A steady diet of Stephen Ambrose books over the last couple years has whetted an appetite to do some World War II gaming. What scale, though, and what scope? I've never been a microarmor fan, perhaps because aficionados often run those massed, hub-to-hub tank games that don't excite me. I wanted to do something more than squad level, though, something that could utilize the period's combined arms. I wanted infantry, armor, artillery, and heck, maybe an aircraft or two!

I looked at 15mm, first. Calculating what it cost to field a late-war U.S. and German force gave me severe sticker shock. Then, I remembered seeing Don Perrin's 10mm WW II line when he brought it to Origins 2001. Plus, Perrin (now Noble) Miniatures is a Friend of Great Lakes, so I'd be supporting them AND getting a discount. So, sight unseen, I ordered a batch of infantry and armor.

Prior to this, my thoughts about 10mm had always been, "They're just small 15's, right?" Well, not really. Perrin Minis are "true 10's," which means the infantry may be smaller than other 10mm you may have seen. The average upright foot figure DOES measure 10mm from foot to eye. Of course, any crouching or kneeling figures will be shorter. However, if the foot are kept on separate bases, they actually still mix with Minifigs 10mm WW II line (which I've also seen called 12mm). As a matter of fact, I used Minifigs riders on my U.S. jeeps and halftracks, and they look fine.

Here is a review of what I purchased:

Infantry Starter Sets (USInf 100, GERInf 100) - These starter sets are a key reason I decided to go with Perrin. They contain 100 figures, mixing in riflemen in various poses, NCOs, Officers, light and heavy machine guns, even mortars and crew. The detail on the infantry is cut deep enough so that dry brushing is a snap. Although you could paint the web belts, leggings and what not, I opted for a quicker job: Dark olive or gray-green base coat with lighter dry brush; Flesh on the hands and face; Brown or black for the weapon and boots. They look good in mass, rather than individually. That is why I say they are NOT like "small 15's," but more like large, easy-to-paint 5mm figures. Cost: $20.

Armor (US 3 & 7, GER 1 & 7) - Perrin vehicles are the class of their WW II line. Each pack contains two well cast, all metal vehicles (I bought Shermans, halftracks, Panzer IVs, SdKfz 234s). The detail is clean and there is little to no flash. The models are easy to put together, usually consisting of two track pieces, body and turret. Wheels are separate for the armored cars, and glued to an axle, which then fits nicely into the underside of the vehicle. Prices are a deal at $6 a pack. Perrin's armor value is probably the biggest single reason I chose 10mm over 15mm. They are a nice "in between" size for the tabletop...not dinky little microarmor, nor monstrous 15mm pieces that take a chip of surface when dropped.

Support Stuff - I also bought a 75mm German PAK 40, Kubelwagons and U.S. Jeeps. These are all neat, easy to put together, little models. The artillery piece comes with 3 guns and crew, the automobiles (four to a pack) do not come with crew. That is all right, though. The Infantry Starter sets come with plenty of extra figs you can base standing next to the them, or you can buy Minifigs riders (like I did for the U.S.) and plop them down in the jeeps. Also $6 per pack.

I know this hasn't been an indepth review like Ray Garbee's excellent articles, but more a general impression of the Perrin 10mm WW II line. I highly recommend them. Now that they are all painted up, I can't wait to run a game for the Sunday night gaming group! Perrin Miniatures are The Last Square, (800) 750-4401, e-mail: info@lastsquare.com. Web site: www.lastsquare.com.

Reviews: Armorer's Forge

Perrin "True 10's" WWII Miniatures
15mm Type 89-B Medium Tank from Quality Castings
ACW Era Vessels' Operational Dates & Regions
Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature Scenario Book (Review)