A review of 2 Land Rover Kits - Airfix and JB Models

Royal Marines LWB Land Rover

by Jorge Del Rio

While I was stationed in Europe I came to meet with two groups of British troopers that greatly impressed me. The British Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force Regiment, both of these used the Land Rover 1 ton truck as an operational vehicle. The Royal Marines also use another vehicle that I have been tracking and will continue to track until I find it - the BV206.

Airfix and JB Models Kits

Well, in my Twilight 2000 universe, the elements of the 5^th Infantry encountered an Intelligence Gathering Team from the Royal Marine Commandos, the group is using 2 Land Rover Long Wheel Base trucks and ¼ ton trailers to carry their equipment. So I have two of the trucks and trailers for the signal intelligence team. Looking on eBay I managed to locate 5 Land Rover LWB with trailers, 3 Hard Shell covered Land Rovers and 2 Soft Canvas covered trucks. In 1/72 HO Scale I found most of the vehicles were either 3d printed or Airfix models, so off I went and got them.

I received 4 Airfix Land Rovers and a JB Models Land Rover, first thing I noticed was that both kits were identical, except the hard cover was different, and since I have all this extra time on my hands (am recovering from ankle surgery) I decided to go ahead and knock these out.

The sprue for both kits!

Started the Airfix kit and 10 minutes later it was finished. The model was very easy to put together and very clean in the parts everything fit, I decided that I was going to add a crew for the vehicle, so using the Elhiem Figures OPS11 British Osprey WMIK crew the driver and a sitting GPMG gunner fit into the vehicle. I will add back packs and other gear using from Black Dog’s Modern Soldiers Gear, it will go into the back of the Land Rover.

A work in progress

The assembled kit, plus the Ehliem figures.

Each of the kits of the kits has ¼ Trailers which I am going to use for the carrying of the surveillance and Radio intercept equipment, one of the trailers will be built into a command container, the marines would have set up a remote listening post in the field, capable of listening to Soviet transmissions. 

Review of the S-Model 1/72 scale M151A1/A2 MUTT

Review by Jorge Del Rio

I started playing Twilight 2000, while serving overseas with US Air Force, as a Security Forces member, and where I was stationed we used Jeeps in some of our patrols. When I started playing I collected some of the Miniatures that went with the game and added some Hotspur and MERC figures. When the game went dormant in my area I continued playing other games which used the miniatures. After finding out that this group existed I was able to put all the miniatures that I had collected and was using for another game to use, so I started looking for some other miniature and Models that I could use.

The M151A1
In my area we have a large group of reenactors that play out different battles from World War 2 and Vietnam, in which I have participated in. a couple of them have the Ford M151A1 and M151A2 MUTT jeeps, and quite frankly it is a great utility vehicle.

In my gaming, I pursued a location which could be built up into a safe haven for my players from which they could go out and conduct raids and search and destroy mission, and with the New America Cells cropping up everywhere it was perfect, what better place than Cedar Key, which is a small island chain that has its own Airport and port. With a large population of reenactors, I built a new location, and gave them the ultimate tool the M151A1 jeeps.

Image taken from S-Model Website

The Kit: 
The box contains 2 models which were able to be easily built with the weapons included in the  model kit. The kit has parts for an M2.50 Cal and a M60 LMG, I’m now searching to see if I can find a TOW armed version that I can add as a salvage unit. 

The model box contain 2 sprues, all the parts for a given vehicle are on one sprue.

The model is relatively easy to build, took me 15 minutes. 

The biggest issue with me is that it has photo etched parts (which I’m not a big fan of) and no replacement for the parts in plastic. 

The model is easy and pleasing to the eye. If you get it you will definitely enjoy it. I give it 4 out of 5 mushroom clouds, with the photo etched parts being the only real drawback.

Slightly Larger Warriors of the Apocalypse - 28mm figures for Twilight: 2000

 I've been trying to outsource this article for some time because, to be honest, I really don't know the first thing about 28mm figures to save my life. I've never even owned any, so any mistakes are mine alone, and I am sticking to that story. In any event, this is a living page, and we'll add to it as I get more information!

 So with that said, let's see what there is in the 28mm for those that want to do Twilight: 2000 in that scale.

  Empress Miniatures:

Image of Chechen figures taken from Empress Miniatures Website

 The Empress Miniatures modern line is a mix of their own work, as well as the old Red Star line, and the sculpts are simply gorgeous. I have seen and played with some in the flesh at a friend's when we  did some Ambush Alley games based in Chechnya. I do think you get a lot for the money, and they proportions look good and are not exaggerated by any means, something I do find a bit often on a lot of 28s.  I would recommend the Chechen and Russian lines especially for Twilight: 2000, with the rest geared towards today's conflicts, but you could use them if you're doing Twilight: 2025?

 Prices are around $10.50 for a pack of 4, which can be a bit steep for those of us across the pond, but the quality is there, and the website looks like it would be an easy thing to order from.

 UPDATE: I have been advised by one of our readers that Empress has an American reseller, Age of Glory Miniatures. They are charging $12 for a pack of 4, but the shipping is a bit less for those of us across the pond, so it probably balances out. I also found out that Empress bought out Imprint Models and now has their own line of vehicles in 1/48th Scale (The range of technicals is especially useful).

Eureka Miniatures:

Image of MOPP suited Americans taken from Eureka Miniatures USA website.

Eureka has an extensive Moderns line, including a few figures that would be of use to Twilight: 2000 gamers, such as the MOPP suited Americans, and the NBC suited Russians. Sadly, you cannot get individual suited figures for the Americans, they come in a set of 12 for $26.40, but having seen them at a show, the sculpting is good for guys that could represent National Guard types or other 2nd line formations. The Soviets in Afghanistan also work well for a variety of uses. But, like Empress, most of the line is geared pretty much to contemporary conflicts, which would work well for Twilight: 2025. The Musorians might also work for poorly equipped Warsaw Pact troops.

Ordering is a snap, as I have ordered quite a bit of AB World War II 20mm from Eureka and the turn around time is very quick indeed.

The Assault Group:

Image of Royal Marine Command Pack taken from TAG website.

The Assault Group (TAG) is a long time manufacturer who's been churning out figures in it's Ultra Modern and Vietnam lines for a while now. While the dimensions are a bit..large, especially the weapons IMHO, the lines are extensive and you can probably find what you are looking for with little effort. The trouble is, like most 28mm Modern lines, they are geared towards Afghanistan/Iraq and not exactly suitable for Twilight: 2000. That said, I have known many folks who like the line and have bought them, so they do have a following.

Prices are $10.50 for 4 figures, just like Empress, and the website is easy to navigate, so, if you like the figures, give them a try, they do happen to have a lot of character.

Badger Games:

Image of Soviet figures taken from Badger Games website

Badger Games is the current manufacturer of the old Mongrel Miniatures line of figures that was nothing if not prolific for a while. They are the only folks I know who make 28mm East Germans! (other than Under Fire) Their quality, from what I have seen in photos is superb and proportions are dead on, in my opinion. While the Americans and British look a bit dated, they could be used for reservists, and well, by Twilight: 2000, who cares, right? Mixed equipment and gear is the order of the day! Just nothing too modern, and Mongrel certainly fits the bill.

Prices run about $2.50 a figure, with the above pictured pack being $15, so a bit pricier I suppose. Ordering looks pretty easy, and it's on this side of the Atlantic, so shipping should not be too expensive.

Britannia Miniatures

US Rangers taken from Britannia Website

The Britannia range, while small, is full of the usual character one finds in their 20mm. While their 20mm stuff tends to be a bit on the big side, the 28s look as if they would fit right in. The main issue is for Americans, all you get is stuff for Mogidishu in 1993. I suppose you could repaint it, but trying to do regulars with these packs is a bit tough. That said, they're pretty good looking from the pictures I have seen, as well as the times I have played with them.

UPDATE: It seems the 28mm Britannia suffers from the same issues their 20mm cousins suffer from, as they are a bit larger compared to other 28mm stuff, they might fit in with TAG IMHO?

Prices run about $2.62 a figure, and the ordering system looks pretty simple (most of my Britannia I got second hand over the years), but they would make a nice SF unit for Twilight: 2000. 


Mike Bravo Miniatures:

British Infantry taken from Mike Bravo Miniatures website

Ok, if I played 28s, these would be where I would personally start. They're working on Americans with Fritz helmets for the 1980s, their Soviets look quite nice (and would probably fit in with Mongrel) and their Winter of '79 range would be perfect for games set in the UK as things are falling apart! In short, these are some good looking figures. They even have a news crew, cops and paramilitaries. In short, everything you need.

Prices are comparable to Empress and I think between those three manufacturers, you can put together some really nice armies for Twilight: 2000. His website is also full of helpful hints on where to find other 28mm resources such as vehicles and terrain.

UPDATE: According to several online fora..MBM isn't answering their emails or filling orders. I do hope this does not mean the company has gone under.

Mo-Fo Miniatures:

British with SLRs taken from MoFo/Gripping Beast website

Mo-Fo, like Mongrel and Mike Bravo, are perfect for the kind of figures you'll need for Twilight: 2000. While they're structured for the Falklands, you can use them as reservists, and the Argentinians have a ton of uses (painted right, they could fill in for more than a few NATO armies) and the Mercenaries would make fine Marauders/Spetsnaz. Proportions look great and they do paint up well from the looks of the figures.

As for prices, they are $7ish for 4, which is not bad considering the prices of most 28mm lines. Shipping to this side of the Atlantic might be a bit of a killer, so it all evens out. The website looks easy to order from and I think Mongrel, Mike Bravo and these figures would mix very well.

Sloppy Jalopy Models:

BMP-2 taken from Sloppy Jalopy website

Sloppy Jalopy has a good reputation for quality in 28mm circles, and I have played with some of their Israeli line, and was impressed with the quality for myself. While the range is small in what it covers thus far, it fits in well with Mongrel, MBM, and Mo-Fo, and you should have no trouble using any of the three with their Cold War line.

Prices run about $19-$28 a vehicle, depending on the vehicle, but consider there's a lot of metal and resin that goes into one of these. And to be honest, if you're doing 28mm, you're probably doing a very infantry-heavy game.

The website could be easier to navigate, as it took me a bit of time to find the actual catalog, but the vehicles do look nice and as I said, would fit well with the above mentioned lines. Sadly as of right now, they are the only modern vehicle manufacturer in town, and they are scaled 1/56, so if you want to find stuff they don't make, model kits might be the only game in town, but you may have to settle for 1/48th scale kits, and they are not cheap either these days.

Under Fire Miniatures:

The new 28mm 1980s US Infantry, image taken from the Under Fire Website

 I do have some experience with the Under Fire line, at least their 20mm stuff, of which I commissioned some of their Russians, and I found the sculpting standards to be top notch and while I have not painted them yet, I suspect they will be a pleasure to paint. The figures themselves look as if they would be in scale with Mike Bravo, Empress, Eureka, Mo-Fo, and Mongrel. I think these figures would compliment Mongrel VERY WELL indeed.

The website from previous experience, was a pleasure to navigate and order from, and the figures are priced at around $11 for a pack of four, but again, the quality is quite high. While the gear might be a bit dated (M16A1s and M1 steel pot helmets), you could very well use them for Twilight: 2000. The other figures in the line are awesome, to say the least, and they're the only ones to make West German Cops!

Lead Adventure Miniatures:

Image taken from TGN website

While the Lead Adventure line is more "Mad Max/Gaslands" than Twilight: 2000, some work with greenstuff and a brush could make these guys look great for your tabletop. There are a lot more of these "character pack" that could fill out an army. This pack alone screams "Marauders". While Lead Adventure's own site is down, they sell through Magister Millitum, and this pack is selling for about $15, not of course, including shipping. The Magister website is easy to use, while shipping for us in the States would be expensive, a few packs of these to fill out an army would not be ruinous.

HLBPS:

Boy, this vehicle looks very familiar? Image is taken from the HLBPS website

HLBPS has a smallish but very niche collection of 1/48th scale vehicles, including some I haven't seen in any scale other than 6mm (such as the CG Stingray painted up to match a certain color plate we all know and love). While prices run about the usual ($30-40 a vehicle, not to mention shipping), it is again, expected you aren't going to buy hordes of vehicles.

Not to mention, they have a 28mm tugboat that could be...useful...

I don't know the quality of the vehicles, but the website appears easy to order from and while shipping might be an issue, I would give these a look to fill out specific needs.


Special Artizan Service

War Correspondents taken from SAS Facebook Page

SAS has quite a few ranges available that would fill a niche for Twilight: 2000, especially the various insurgent ranges, I especially liked the DNR figures for marauder and bandit types. They're in the UK, so American gamers will find shipping expensive but you can get them in the US from King's Hobbies and Games, The miniatures run about $4.00 a figure depending on the set you buy, so they're a bit pricey, but the details are nice, and one wishes they'd do some Cold War oriented stuff, Americans with Kevlars perhaps?