questions on modern insurgents and french troops in 20mm

[worrywort]

Hello,

I'm french too.

I have played a game with OPEX so far.

Not really bad, but too simply for me.

With my friend we have tried FOF, really enjoyed with it, but really difficult to understand the rules to the beginning. after it's ok.

Eventually we have decided to play with Bolt Action (we play this rules for WW2, but we think it's easy to play modern too), good rules, easy to learn with a french forum to answer if you have some question !!

[sundayhero]

SImple is not an issue for us, I will play this game with a beginner, so the simplier, the better

I'm still questionning about the minis scale. I'm hesitating between 15mm and 20mm for now.

If anyone has links of nicely painted 15mm french minis, please share

[sundayhero]

Here are painted Insurgents (PLO) from RH Liberation on my blog:
http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot.de/2009/08/black-october-middle-eastern.html

Here are RH Liberation modern French:
http://www.guildwargamers.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=6100&hilit=French+modern+french&start=75

If the forum asks to register to see the thread, do. You won't regret it! Most people from LAF are there, too. Plenty of Force On Force players also.

By the way, the insurgents on your blog are incredible. Really looks like pro painted 28mm minis 


Same thing for the guildwargamers french modern topic, really nice minis.


I'm still hesitating...15mm or 20mm? 

[Sgt. Scream]

15mm? What's that? There is only one true scale for moderns.  Stick to 20mm. Much more choices to pick from.

[sundayhero]

Choice is one thing, price is another thing. 

And speaking of my particular needs (french modern), I don't think 20mm range is so much bigger than the 15mm range...

Take for example the french VAB vehicle. Not so easy to find in 1/72. Price is also more than twice the price of the 15mm resin same reference...

[juergen c. olk]

Heller makes a 1 /72nd scale  VAB.

[Renaud]

I went the 15mm way, with Peter Pig and QRF (with VAB and cheap Gazelle), also because storage is easier and I wan't to be able to use a small table in my small flat. Received but not yet painted I'm afraid. Insurgents are quite cheap, and come from a variety of sources : Peter Pig, Rebel Minis, Khurasan... I spotted Old Glory too, but haven't ordered from them yet.

For the rules, I have Force on Force, which indeed includes list for the French without any supplement contrary to what was written here (may be previous posters refered to an older edition). I don't have OPEX but read a bad report on its game mechanics, so staying away from it for now. However, I have Flying Lead from Ganesha Games, which is also quite inexpensive and seems nice (no list however) - I shall try it when my figures are painted.

[sandsmodels]

we make the following 20mm modern french vehicles
amx 10 rc a/c
amx 10 apc
vab 4x4
vab 6x6
vbl a/c
peugeot p4 jeep
panhard vps jeep
aml 60 a/c
aml 90 a/c
acmatt truck
erc90 a/c
+ heavy weapons, vehicle crews and a range of 80's infantry
http://sandsmodelsshop.com/product-category/172-post-war-french-vehicles/
thanks
shaun

[sundayhero]

thank you for your comments !

Thanks especially for the resin vehicules link. The price is really decent, not that much than 15mm choices, and plethoric concerning french vehicles...  

Combining these vehicles + eilhem minis (for regular troops) + caeasar plastic "cannon fodder" (since we will need A LOT of insurgents), it would be not more expensive than 15mm, I think...I have to talk about this with my brother (we'll share the expense).

Concerning the rules, I already bought OPEX (pdf from wargame vault), and following (I readed only good) reviews I readed, and the fast diagonal reading I did,  I don't regret my choice. It's also the only one french rule concerning french modern operations. Simple, fast game with a small amount of minis involved, on a small board (60x60cm).

I plan to play this game with my brother, who is not a wargame player (and not reading english), but interested by modern french military history. So OPEX is, I believe, the perfect game to start with.


Concerning force on force, I would be interested to know what kind of french units we find in the main rulebook and in the addon book. It will probably be my next book, if my brother and I play games regularly.

The good thing is that the dice bucket needed for OPEX will be good for FoF too, so it's a win win situation there.  



thanks  

[sundayhero]

panhard vps jeep

Any clue where I can find a VPS with rear open cockpit like this one :

http://www.armyrecognition.com/images/stories/customer/panhard/pictures/Panhard_VPS_wheeled_armoured_vehicles_for-support_safety_and_combat_France_French_defence_industry_001.jpg


?


And the VBCI (or proxy) ?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/VBCI_(V%C3%A9hicule_blind%C3%A9_de_combat_d'infanterie)_(1).JPG

Thanks

[sundayhero]

I've got all the infos needed, and the ruleset OPEX is printed.


This week end I'll make my choice, concerning the figures scale. IT will be 15mm or 20mm, I'll make my maths and see what happens 


thank you all for your help. If you have other infos on modern french troops, or on modern french compatible rulesets/infos, please share


thanks

[sundayhero]

New questions  


DO you have any examples of well painted Caesar insurgents (and modern french) plastic minis ? I canno't go on plasti soldier website.

How are these plastic minis, compared to Elheim minis ?


How do we order RH liberation minis ? It seems a bit unusual  


DO you have any advises for possible proxies for french special forces in 20mm ? I believe any NATO special forces troops should do the trick what do you think  


Last thing : do you have a good color matching, using my usual paints, to recreate a  CE camo ?


thanks



edit : already found some great painting on african militians 

http://2paintminiatures.com/blog/?p=2830

These cheap plastic figs can really look cool with a good painter behind 

I think I'll use them at least for my game opponents (since OPEX is assymetric, I can use opposition forces from Balkans, Africa, Afghanistan, Irak, etc...). I'll say loads of money wich I will use on my french troops.

[Sgt. Scream]

New questions  


DO you have any examples of well painted Caesar insurgents (and modern french) plastic minis ? I canno't go on plasti soldier website.

How are these plastic minis, compared to Elheim minis ?


How do we order RH liberation minis ? It seems a bit unusual  


DO you have any advises for possible proxies for french special forces in 20mm ? I believe any NATO special forces troops should do the trick what do you think  


Last thing : do you have a good color matching, using my usual paints, to recreate a  CE camo ?


thanks



edit : already found some great painting on african militians 

http://2paintminiatures.com/blog/?p=2830

These cheap plastic figs can really look cool with a good painter behind 

I think I'll use them at least for my game opponents (since OPEX is assymetric, I can use opposition forces from Balkans, Africa, Afghanistan, Irak, etc...). I'll say loads of money wich I will use on my french troops.

Elhiem vs Caesar comparison:
http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot.de/2011/03/wargaming-moderns-some-scale.html
http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot.de/2011/07/172-caesar-modern-us-plastic-figures.html

Regarding RH Liberation:

I've ordered from him 5 or 6 times in the past couple of years by just sending him an old fashioned letter (seriously!) with a list of what I wanted    . I agree, a bit unusual, but never caused an issue on my order and I was always receiving my stuff within 3 weeks. I do recommend to make the letter signed for though, for the safety of your credit card details. 

[sundayhero]

thank you for your answer ! Caesar minis seems to be quite good. I'm wondering if anyone has got the modern french/pla chinese #059 boxset ?

I'd like to know if this set contains french radio operator, or other specialists.


thanks

 

[Sgt. Scream]

I do.

Set includes a French Radio Operator, a figure that can pose as an officer (with kepi), a marksman with some sort of sniper rifle (could be a FR2), two AT specialists (one Eryx the other Apilas), a machine gunner (no idea what that rifle is supposed to be, it lacks detail) and several poses with Famas rifle.