The Road to Stanleyville

[v_lazy_dragon]

As a suggestion for Badger, it would be fantastic to see a few Congo Merc characters to complement the existing Mongrel range. There would be no shortage of inspiration - Mike Hoare, Siegfried Muller, etc.

A long time ago, on a different Badger website before they ever went properly back into production, there was talk of more Mercenary packs. From memory there were SMGS (Thompsons?), LMGs( BARs?) command and bazooka's... No idea if that's still the plan though, or even if the list is correct :-/ 

[Ash]

If you need 28mm heads with the 'Katanga' hats, the Indochina range from Empress has a couple of head packs that look the part.

https://www.empressminiatures.com/french-indo-china-17-c.asp

[bazookajoe]

Despite the song "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," I have never seen a picture of a 1960s Congo merc carrying a Tommy gun.   Would love to see one.   The BAR is more likely as a version was definitely used by Belgian and Congolese forces.  The video I posted actually shows a Belgian BAR somewhere being used by Mobutu's troops.  That said, I don't remember any photos of mercs using it.   A Congo merc bazooka team would be great.  The cover of Hoare's "Congo Mercenary" (one edition of it anyway) has a picture of one of his officers using a bazooka and the book mentions the weapon a couple of times with reference to the 1964 operations.  What the Mongrel range really needs is some character/leader figures and, of course, some Simbas!

[Mr C]

Bought the Congo mercs from Mongrel before the company was sold on. Bought some ferret armoured cars and other bits and pieces, anticipating that this range would be completed and it never was. That was years ago. Have given up ever seeing this range completed and to be completely honest, unless Mr Hicks finishes the range, I'm not interested. Doubt we will ever see some decent Simba/rebels sculpts and the figures languish in a box. A massive shame as this could have been a really fun range.

[bazookajoe]

A few more pics.  Mostly of insurgents.  The Eureka "early" ZANLA insurgents are probably a little too orderly looking for the Simbas but their weapons look right and they don't have proper shoes.