HLBS and Graven Images 40mm size comparison

From the left: HLBS, HLBS, GI, HLBS, GI Conversion, HLBS. 

All Graven  Images figures were removed  from their internal bases, but generally scale up pretty well (although definitely at the  'strapping' end of the  spectrum!)

HLBS 36mm/40nn/1:48th 'HEAT' modern crime range list

Richard at HLBS was kind enough to end me the original catalogue listings for the Heat 40mm modern crime range he used to produce, and I thought I'd pop it up here as an appendix to previous catalogue post

"40mm Police and Criminals range.

PC1        S.W.A.T. 6 multi-part figures with separate heads, torsos and legs. MP5, M4, M8 Shotgun and M24 sniper rifle. £14.00

PC2        S.W.A.T. 6 multi-part figures with separate heads, torsos and legs. G36, M8

Shotgun and M24 sniper rifle.           £14.00

PCS        SW1 & 2 Deal both sets     £25.00

PC3        Neil         £2.50

PC4        Chris       £2.50

PC5        Michael £2.50

PC6        Tony      £2.50

PC7        Tony#2 £2.50

Other useful figures that are compatible with this range.

Urban Guerrillas

UG1        European designer Guerrillas             £6.00

UG2        Militants in ski masks         £6.00

Law Enforcement

LE1        US Cops                £6.00

LE2        Undercover cops or armed perps      £6.00

LE3        US security and VIP                                            £6.00

CIA/FBI/Undercover cops                                              

US27      3^rd Special forces group/CIA civvies gear       £6.00     

The great thing about 40mm is the amount of 1/48^th scale models that are available to use in games. O gauge in model railways are actually 1/48^th scale, so buildings and street furniture are quite easy to obtain. Also because the figures are on bases making them a little taller on the ground 1/43^rd diecast vehicles don’t look out of place either.

Useful websites

www.wholesaletrains.com large range of “O” Gauge buildings and street furniture stocked

www.ashevillediecast.com stockists of 1/43^rd diecast cars such as GEARBOX police cars NEWRAY trucks amongst others

www.policecarmodels.com Stockists of 1/43^rd diecast police cars and decals"

Painting update - 40mm moderns

Just thought I'd share my painting progress on the 40mm stuff. The only things which aren't my work are the green chaps posed with the Ural truck.  They came painted off eBay, and have been rebased after I decided not to repaint them...

WiP update: a quick trawl over the desk...

I just thought I'd share some of the WiP stuff and 'things to do' that are currently lurking on my desk. They are mostly 40mms (statues, Russian VDV airborne, milita of shapes and sizes,  government regulars and lots of unstarted stuff) but there are some 28mms (Malayan emergency CTs, security forces, planters and home guard+ ssome deamons for a Fistful of Kung Fu and some near future special forces ) slowly chugging along in between other things.  They'll probably get a boost a bit later this year as John and I were chatting about rules for the Malayan emergency the other week, and he has masses of jungle scenery... I still have lots of 20mm in the pipeline, so there will be more cold war goodness in the future too...

Irregular miniatures 42mm and HLBS 40mm size comparison

My quest for compatible figures continues, although I may have found the motherload... Irregular miniatures do a wide range of 42mm figures, ranging from flats and toy soldiers to properly detailed figures.  It includes a selection of modern milita types, riot police,  Vietnam war stuff and lots of WW2 bits.  I decided to take a punt on  couple of figures after Ian at Irregular said that the figures are 40mm from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet.  A quick measure of the HLBS figures showed them to be 39mm by the same method. 

The milita range includes a wide variety of head and weapon options, as well as figures im civilian and military clobber,  so has lots of potential. I started by ordering a standing and a kneeling civilian, with an ak47 and a DP lmg, as well as a seated military driver, all with random civilian heads

So far so good. The figures are fairly free of flash and cleanly sculpted.  The HLBS figures are more detailed, but the irregular figures are quite acceptable! Weapon wise, they match up well with HLBS and the chunkier TAG pieces. The next phphotos are size comparisons with both kneeling and standing HLBS figures. As you can see, the Irregular figures are slightly taller and a little thinner, but I think they should match really well once they are all painted up and based.  The chap in the centre of the last photo is from the Irregular late renaissance range, and will be going on a plinth as a statue to some long dead hero. 

The last thing I picked up is a 100mm WW2 Soviet artillery piece I picked up from the 'very useful guns' range.  The model is pretty big, and although not massively detailed it should really look the part painted up. In many ways, the lack of fine detail (winding handles etc) should make the model more robust.

More 40mm conversions

I have been busy again...

The Ruitainian Jagers of 

the EU peace keepers have now had their jackets lengthened, and I have finished converting the chaps to carry the SAWs. Currently planning on using the shotgun chap as a driver for the Fiat Ivenco APC I showed the other week. 

More Russian MVD and VDV troops...

More milita conversions, based on assorted Russian, Milita and US special forces figures. Extra weapons from TAG as usual...

Dust Tactics and HLBS 40mm size comparison

My quest for compatible figures continues - this time using the Dust Tactics 1/48th scale figures. I managed to pick up a single figure from a seller in China.  On reflection, the dynamic pose might not have been the best for a comparison!
The figure is a pretty good size match, although of a more slender build despite the armour and gas mask. When the figure turned up the shotgun was bent, but has straightened out fairly easily as it is a softish plastic.  (The body is sturdier and a lot less flexible). Not sure what I will use him for - a militant probably, with the improvised body armour and gas mask inspired by the Ukrainian Maidan protestors. Tempted by more from the same set,  possibly as some sort of police or paramilitary unit.  Some of the other figures from the range might make good paramilitaries too - although probably not the guys firing water cooled machine guns from the hip!

HLBS and The Warstore 1/48th compatibility

I have been looking for potential sources of additional figures to bolster my forces, such as the Dust figures or the Graven Images range.  There is a company (I believe the War Store) which has recently been advertising 1/48th civilians on eBay,  some of which looked like they would have potential as milita or armed civilians.  The test figure I ordered is shown in the centre of the picture.  It came with a slotta base which I removed and replaced with a Rendera plastic base. The casting and sculpting are both good, and from my perspective they fit well with the HLBS stuff.  I added a weapon from TAG, which fits fairly well with the HLBS weapons as I showed the other year.  Overall, very pleased and will probably pick up some more at some stage :-)

Recent 40mm acquisitions

Just thought I'd pop up some pictures of my more recent 40mm acquisitions - some were duplicates (the 90s GIs and most of the Russians) but hopefully I can do some conversions to get them to fit in :-)