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Just thought I would ask a few questions of the Dakkaites...

1. Biggest question: Are these all the same scale? I just looked at the PSC deals and in appears you can get an entire company of infantry at a real discount versus the rest.
So much so that I am question whether PCS is the same scale!!

2. How do the look compared to each other? In other words, can you mix and match PSC/BF/FIB figs on the same base? How about the same army? Or is it going to look totally out of place.

From my observations it appears PSC is the cheapest but limited in options. While Battlefront(FOW) has the largest selection but by far the priciest. Forged seems the happy medium.

3. One more question, I was inspired to make a US army TUBES R US list... It would be a rifle company with lots of artillery tubes. So this is what I was thinking...

Rifle Company - PSC
HW Platoon - FIB
57mm AT - FIB
3" AT Gun - FIB

81mm Mortar - FIB
105 Cannon - Battlefront
105 How - FIB (They look small to me but a lot cheaper than buying Battlefront.)
155 How - Here is the question... I couldn't find any US 155 Howitzer models. Does anyone know of a maker?
Jeeps & Trucks - FIB

35 Tubes of at least 57mm not counting Bazookas. I want to see an opponent's face when I decide to smoke the entire table. LOL

One thing to be aware of is that the FIB products don't necessarily match up with the requirements for a FoW list, so cross check that what you are buying will give you enough for what you want to do... also I'm not sure the US has access to 155 Howitzers (otherwise Battlefront would probably make minis for it).

As for the 155 Howitzers the fowwing manufacturers make them.
BAttlefront
Qrf and Quality casting,just the guns no crew.

Battlefront makes gorgeous 155 Howitzers. Some of the nicest models in my US collection!

We are talking the 155 howitzer? I see they have the SP Long Toms...

You've asked on hell of a question. I have miniatures by all 3 in my collection and there are no hard or fast rules.

One criticism aimed as FIB is that their vehicles are smaller. This is certainly true for some but not all. Their Panzer 4 is noticeably shorter than the Battlefront or PSC equivalents but only to the extent that it might be off putting if you put them in the same platoon. But I also have Stuart tanks by both Battlefront and FIB and they are exactly the same size.

Infantry wise you could certainly get away with Battlefront and FIB on the same base, but not PSC. They tend to be more realistically scaled which makes them look spindly when placed next to metal figures.

I could take some comparison pictures from my collection later on tonight if you would find that helpful?

 LuciusAR wrote:


I could take some comparison pictures from my collection later on tonight if you would find that helpful?

I would appreciate that! I am really interested in PSC vs FIB as I am looking at PSC for the core infantry but FIB for a lot of the specialists... (Gun crews, LMG teams, etc.)

Ok here are some comparison shots.

First the Panzer IVH. This is the only model where I own an example from all 3 manufactures. Forged in Battle on the left, PSC in the Middle and Battlefront on the right. As you can see the FIB model is a bit shorter that the other two but the PSC and BF models mix together perfectly.



Now Stug III. Battlefront Resin on the left, Battlefront plastic (from open fire set) in the middle and PSC on the right. All 3 sit alongside each other with no real issues.



Stuart tank. BF on left, FIB on fight. Both are the same size.



Sherman M4A4 75mm. PSC on left, Battfront plastic (open fire) on right. PSC is a little shorter.



Finally infantry. Afraid I don't have any PSC infantry. In each of these examples BF is on the left and FIB on the right. As you can see they are comparable in terms of height and proportions, so I think they would mix on the same base ok.

I think FiB and BF infantry would mix well on the same base. I would mix in PSC in the same army, but not on the same base (and maybe even not in the same platoon, but it would depend on the individual figure).

For the vehicles, I'd probably mix all three, at least within the same army.

I will say I'm not a big fan of plastic infantry at 15mm, and that makes me shy away from PSC infantry and the plastic BF infantry. It seems way too easy to break, especially things like rifle barrels and extended arms. Plastic 15mm vehicles are fine though.

Really useful comparison shots Lucius thanks.

Definitely. Thanks a lot Lucius!!

I use a lot of old glory but the vehicles are slightly off from the battlefront ones. Some are slightly smaller but nothing major, and some are bigger like their Tigers.
However they have a pretty good selection and at around $5 a tank I'm not complaining.
PSC is good I just don't like assembling such tiny models. I like simple at this scale. Tracks, hull, turret, cupola's, and commander.

Those comparison shots are awesome man thank you. Those plastic soldier company tanks are spot on for Flames of War use it looks like.

Is there any problems with the kits people should know about? Are they hard to put together or anything?

My experience of PSC, is that they are really nice to put together. So far that's panthers and T-70s.
Don't forget Zvezda, sometimes there are hit and miss. Matildas and KV1s are "snap" together and do go together easily. However the BA10 is a horrible little kit.

I think you need to investigate each model, try to find a review or two on each one.

Also, with regards to infantry, don't forget Peter Pig. The detail on PP figs are amazing IMHO, however my German Panzershrek guys look quite beefy compared to BF figs.

Sorry I don't have anything for comparisons sake, I used to have BF pumas and FiB Pumas. Personally I preferred the FiB ones, but that's personal preference, from memory the FiB ones were taller.

Regards

 Hangfire wrote:

Also, with regards to infantry, don't forget Peter Pig. The detail on PP figs are amazing IMHO, however my German Panzershrek guys look quite beefy compared to BF figs.

I use Peter Pig figures pretty frequently. They have a good selections of poses, each coming in a small pack of less than 10 for a pretty decent price. I use them to add some variety to the stands in a platoon.

Yeah Peter Pig are great for filling out gaps in your forces or just adding some variety. Some of their older ranges are 'true' 15mm as opposed to the more modern 15's which are really closer to 18mm, so that can be an issue.

Still loving PSC despite the ease of putting BF models together in comparrison, they 50% savings for what otherwise are models of equal quality just makes it a one sides show imho.

Shame PSC put their prices up Saved for ages to cough up for a £110 half track + stugs starter army, now I need to find another £15 ontop of it lol. Typical.

I know I'm late to this but Plastic Soldier Company look really really good, don't forget Forged in Battle.

When we went to our not so local gameshop my friend picked up something from Forged in Battle and it looked good, the only thing that put me off it was the base.

I don't like vehicles with bases that mutch.

 LuciusAR wrote:
Ok here are some comparison shots.

First the Panzer IVH. This is the only model where I own an example from all 3 manufactures. Forged in Battle on the left, PSC in the Middle and Battlefront on the right. As you can see the FIB model is a bit shorter that the other two but the PSC and BF models mix together perfectly.



Now Stug III. Battlefront Resin on the left, Battlefront plastic (from open fire set) in the middle and PSC on the right. All 3 sit alongside each other with no real issues.



Stuart tank. BF on left, FIB on fight. Both are the same size.



Sherman M4A4 75mm. PSC on left, Battfront plastic (open fire) on right. PSC is a little shorter.



Finally infantry. Afraid I don't have any PSC infantry. In each of these examples BF is on the left and FIB on the right. As you can see they are comparable in terms of height and proportions, so I think they would mix on the same base ok.

Stealing your article and reposting them over on WWpd for reference.

 col. krazy kenny wrote:


Stealing your article and reposting them over on WWpd for reference.

Glad to be of assistance, especially if it’s for the WWPD crowd. One of my favorite gaming podcasts.

I have all three makes in my Soviet army. IMO the only problem with mixing the three would come if they were painted by different people. As they have all been painted by me in the same style it "ties" them together nicely.

You'd be very observant if you could tell the difference stood next to the gaming table.

Ditto, the only meaningful difference I've had to work around is that the FiB stuff I have painted up is molded on a base. The PSC, Skytrex, and BF stuff is free-standing. I base the PSC's to give them a bit more heft.

I've used PSC for AT guns as well, they work fine next to BF infantry.

http://jackdethplays.wordpress.com

 Aldramelech wrote:
I have all three makes in my Soviet army. IMO the only problem with mixing the three would come if they were painted by different people. As they have all been painted by me in the same style it "ties" them together nicely.

You'd be very observant if you could tell the difference stood next to the gaming table.

 Aldramelech wrote:
I have all three makes in my Soviet army. IMO the only problem with mixing the three would come if they were painted by different people. As they have all been painted by me in the same style it "ties" them together nicely.

You'd be very observant if you could tell the difference stood next to the gaming table.

Same with me. I have painted all of the examples above, however I've experimented with different techniques, camo patterns and washes/dips over the years resulting in quite a bit of variance within my own collection.

I do have a mind to strip the FIB PZ4’s to paint them in the same style as my BF/PSC ones but I’m undecided. Especially as I’ve never stripped paint from resin before.

Soak them in Simple Green, the paint will come right off and it won't harm the resin. I had to strip the most recent FiB tanks I painted - basecoated without cleaning and had mold release issues, oops!

 LuciusAR wrote:

 Aldramelech wrote:

I do have a mind to strip the FIB PZ4’s to paint them in the same style as my BF/PSC ones but I’m undecided. Especially as I’ve never stripped paint from resin before.

 MrMoustaffa wrote:

Is there any problems with the kits people should know about? Are they hard to put together or anything?

Nothing major. They are multi part plastic kits so they take a while to assemble and the instructions aren't the clearest in the world, I had to resort to google with my Sherman kits. The only significant issue that I have had is that the 17 pounder on the PSC Fireflies is very fragile, its a long thin bit of plastic after all, which requries very careful storage and transport. If you use a multipurpose foam case like I do than I would recommend that you buy something more solid instead.

@LuciusAR

Any chance you could make a 15mm Comparison Article which we could put in the Resources of this Site?

You've done a really good job here, and I think the effort should be documented and kept.

Just snapped a photo of some finished BF, FiB, and PSC miniatures. Hope this helps:

 jawn wrote:
Just snapped a photo of some finished BF, FiB, and PSC miniatures. Hope this helps:

Spoiler:

Nice,i just have piks of non painted for reference.

 mwnciboo wrote:
@LuciusAR

Any chance you could make a 15mm Comparison Article which we could put in the Resources of this Site?

You've done a really good job here, and I think the effort should be documented and kept.

I'd be happy to. Is there any particular format that needs to be followed?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 jawn wrote:
Just snapped a photo of some finished BF, FiB, and PSC miniatures. Hope this helps:

Spoiler:

Thats the first time I've seen the PSC 15mm infantry painted, they look really good. Excellent job converting the FIB miniatures into a staff team as well.

Er Yeah it's a bit of Faff.

Start an Article, make sure you get the title right because It cannot be edited afterwards.

When using pictures, it needs to be the Article tab from the Picture upload section.

It doesn't work in the same way as a post e.g [.img] [./img]

Instead it looks like this --Gallery:205325353/5/9/494283_sm.JPG--

Just copy and paste it from the Dakka Gallery. If you start it, and send me a link, I will help edit it all. Basically if you can do a picture post, you can easily do an article. You just need to upload all the Pictures into the Gallery...