Minor Axis Army Pieces

Coach, great list - could you maybe change the 38t for a Panzer II? I want to use this set for a possible Spanish Civil War expansion and that would fit perfectly, plus it would work for any 1939 scenarios or Imperious Leaders build x(2-5) light tanks -> allows you to then build x(5-10) med tanks -> allows you to then build heavy tanks/super tanks.

We have a Panther OOB, the Panzer III and IV could classify as med tanks (or, for the IV, a heavy tank).

Looks like a really cool set to me.  Have you decided how many of each unit will be in each set?  How about cost?

The Axis minors/German supplement set will be the first one you do, right?  Will the US Marines set follow that one?  What ideas do you have for further sets?

Do you have any plans for expanding on naval units for any countries?  I have a few ideas if you are interested in doing that:
PT / Torpedo boats – cheap to build, perhaps cost 3 or 4, attack 1 or 2,  defend 1 or 0.
Escort Carriers – cheaper than full carriers and can only hold 1 fighter or tac.  Same att/def as carriers but cost 10-12.
Pocket Battleships – something in between battleships and cruisers.  Perhaps attack at 4 but only defend at 2 since those ships were historically lighter armored.  Cost 15 or 16.

That’s all I can think of right now.  Just a few ideas.

Oh man I’m drooling already.  This sounds like a great idea coach.  Any idea on a time frame?  Also, for the marine set how about instead of just doing 1 piece to represent marines, sneak in a little mini pacific oriented us set?  A marine piece (or two), an amphibious sherman, a landing craft, and a corsair would be awesome.  What do you think?  Escort carriers are a great idea as well, you gotta make those.  What about making advanced naval units like super subs, heavy battleships, or super carriers?  PB Catalinas or another type of float plane is another good idea.  I have to say, this really is the best time to be an axis and allies and fan.

does the infantry with the M36 helm have to have a  Panzerfaust?

dang… any chance you might make other infantry for the minor in the distant future?

2 is great, but i rather have my minors represented with helmed infantry than field caps. and it seems like you made the Panzerfaust unit to be a special unit

Great choices coach.  Everyone has to remember that these pieces are not meant to be a full compliment army, but as add-ons to the current OOB and/or FMG pieces.  You use them to fill out the main part of your army and coach’s pieces will fill in special troops and minor countries, so they have to be smaller quantities.

I think we’re overlooking a fighter unit for this set… is it too late to fit one in, coach?  It would be helpful for a wide range of scenerios if at least one air unit is represented, like Spanish Civil War, and IL mentioned it in the “True Neutrals” thread as important for this set as well.

If it isn’t too late, what would be a good choice for this one, guys?

@DrLarsen:

I think we’re overlooking a fighter unit for this set… is it too late to fit one in, coach?  It would be helpful for a wide range of scenerios if at least one air unit is represented, like Spanish Civil War, and IL mentioned it in the “True Neutrals” thread as important for this set as well.

If it isn’t too late, what would be a good choice for this one, guys?

I did some quick checking and I can’t seem to find anything that makes more sense than an Me-109.  Not a terribly creative choice, but having one in all these axis minors/ pro-axis neutrals colors makes a lot of sense, as everyone seems to have used it that was more-or-less pro-German, from the Spanish Nationalists to the Bulgarians…  And it would be a sculpt you could reuse later…

Yes, Me 109 is the best choice.

I know that some German fighters and Stukas were used in Spain during their civil war, but did any of the Axis Minor countries really have much of an air force?  I know the Finns had some – American built Brewster Buffalos believe it or not – but I don’t remember hearing much of a Bulgarian, Romanian or Hungarian air force.  I thought those countries mainly relied on German air support.

The Finns also used Fokker DXXI’s, and the NEI forces also used Brewster Buffalos… which means that the Finns and the NEI forces were both using both Buffalos and DXXI’s for opposite sides in the war: boy they sure knew how to pick 'em, those Finns!

But anyway…

…so either the Buffalo or the Fokker DXXI could be made in the white version of the Dutch/Neutral set and serve for Finnland without it being in this set.  If you also run the neutrals set in yellow and green, (which would be cool, as the Dutch infantry used Romanian helmets, or rather the other way around) then you could use any of the Dutch aircraft or ships for Axis neutrals if a situation occurs where it makes sense…

Which makes me think, you should consider adding the Fokker G I to the Dutch/ Neutral set for a tac bomber

If you do those two things (1. add Romanian yellow & Bulgarian green to the Dutch/ Neutral color run & 2. add Tac Bomber to Dutch/ Neutral set) then the Axis minors have anything air or naval that they might need covered by either the Dutch or the German air/naval set, and the Axis minors set can safely stick with land units.  (This is, of course assuming that the Axis minors will never be able to afford something as expensive as a heavy bomber, battleship or aircraft carrier… but I’d say that’s a pretty solid assumption… :-D)

Hey coach, I was just looking at your list for the Axis Minors set and it says there will only be 2 Panzer IIIs per set.  About a week or so back, I could have sworn it said 4 Panzer IIIs.  I take it you decided to put in more of one of the other units?
I was wondering, when you get these pieces going, will you be selling them individually as well as in sets?