More Options for the Martian Colonists

More Thoughts on Models and Ranges

Old Glory WWI Brits

The colonial army is basically an alternate history interwar force. We can assume that the colonists had armies similar to those of Europe in 1914.  Then, instead of WWI, they experienced a major defeat from the Ancients and their vehicles.  In the years since, the colonists have been mechanizing and updating thier squad tactics,.  The result looks a lot like an early WWII army.

The model range for the colonists needs to have infantry, machine-guns, mortars, artillery, and anti-tank guns.  (Or be easily converted to have them.)  Most WWI and WWII armies qualify.Visually, I like something that has a bit of an old-fashioned, maybe even steam-punk look. I tend to favor WWI models over WWII models -- the primitive, unfinished look of a WWI equipment suggests that the armies are still experimenting, and haven't yet arrived at a polished product.

I used Old Glory's WWI British range for my proof-of-concept models.  I thought they combined the most iconic features of the period - gasmasks, funky helmets, and putees. But there are a lot of other options.

• Other WWI nations:  Old Glory also makes ranges for most of the combatants.  There are Germans, French, and so forth.  I stayed away from the Germans because the helmet and uniform look so much like the WWII ones.  The French are also interesting - I really like the French greatcoats, too. 

• WWII ranges.  There are manyWWII ranges, some of them in inexpensive plastics, rather than old-fashioned metal.  My favorites are those from Warlord Games for their Bolt Action range.  In addition to plastic infantry sets, they make specialized metal/resin figures, and a goodly number of tanks.  Best of all, they have lots of early war tanks, now, too! 

• WWII Bolt Action British: The battle dress the British used in WWII does not look all that different from their WWI service dress.  (At least at a distance of a few feet from a 28mm figure.)  The webbing is similar, and the helmet is pretty much identical.  The BEF range has gasmask bags and smooth helmets (no camo netting).  It is metal, so it's a bit pricier.  The plastic late war range is really quite price effective.  There are also some peices of secondary equipment (like anti-tank guns) that won't be found in a WWI range, but that the Martian Colonists will need. I intend to supplement my Old Glory figures with some Bolt Action Boyes anti-tank rifles and 2-pdrs eventually. 

• WWII Bolt Action French or Polish.  I think both of these ranges have potential, too.  The French have a spiffy platoon boxed set. The lumpy helmet and greatcoat give the French an archaic look.  The Polish high collar similarly distinguishes them from the more familiar WWII uniforms, but the main draw isn't their infantry.  It's their cavalry.

• WWII US, Germans and Soviets: I can't say I'm really excited about any of these ranges as Martian Colonists.  Their uniforms and equipment are just so familiar, and so iconic, that it is difficult to reimagine them into another setting.  Your mileage may vary.

• Vehicles: Let's talk tanks.  I love tanks.  Old Glory makes a 25mm Mark IV British tank from WWI.  I want. Also some early armored cars. But a number of WWII models will also serve to represent Martian colonial tanks.  I'd avoid the more familiar chassis of the Sherman, T-34 or any Panzer.  I'd also avoid long-barrelled guns -- they don't look right aesthetically, even though I bet the first thing the Colonists would do is put the biggest gun they could find onto anything with wheels. 

• The following Bolt Action Tanks have about the right feel, I think: the British Matilda I and Matilda II, the early Vickers light tanks (and here), and maybe the Churchill. Any of the French armored vehicles look cool, especially the Char I.  Maybe the German Panzer II -- although all the German stuff mostly just looks too slick.  From the US range, the Buffalo stands out as beautifully ugly.



The Matilda II