The Wild Geese

[Thunderchicken]

Right, thanks to Matakishi I've decided to get a Wild Geese style project up and running next year as a sort of 'bit on the side' to other things I have lined up.

Anyway, I'm looking for late 70's/early 80's era mercenaries (armed with SLRs and the like) and their African adversaries if anyone can point me in the direction of manufacturers.


 

[argsilverson]

The obvious direction is "Britannia Miniatures" mercenaries and their opponents

http://www.britanniainkerman.com/brit/frontpage/siteintroindex.htm
[ special ops in 28mm ranges]

the other solution: suitable figures from WWII till vietnam. best mixed uniforms american/british uniforms with an odd wwii german/british combination. Remember Mueller the mercenary sported the german iron cross on his chest!
F.Forsythe in his fiction novel "dogs of war" describes the mercenaries like [if I remember well]:
uniform: british surplus equipment, berets, improvised webbing, schmeisser guns
they had some africans with general americanish style uniforms

the contingent was approx. 10-12 whites and abt 100 natives

concerning figures and equipment used matakishi has an almost complete description.

[Thunderchicken]

The obvious direction is "Britannia Miniatures" mercenaries and their opponents

http://www.britanniainkerman.com/brit/frontpage/siteintroindex.htm
[ special ops in 28mm ranges]

the other solution: suitable figures from WWII till vietnam. best mixed uniforms american/british uniforms with an odd wwii german/british combination. Remember Mueller the mercenary sported the german iron cross on his chest!
F.Forsythe in his fiction novel "dogs of war" describes the mercenaries like [if I remember well]:
uniform: british surplus equipment, berets, improvised webbing, schmeisser guns
they had some africans with general americanish style uniforms

the contingent was approx. 10-12 whites and abt 100 natives

concerning figures and equipment used matakishi has an almost complete description.

Forgot to say, I clocked the Britannia Miniatures figs from Matakishi's posting.


That's a good angle you've got there, definately something to think about.

[BlindFool]

I'm sure you've thought of them already but Platoon 20 - do - mercs and africans - under modern wars. 
Some of the Nam range will be pretty good - they seem to be available via East Riding Miniatures


http://www.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/p20.htm

[argsilverson]

forgot to say:
most suitable headgears:

british and french beret, american helmets and slouch hats.

Mike Hoare used to be in Belgian style uniform.
I rechecked my references: Siegfried Mueller used a british style uniform
Bob Denard: french style
A good idea is to use for example jeeps with white co-driver and natives driver and mg-gunner.
slouch hat: similar to those used by south africans/rhodesian etc.

most from the photos from the book: The new mercenaries by Anthony Mockler, Guild Publishing London 1985,

[argsilverson]

Some photos here:

http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32215

[Paul Hicks]

I have just sculpted some of these for Mongrel Miniatures in a mix of British and French Berets.

Paul

[6mmfan]

Hi

What scale? If you dont mind 20mm then there is a huge range of vehicles out there (resin, kitset and diecast) and Liberation Miniatures make a good range of figures and other manufacturers. I'm planning to replace my 15mm Peter Pig figures with some 20mm figures instead.

Cheers
Kierann

[Lowtardog]

Definately the Mongrel minis and also possibly some of their Brits etc.

Also worth checking out the TAG Aussies for Vietnam, avoid the Fighting 15s modern ranges for vietman they are tiny

[JollyBob]

Gripping Beast Falklands stuff might work, although they will be dressed for cold weather I suppose. Lots of figs armed with lovely big SLRs anyway.

[argsilverson]

I have just sculpted some of these for Mongrel Miniatures in a mix of British and French Berets.

Paul

I am not quite sure that I understood well.
A new range is appearing?

[Lowtardog]

I have just sculpted some of these for Mongrel Miniatures in a mix of British and French Berets.

Paul

I am not quite sure that I understood well.
A new range is appearing?

Paul sculpts for Mongrel, Bam Brigade err..... Empress, and others

[cdr]

i' ve got quite some material on mercenaries in the congo in the early 1960's. (family)
Mad Mike Hoare and the 350 members of 5 commando (consisting of Hq, mortar platoon, and 8 platoons numbered 51 to 58) (Siegfried Mueller was in charge of 52 commando in 164)
mostly in light khaki, Belgian copies of British webbing, green berets with a regimental insignia in gold (congo star, leopard and palm leaves) , green shoulderstraps met a gold dagger and belgian style rank insignia In 1965 a shoulder badge was introduced (it had 5 commando and a flying goose in black on a white background)
equipment is varied (FAL, MAG, VIGNERON, 81 mm mortar and Blindicide 83mm bazooka) hope this helps

[Thunderchicken]

Thanks for your help with this chaps. Looking forward to gaming this.

Are there any sneak peaks of the Mongrel sculpts?

[swiftnick]

There are some pics on the Mongrel yahoo group.
The figs are absolutely lovely and include a firing and moving .30 cal.