Sunday 11 March 2012

1/300 Heroics and Ros versus 1/285 GHQ: One for Mojo

Left Hand Side 1/285 GHQ Pz IV H (circa 1944-45) while the contender on the Right Hand Side is a Heroics and Ros 1/300 Pz IV F2 (circa 1942-1944). Basing and painting techniques pretty much identical, although I was more refined by the time I painted the GHQ model. For the GHQ model I was more consistent in promoting a prominent 'vertical stripe' in the camouflage scheme.

Front-On:


Footnote to the above: Well blow-me after posting the pictures and looking at the GHQ model, in camera close-up (you cannot tell from looking at them with the Mark I eye-ball) is it my imagination or does the GHQ model have a slight "bent barrel"?

Side-On:


From the Rear:



Front-On again:


Another Side-On angle:


Summary:
The GHQ model is a quality beast (and noticeably bigger), but the Heroics and Ros model does the trick on the table-top for a lot less buck. I do fear for the long term survival rate of the GHQ barrels though in the typical club "roughly handled scenario", moving them and putting them away. It is a very nice feeling finishing a GHQ battalion though. I think I can say I have 'modeled' in 1/285 now  :)

( Footnote: Or do I have to put the "Crosses On" in order to say that?)

14 comments:

Broeders said...

GHQ are undoubtedly better BUT not enough to justify the huge difference in price.

If its 6mm armour, then it has to be Heroics and Ros.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Here's the web page (URL) for the GHQ painting guides:

http://www.ghqmodels.com/pages/military/modelguide.asp

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

I'd have to agree with you on purely economic grounds

But I am in complete 'awe' of their figures

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

For comparison:

Heroic and Ros Catalog:
http://www.heroicsandros.co.uk/heroics/pdf/webcat.pdf

GHQ (UK):
http://www.wargamesemporium.com/new/oscommerce-2.2rc2a/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_2&osCsid=0e554e7c12aa0319df1c73d4e95214cc

Paul said...

GHQ are the cutest!

Those other blighter's look like toys compared to the GHQ version.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

I know what you are saying Paul

There is a "three to one price" ratio that niggles at you when you consider the 'mass' of models needed for a 1/300 game. And GHQ are only sold in multiple of five which 'never' divide equally into historical OoBs.

Interestingly the typical battalion in 1/300 in BGC or Spearhead takes the same space table-top as the three-four models of a 20mm company (see your Command Decision games). Yet the platoons are supposed to represent the same number of men.

Hmm strange. There is definitely more things to do and work per stand with Command Decision. BGS /Spearhead looks at the battalion mass focusing on the HQ.

Mojo said...

Thanks a lot, Geordie!
I think I'll buy some H&R for 10 Bucks :)
Not that I'm really planning to go for 6mm, but somehow it's gaining my attention.

I feel like THE HOBBY recently grabbed me and now drags me away from doing 20mm-WWII-only to all kinds of other stuff, including 6mm WWII, 6mm Cold War and 28mm Vikings.

And what's the reason for this?
I guess it's all those nice blogs with the neat pictures on 'em :)

Thanks again for this post!!

Cheers,
Mojo

Mojo said...

Oh one more thing, concerning the crosses you might probably need to reach the hall of fame ;)

Theres an online-shop selling small scale decals, called "doms decals" (see http://www.domsdecals.com )

He doesn't really feature 6mm decals for tanks, but he has 1/300 and 1/600 decals for german aircraft. Maybe you'd pick up one of both and see what suits your Panzers ;)

I'm using his 15mm markings (the crosses, divisional badges, turret numbers and licence plates) for my 20mm models. Fits perfectly. Give it a try and make the folks at the club jealous ;)

Cheers, Mojo

TGbR said...

Collecting GHQ requires patience and waiting for the right models to appear on eBay. Maybe once a year I would do an order to GHQ to purchase one or two figures to complete the unit or some spare parts. I have stripped more figures of their awful paint work than I care to remember. And, soon I'll be selling off all the accidental CinC figures bought as mixed -in with GHQ because owners didn't know the difference. Don't like CinC even if they are more to scale. This said for my Second World War Eastern Front Collection, my Cold War and Napoleonics are all H&R. On the other hand I did the Vietnam in GHQ because after all, it was Americans!
By the way, all my Second World War infantry and cavalry is H&R because I just think the figures look right for the vehicles.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Thanks TGbR

If rice were not limit GHQ would be a no brainer, but because I spend so much time painting them I am more tempted to put them into the "special small project" category

Which somewhat contradicts the "mass" 1/300 or 1/285 appeal

I take your point regarding the infantry though

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Soon to be my most popular post
Despite being posted originally in 2014

GamesBook said...

Still popular ... the price ration is still about 3:1 so, yes, one does want to know what you are getting for all that extra cash!

Tales from Shed HQ said...

Yes and the H&R quality of the new infantry and vehicle releases are a hell of a lot better. Very nearly GHQ standard (without all the rivets :-))

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

That is really interesting to know
Thanks for the update
2019 might well just be 1/300 year Renaissance
It will take my mind off Brexit