Wishlist 1998
Readers’ Choice of new Figures and Vehicles in 1:72 scale
The purpose of this page is to encourage manufacturers to produce model kits that are most wanted by collectors, wargamers and hobbyists. Readers may submit proposals for new and interesting plastic figure sets or vehicles which they think should be available at their local hobby shop soon. A new figure set may include up to 15 different poses and a total of 50 foot miniatures.
Items 1 through 47 are ranked by popularity, based on 1190 votes received by 22.JAN.97. Products numbered 48 and higher are new proposals which are ranked in the new Wishlist ’98.
- French Napoleonic dragoons (empress, or line dragoons)
- Korean War US Marines and Chinese
- Napoleonic Personalities
- Boxer Rebellion Chinese and European armies
- Bavarian Line and Light Infantry, 1812–1815
- World War Two Romanian Infantry
- Franco-Prussian War French, Colonial, Prussian, Bavarian and Saxon troops
- Zulu War British Artillery and Gatling Guns
- War of 1812 (US Regulars and Militia, British, Indians)
- Modern Arab Armies* (ESCI planned to do them)
- Hellenistic infantry (incl. Hoplites) & cavalry
- Samurai
- Asterix the Gaul vs. the Romans
- Republican Romans vs. Carthaginians* (ESCI planned to do them)
- Nassau infantry at Waterloo
- Spanish Napoleonic Troops
- Huns
- – vacant position – (Crusaders will be released by Italeri)
- Modern Israelis
- French grenadiers a cheval
- Jacobite Highlanders (1715 and 1745 Rebellions) vs. British-Hanoverians
- – vacant position – (the Matilda Mk.II has been re-released by Airfix)
- Sturmtiger Tank
- World War One Turkish Troops
- World War One British Infantry (steel helmet), incl. Lewis Gunners
- Janissaries
- French Napoleonic foot artillery
- Brunswick Infantry, 1815
- Vikings & Longboats
- Ancient Warships
- World War Two Soviet Tank Riders
- American Civil War Personalities
- World War Two Polish Infantry, 1939
- – vacant position – (Bundeswehr Panzergrenadiers will be released by Revell)
- Golden Horde Mongols
- Napoleon’s Young Guard
- Napoleonic Ammunition Wagons
- Brunswick Hussars, 1815
- Star Trek Personalities
- Late Romans
- Landsknechts
- – vacant position – (Saracens will be released by Italeri)
- Ancient Israelites
- Assyrians
- Dutch infantry and cavalry at Waterloo
- Napoleonic infantry with ladders, attacking La Haye Sainte
- Napoleonic casualty figures and ambulance wagons
New Proposals, not ranked by popularity yet - British Colonial Highlanders (Sudan War/Boer War)
- Russian Napoleonic Dragoons
- Russian Napoleonic Cossacks
- Austro/Hungarian Napoleonic Cavalry
- British Indian Wars (1900)
- Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk.VI tank
- - vacant position -
- Ancient Persians, including Chariots
- 18th Century Sailors, Marines, Naval Officers, and Pirates
- Polish Napoleonic Infantry
- World War Two early Germans and Russians in Winter Greatcoats
- World War Two Finnish Infantry: Continuation War 1941–1944, with Maxim MGs, Suomi SMGs, Dektyarev LMGs, Tampella 120 mm grenade launchers and Lahti M39 AT-Rifles, summer suits with several different helmet types like old and new German, Italian, Hungarian and the Finnish M40. These figures are much more needed than winter troops. World War Two Russians would be needed to match the Finns.
- British King’s German Legion Napoleonic light infantry
- French Napoleonic horse artillery (guard and line)
- Fantasy Armies: Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, Skeletons etc.
- Sci-Fi Armies: Marines, Space Pirates, AFVs, Hovercraft, heavy weapons etc.
- Spanish Civil War (Nationalists, Italians, Republicans, Foreign Vols.)
- World War Two Partizans and Resistance (Greek/French)
- World War Two Italians (North Africa)
- Cheap, accurate, and fully assembled 1:72 scale vehicles and guns
- American Civil War Mule Train
- World War One Mule Train
- World War Two: Archer Tank Destroyer in 1:72 scale (17 pdr on Valentine chassis)
- WW1 Russian infantry
- Modern War: Russian T-55 Medium Tank
- Irish and Scottish Gaels ca. 1500–1600 vs. English
- Scottish Gaels (Highlanders) ca. 1640–1746
- US-Mexican War of 1846–1848
- Latin American Wars of Independence 1816–1821 (vs. Spain)
- Mexican Revolution – General Francisco Villa, Emiliano Zapata, 1914
- Pershing Expedition into Mexico, 1916
- French Napoleonic Line/Légère Infantry in Greatcoats (late war)
- French Napoleonic Line Chasseurs à Cheval (convert easily to other types).
- Württemberg Napoleonic Line Infantry and Füsiliers 1808–1812
- Württemberg Napoleonic Jägers and Light Infantry 1811–1815
- World War Two: Italian paratroopers
- World War Two: Italian Bersaglieri with Guzzi motorcycles (African Campaign)
- 1866 Saxons, Bavarians, Württembergers, Prussians, Danes, and Austrians
- British SAS, German GSG 9, Snipers, SEALS and other modern special forces
- Terrorists and victims
- War personalities of history – from Ramses to Saddam and Schwartzkopf
- Modern War: Russian T-72 Tank, used by many nations in the world.
- World War One Italians
- World War One Austrian infantry with Schwarzlose MG
- World War One German Stosstruppen
- Modern British Navy Hovercraft, Naval Landing Party, and Marines
- World War Two: Pilots and Crew figures for 1:72 Aircraft
- Porsche-Tiger II (VK4501 II)
- Russian Napoleonic Foot Artillery in Kiwer (shako) M.1812
- Russian Napoleonic Horse Artillery in Crested Helmets
- Kings German Legion Heavy Dragoons in Bicornes
- 1066 Norman Cavalry (supplementing the incomplete Revell Normans)
- Medieval Knights and men at arms c. 1200–1300
- Medieval Moors
- Trojan War era castle, incl siege towers, chariots, large weapons
- Roman cavalry
- Ancient Egyptians, incl chariots
- Medieval era castle and siege towers, large siege weapons
- Fort Alamo and figures (Mexican infantry, cavalry, artillery, Texicans)
- 1850s French Foreign Legion in Mexico
- 1750s French & Indian Wars: Fort Ticonderoga
- 1750s French & Indian Wars: Rogers’ Rangers
- 1750s era Iroquois, Huron, British infantry, French infantry
- American Revolutionary War: American and British Cavalry
- American Revolutionary War: Hessian, British, and American Artillery
- American Revolutionary War: American Minutemen, Militia, and State Troops
- Modern War: Russian BRDM-2
- Modern War: U.S. LAV-25
- Modern War: Russian 152mm 2S3 self-propelled gun
- Modern War: French GCT self-propelled gun
- Modern War: U.S. MLRS
- Modern War: French AMX-30 MBT
- Modern War: Russian BTR-60
- Modern War: Russian PT-76 Amphibious Light Tank
- Modern War: US M109 SP Howitzer (complete with the M992 FAASV)
- Barbarian Cavalry (Huns, Goths, Gauls/Celts, anything not Roman or Romanized)
- World War Two Finnish Infantry: Winter War 1939–1940, with Maxim MGs, L/S-26 LMGs and Suomi SMGs, 81 mm grenade launcher, winter suits with M16 and M35 helmets and fur caps.
- Modern War: Modern Finnish Infantry/UN Troops: with M62 LMGs and M62 assault rifles, LAW and Apilas AT-weapons and M90 SLAM-mines.
- Austrian Napoleonic Infantry in shakos
- British Napoleonic Light Dragoons in Tarleton helmets or shakos
- French Napoleonic Voltigeurs (1815) skirmishing
- Napoleonic Accessories: Pistols, muskets, sabres, discarded equipment, ammo boxes, spent cannonballs etc.
- World War Two: British AEC Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle. Two captured AEC command vehicles, named “Max” and “Moritz”, were used by Rommel, a third served with General Streich (21.Pz.Div.).
- World War Two: British Sexton Self-Propelled Gun (25 pdr. on Sherman)
- World War Two: German Brummbär Assault Tank with 15 cm Howitzer
- World War Two: British AEC armoured car with 75 mm gun turret
- World War Two: Allied Scorpion (mine clearing) attachment for tanks
- World War Two Vehicle Stowage: Jerrycans, British petrol cans, LMGs, Solothurn and Boys AT rifles, light mortars, ammo boxes, antenna mounting brackets for APCs and Bren Carriers, vehicle radio sets, wooden artillery ammo boxes and individual shells, discarded infantry equipment, spare wheels for Jeeps, trucks, carriers, Pz. IV and Lee/Sherman, sand channels, anti-tank mines, picks and shovels, folded stretchers, and personal gear.
- World War Two Weapons: Panzerfaust, Panzerschreck, PIAT, and Bazooka rocket launchers, Anti-Tank Rifles of all nations, turret mounting brackets for Flak-MG, 7.5 cm Infantry Gun barrels and 15 cm Gr.38.H1A stickgrenade warheads to upgrade plastic model kits of the 3.7 cm PaK 35/36, Anti-Tank mines packed in wooden crates.
- World War Two: Tank, assault gun, and carrier crew of all nations. Full figures, ½ and ¾ figures to be mounted in armoured vehicles. Spare heads with a variety of official and personal headgear, with or without headphones.
- Fantasy troop types, Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, etc.
- Pharaonic Egyptians and their enemies (compatible with Atlantic)
- Dark Age peasants defending their settlement against Viking or Hun raiders.
- Colonial Wars: British Naval Brigade with artillery and machine guns
- Colonial Wars: Muslim cavalry and camelry to supplement ESCI’s muslim infantry
- Colonial Wars: British Camelry and Lancers
- War correspondants, photographers, newsmen, filmcrews, observers from various historical periods. These would be handy for inclusion in a variety of scenarios, and are called for in the modern skirmish rules, People’s War.
- Colonial Wars: Italian, French, and German marines
- Colonial Wars: Austrian, French, and Russian sailors
- World War One: Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, German infantry and (multi-purpose) Askaris
- Colonial Wars: Afghan infantry, cavalry, and snipers with long Jezzail on bipod
- Colonial Wars: Gurkhas, and Indian Frontier Force infantry
- Fantasy: Multi-purpose skeleton warriors with separate ancient, historic, modern and ultra-modern weapons.
- Fantasy: Bi-pedal supernatural rodent warriors with separate pre-historic, historic, modern, and sci-fi weapons and heavy equipment.
- Modern War: Futuristic infantry in self-propelled PITMAN-project body armour suits.
- World War One: US Infantry 1918, with M.1916 helmets, heavy and light machine guns
- World War One: US Artillery 1918, with M.1916 helmets
- War elephant with platform for bowmen and spearmen. Riders should be compatible with various armies who used elephants at different times.
- World War Two: Chinese Nationalist and Communist Forces
- World War Two: Imperial Japanese Marines
- American Civil War casualty set: Walking wounded with support, men falling, wounded sitting on ground, medics attending the wounded, stretcher bearers with wounded men, surgeons, and prone casualties. The figures should be in kepis or without hats in order to make them compatible with either side. The set would go well with the new ambulance wagon.
- Modern War: French Foreign Legion
- Modern War: Israeli Infantry
- Modern War: M 151 Ford Mutt Jeep
- Modern War: M 1025 Hummer
- World War Two: Norwegian Army, 1940
- The Alamo (scale model of the historic fort)
- World War One: Soldiers on parade, guard, band, and colour guard of different nations.
- World War Two: Soldiers on parade, guard, band, and colour guard of different nations.
- Colonial Wars: Canadian Mounties (North West Mounted Police).
- Modern: Riot police, mounted police, SWAT, K-9, and beat cops.
- Modern: Major league sports figures playing football, soccer, hockey etc., including benched players.
- Stone Age humans, fauna and flora
- Ancient Philistines
- World War Two: Civilians
- 18th Century: Civilians (ca. 1750)
- 19th Century: Civilians (Napoleonic)
- Napoleonic Wars: Guerres de Vendée (1793)
General Comments
In response to the 1:72 scale wishlist, some of our readers have submitted general comments which may be of interest to all of us:
- All Arms of Service
Tony De Lyall writes: For any period (or army) the manufacturer should do the infantry, cavalry and artillery. From a wargaming* point of view the range has much less value if one or more of the arms is missing. The main reason I built American Civil War armies in 20 mm plastic was that I could get all three arms.
Ed Allen writes: (Revell’s) Normans – A complete mess – only one or two cavalry in a box for an army that was notable chiefly for its cavalry. The companies have never released any cavalry for either Romans or Barbarians. Both sides need some to make it playable (as a simulation game*).
(* 01/97 Reader Survey results indicate that 61 % of the readership are wargamers).
- Friend and Foe
Tony De Lyall writes: For any period the manufacturer should do a major protagonist and a major enemy. The trouble with, say Napoleonics, is that manufactures do French and a smattering of enemies – some British, some Prussian, some Austrian. It would be better if you could fully build two complete armies from either side.
- Usefulness of troops types and poses
Tony De Lyall writes: The manufactures should first develop figures for the most common type of soldier of the period not the exotics. Thus for example, I’d like to see line infantry produced before guards. Similarly I would like to see the figures in common poses rather than exceptional poses. Thus I’d prefer more marching, advancing “en guarde”, and firing figures and less figures kneeling, bayoneting and crawling on the ground. I also like to see one or two command figures both on foot and mounted.
Ed Allan writes: I would like to suggest that manufacturers run the sketches and mix of troops they are considering for a box past some wargamers before they make those expensive moulds. They would avoid some of the worst problems they have that way. An example is the Revell 30 Years War line. I would have been much more enthused and bought many more than the one box of each I got, had they included something approaching a historical mix of pikes to muskets. Instead they only had a very few token pikes.
They also often produce weird poses that are not very useful. Their proportions are usually more realistic than lead (miniatures), but they often include a lot of weird exaggerated postures that seriously detract from the usefulness of a pack. Horses are much better with integral bases in the Revell style instead of the old Airfix style pegs on the hooves and holes that never held together because of polyethylene’s rotten glueing properties.
- Universal Soldiers
Tony De Lyall writes: I like figures to be generic rather than represent a specific unit. That way I can paint them up to represent various types. This may mean that the figures loose some accuracy. (Note: Revell’s 30 Years’ War range offered infantry, cavalry and artillery which could be painted as either Swedish or Imperial troops. The available American Civil War troop types can be painted as Union or Confederate soldiers).
- Durability
Tony De Lyall writes: As we know, retaining paint on figures is a big problem. Therefore I’d ask manufacturers to ensure all infantry had both legs on the base and all horses had three or four legs on the base. This may reduce the dynamism of the figure but the figure is more secure and therefore less likely to shed paint.
Ed Allan writes: One thing that would really get me painting more plastic would be if manufacturers could find another plastic instead of polyethylene, which is just about the most difficult solid material in existence to get glue or paint to stick to. Maybe teflon is worse, but not much else.