Trev signs on in the Congo

[trev]

I've been planning some skirmish forces for the Congo Crisis, starting with the Simba Rebellion circa 1963-5, for a while now and I've finally got some paint on a few figures.  I thought some here might like to see them. 

First up some mercenaries in the style of 5 Commando.  These are mostly the old Mongrel Miniatures figures now sold by Badger Games.

 



Here is my version of Mad Mike Hoare, a headswap from a Full Metal Minis figure.



And a bit of fire support a la Africa Addio.



My project was very much inspired some of the posts here, so special mention goes to James and Joe

Some Simbas to come next ...

[gimzod]

Very nice. Can't wait to see what's next

[CapnJim]

Those guys look good!  I have some of them in my "To Paint" pile...

[Terryb]

Very, very nice

[Grumpy Gnome]

Looking good! I especially like that machinegunner.

[Harry Faversham]

Lovely figures you've painted there Trev!
Did you mention...

Di' Simbas!!!





 

[trev]

Thanks for the comments all.  Nice Simbas Harry.  Sadly I came to this too late to get any of the Wild Geese figures. 
Here are my Simbas so far. 



They are TAG miniatures with a bit of green stuff or head swaps to add the details. 



Hopefully they are suitably rag-tag.







I'll be adding the more traditional bow and spear armed militia types later.

I also need to think about vehicles for both sides.  Probably just trucks and civilian stuff for the Simbas.  For the mercs, a Ferret, an M8, several jeeps and a few trucks would be a good start.  Any suggestions on the best sources?

[Cypher226]

Some great work here.  I especially like the Mad Mike conversion.

I also need to think about vehicles for both sides.  Probably just trucks and civilian stuff for the Simbas.  For the mercs, a Ferret, an M8, several jeeps and a few trucks would be a good start.  Any suggestions on the best sources?

What scale do you prefer for the vehicles?  There are some nice kits out there for all the military vehicles, but options vary between 1:56 and 1:48/1:50

[trev]

What scale do you prefer for the vehicles?  There are some nice kits out there for all the military vehicles, but options vary between 1:56 and 1:48/1:50

That's the question, I suppose.  I don't have any experience with WW2 kits in 28mm.  I used 1/48 or 1/50 for my RCW where I could get them but they were big Copplestone figures.  So I'm thinking 1/56 might better for the smaller figures I have used.  especially if I add the Eureka figs in too, they are about the same height but slighter than the TAG/Mongrel ones.

Here is what I have found so far:

This is a brilliant resource on the Jeeps in the Congo.  Lots of great photos showing troops too.
https://cj3b.info/History/Congo.html

For the jeeps then we're talking M606 types, so I think WW2 versions are closest and will be better than Vietnam era MUTTs.  At least for most of the Congo Crisis and Simba Rebellion.  Some MUTTs at the end.

Empress do a nice 1/50 kit here but no gunner models
https://www.empressminiatures.com/jeep1-jeep-only-368-p.asp

Warlord do one gunner model on it's own.
https://store.warlordgames.com/products/us-jeep-gunner?_pos=7&_sid=ff94a211d&_ss=r

The Warlord WW2 models look to be a decent source for as a basic versions in 1/56, with quite a bit of variety.  They come with gunners.  I don't think I can be too choosy about kit without creating a lot of conversion work.  they do a 50 cal and an armoured version.

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/us-army-jeep-with-30-cal-mmg?_pos=5&_sid=a854eea3b&_ss=r
https://store.warlordgames.com/products/us-army-jeep-with-50-cal-hmg?_pos=4&_sid=a854eea3b&_ss=r
https://store.warlordgames.com/products/us-armoured-jeep-1?_pos=3&_sid=a854eea3b&_ss=r

Maybe also some of the other ones might be useful for the passenger mounted guns or more crew.

https://store.warlordgames.com/search?type=product&q=JEEP

They may be others.  Rubicon has a 1/56 kit but it is out of stock
https://rubiconmodels.co.uk/collections/usa-vehicles/products/49?variant=750127644716

For other vehicles

Empress have a 1/50 Ferret
https://www.empressminiatures.com/ferret-armoured-car-2704-p.asp

Sloppy Jalopy have 1/56 Ferret
https://sloppyjalopy.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=68_79_82&product_id=84

Warlord and Rubicon both do 1/56 M8s
https://rubiconmodels.co.uk/collections/usa-vehicles/products/m8-greyhound-m20-scout-car
https://store.warlordgames.com/products/m8-m20-greyhound-scout-car-plastic-box?_pos=2&_sid=496c445ba&_ss=r

Rubicon and Warlord both do M3 Scout Cars in 1/56
https://store.warlordgames.com/products/us-army-m3-white-scout-car?_pos=1&_sid=4041aafd6&_ss=r
https://rubiconmodels.co.uk/collections/usa-vehicles/products/280083-m3a1-scout-car-early-late

I'm not sure about 1960s trucks and Civilian cars in either scale yet

[Ash]

That 'Military jeeps in the Congo' article is a superb find, thanks for posting the link.

[vodkafan]

Britannia do Mad Mike and lots of other mercenary figures in jeeps, (and standing) available from Grubby Tanks, plus the Simbas

[Ash]

The Britannia range does have some good looking figures & Jeeps, with the right looking kit. They are however, quite a bit bigger than the Mongrel blokes.
I ended up building up the bases on my Mongrel Congo force and they still looked a tad vertically challenged next to the Britannia figures.

[vodkafan]

The Britannia range does have some good looking figures & Jeeps, with the right looking kit. They are however, quite a bit bigger than the Mongrel blokes.
I ended up building up the bases on my Mongrel Congo force and they still looked a tad vertically challenged next to the Britannia figures.

Wow yes all the others are way too small 

[trev]

The Britannia range does have some good looking figures & Jeeps, with the right looking kit. They are however, quite a bit bigger than the Mongrel blokes.

That was my thinking on the Britannia figs, too big.  So I discounted them.  Probably after seeing that photo of Ash's on a different thread. 

Similarly, I have some of the Eureka Bush Wars figs, which are really nice but more realistically proportioned, so look a bit small and thin next to the Mongrel and TAG ones.  I think I will have to save them for another project.  Angola?  Rhodesia?  SA Border War?  Hmmm... must stay focused.

After a bit more digging around, I think I'm decided on 1/48 or 1/50 for the vehicle scale.

I'll start with the Empress Jeeps and a mix of crew figures from various places
https://www.empressminiatures.com/jeep1-jeep-only-368-p.asp



The Empress kits look great for the jeeps and can be bought with or without crew for less than the Warlord kits anyway.  They're also clean of stowage, so easier to customize.  Empress do a lot of other potentially useful stuff in their modern range too.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vehicles-41-c.asp

The Ferret and Land Rovers are useful for the Simba Rebellion but the Saladin, Saracen, T-55, M-48 etc. all have imagi-nations potential for the future.  Who knows?

For jeep crews these guys from Brigade games are probably where I'll start.
https://www.brigadegames.com/ww2-desert-commando-patrol-jeep-crew



Company B, Colonel Bill and Dixon also do separate crew figures that might be useful for conversions or as is. 
https://company-b-models-and-miniatures.myshopify.com/collections/crews-for-afvs?page=3
https://www.colonelbills-store.co.uk/store/Drivers-Passengers-&-Pedestrians-c132189255?offset=18
https://www.dixon-minis.com/shop/28mm-wwII/#pack-u-s-vehicle-drivers

I'm intrigued by the plastic commandos at the bottom of this blog post too.  Do they vehicle crew in the box?
https://toomuchterrain.blogspot.com/2022/02/ww2-vehicles.html 

[trev]

Wow yes all the others are way too small 

 

These ANZACs from Full Metal Miniatures might go well with the Britannia figs.  they are big lads too.

https://www.fullmetalminiatures.com/anzac-forces-5-c.asp