Back in 2002 Steve Carroll wrote a great little piece with this title which really hit the spot with me. Not because I agreed with him, but because some of the 7 points he used where the exact opposites to why I game in 54mm! I found this really quite fascinating - it showed what a broad church wargaming is, and 54mm wargaming in particular. So I thought it would be fun to match my thoughts and reasons to Steve's, to give "the other side" to his, which I am sure he wont mind. Actually, as I re-read his points I find there's actually lots I agree with him on too.
1. YOU DONT HAVE TO PAINT THEM. But that's probably the bit I enjoy most! Painting, and even more importantly converting, figures is where I get much of the buzz from 'gaming. And with 54mm its so much easier, because they are so much bigger. I used to use a "fast paint with washes" approach though, and this meant that close up they didn't look so good. A while back I tried black primer/undercoat [suggested by a member of the Guild of Master Basers] and this meant that the wash approach didn't work, so I had to improve my painting techniques - and I enjoy painting even more now.
2. THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE BASED. Again, part of the fun is putting the figures on proper bases, which are textured and painted. Often I add small twigs and stones for logs and rocks, and then sisal for long grass, electrostatic flock for short grass. Battlefield debris also goes on some bases - discarded enemy helmets, weapons etc. the bases can become scenery in there own right.
3. THEY CAN BE SEEN AND HANDLED WITH EASE. Well, this is one I can agree with Steve on up to a point! But painted figures need protection too, so mine are dipped, ie lowered into PVA adhesive after pickling in vinegar overnight before being primed, and again after being painted. Any unwanted gloss is then taken off with matt acrylic varnish.
4. THERE IS LOTS OF TERRAIN AVAILABLE. Again, I can just about agree with Steve here. There is lots of terrain, but much of it costs serious money - though when compared with 28mm scenery costs, it's actually good value. I picked up the Dunker Church for just £15 [c$20] in 54mm painted, and 28mm versions sell for the same price unpainted, but my Conte ruined French church cost about £100, though again it is painted and is huge!
5. THEY ARE CHEAP. Certainly another point of agreement - the new Italeri figures are 16 in a box for £6 [c$9] , just 38p each; Armies In Plastic are 20 in a box at £8.50 [c$12.75] so are 43p - amazing value when a 28mm figure now costs around £1. Steve made another point here, about "heft" - 54mm figures even in plastic feel right, especially if they are on a good chunky base.
6. THEY DONT TAKE UP ANY MORE ROOM THAN 25mm FIGURES. Ah - we reach another point of disagreement. They do take up more room, see points 1 and 3 above. Painted and based they can all fit into a box file though, and I use a plastic seed tray to provide compartments. Because I use one of 15 compartments, my infantry regiments are 15 figures strong!
7. WHERE DO YOU GET THEM? More agreement - toy shops, car boot sales, and specialist shops too. Plastic Warrior, http://www.zvworld.com/PIasticWarrior, has lots of adverts, and also reviews new figures, has articles on conversions and old figures. Well worth a look.
The list Steve gave of makers was good too - but add Italeri at http://www.italeri.com now too as serious contenders in the plastic 54mm maker market, with some superb Napoleonic, Ancient and Medieval figures.
Another great maker is A Call To Arms, at http://www.acalitoarms.co.uk/1322.html , with an ever growing range [but unfortunately a tendency to shrinkage ie the figures are getting smaller, and are approaching 1/35 now rather than 1/32]. But their ECW range is extensive and superb, as are the Napoleonic figures.
A very special maker, a kind of cottage industry rather than one of the big boys, is Replicants, at http://www.replastic.com , whose motto "Plastic Makes Perfect" I just love - they do figures which fill in other ranges, with such gems as Napoleonic French Guard Sapper, dismounted Napoleonic French lancer in a cape, an incredibly versatile Mounted General which can be used for any period-from 18th C to Colonial, via Napoleonic and ACW, and some superb ACW dismounted cavalry for both sides who are real characters.
Blue Box Toys at http://www.blueboxtoys.com is another place to look, with new stuff coming along all the time.
Suppliers worth trying include Harfields, http://www.harfields.com , who carry an extensive range , of old and new figures. Steve Weston at http://www.plasticsoldiers.co.uk is another, masses of figures there. Some really exotic stuff is at http://www.toy-soldiers-etc.com with all kinds of different figures, in lots of scales. Last but by no means least, one I use a lot, who has all the new AIP and Conte figures as soon as they are out and keeps cost competitive, is Les White, Lone Warrior, at lonewarrior 2000@yahoo.com or PO Box 16171, GLASGOW, G13 1YJ, Phone: 0141 959 9141.
So why not make the switch - start small but think big. Get hold of some figures for a period you are interested in but don't have any small scale figures for, one you'd like to try. Paint up the figures and try a skirmish, playing with just a few figures to start with. You will love it, and be hooked, I guarantee [and yes, I sell Snake Oil too!].
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© Copyright 2003 Hal Thinglum
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