Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: carlos marighela on 06 February 2014, 07:51:20 PM
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A call to our Swedish Bretheren... Oh and swedophiles too.
I've been musing on some exotic or perhaps different opposition for Cold War themed games set in the 1980s and it occurred to me that the Swedish Army of the era, with its unique mix of headwear, weaponry and hairstyles would make for a most attractive range of miniatures in 28mm.
Through this forum, I've also been quietly impressed with the resource and commitment of many of our Swedish members and their quite marvellous projects. The Very Swedish Civil War thing and the lovely figures being a case in point.
I was wondering if anyone else out there would entertain similar enthusiasm to see a range of figures in 28mm. Perhaps we could talk through the prospect of finding a sculptor and co or jointly commission a range?
Throwing it out there for comment. Anyone interested?
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I think someone may be working on them in 15mm scale.
Sorry, can't afford 28mm, sadly.
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Ah, no love for the Finns, I see :? ;)
Nevertheless, would be great to see Swedes in 28mm or in 20mm. If in 28mm then I think I would personally only be interested in an amount suitable for skirmish action, maybe two squads worth or such at tops.... plus support weapons and rear echelon elements and... :)
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Actually I'd be quite as happy to see Finns and Norwegians as well. Valmet rifles and odd looking helmets, quite distinctive and the vehicles can be covered from Soviet ranges. Trouble is there seems little enthusiasm for Cold War era Scandinavians.
Kickstarter anyone?
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If one goes the KS route, then I think it would be best to concentrate on the Swedes for starters and then expand the range from there if there's enough interest. What's the availebility of Swedish hardware in 28mm currently? Like you wrote, Finns had Soviet vehicles (some from Sweden, too) so in that case it would be easier to concentrate on the actual troops.
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Apart from the old 1/8 Aurora S-Tank model, I don't think anything of Swedish origin for the period exists. FoA do a Centurion and there are some diecasts out there but that's about it. Still for skirmish purposes, I'm not sure how much would be required.
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Maybe an odd wheeled vehicle and a tracked troop carrier, such as Bv206 (would work for Finns as well, and India, Mexico and France, too), would be nice.
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I could swear I saw a 1/48 S-tank kit on ebay a couple of years ago, but perhaps it was 1/35.
A unarmoured Bv of any type would be awfully nice - HLBS do the BvS-10, which I think can work adequately for the Bv-206S, but I'm not aware of any of the earlier versions being out there.
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A call to our Swedish Bretheren... Oh and swedophiles too.
I've been musing on some exotic or perhaps different opposition for Cold War themed games set in the 1980s and it occurred to me that the Swedish Army of the era, with its unique mix of headwear, weaponry and hairstyles would make for a most attractive range of miniatures in 28mm.
Through this forum, I've also been quietly impressed with the resource and commitment of many of our Swedish members and their quite marvellous projects. The Very Swedish Civil War thing and the lovely figures being a case in point.
I was wondering if anyone else out there would entertain similar enthusiasm to see a range of figures in 28mm. Perhaps we could talk through the prospect of finding a sculptor and co or jointly commission a range?
Throwing it out there for comment. Anyone interested?
Even when I muster all the patriotism I have I cannot see the fun in wargaming Swedes 1980. While there is not a complete dearth of scenarios (FN missions, Soviet intrusions, what if Cold War scenarios) I see little appeal in them. I shall give it a try though, coming up with something. Initially what you need are soldiers wielding G3A3/AK4.
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Oh come on surely there's appeal in an army largely armed with products from Husqvarna? (actually that gag probably doesn't work there as well as here, where Husqvarna are mostly known for sewing machines and by the odd motorbike aficionado. Very good sewing machines they are too, my wife has one.)
Anyway, my thoughts are that you'd want three or four poses with AK-4, one with a MAG GPMG, one with a Carl Gustav 84mm and one with a submachinegun. Maybe add a signaller. I will readily admit I was partly inspired by listening to The Stranglers but I think the potential combo of longish hair, the odd goatee beard and those marvellous combination tin helmet with peaked field cap and ear flap affairs would make these really interesting minis. As you say no shortage of potential uses and there's always the zombie/ alien crossover market.
I'm no expert in these things but I suspect one could get the whole show on the road for a couple of grand.
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If they had separate heads the G3 and Carl Gustav figs at least would be handy as generic figs - tough to find either of those weapons on the market these days. With Mongrel pretty much ungettable, the only Charlie G I know of is with MoFo's Falkland Brits; and aside from a handful of assorted African irregular types, the only G3s that come to mind are Eureka's Portuguese.
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with its unique mix of headwear, weaponry and hairstyles
I am a bit curious about the hairstyles :)
I did my military service in the Swedish artillery 1981-82 the most exciting was the Russian sub that stranded on the Swedish
Thanks for reminding me of The Stranglers "too much time to think too little to do" :)
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Well, if you need uniform images, this is what we looked like c:a 1986 (young Hammers, nuh-nuh-nu-nuh-nuh-nineteen years of age).
(http://www.adventuregaming.tsome.com/hammershield_n_n_n_nineteen.jpg)
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Nice photo. So essentially what you are telling me is that the figures could do double service, representing neuro-pop bands like Spandau Ballet and A-Ha? Swap the fiflrs out for synthesizers and a drum machine? :D
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Sort of. The Ksp m/45 is from Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori (why it is also occasionally referred to as Karl Gustav) was still in common use back then, mostly for training and sentry duties. Note the impractical shell collector bag on the side. I think this submachine gun was exported to the US to be used in the Vietnam war . It was very dependable regardless the firing conditions and the 9mm low velocity pistol round were suitable for jungle warfare, apparently.
I don't do modern wargming but maybe some of the Naam minias is sculpted with this gun(?)
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Around the same period we had the F1. Same deal, mostly used for pay parades, in those heady days when you still got paid in cash. If you drew the short straw you stood around with a load magazine in your pocket (not on the weapon itself, that wouldn't be safe) whilst people marched up saluted and declared 'pay correct', even if it wasn't, after a cursory look in the brown paper envelope bulging with $$$.
As a weapon of war, it probably would have done most damage if hurled at an attacker. Legend held that a wet blanket was sufficient armour against its missiles at anything more than 50 metres. Fine chance if you could actually hit anything at that range. Still, you could fit a bayonet to it. We regarded this as being supremely optimistic, fitting a six inch knife on a submachine gun shorter than one's own arm. Upon mature reflection, it was a coded message as to the weapons actual effectiveness.
Yes the Yanks, principally the CIA, used the Carl Gustav SMG in Vietnam. In American circles I believe it's generally known as the 'Swedish K'. I think a number of armies used it, the Irish had them in the Congo, IIRC.
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1/48th is probably right, since I had one back in the 1960's, or early 1970s, I think.
Now, where did that go?
Someone is working on a 15mm scale S-Tank - 3-D art is done, and apparently awaiting printing, and molds being made. QRF may be producing it in metal, if all goes well.
Someone is working on Swedish troops too, to go with them, in 15mm as well.
Can't wait.
Now, we just need a bunch of 15mm Swedish Bikini Team girls to protect from the communists.