1860s Māori Wars and WW2 Dutch

I’m eagerly anticipating two ranges of new figures that are hovering enticingly on the horizon at the moment.

Colonial New Zealand Wars of the 1860s

A discussion on the Lead Adventures forum has resulted in two different manufacturers expressing a possible interest in producing figures for the 1860s colonial wars in New Zealand. The discussion thread was initially about Eureka Miniatures‘ new range of pre-colonial Māori, but on page 2 I posted as follows:

I know it is a little bit out of the period Eureka are aiming at, but the missing party amongst the combined Eureka and Empress ranges are western-dressed Māori for the later wars of the 1860s/70s (wearing waistcoats, for example – and even the occasional bowler hat à la Goldie).

Whilst Eureka Miniatures have their new range of pre-colonial Māori, and Empress Miniatures already has a comprehensive range of figures for the 1840s period of the colonial New Zealand Wars, there are few 28mm figures to re-fight the battles that involved Māori and Pākehā (Europeans) during the 1860s and 70s.

Perry Miniatures, of course, do a very good line of British regulars in their ‘British Intervention Force’ range that fit the period (as per the pic above).

But neither the western-dressed  Māori (as per the front cover pic of Osprey’s book on Māori fortifications shown below), nor the colonial troops such as the Forest Rangers, Militia and Armed Constabulary (as per the black-and-white photo below) are currently made.

Further into the discussion, my suggestion was taken up, and it appears that two manufacturers could perhaps be interested in producing figures for the later period.

Eureka are interested if enough pre-support can be garnered. As one of the participants in the discussion said:

What I can say is that if we get enough people to commit then those figures will be sculpted (as I’m told). Just need to get people to say yes and give a number of troops they want.

Once the required number is reached, the research passed to the sculptor, then the figures get sculpted…nothing fancy like Kickstarter…just a bunch of people saying ‘I want this’ and if the numbers are there…then it can get done…

And one of the Empress Miniatures team contributed this to the discussion:

We aren’t in a position to start working on sculpts straight away (production is planned 8 to 12 + months in advance generally) but I can definitely say that this show of interest in the period has persuaded us to look at our current plans for this range.

We do offer a range sponsorship scheme and this ‘can’ jump queues. Perhaps you guys could consider banding together and work something out? If this is of interest then drop us an e mail for details.

So if you’re interested in such a range, please do go onto the Lead Adventures thread and state your interest – we need to have a show of hands to sufficiently entice one or other (or both!) of these manufacturers before they’ll take this up!

Dutch Army of 1940

Much more advanced in production than the NZ Wars figures are a new line of WW2 Dutch troops being produced by May ’40 Miniatures.

I’ve written about this forthcoming range before here, but today the following progress pictures were released on their FaceBook page.  My mouth is watering!

I especially like the Lewis gun team in the pic above, with the gun being supported on the shoulder of the Number Two, who’s gripping the fore-support legs as though it’s more than his life’s worth (which it probably is!).

I’m also really pleased to see a medic (the figure on the right in the pic below) in the range. He will represent my father, who was in the Medical Troops during the May invasion of the Netherlands.