G'day
Just wondering if anyone knows of some good 1/35 Modern British figures out there, preferably kitted up for 2003-present, and also preferably in plastic.
Cheers!

Greetings. Best place for modern UK figures is from these chaps. Great product and quick delivery. They are from Scotland http://www.accurate-armour.com/

Cheers for that have stumlbed across Accurate Armour before they are dead on. Another thing, anyone know if the Dragon British Desert Rats (Gulf War) are still around or are they decommisioned nowdays?

they show up in the forums for sale/trade every now and then. I have a set but there are no cantens included with them. Not sure if they go in the packs or what, seems to be an omision on the manufactured part? Don't know if they are available as a.m. sets either. You might try posting a looking for in the forums also. Hope you find a set, they look pretty cool.

Yeah canteens arent a bother could easily figure out how to make some up, just like that set for the fact they are plastic and a good base point to work with.

Canteens are included in the Desert Rats figure set,no. 3013. If you have or can get a set, it is part number 4 on the figures wearing the 90-pattern web gear. The British carry their canteens in a pouch with a flap covering the canteen completely; had a similiar set up with the 58-pattern web gear. A good, inexpensive reference book to invest in would be Osprey's Men-at-Arms book no. 108, British Infantry Equipments 1908-2000 (revised edition). There is a good illustration of the 90-pattern arrangement on page 40. In the desert, two canteens are usually carried, and the figure set contains two canteens per figure wearing the 90-pattern gear. The other figure (NCO?) is wearing a chest rig, which allows canteens to be carried usually in an outside pouch. Also, a black plastic mug is also carried in the same manner the U.S. carries a canteen cup--the canteen fits in the cup/mug, then this assembly is wedged into the pouch. If you can get a set of the SBS figures (no. 3023), there are canteens included as well for the 58-pattern, parts no. A10/13 and B11/14. I have two sets of the 3013 set, mainly for the weapons/equipment. The figures themselves are some of DML's earliest and are wearing NBC suits as in the first Gulf War, so their flexibility is limited. I normally use Accurate Armour's excellent figures. Hope this helps!

Should also mention, British forces in Iraq/Afghanistan are often seen wearing "combat vests" of various designs these days, same as U.S. troops. Would like to hear from someone who has firsthand knowledge of what the "official" policy is. Is 90-pattern web gear issued anymore? Accurate Armour's figures are wearing combat vests, so are very up-to-date.

Cheers Douglas wasnt aware the figs were in the NBC suits, scrap that idea.
Far as i know the current british army body armour for infantry is the Osprey body armour system, which similar to alot of the US chest rigs/tactical vests is able to be fitted with the soldiers choice of pouches. This is worn along with the webbing so it is.
Was hoping to find a suitable plastic set that i could modify and even scratch some Osprey's onto, just to try n save a buck or two on emptying my bank account for a few resin figs.

Dave you could to some work to the chemical suites on the brit figs i did exactly the same to the kneeling guy. I removed his entire chest detail and re worked it for osprey, removed all the chem patches and straps at the bottom of the trousers. It does take a while but well wort it.

Forgot to mention that Verlinden also makes two sets of modern British: 2037 British MG Team Gulf Wars and 2038 British Recon Gulf Wars. I have two sets of each and they should be readily available. They seem to be a bit large for the scale and the poses are somewhat "stiff". They do come with loads of separate gear and pouches, so if nothing else it provides you with more equipment for the spares locker. Several years ago CMK came out with 3 sets of modern British infantry--2 "European", 1 for Iraq--but I do not think they are currently being made, though they may still be lurking about somewhere. They were basically 4-piece castings--head, body,2 arms--with equipment,packs etc, molded on. Not the greatest, but they were modern British. Would like to see Master Box come out with a set of modern British "on patrol"--they seem to be the only ones with enough originality and of decent quality to attempt such a set.

Thanks guys.
Martyn, good idea mate, was unsure how far off the DPM uniform the NBC suits were, so ya reckon if i get rid of the patches and the straps and of course re-work the chest detail they would pass accurately?

Douglas, was unaware of the Verlinden options, ta for that, yeah ive seen the CMK ones online quite often they seem alright would probably require a bit of work, certainly for the torsos at least!

there is i line of figures"nato in minature" that will be bringing out some british figures soon

Hi chaps

90 pattern webbing is still issued but takes a back seat to chest rigs and combat vests. There are official vests but there are also many self purchased sets worn.

The Dragon figures can be altered mainly because the NBC suits aren't moulded right...they are far bulkier than the kit depicts.

Masterbox are working on a set of modern British figures but they're not showing on their site yet as in progress.

Martyn

Good stuff Martyn, figure as much i have seen loads of brit inf wearing Osprey but equally as many wearing commercially purchased kit, same as over here.

Accurate Armour have the best figs at the moment. With the HobbyBoss making a new LandRover, I'm expecting to see some new Brit figs coming to the market place soon after.

I stand corrected on the canteens, and did not know they were N.B.C. suits either. Thanks guys.

Dragon makes a set thats pretty good