Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: robh on July 16, 2025, 12:27:00 AM
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Does anyone know of a source of figures suitable to use as 1/76th_20mm (possibly 18mm due to small stature) natives for the campaigns against the Japanese around Indonesia?
Naked torso figures with short or long sarong, unarmed or spears, no armour or equipment.
I am pretty sure there is nothing specific, but, is there anything that would work as a stand in?
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The only ones I can think could be suitable are the Caesar California Mission Indians or the Hat Ruga Ruga. Perhaps
https://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1786 (https://plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1786)
Cheers
Matt
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I think that, with those two from ESCI (Kneeling muslim warrior and Barbarian, first from left), of which you probably have tons :D you can make some suitable simple conversions..they are my most used native plastic figures .
there are, also, a couple of manufactures that produce generic/natives for WW2 in 20mm metal...i must find which ones..i should also have some samples in my cellar..bare torso and head , some with bandolier pouches, baggy knee length shorts ...i cannot remenber the brand's names but i'll make a research
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Lancashire Games has a small range of sarong-wearing irregulars but they are all rifle-armed: https://www.lancashiregames.com/lg/20mm-far-east-bandits/natives.html
Their 18mm ranges could potentially work with 20mm, so perhaps have a look at their Mahdist and Ashanti ranges?
Not sure whether the Elhiem Figures packs are what you want - although they are historically accurate, they aren't in anyway exotic: https://afewroundsmore.wordpress.com/2021/10/24/south-east-asian-irregulars/
Or perhaps Newline Designs, who does both 20mm ancients and colonials.
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Thanks for the pointers. Fortunately I only need a dozen or so figures for a couple of scenarios so Esci/Pegasus type conversions are an option. Not sure how my titchy Airfix Australian Z Men will take to the Timorese being a good 12 to 18" taller than them though.
As suspected 18mm is probably going to be my solution.
Not sure whether the Elhiem Figures packs are what you want
For Guerrillas they are perfect, your designs are great and (along with Matt's RN Shore Party) would be an automatic purchase for the campaign but Elheim refuse to ship to Europe now.
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What about ancient Indians who wear a long "skirt" similar to a sarong? Newline Designs produce a small range in metal and I think HaT produce a set of 1/72 plastics.
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Ancient Indians would be be a good option costume wise but finding them (and most ancients for that matter) without cast on shields is difficult.
I have picked up an assortment of 18mm and 20mm figures from Lancashire to mess around with. Hopefully they will be "generic" enough to work as Nung types in 20mm Vietnam games also.
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In my personal experience, the Lancashire Games 18 mm are no where NEAR 18 mm, more like large 20 mm. Of course, I don't know the whole range, just step cautiously. Some unique figures in the range, just not 18 mm - or close - for the ones I acquired (colonial and nappies).
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In my personal experience, the Lancashire Games 18 mm are no where NEAR 18 mm, more like large 20 mm. Of course, I don't know the whole range, just step cautiously. Some unique figures in the range, just not 18 mm - or close - for the ones I acquired (colonial and nappies).
That would have been superb, timely advice had I not just sent off for some of their '18mm' Dark Age Saxons! lol
We'll just have to see what turns up!
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Force 20 Miniatures did a pack of OSS Det 101 with native troops. They were smaller sized 20mm. I know Elheim Figures sold them.
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Force 20 Miniatures did a pack of OSS Det 101 with native troops. They were smaller sized 20mm. I know Elheim Figures sold them.
Thanks Bill, I have a couple of packs of those amongst my 1/72 Vietnam figures, some head swaps with the Esci US models to give the "oversized helmet" look common to local forces. They are really great figures but Matt was selling them as discontinued stock and they are now gone.
If they are available anywhere else I would certainly buy some more but I have not seen them listed recently.
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TurnBase Miniatures (https://www.myminifactory.com/users/TurnBaseMiniatures) have just announced a new line of Filipino guerillas on their Facebook page. They're 28mm but perhaps the proprietors would be willing to scale down the designs?
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Something like this Rob?
(https://www.delcampe.net/static/img_large/auction/001/737/202/111_001.jpg)
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Yes exactly. ;)
A few like that would be perfect.
As the "Z Force" campaign progressed the native guerrillas* adopted a hybrid appearance with traditional clothing amended with western style civilian trousers and shirts. Then towards the last phase of the war more military looking semi "uniform" tunics and trousers with webbing and packs.
*As opposed to the Dutch members of the guerrilla units who were obviously of western appearance from the outset.
It is a really distinctive looking force.
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In that case I think the Ashanti warriors by Lancashire would work! They're practically 20mm.
Regardless of which option you decide on, please post pictures of your finished figures!
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My selection of figures from Lancashire Games arrived this morning, a really mixed bag of sizes and quality.
I picked up examples of the 20mm Far East Natives and French Resistance ranges and the 18mm Colonial Ashanti and Wellington in India Indians.
I am not sure I am any further forward really. They vary so much in height and bulk that only the Indians actually work as smaller people. The hope was something that looks like an average Indonesian man of the era, so about 5'3" in scale with the Australian and British troops.
Here in comparison to the Airfix figures that provide the vast majority of the figures I have for WW2 Far East games. The bottom of the white strip is at 20mm.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/67/5822-250825170018.jpeg)
The Indians will need sarongs instead of knee length trousers but nothing much, then with some creative basing and leg shortening I can probably bodge 5 or 6 Dutch/Westernised guerrillas out of the French Resistance and Far East Natives. The Ashanti are scrap.