Warlord Volksturm

[carlos13th]

I like the haphazard nature of these guys they genuinely look like a last bunch of people left fighting but I agree with others that the style of the older models is a lot better. The bolt action stuff has always looked a bit cartoony to me but The old British commandos and Red Devils look far better than these.

[Ray Earle]

..they stopped being models and became frightened kids....

Hmm, not the 'F' word my grandfather used to describe them... He told one particular story that I won't go into. Can't see the point of depicting them for WW2 gaming, it does smart of bad taste. 

[14th brooklyn]

I think the set by itself is great as it closes some gaps or adds some more variety to mostly ignored subjects.

That being said, I absolutely hate their cartoonish style (and at times the lack of historical accuracy). What I do not understand is if they really have to be this cartoonish, why it is not consistent. It is very strong with the Germans and the plastic sets, but hardly recognise able with the metal British for example. Makes the whole range incompatible in itself at times.

All that being said... If there is something that I can not get from other companies, and this set will probably fall into this category as well, I usually go and change the heads to West Wind ones and make some conversions to the minis... That usually helps a lot!

[axabrax]

I think theres room in the market for cartoony Sgt Rock style figs. They remind me of the old Battleground World War II figures. For a long time those and Blacktree design where the only World War II figures in 28mm available, and I was able to put both on the table. We live in a golden age when people can choose not to buy Warlord's stuff because there are plenty of alternatives.

Each to his own. To say they are inferior is a bit of nominating oneself to be an art critic. Me, I like them. They clearly realized the style that the artist was after and therefore are artistically successful. You can't criticize a comic book for looking like a comic book.

[Londoncopper]

So, apart from the obvious, what other game scenarios can be played using these figures or are they 'Fall of Berlin' only?

[14th brooklyn]

So, apart from the obvious, what other game scenarios can be played using these figures or are they 'Fall of Berlin' only?

Well, essentially you could use them for any battle taking place on German soil. You had Volkssturm and Hitlerjugend fight everywhere from Northrhine Westphalia to East Prussian and Silesia as well as Bavaria. The rag tag veterans could fit any setting from the fall of 1944 or depending on the region even earlier.

[CaptainHaddonCollider]

I Think I Might use mine for Warsaw 44. The sculpted armbands could easily have them pass for Polish freedom fighters with some expropriated gear. The fat DNSAP-official will probably play the mainpart in an assassination mission in the early part of the battle.

[carlos13th]

I had a hard time painting the Hitler Youth for Great Escape Games. I understand it happened, and I'm probably on thin ice to try to split hairs between certain aspects of war and others, but there are some things I prefer not to model. Child fighters fall into that category.

It was paying work and I didn't think twice when I took the job, but during the painting process they stopped being models and became frightened kids. I don't think I could accept another such commission.

Having said that, one reason I was so affected was the fact that the models were so damn good. I'm not a Wotjek fan and these are more of his same cartoon style that Warlord produce when they don't ask Mr Hick to make nice stuff.

I think the fact you saw them as frightened kids kind of shows in the painting you did. If it is your work on the website that is. The sculpting the facial expressions and the ill fitting uniforms help add to that look too.

[dm]

Dont mind painting and gaming late WW2 but personally dont really want miniatures that depict indoctrinated children fighting no matter how historically accurate they are and not for me.

Imagine they will sell though

[Phil Robinson]

Dont mind painting and gaming late WW2 but personally dont really want miniatures that depict indoctrinated children fighting no matter how historically accurate they are and not for me.

Imagine they will sell though

Yes it would have been better if you could just buy the older folk, expect they will lose a few sales this way. But has you say they will still sell, so I doubt Warlord will worry too much.

[former user]

during the painting process they stopped being models and became frightened kids. I don't think I could accept another such commission.

and that is how they look like, KUDOS - indoctrinated or not, frightened kids, like any other child soldier, what else - how could it be natural for a child to go to war?

yes, sad to see one of the saddest chapters of european history exploited like this....

I wonder why not all miniature manufacturers reference sculptors and painters of their product...
I perceive it as bad manners not to do so

[arget8]

They sell more to their US market that way.

You know, I don't like to get involved in so called "flame wars" as I perceive them to be the epitome of the internet tough-guy, but I honestly take offense to this statement as an American and a member of and officer in the US Army. To make a statement that defames my nation the way you have is reproachable at the very least and down right xenophobic at the worst. I'm not entirely sure as to what you're implying, whether the American people are only attracted to the nastiest aspects of war and that painting and playing child soldiers is some sick way of us imagining ourselves as good old Adolf Hitler or if we are some sort of bloodthirsty monsters that think the only gratification we could ever receive is forcing dynamically posed children to fight in a tabletop war that is supposed to be a reenactment of history. We play these games to relive history and these were aspects of REAL history and I feel that they have been horribly underrepresented until relatively recently. Some Americans may be psychotic monsters that get some sort of gratification when then send children to their deaths on the tabletop, but I'm sure that there are also Brits, Italians, Frenchmen, and Germans that feel the same. Its not a matter of nationality, but rather a matter of psychosis. Your comment disappoints me as you are clearly baiised against a nation because of some stereotype you grew up with.

Gunnar Lopez

[former user]

 
well, how do "flame wars" start actually - by taking things out of context...
the remark You quoted was obviously and for two pages and 5 days read and understood by everyone as relating to why box-art with a kid-soldier in crosshairs needs to be on box-art. I personally would subscribe to the impression that sensationalism does help sell better, not exclusively in the US-market, but especially there. I think that the existence of certain news channels in the US is hint enough for that impression. I also believe that there are US-citizens who believe the same, I can't explain the succes of some Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart otherwise...

now what You sir @arget8, are interpreting by the rather offensive statements (the comments about wargaming were really well placed in a wargaming forum ) has apparently been generated in Your own mind, and at least from my POW can't be derived from the answer given.
As to what Your membership in the US forces adds to the argumentation is beyond me, (though I would concede that it hopefully implies You are loyally serving Your country). As to Your membership in the US officers corps, I am afraid that this kind of argumentation implies that lessons about  - how citizens in a democratic country are not only allowed to but mandatory should criticize issues in a democratic country - are neglected in the political education of said officer corps. Hopefully such lessons were only neglected by You....

btw, in Germany, every administration employee (and especially members of the officer corps of the armed forces) would face serious charges if endorsing their private oppinion by using their status as a statement......

[carlos marighela]

Actually old boy it was more of a tongue in cheek comment on the propensity of your citizens to arm themselves and dispatch their fellow citizens, particularly the more youthful ones in schools, colleges and other educational facilities. A tradition that stretches back to Charles Whitman and beyond. In dubious taste? Yes, most probably but taste is such an arbitary thing.

If you wish to read My Lai et al into it be my guest but it wasn't my intention.

[Dr DeAth]

As to the cross hairs, it's part of the standard packaging; take a look here http://store.warlordgames.com/collections/bolt-action?page=2 and you'll see a number of boxes with the same device (a figure in cross hairs) in the bottom left hand corner of the box.  Could have been any of the 20 figures in that box that appeared in the artwork, who's to know why they chose the one they did.