Way back when, having received my first Peter Pig packs of Spanish Civil War figures and with a vague Osprey-level understanding of the conflict, I launched myself into collecting 15mm SCW on a scale in keeping with my megalomaniac approach to the hobby.

Thanks to Martin Goddard of Peter Pig, figure availability has never been a problem. Martin has added about nine packs to his SCW range since I started collecting. Along with his WW2 range and Command Decision, all the figures you could possibly need are now available (the only exception being Moroccan mounted cavalry for which French Spahi cavalry will substitute - mine are Minifigs). Head swaps may still be necessary for variety, but this is a simple process. Peter Pig now produce packs containing heads only, several of which can be used to further the variety of your 15mm SCW units.

So the availability of 15mm figures is not a problem. Now I can also gladly add that the availability of suitable vehicles is no longer a problem. The appearance of some of the more obscure SCW armour has been a long time in coming. However, I now feel that my collection is complete with the models currently (or soon to be) available.

The following list covers all the 1/100 scale vehicles (and artillery) which I consider necessary to complete my own collection. To the best of my knowledge, the details on availability are correct. They are ordered as they appear in Blindados en Espana. La Parte: La Guerra Civil 1936-1939 by J de Mazarrasa and illustrated by L & C Fresno Crespo. This book is a must!

Schneider CAI Model 1916

This model is available from Minifigs only, in their WWI range. It is an archaic looking tank even by 1936 standards (well, it was 20 years old by then!), but to me that is part of its appeal. As it saw some service in the war and it looks cool, it deserves a place in any collection. The model is nicely sculpted and is true 1/100`h scale.

Renault FT-17

Minifigs also produce a model of the ubiquitous FT-17. It is the round turret variant and comes with both the 37mm cannon and machine gun. The model is okay except that it is not true 1/100th scale, the tracks in particular being slightly too big. I have replaced my Minifigs FT-17s with those produced by Peter Pig as part of their WW2 range. From Peter Pig, the FT- 17 is available in both cannon and m/g variant and in round and octagonal turret variants (ie 4 different models). The models are nicely cast, well detailed and are true 1/100"' scale. You can justify having loads of FT-17s in your collection. It was the tank of the pre-war Spanish army and was also sold to the Republicans by Poland during the war.

Bilbao M32 Armoured Car

This native armoured car is available from SDD only. To 1/100`h scale, the height is good, but otherwise the model is too small. Conversely, the turret is too big. The running board is missing. Possibly because the body of the armoured car is modelled in resin, some of the detail on the casting is not very well defined. All the same, the model still looks right. As it is unique to the conflict and another archaic looking vehicle, it's a must for any 1/100 scale collection.

Fiat-Ansaldo CV-3 Tankette

Once again, this is a model available from Peter Pig. The model comes with weapon variants - twin MG and what I believe to be a 20mm cannon (I don't think that any of the vehicles operating in Spain were equipped with the cannon). Peter Pig now also produce a separate model of the flamethrower version of the tankette, which was used in Spain. Command Decision produce a pack of 4 tankettes which includes 2 flamethrower trailers. As with the Peter Pig model, the weapons - twin m/g, 20mm cannon and flamethrower - come separately, so you can arm them as you please. Both Peter Pig's and Command Decision's models are correctly scaled, but look completely different to one another. I think that the Peter Pig model is more accurately sculpted, the main difference being the engine compartment. Nevertheless, both models are highly recommendable.

T26B

Although this tank was soon rendered obsolete in WW2, the T26B was the best armed and armoured tank of the SCW. Nearly 300 T26Bs were sold to the Republican government by the Soviets. The Nationalists were not slow the bolster their forces with any T26Bs they captured. So, it's an important addition to any collection. The model available from SDD is too large for true 1/100th scale and the detailing leaves a lot to be desired. Peter Pig's T26B is an excellent model. It is true 1/100th scale which gives it an immediate edge over the SDD model. The casting is crisp and well detailed. Command Decision are currently promising a 1941 Russian range, which will undoubtedly include a well modelled T26B.

"Tiznaos"

SDD produce the only range of Tiznaos for which we must be eternally grateful. What SCW collection would be complete without at least one armoured lorry? The good news is that there are currently nine different models in the SDD range. The models are all highly recommendable and cover a variety of vehicles operated by the Republicans to fill their early war deficit in armour. The Nationalists were not so needy as the Republicans and this is reflected in the range. Only one Nationalist Tiznao, the "Mortar Carrier" is available. This model has an open fighting compartment and my own recommendation is the addition of suitable crew and a mortar. Blindados en Espana does not cover Tiznaos in great detail, although it does have some b&w photos and colour illustrations of 6 different Tiznaos. Further information, covering Tiznaos, can be found in Tanks & Trucks of the Spanish Civil War by John Wilson.

PZ.KPFW-I

Laughably, the MBT of the Nationalists, little wonder they went to great pains to capture Republican armour to beef up their own armoured units. Still, no Nationalist army collection would be complete without them. SDD produce three useful models of the Mark I tank: the Pz.Kpfw-IB, the Kl PzBefWg command tank, and a Pz.Kpfw-1B upgraded with a 20mm Breda cannon. I can't find any evidence that there was ever more than I tank armed with the 20mm Breda, but it is still a must. All of the models are too short for Pz.Kpfw-IBs. Command Decision produce both the Pz.Kpfw-IA and Pz.Kpfw-IB. They are slightly smaller than 1/100 scale. Like the SDD models they are mainly lacking in length. Otherwise, they are excellent, well detailed models, far superior to those from SDD. Along with the Peter Pig FT17s and T26B, the Cominand Decision Pz.Kpfw-Is are the best 1/100 scale models available for the SCW. Command Decision also produce the command tank, but it is only available in packs along with WW2 German SP guns.

Trubia M36 ("Euzkadi Tank")

Built and employed by the Basque army, and subsequently employed by the Nationlists, in my opinion, this is an important tank to have a model of due to the fact that it is so unique. A unit of "toy tanks" will give my Basque brigade it's own identity. As a model is currently unavailable, I have asked Quick Reaction Force to produce a model of the vehicle. It should be available early in 2002.

FA-1 Armoured Car

Around 20 FA-1 light armoured cars were sold to the Republicans by the Soviets. Like the T26B, it also found its way into Nationalist service. I don't believe that it survived to see service in WW2, so it is yet another vehicle unique to the SCW. As such, it is an important addition to the armoured units of both sides. As it is another unavailable model, I have asked Quick Reaction Force to produce a model of the vehicle. At time of writing, the master has been made and it should be available early in 2002.

Ansaldo-Lancia IZ Armoured Car

This Italian armoured car of WWI vintage even saw some service in WW2, however no one produces a 1/100th scale model. A company of IZ armoured cars were used by the Italian CTV in Spain. The vehicles would appear to have been a mixture of IZ.I M1915s and IZ.II M1917s. The former had a double turret, one on top of the other. The IZ armoured car has the same appeal of much of the SCW armour - it is archaic looking, lightly armed and lightly armoured - and I view it as yet another must. Consequently, I have asked Quick Reaction Force to produce a model of the IZ.II. It should be available early in 2002.

BA-6 Armoured Car

Immediately identifiable as another Soviet import (37 were sold to the Republicans), due in no small part to the fact that it uses the same turret as the T26B, this is another vehicle which saw service for both the Republicans and the Nationalists. Like the T26B, it was more than a match for the Pz.Kpfw-1. To the best of my knowledge, only Command Decision produce a suitable model. The pack comes with turrets to make either the BA-10 or BA-6, but the BA- 10's is totally different from the T26B style turret, so you won't get them mixed up. Although lacking some detail, the BA-6 is generally an attractive model. The model is slightly too long, but is otherwise correctly scaled.

UNL-35 Armoured Car

A modem design and the most well constructed, mass produced native light armoured car of the SCW, makes the UNL-35 another conflict-unique model that deserves a place in any SCW collection. SDD produce a UNL-35, but I have yet to see it. As this has only recently become available, I have also asked Quick Reaction Force to produce a model of the vehicle (oops!). It should be available early in 2002.

BT-5

The BT-5 was an excellent tank by 1930s standards. Supplied by the Soviets in smaller numbers than the T26B, the BT-5 was the most modem tank design to see action in the SCW. This is another design that uses the T26B turret. It weighs a good deal more than the T26, but its 12-cylinder, 350 hp engine gave the BT-5 a top speed of 39 mph (T26B top speed: 18mph). SDD produce a good model of a BT-5. However, like the SDD T26B, it is a little bit on the big side for 1/100th scale. To the best of my knowledge this is the only available model in 1/100`h scale. Some models of the BT-7 would be almost identical though and therefore could be used. Command Decision's promised 1941 Russian range may include a BT-5, but will more likely include a BT-7.

Transport

I'm just talking trucks here. Both Peter Pig and Command Decision produce German and Russian trucks suitable for the SCW. They look right, anyway. I have also used the Lancia truck and Granit truck from Peter Pig. I've a feeling these may not have been used in Spain, but they look good and I wasn't going to be too pedantic about non-combat vehicles.

Artillery

Almost anything goes, when it comes to artillery, anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft guns. If it was available between 1936 and 1939, it invariably found its way into service in Spain. For artillery, I can't suggest better than Irregular Miniatures. They produce 15mm (and 20mm) scale artillery in a sort of mix and match range. The range has been designed so as to produce as wide a range of models as possible. This makes it a very useful range for the SCW enthusiast. Peter Pig produce a good French 75mm field gun, which can be used for either side. The same gun is also available from Command Decision, who also manufacture a pack of German 15cm FH18 field guns, if you want something with a little more punch.

Anti-tank guns were more standardised during the SCW. In my opinion, you can get away with using only the German 37mm Pak 35/36 for the Nationalists and the Soviet 45mm for the Republicans. Peter Pig make a German 37mm A/T gun, but it is far too big. The best models of both the German and Soviet guns are those available from Command Decision. A recent addition to Peter Pig's WW2 range has been the pack of Italian A/T guns. These are well-modelled guns and are presumable meant to be the Breda M-35 infantry cannon, which is ideal for the SCW.

I have had to take a largely "make do and mend" approach to anti-aircraft guns, as it isn't too well, catered for. Command Decision have a pack of German 20mm Flak 38s (okay if it's not a quad) and a pack of 88mm Flak 36s (definitely okay, but in small numbers only). SDD produce a Flak 38 88mm AA gun (presumably okay) and a 20mm Flak 30 Gun (definitely okay). They also produce an Italian 20mm Breda AA; AT gun (again, presumably okay). Quick Reaction Force make a nice 40rmn Bofors gun with a WW2 British crew, 2 of whom are wearing berets and will pass as SCW types in this scale. In 1/100 scale artillery pieces have very little in the way of detailing, so as long as you're not a purist, you'll be able to find lots of artillery that simply looks right.