In a recent Facebook post a friend- intending to get back into wargaming asked about 'Willie' 30mm models and about 30mm in general as a size for wargaming. Several of the responders opined to the effect that 30mm was strange or unknown size and that Willie were poor compared to todays models. Others responed differently- especially those with collections of 30mm. I supposed it depends upon how old you are or if you are one of the 'plastic generation' or one of those who suffer from '3mm angst'. Lets face it the term'scale' is usually misued in the world of model soldiers and most especiallly in the nich of that world which we call wargaming.
So just to throw a cat amongst the pigeons here are some pictures of my various 30mm 'retro' collections most of which sit quite happily in 28mm armies in terms of size- though I do tend to keep them separate as a general rule because of differences in style.
 |
| Stadden 30mm AWI cavalry. These have been in my collection since the 1980s. They compare well with most 28mm models of this century. |
It is for me a matter of style rather than merre detail- which can usually be painted on anyhow.
As for 30mm Ranges back in the 60s and 70s there were several- some of this are still available and some not.
The out of production ranges I can recall are as follows -Minifigs- Napoleonic Rather nice like larger S range. I have some few examples discontinued in the 1970s. Les Higgins 'Jason' range lovely ECW and Marlburians and a few ancients I have ECW and a few Marlburians. Warrior not one of their best ranges- there is a review in an early Military Modelling magazine which is pretty damning. There was also a later range of ZuluWar and Jacobites which were much better but although called 30mm were perhaps a little small. Warrior still have these though they call them 25mm now they are a bit on the small side.
 |
| My 30mm Scots Greys. Mostly Stadden but with a few rare 30mm Minifigs included. |
 |
| Minot 30mm French Imperial Guard. I painted these about 10 or so years ago- amongst the first completed models in my 'Shinyloo' project. |
Barry Minot also had an extensive range of 30mm models. An extensive range of Napoleonics for Waterloo, The Retreat from Moscow and also the Battle of Jena. A colonial range featured Zulu War and the Sudan. The accent was on diorama building rather than wargaming. I have a good bundle of the Waterloo range. I had the Zulus but sold them in the 1990s they were splendidly animated. There were also the Spencer Smith plastics which I have never owned and the later range of harder plastics for the AWI- sculpted by Barry Minot-and later re-released in metal. There were also a few Napoleonic British in the same style. Latterly Spencer Smith re-released the original plastic SYW range in metal along with a rather splendid Franco Prussian and Franco Austrian war range- these now seem to have emigrated to the USA but so far I have not tracked them down. In the USA Scruby had a rather extensive range of 30mm some of these are now marketed by Historifigs.
 |
| Willie French Cuirassiers on Stadden horses. The two ranges mix rather well. |
 |
| A Stadden Cuirassier. |
 |
| A Stadden AWI model. I have had this little chap since at least 1985. I now have considerable numbers of the Stadden 30mm AWI range some of them a I have even painted ! |
Leaving aside some rather overpriced- but beutiful 30mm Fantasy in resin that I have seen on ebay the two remaing 30mm lines are now both marketed by Tradition of London and are the Willie range originally made by Edward Suren- with some rather nice later additions by David Wilson in the same style. and the Stadden 30mm range made by Charles Stadden. Both cover several periods with Willie being strong on Colonials and very strong on 18th centuryand having some lovely models insuch diverse periods as ECW and Franco Prussian War. Stadden having fewer figures but some superb horses. Stadden cavalry being among my personal favourites.
 |
| Painting the cast in metal Kings Colour was a bit of a challenge. |
 |
| Polish Lacers of the Imperial Guard. Mostly Stadden but with a single Willie and a Minfigs trumpeter on a Stadden horse. |
 |
A Stadden 30mm British Infantry next to an Old Glory 28mm French Leger. Yes the old chaps do mix with 'modern' 28mm.
|
 |
| Some wonderfully over the top Minot French cuirassiers. |
 |
| A couple of Willies- from the Sikh Wars range. |
 |
| Stadden Sikh Infantry of the late 19th century. The mounted office is a Connoisseur figure on a Stadden horse. |
 |
| 30mm Minifigs- long out of production |
 |
| Willie Indian cavalry for the NW Frontier. |
Most of my current 30mm collection was bought second hand though I have bought new a few times over the years. Yes these models are definitely 'retro' in style sometimes quirky but IMHO with more style and character than some of the more modern productions. They are not perfect and I do have 'modern' collections for several periods which outnumber the 'retro' stuff by about 2 to 1 or more. Nevertheless I still have a soft spot for 'retro' models in metal.
