Mike Bravo Miniatures: Updates etc (28mm Moderns)

[Harry von Fleischmann]

Well, I've been involved in the W79 project from the start....one of the main songs in the W79 soundtrack is TRB's "long hot summer". Take it from me - there is nothing at all to say that the "clampdown" or the War In Wales take place solely in the actual winter of 79.  A lot of the stuff that inspired us, for example the murky stories of private armies or plots to destabilise the Wilson Govt are from the 70s in general. So the AMAL type figures may work too after all, it's a LONG. HOT. SUMMER, from now on.

By way of background My figures in 20mm are:
Platoon 20 marines, paras, rangers (Wessex, Spearhead Btn). If you check the W79 blog, you'll notice that in our campaign the Royal Marines defect from the Reactionary forces, remaining loyal to the Crown.
Hotspur AMWC as Free Taff SF
Hotspur Falklands SAS as Free Taff guerrillas
Hotspur Argies as Free Taff regulars in foreign kit, I just like the figures!
Various Lib Minis SAS and Urban figs as militia and suchlike
Platoon 20 cops, robbers etcetera some converted to punks
The ex Hotspur ranges are available from Stonewall in the UK.

Don't worry Mike, the debate is the thing. I'm heavily invested in 20mm but if the right figures appear in 28mm I just won't be able to stop myself. So, get it together son! Crack on!

[Harry von Fleischmann]

I should clarify - I use Lib Minis SAS as hardened militia, they have the combats, long taches etc look and a mix of period weapons. I have others who ARE used as SAS. The lib minis militia are just that.

I also forget the Elhiem RUC and various German police who are used as the Borset Constabulary Mobile Column.....

[commissarmoody]

Might be able to use some of them for the SLA, and other revaluation groups in the us in the 70s.

[Arlequín]

So it won't all be over by Christmas? 

No, of course we did actually have Summers back then, so indeed there would be times when the jackets and jumpers would be off, and shirtsleeves rolled neatly up three fingers above the elbow for some of your forces... while their opponents would indeed be in t-shirts.

Don't worry Mike, the debate is the thing.

Exactly. 

It's an exchange of opinions and nobody is getting bent out of shape over it, which is how it should be. From your perspective it's the opinions you asked for, as opposed to people piping up 'after' the figures get made, like the "I could've got that cheaper for you" blokes we all seem to know.

 

[Harry von Fleischmann]

Yes, I remember a rather warm summer or two back in the day.....

What just struck me is that if there is one weapon that sums up 70s terrorism for me, it's not the AK47, it's the Czech Skorpion. Don't know why, it may be something I picked up from the news as a kid or an image in the papers.

In terms of weapons, W79 rebel types, unless they had nobbled the keys to the local TA armoury, would, I think have a very WW2 look with a lot of underworld sourced, "found in the attic", sten guns, Lugers, Enfields etc with a scattering of captured and stolen SLRs and sterlings if you're really lucky. WARPACT kit and other stuff would follow much later. In the first game, my FT roadblock crew had a sterling, sten, M1 carbine, a couple of Enfields and an SLR. The SAS in the Q Car had ingrams and Brownings; a lucky hit on the driver by the FT sterling was what turned it around, at that point a lot of FT were pinned down or worse......

But that's not to stop you simply saying "stuff it" and issuing SLRs with abandon. It's just not the 1970s without them.

This is what you get for asking, Mike!

[Mike Bravo Minis]

This is what you get for asking, Mike!

  Keep it coming!  This is a side project of a side project that is in danger of mushrooming quite quickly into a main project. 

Must get Wild Geese done though...

Thanks again for thoughts all.  I have no sounding board at home for all of this as my wife is disinterested and the kids just want Frozen figures...   

[carlos marighela]

Stick to the '80s Yanks. You might get crossover from the current enthusiasm for Team Wanky and all things Cold War. Then we, your puppet masters er customers, will make ever more exotic demands, like Nicaraguan EPS regulars, Grenadian regulars, Panamanians and troops and guerrillas for El Salvador.

[commissarmoody]

Stick to the '80s Yanks. You might get crossover from the current enthusiasm for Team Wanky and all things Cold War. Then we, your puppet masters er customers, will make ever more exotic demands, like Nicaraguan EPS regulars, Grenadian regulars, Panamanians and troops and guerrillas for El Salvador.

Hold fast, there will be time for the bells and whistles later. 

[Mike Bravo Minis]

The '80s Yanks are unaffected - different workstreams. 

[Arrigo]

any word on the journalists/reporter and that miniatures we talked about? 

[Happy Wanderer]

In the meantime we'll get Robi going on the Wild Geese/Simbas, and perhaps then take a look at some other Cold War options. 


Are you talking about getting 1960s Congo Simba and Mercenaries done in this range?

Cheers

Happy W

[Mike Bravo Minis]

Arrigo - casting of the reporters got delayed by Real Life^TM and then by some delays in an arms shipment for our first NI figures (I made the mistake of thinking I'd wait for the latter and get them all cast at the same time.  School boy error.)  I am told that the weapons are now on their way so shouldn't be too much longer - I assume that Christmas will interrupt things a bit, so January for release now I'd guess.

Happy W - the first Wild Geese lot will be the film look, so not accurate for the actual Congo conflict.  The film Simbas are in (from memory) denison smocks and '58 pattern webbing.  I have had a look at that conflict though, and it's probably something I will get around to doing eventually, but it's one that'd have to wait for the initial ranges to recoup their outlay/be completed. 

I'm open to suggestions on things, although someone probably does need to keep me focused...  I'm watching 'Black Sails' right now, thinking that I now want need pirates.   

[Harry von Fleischmann]

The idea of "film" simbas & Mercs appeals; it's a modern pulp vibe. Works for me.

[Mike Bravo Minis]

New Year's Resolution #1: Get stuff to market!

So, dropped off at the caster today:



Plus PIRA opposition and those war correspondents... 

More breaking news as it comes in (geddit? Sigh...)

Cheers
Dan

www.mikebravominiatures.com

[Earther]

While I'm more interested in the Wild Geese currently, those squaddies really do look the business! Very very cool!

Want.