December 2021, 08:42:28 AM
Thanks Carlos, good idea. Will go and do some research

Brgds
Tony