First look at the new WWII Polish!

[Techno]

PAH !

Yeah .......I've only done 30 in the last week ! 
Cheers - Phil

[fsn]

Well. I'm very glad that the Polish are getting a look in. Also, I notice that my own proclivities have been listened to.

I may have mentioned on the past that I dislike firing and kneeling figures, and crew served weapons with prone crew.

It's some kind of a test, isn't it?

They do look nice though.

Look forward to the rest.

[John Cook]

They look very nice, but the three infantry figures poses are about as unimaginative as they come and are insufficient to give enough variety.  You need at least five, for any modern range, in my view. 

[paulr]

They look very nice, but the three infantry figures poses are about as unimaginative as they come and are insufficient to give enough variety.  You need at least five, for any modern range, in my view. 

I am I missing something or is this a little harsh

All 3 poses look as though they would work together in different combinations and I'm not sure how "imaginative" you can be...

[fsn]

There are actually only a few poses that work anyway for riflemen in any period.

Firing
Loading
at port / guard
at trail
shouldered(?)
firing from the waist

These can be standing, walking or running.

The first three can be done kneeling

Then prone you have basically firing or not firing.

Yes, I know there are variations on a theme. We all remember the Airfix British Para who was machine gunning the sky, and the awful bayonetting the ground figures from the ACW ranges, but for sensible poses that's about it. 

Once you mix support weapons and officers into the bases, then three poses is plenty.

[Dave]

There are actually only a few poses that work anyway for riflemen in any period.

Firing
Loading
at port / guard
at trail
shouldered(?)
firing from the waist

These can be standing, walking or running.

The first three can be done kneeling

Then prone you have basically firing or not firing.

Yes, I know there are variations on a theme. We all remember the Airfix British Para who was machine gunning the sky, and the awful bayonetting the ground figures from the ACW ranges, but for sensible poses that's about it. 

Once you mix support weapons and officers into the bases, then three poses is plenty.

I always get extra poses done once all the intitial figures are completed anyway


Dave

[Sunray]

Not my period, but neat looking figures.   The three infantry standing/kneeling figures would do well for a 1939 ere army.   Soldiers do tend to adopt uniform postures in combat - in the modern era even the GPMG gunner would  attempt to carry his weapon like a rifleman and blend in with the section.   Younger soldiers will always consciously mimic the veterans in how they carry their rifles .  And...when a Fire Control Order  is given, everyone put the butt to the shoulder and shoots.

The only additions I see for a perfect 5 man BKC base would be (a) BAR gunner advancing and (b) an NCO type figure. The Poles had no SMGs at this stage, but a sculpt depicting a hand gesture will denote rank.   The old Airfix range used to do a useful grenade thrower.  We tend to forget just how useful the grenade is as an indirect weapon.

[John Cook]

There are actually only a few poses that work anyway for riflemen in any period.

Firing
Loading
at port / guard
at trail
shouldered(?)
firing from the waist

These can be standing, walking or running.

The first three can be done kneeling

Then prone you have basically firing or not firing.

Yes, I know there are variations on a theme. We all remember the Airfix British Para who was machine gunning the sky, and the awful bayonetting the ground figures from the ACW ranges, but for sensible poses that's about it. 

Once you mix support weapons and officers into the bases, then three poses is plenty.

I'm afraid that I disagree that only a few poses work for riflemen or that three poses is plenty.  Three basic infantry figures, particularly this unimaginative bunch, does not provide sufficient variety for WW2, or any period from 1914 to the present, I'd say.

I also wonder how many officers are necessary – one per platoon – I don't know how many that means for you but even at a ratio of 1:1 you are only going to need one officer per platoon of, say 30 or more, riflemen figures.  I'm also not sure why support weapons would be mixed into rifle bases.   I keep mine on separate bases as, unless LMGs, they are usually part of a different company in the battalion structure.   

Be that as it may, take a look at Pendraken's principal competitor in the context of WW2.  Take a look at Pendraken's own Falkland's range.  Take a look, dare I say, at my figures in the CTV range, where I managed to sculpt what, I think, are five distinctive riflemen poses (more or less as you suggest in your list, though one of mine has grenade), plus an NCO and officer, which drew a specific positive comment about the mix of poses.  I admit that I was pleasing myself as I wanted some CTV figures and Leon and Dave were kind enough to indulge me.

At least I can agree with you where prone figures are concerned.  In an ideal world there would be a choice of prone and moving figures where support weapons are concerned but, until the perfect world arrives, I am content to convert my own where necessary.   

[Ithoriel]

For me "man with rifle" is the minimum for standard trooper poses for a modern range, any variations after that are gravy!

[Sunray]

I also wonder how many officers are necessary – one per platoon – I don't know how many that means for you but even at a ratio of 1:1 you are only going to need one officer per platoon of, say 30 or more, riflemen figures.  I'm also not sure why support weapons would be mixed into rifle bases.   I keep mine on separate bases as, unless LMGs, they are usually part of a different company in the battalion structure.   
   

Good for you.  Its  (a) a matter of choice and (b) the rules you use and (c) to a degree the period being gamed.

Officers fall into three distinct groups -  NCOS,  Field Officers and Senior Command. Lets keep it to the needs of gaming.  Two "units" of five figures per base.  To me that's close as you get to a section with its own transport - one soft skin lorry/APC  or two jeeps
The section leader is  a two stripe junior NCO and on one of the bases.    The section 2/IC can be denoted with a white stripe on arm etc.

Three such sections make a platoon -  with a senior NCO Sergeant type and a commissioned officer - a second lieutenant up to a captain.
The dichotomy between WW2 and modern is that in old style "fire and movement" the LMG in the section was one 'base' = the "Gun Group" and the other base was the "Rifle Group"
By 1990s -with full auto weapons - the section was two "fire groups" who mutually supported each other.  A Corporal led one and the Lance Corporal led the other.

In advancing to contact it would be standard practice for the LMG/GPMG gunner to be integrated into the section.  In gaming,  I would stress that this a matter of personal preference .  If you want separate bases, then go for it.    But an infantry base with an LMG in its ranks is obviously reflected in its table score when  the dice rolls.   

Just reading over this, I realise that Warminster School of Infantry  probably fixed me thinking the Brit way.   Polish troops had the BAR - did that shape their section tactics like the Americans prior to the introduction of the Garand ? 

[John Cook]

Not quite sure what you mean by "Good for you", Sunray, or the point of much of the rest of your post to be honest.  But, yes, it is always a matter of choice and opinion.  I presume I am allowed mine.

[Dave]

I'm afraid that I disagree that only a few poses work for riflemen or that three poses is plenty.  Three basic infantry figures, particularly this unimaginative bunch, does not provide sufficient variety for WW2, or any period from 1914 to the present, I'd say.

I also wonder how many officers are necessary – one per platoon – I don't know how many that means for you but even at a ratio of 1:1 you are only going to need one officer per platoon of, say 30 or more, riflemen figures.  I'm also not sure why support weapons would be mixed into rifle bases.   I keep mine on separate bases as, unless LMGs, they are usually part of a different company in the battalion structure.   

Be that as it may, take a look at Pendraken's principal competitor in the context of WW2.  Take a look at Pendraken's own Falkland's range.  Take a look, dare I say, at my figures in the CTV range, where I managed to sculpt what, I think, are five distinctive riflemen poses (more or less as you suggest in your list, though one of mine has grenade), plus an NCO and officer, which drew a specific positive comment about the mix of poses.  I admit that I was pleasing myself as I wanted some CTV figures and Leon and Dave were kind enough to indulge me.

At least I can agree with you where prone figures are concerned.  In an ideal world there would be a choice of prone and moving figures where support weapons are concerned but, until the perfect world arrives, I am content to convert my own where necessary.   

Good point John, I hadn't looked at it in that way for extra infantry poses, in the past money dicated the number of poses - so running, firing - mixed standing kneeling and prone, advancing, yes with the support weapons - Ive done this with the Lewis gunners in the ww1 range - possibly done too many figures as the prone don't sell!!!  Some figures like the ww2 French cavalry I've only done 1 mounted and 1 dismounted - I cann't see a great deal of sales.

Dave

[Ithoriel]

Currently the only 20th Century land warfare games I play regularly are Eastern Front BKC.

The problem, for me, with prone LMGs and A/T rifles is that they will be part of an infantry platoon stand and look odd when all the other figures are standing and also take up too much space on a base. So, for the Germans, I have the standing DAK LMG figure as part of my infantry stands not the prone versions that came in the army pack. Though to look on the bright side Dave, that does make an extra quid or two for Pendraken

My infantry stands are 6 figures - 4 riflemen, 1 LMG, 1 NCO with SMG for two stands of the company and an officer type replacing a rifleman for the third.

Stands that have an A/T weapon currently have a Panzerfaust armed figure replacing a rifleman though I'd like to do stands with A/T rifles, for Kursk and before, at some point.

[Steve J]

The Poles had no SMGs at this stage, but a sculpt depicting a hand gesture will denote rank.

From my info (Zaloga) they did have some, but not many. From memory US Tompsons and Finnish ones, but I'd have to check to be certain.

[Steve J]

On the poses, I'm pretty happy with them to be honest. They will fit in with my other BKCII bases as the poses are quite similar, so no problem from my end.