Sourcing 1:16 WW2 figures

[The Great Escape]

Can someone please point me in the direction of an online uk source for a wider range than the usual Tamiya 1:16 figures, please?

 

I’m specifically after some more of the Dragon 1/16 range...

 

ebay is very limited and typically the ones I want to build are all out of stock.

 

Thanks

[Richard E]

Have you considered resin instead of injection moulded kits - for instance Maurice Corry's figures which are listed on Ebay by Mitches Military Models ?

[PhoenixII]

Hi, might be worth a look at Historex, link here:- https://www.historexagents.com/#product-gallery

Believe it's everything they carry in 1/16th / 120mm but be aware, prices will be higher than 'plastic' figures.

 

HTH

Paul

[The Great Escape]

Thanks both. 
Agreed that resin figures open up a new world and I realise that they are significantly more expensive.

 

But I do want to explore...

 

I have bought from Mitches Military Models before (a few 1/9 busts) but nothing jumps out at the moment in the 1/16 scale.

 

Most on eBay seem to be from China, not that that’s a problem, but I’d rather buy from UK if I can, particularly if I’m spending that much. Plus it keeps those UK based model shops going in COVID.

 

I won a resin figure on eBay a few weeks ago but when it arrived I found that it must have been a recast - it was awful as it had so many bubbles and pocks. 

 

When you search images of 1/16 I can see hundreds of wonderful poses... 

 

Where to people buy the Verlinden figures from?

[PhoenixII]

6 minutes ago, The Great Escape said:

Where to people buy the Verlinden figures from?

ebay! The Verlinden company folded some time ago.

[The Great Escape]

50 minutes ago, PhoenixII said:

ebay! The Verlinden company folded some time ago.

Oh - That’s a shame. Are there any other brands out there that would help me refine my search?

 

Also - how often to Tamiya and Dragon bring out new figures? From Dragon’s website, they released lots in 2003, two in 2008 but no 1/16 since.

 

Thanks for everyone’s help.

[PhoenixII]

Regarding Tamiya, not that frequently. Dragon has a greater output, but not by much. To my eyes, the options you have are:-

1.) make your own figures over a wire armature. 

2.) convert existing figures from Tamiya/Dragon. 

3.) bite the bullet and invest in a range of either resin or metal figures.

 

You might want to have a look at the ICM range of 1/16th figures, though the poses are a little ridged, i.e. up and down. There are more than a few manufacturers and retailers out there, Mitches and Historex have been suggested, another is SK in Darlington.

 

Paul

[The Great Escape]

Thanks for you help Paul. SK miniatures has some wonderful figures and this was the type of online shop I was after.

 

I will also consider kit bashing to change poses - that’s a great idea!

 

Thanks again.

[spruecutter96]

On 2/6/2021 at 6:26 PM, The Great Escape said:

Oh - That’s a shame. Are there any other brands out there that would help me refine my search?

 

Verlinden 1/16th WW2 figures appear on E-Bay on a fairly regular basis, but the prices can be a little high, due to the company closing down in the mid-2010's. They are still very nice, detailed figures - to my eyes at least. 

 

Chris.  

[Harls]

I was browsing Facebook last night and the following group advert popped up:

 

https://www.facebook.com/VerlindenProductionsStock

 

They claim to have a large stock of discontinued Verlinden kits, so it might be worth checking out.

 

Regards.

[The Great Escape]

Thanks. Nice stock. Some nice figures on there, including a camel! Would a camel work with an Africa WW2 theme?!!!

[PhoenixII]

21 hours ago, The Great Escape said:

Would a camel work with an Africa WW2 theme

You'll need a couple of bedouin, camels don't tend to be wild, unless your in Oz.

[NZ Bill]

I am making a 1:20 model of ML167, a WW1 Coastal Patrol Boat that my grandfather served on as CPO. 

See 'WW1 Coastal Patrol Boats – ML167'  in 'Projects in progress'.

In due course I want to include the crew and I have photos of 4 of his crew and pictures of crews of other boats and I want to represent real people.  The figures will be around 80 to 90mm tall.

Making faces and painting figures is not a strong suit (I have tried!) so I am looking for a source of suitable figures.

I will need realistic faces and body proportions but expect I could adjust the postures and assemble convincing clothing.

 

This photo is a pencil sketch of a real crew in their forecastle and as my model includes everything below decks some crew will be in here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my grandfather posing with the Hotchkiss 3lb quick fire gun on an unusual high angle mounting.

I want to make convincing model of this gun but hope someone can help to interpret the parts we can see in the photo.