Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sunray on 16 November 2014, 12:20:32 PM

Title: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Sunray on 16 November 2014, 12:20:32 PM
In clearing out the garage, I 'discovered' a number of Skytrex 1/200 in WW2 and 'modern' . I renewed my acquaintance with them. The vehicles and AFVs are crisp models but the figures are rubbish - I have seen crisper sculpts in 6mm figures.

In theory, 1/200 should have been a winner back in the 1980s when it made its debut. It was close to Z scale in terms of scenic items, and was a good compromise between the heroic 1/300 (6mm) and 1/100 (15mm).  There is even sufficient reccie and attack aircraft to allow a decent BKC game to be played.

So why did it fail? Was it simply down to the poor sculpts ?   Or was it a case were 10mm/12mm came the dominant scale ?

ps - I see Skytrex seem to be re-launching the range.
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Fenton on 16 November 2014, 12:24:44 PM
I think when they were produced they were going against 6mm which everyone seemed to be using for WW2 at that time

I saw a few in the flesh so to speak and some of them looked like they had been sttod on. I remember them being quite expensive compared to H&R at the time
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Nosher on 16 November 2014, 05:44:00 PM
Their Vietnam range was stunning but let down by the figures which were appalling.

I loved their resin riverine range
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: howayman on 16 November 2014, 07:32:11 PM
I have a load of Skytrex 1/200, but as you say the infantry were ****(not very good)
Went with Pendraken for the WW2 infantry initially but that's another story.
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: NTM on 16 November 2014, 08:31:03 PM
Back then there was really only 6mm and 20mm available for WWII. The 15 28mm ranges had not been conceived.
A few other ranges of 1/200 did appear one called Wold Geese wonder what became of them?  :-\
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: howayman on 16 November 2014, 08:52:39 PM
Yes i purchased Wild Geese British and German Infantry. I was going to use them for a Squad Leader game on the table top. Nice figures, never did the Squad Leader game.
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 16 November 2014, 09:29:10 PM
Quote from: NTM on 16 November 2014, 08:31:03 PM
Back then there was really only 6mm and 20mm available for WWII. The 15 28mm ranges had not been conceived.
A few other ranges of 1/200 did appear one called Wold Geese wonder what became of them?  :-\

Hello NTM

I believe the Wild Geese range is now being sold by the Square but his stuff is only apparently available from UK Shows unfortunately (hoping to grab some resin stuff)

http://www.thesquare-wargames.co.uk/ (http://www.thesquare-wargames.co.uk/)

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Sunray on 17 November 2014, 04:31:56 PM
Yes, I do believe I have a few Wild Geese figures (SCW) from the 1980s.  They are closer to 1/150 than 1/200, in that they fit with Pendraken
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Maenoferren on 17 November 2014, 10:36:43 PM
Quote from: Nosher on 16 November 2014, 05:44:00 PM
Their Vietnam range was stunning but let down by the figures which were appalling.

I loved their resin riverine range

I was just wondering what had happened to my vietnam stuff. Last seen around 1990.....I think they ended up in the Gateshead bring and buy .
they were as you say rather spiffing with naff figures
Title: Re: 1/200 -a blast from the past
Post by: Leon on 18 November 2014, 10:45:46 PM
I've not seen much of the Wild Geese ranges, I know they've been about a bit since we sold them many years ago.  The 1:200th scale was nice, but it was hard to get enough detail on them for us, so we went with 10mm instead.