Friday, July 26, 2013

Ze French have arrived!

Today I got my shipment of Black Tree Design French to bolster my French Army up in anticipation of the French/Allied book for Bolt Action. So far, my French started as a great deal around Christmas when a website I order from at times had a stunning clearance sale which included some French Crusader WW2 figures. Among the deal was a command blister and a starter set of French with two full squads of twelve at half the price of the boxed set. Hard to say no to a deal like that.

I was disappointed by the PDF that Warlord put out as the "get you by French list" for Bolt Action as it lacked any nation rules which was really bad when the Belgians, Japanese and other PDF was getting their own nation rules and cooler options for their lists. My intel of late about the new book has bolstered my spirits and I am ready to throw myself back into the French army and kick some kraut ass!

I snagged a few French when Black Tree offered a 35% off sale, not a bad deal...still I was annoyed to see a 50% the next week! ARG!

So, let's see what I got!

The French primered black are from the Crusader line, the unprimered are the new Black Tree Design Figures. Overall they seem to blend well.

Just a shot of the first four I started to clear some mold lines and glue them to bases to get them ready.

A back shot to show you the variety of those with packs and those without. I liked the variety and may get more of the ones without the backpacks. I would have to go back and study both models further but it looks like BTD has more detail on their packs at a glance.

Another batch of 4.

The last batch. I added two to Fantascape bases to try them out...not sure if I will keep them or swap them out for something else. I think I will as while I do like the Fantascape line, this is something that needs to be consistent with basing for the entire army (at least for infantry).

Well, overall the one pack of each was a great success. With the Warlord French squad in route, I should have about 48 French Infantry including 3 pistols, 1 VB launcher and 3 LMGs. I think enough to get a good start. I do want to grab a few more packs perhaps for more figs without backpacks. Less crap to paint!



9 comments:

  1. Looking forward to see some painted frenchmen :)

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    1. I am working on them slowly, still have some back German stuff to finish....almost done with 3 support weapons (PAK40, Nerbelwerfer and a heavy artillery gun), about 4 STU44 Heer and 4 Panzerfausts to round out my lists Also had a second MMG for the FJ, a MMG for the Heer and a Heer Mortar. Plus a few vehicles....

      I already ordered a ton of French stuff includng a 75mm ligth Artillery, another squad, a med mortar and ATR Team along with an R40 Tank....appears with the new book that was a bad choice perhaps as they changed it from the PDF.

      Still have to get a Souma, Panhard perhaps a Char B1. Plus I am working on buying some Alpine Chaussers, Mechanized Unit and Groupe Franc Commandos along with some Sengalese and/or Gouimer as colonial troops in France.

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  2. Nice. I've painted up some of the Crusader French before and liked them a lot. The BTD minis look good as well.

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    1. I was both pleased and suprised at how decent they are for the price. They make very good filer and helps mix up the variety of troops between the Crusader and Warlord figures.

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    2. I could imagine that.. I like a lot of warlord miniatures, but not crazy about how warlord sculpts the adrian helmet.. i prefer crusader's.

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    3. I have yet to get the Warlord ones, but i have to admit on the BTD the adrian helmet is done very well, to me some of the detail of the symbol on the front is the best I have seen compared to crusader.

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  3. And on a general note, thanks to you and all the Bolt Action posts, I ordered the rulebook. Our gaming group uses a rule system that combines 2 different WWII rules along with modifications for things like walkers and monsters/superheroes for when we play weird war II. But I think there are some odd effects that happen in the rules, so maybe I'll look at Bolt Action and see if some will give it a try. and can always add other things to 'weird' it if desired later.

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    1. Warlord already has an article on their site, about a year ago in October I think about weird WW2 games, zombies, vampires, British officer with special powers, Werewolf SS units....on the SARGE board one of the Warlord reps is working on Ghost and Priest rules now.

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    2. Also, a guy locally here has a 2006 Captain America and Bucky figure he uses as his Bolt Action HQ...

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