Remember 1/200?

[Sunray]

It started with a spring clean of the garage loft.

My son unearthed a VHS tape case (remember VHS videos?) and opened it.

"Oh my God, what are these? they look like 10mm who have shrunk or 6mm on steriods!"

Yes, it was a collection of Skytrex 1/200 scale AVFs and figures circa 1985.

We had fun dusting them down.

The vehicles were quite well sculpted and accurate. The WW2 figures were passable, but the moderns were "Mr Blobby".With a paint job could pass for 10mm.

I see the Skytrex website still carries them: WW2, Modern Cold War and Vietnam.

Did anyone on the Forum ever dabble in 1/200?

Was Skytrex the only producer?

Do you know any gamer/club who still plays them ?

And, why do you think 10mm triumphed over this 9mm rival?

[Gwydion]

Yes, I remember VHS, and 1/200.

More than dabbled - I had a lot of early WWII stuff when our club went for them in the late 80s/early 90s and I still have it - used mostly for Megablitz - you can do the crossing of the Meuse on a reasonable sized table!

I have used them with BKC as well and may do again.

I've got Vietnam stuff as well.

I remember being bemused when I bought some 10mm stuff at a show not realising there was a difference and getting home and placing them next to the Skytrex stuff!

They don't take part in the same games.

I've moved around a lot since then and don't know what happened to all the other club members who had figures (one at least is no longer with us ).

Don't know of anyone else using them.

I think 10mm beat 1/200 because the Skytrex infantry poses are pretty wooden and there is not as much detail on their models.

I only hung onto the 1/200 because I had more or less all I needed in the two eras I had - I have moved to 10mm for other theatres/eras.

[Heedless Horseman]

A few years back, I bought LOADS of Skytrex 1/200 WW2. Not too happy with 'squashed' look on some turrets...made 'special orders' for turrets from Butlers Printed Models as 1/200 8mm . Hulls needed drilling out but Happy with results. MUCH easier to 'work' on for commanders/stowage than 1/285. Infantry... some GHQ but Adler 6mm work well.
SADLY! Have not 'done' anything in any scale for years due to 'life'!

Note! On an order from Skytrex... someone put a 'forgotten mold' on by mistake... and I got load of abs Fab Churchills,III to V, not in catalogue! Ask them, if interested!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I had some, mostly Sci-fi stuff from Marbeth got sold to someone in US. The Skytrex infantry were terrible as I remember thin and twisted in strange poses. Vehicles were reasonable.

[steve_holmes_11]

Many moons ago I played Steve Jackson's Car Wars.
Big gridded sheets, neat little rulebooks and little card top view counters.
I'd wondered about something more representative.

Sheffield's Games Workshop store - before the "Evil Empire" days - carried a big range of gaming stuff.
I obtained a bag of "future vehicles" which fitted the size - nice.
What I lacked were motorcycles, which I filled with some Skytrex 200 German recce troops.

[flamingpig0]

One of the guys in my old club who was a bit of Wehrboo had a massive collection of them. I sold him a laminated  poster of Michael Wittmann which I obtained from a friend who had a market stall.

[Sunray]

Thanks for your comments. Its interesting that Skytrex have persisted with the range and added to it. 1/200 always lacked buildings. N guage was too big, and the only dedicated real estate is I believe from Hovels.

Good point from HH about using Adler (with their big Dixon style heads) for crew.

There was also early vehicles now in Magister Miltrum stable that were close to 1/200.

But keep an eye on the "growing" 6mm[sic] figures.Scotia Grendel are close to 9mm and Baccus have now a range of scale creep venicles that dwarf other ranges. In general figures and their exaggerated weapons will outsize the vehicles. That's where Techno gets it right for Pendraken. 

I have a few "vintage" War Games South and Wild Geese early 10mm- even then (1980s)the scope for better detail gave 10mm the edge.

[fsn]

Many moons ago I played Steve Jackson's Car Wars.
Big gridded sheets, neat little rulebooks and little card top view counters.
I'd wondered about something more representative.

Sheffield's Games Workshop store - before the "Evil Empire" days - carried a big range of gaming stuff.
I obtained a bag of "future vehicles" which fitted the size - nice.
What I lacked were motorcycles, which I filled with some Skytrex 200 German recce troops.

Good grief! I used to love Car Wars and Uncle Albert's store in the accompanying magazine.  Also used to haunt the Sheffield Games Workshop when I was there at uni.


 

[Sunray]

I have decided to run a small campaign with these 1/200 survivors.

I am in the market for some jeeps and WW2 US and Brit infantry.

If any forum member has a few in a box gathering dust - do get in touch

[steve_holmes_11]

Good grief! I used to love Car Wars and Uncle Albert's store in the accompanying magazine.  Also used to haunt the Sheffield Games Workshop when I was there at uni.


 

It's a small world after all.