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Thanks to HMS on the official FoW forums, pictures have come out of the unpainted armoured train for the Polish forces in Early War:
(1:100 scale / 15mm)





Current promo image from battlefront:



and thread on the FoW forums dealing with this: here.

Looks really cool. Even if you dont use it in game, that is one nice objective marker / bit of scenery.

But can I motorize it and run it on a layout?

Wow! Looks great...

Too bad Poles are already expensive (money-wise) and the list that would be cheap to build (Czolgowy) won't let you take an Armoured Train...

ancientsociety wrote:Wow! Looks great...

Too bad Poles are already expensive (money-wise) and the list that would be cheap to build (Czolgowy) won't let you take an Armoured Train...

Should be less expensive than a typical Soviet Strelk list. Sure, there's a lot of infantry. But it's all good quality stuff, and therefore more expensive than the conscripts that the Soviets use.

Rather than producing something like this BF should be concentrating on improving what they already produce.

Hopefully as more manufacturers realize that this is worth investing in we will see cheaper things coming through - frankly that Malyasian resin cast is way to expensive and poorly cast. Almost everything I have bought from them to get my german 4k list has been aweful. The metal casting frankly sucks.

Those new T34's in plastic @ 5 for $25-30 suddenly make a T34 army list affordable. Now if only someone would actually produce an affordable plastic panzer iv instead of Tiger tanks in packs of 5 when I can bearly fit one in my 1500 point list.

Ok not sure how useful that will ever be but it looks freaking cool.

fullheadofhair wrote:Rather than producing something like this BF should be concentrating on improving what they already produce.

Hopefully as more manufacturers realize that this is worth investing in we will see cheaper things coming through - frankly that Malyasian resin cast is way to expensive and poorly cast. Almost everything I have bought from them to get my german 4k list has been aweful. The metal casting frankly sucks.

Those new T34's in plastic @ 5 for $25-30 suddenly make a T34 army list affordable. Now if only someone would actually produce an affordable plastic panzer iv instead of Tiger tanks in packs of 5 when I can bearly fit one in my 1500 point list.

Have you tried Command Decision (US)/Skytrex (UK)? They have an extensive German armour list in sets of 3 for about $22 each.

Zevzda also makes plastic Pkfw II & IIIs in 15mm for $5 each. I've heard the Panzer II is a little undersize but is otherwise a nice kit.

ancientsociety wrote:

fullheadofhair wrote:Rather than producing something like this BF should be concentrating on improving what they already produce.

Hopefully as more manufacturers realize that this is worth investing in we will see cheaper things coming through - frankly that Malyasian resin cast is way to expensive and poorly cast. Almost everything I have bought from them to get my german 4k list has been aweful. The metal casting frankly sucks.

Those new T34's in plastic @ 5 for $25-30 suddenly make a T34 army list affordable. Now if only someone would actually produce an affordable plastic panzer iv instead of Tiger tanks in packs of 5 when I can bearly fit one in my 1500 point list.

Have you tried Command Decision (US)/Skytrex (UK)? They have an extensive German armour list in sets of 3 for about $22 each.

Zevzda also makes plastic Pkfw II & IIIs in 15mm for $5 each. I've heard the Panzer II is a little undersize but is otherwise a nice kit.

thx for the tips!!

brettz123 wrote:Ok not sure how useful that will ever be but it looks freaking cool.

It's available for some of the Polish Lists that were published in 'Blitzkrieg'. It has rules, points cost, etc..., and you have the option to add a couple of outdated tank platoons to escort it. It's pretty cool, though at this point I can still only speculate on how it will work on the tabletop.

There were quite a few armored trains used during the war. It wasn't long before commanders started to keep them away from the front lines due to their vulnerability, but they did appear in combat and they're a neat way to put a unique twist on an army list.

Kanluwen wrote:But can I motorize it and run it on a layout?

There are companies out there that do just that. Most of them specialise in German armored trains and railguns, but I believe this one also exists as a running model.

Depending on the size of the train, you can always just chop up an old/cheap electric train and put the new bodywork on top.

Been thinking about doing something similar for my dad as he is into model trains

Many people have been buying the Peter Pig one.





It's £11 for the engine, £5 for the armoured carriage and £4 for a flatbed. It's bound to be a few quid cheaper than the Battlefront one.

The train requires TT scale track so I suppose any TT scale train could be converted.

What is the third car for, with all the uhm, beams sticking out of it? Radio equipment?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fileociag_pancerny_Danuta_z_1939_r.jpg

According to this info it's an infantry assault wagon.

http://books.google.com/books?id=T1HHGU9BpfsC&lpg=PP1&dq=Armored%20Trains%20%20By%20Steven%20J.%20Zaloga%2C%20Tony%20Bryan&pg=PA41#v=onepage&q&f=false

This book has a picture and calls it Command/ASsault.

More here.

It's some sort of command wagon. The 'beams' are indeed radio antenna.

Armored Trains rule!

One of the coolest aspects of WWII armor, for me!

Not sure how well they performed, as they always seem to have that glaring weakness (blow up the train tracks!)...

Actually, anyone know how well they did in WWII?

Battlefront makes 40k look almost affordable.

Kanluwen wrote:But can I motorize it and run it on a layout?

First thng I thought, except less as a joke. Only time since I was six that I wanted a train set.

Orlanth wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:But can I motorize it and run it on a layout?

First thng I thought, except less as a joke. Only time since I was six that I wanted a train set.

I didn't actually mean it as a joke...


A Flames of War table with a motorized train going around and randomly pounding the lines with gunfire would be awesome.

I used to do that when I was eight. I'd put Airfix soldiers on my flatbed wagons.

Of course I've grown out of that now...

If you like Polish armoured trains, this is an awesome site

Hopefully, we'll see some motorised tank cars as well...

Alpharius wrote:Armored Trains rule!

One of the coolest aspects of WWII armor, for me!

Not sure how well they performed, as they always seem to have that glaring weakness (blow up the train tracks!)...

Actually, anyone know how well they did in WWII?

Sappers (dudes w/ demo charges blowin' up the tracks) were an issue. esp. in the rear. But, that why a lot of trains had an assault wagon for infantry support or motorized tank cars (which, unfortunately, no one makes).


Finns capturing a Russian armoured train


Finnish armoured train (notice the Bofors 40mm AA gun in the cupola)


Here's a regular train with a Finnish artillery wagon attached


It depends on which country used them. They were moderately effective for the Poles as a mobile fire-support base, especially once the Germans started to surround them near urban areas. The Russians, IIRC, didn't have much good experience with them, along they helped keep Finnish sappers from completely cutting off the Murmansk railway. The Germans used Drazines, which were good for patrolling and against partisan sappers.

olympia wrote:Battlefront makes 40k look almost affordable.

Considering I can buy a 1500pt FOW force for ~$150 and the equivalent 40K force takes double that amount, I consider it much cheaper.

ancientsociety wrote:Hopefully, we'll see some motorised tank cars as well...

Based on the way that the rules are written, the cars for the tanks won't appear. The tanks from the two platoons are placed directly on the tracks (one platoon on each side of the train if you bought both of them) and moved along with the train until they dismount.

It makes sense to play it that way. The tank cars would be neat to have on the table, but they'd ultimately serve little purpose and just drive up the cost of the train box.

Eumerin wrote:

ancientsociety wrote:Hopefully, we'll see some motorised tank cars as well...

Based on the way that the rules are written, the cars for the tanks won't appear. The tanks from the two platoons are placed directly on the tracks (one platoon on each side of the train if you bought both of them) and moved along with the train until they dismount.

It makes sense to play it that way. The tank cars would be neat to have on the table, but they'd ultimately serve little purpose and just drive up the cost of the train box.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the rules, I think it would just be nice to have cars made to accompany removable tanks.

olympia wrote:Battlefront makes 40k look almost affordable.

Fortunately, you don't have to buy them to play the game. If you like them, great. If not, go buy from another manufacturer who has the same product.