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BEF/Home Guard Updates!
October 12, 2023 Wargames Atlantic

BEF/Home Guard Updates!

We've already hit 39% of our goal with the first Vox Populi finalist: British Expeditionary Force (1939-40) (also suitable for Home Guard)! 

Based on your feedback we've made some changes and additions to the set and Rob Macfarlane has just delivered the revised parts. Here's what we have done with arms, bodies, and equipment (heads are finalized): 

The main changes made were: 

  1. Webbing was recreated to be a more realistic shape
  2. Prone position was swapped to straight-legged stance
  3. SMLE muzzle area was matched to WW1 British and excess bayonets removed
  4. Bayonet in scabbard was changed and added to some bodies where appropriate to cut down on extra assembly
  5. 2" Mortar with suitable arms was added
  6. 37 Pattern entrenching tool added
  7. Rolled rain cape and cup added
  8. Webley was redesigned
  9. Water bottle and holster were reduced in size
  10. Large pack was removed
  11. Bodies were matched in proportion/height to WW1 British bodies

This should make for a more accurate set and allow for greater utility as both BEF, Home Guard, and for Very British Civil War and Pulp wargamers. 

We also received the (mostly) final version of the box illustration from Peter Dennis! 

Peter's illustration shows a senior Home Guard chap on the left letting loose with his American-supplied BAR while the BEF-equipped soldier on the right presumes to give him direction! The mix of hats and helmets in the set will allow you to make all the figures as a variety of types of troops for the period. 

We only need about 122 more boxes to hit the goal and send this one to tooling - so if you're ready to get yourself a quite good deal ($29.95/£21 a box instead of $34.95/£25 and with even bigger deals for multi-box buys down to less than $25/box!) then sign up for yours here! 

 

Also don't forget! We're taking votes for the set that will replace this one in Vox Populi - get your vote in here! 

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Comments

JTam - October 13, 2023

Matt is right about the buttons.

Doshu Tokeshi is right about the entrenching tools.

Without these two features they are not really early war BEF.

Now including BOTH the spade entrenching tools and the 37 pattern e-tool would be amazing as this set could then represent BEF or Commonwealth/Polish forces in the Italian Campaign as well.

Jeff Chapman - October 13, 2023

I’m generally very pleased with these but would have liked to see the second kneeling pose retained to make seven figures.

Matt - October 12, 2023

Very nice! The 2-inch mortar is a great addition, and I think the redesigned SMLE muzzles look fantastic!

One small nitpick I have is that the buttons on the chest shouldn’t be visible – they were covered up until battledress was simplified for economy in 1942.

On the whole, though, I’m loving the look of this kit, and excited for it to get into production!

General Jim - October 12, 2023

Wonderful models! Now do Germans! And Danes! And Norwegians! And Belgians (although I suppose your French will do them in a pinch)

Bobby K - October 12, 2023

I’ve been waiting for something like this to get into Early War. Watching Dunkirk got me fired up but no plastics anywhere. Thank you for doing these.

Doshu Tokeshi - October 12, 2023

You need the earlier first pattern Pattern 37 entrenching tool. It was a short shovel. More like the German style with a square spade and had a webbing cover. These were only used in Narvik and France/Belgium 1940. Afterwards they reverted back to the WWI style E-Tool. Otherwise they are just post 1940 British and not BEF

Simon - October 12, 2023

Fantastic work. Great changes made. These will be perfect.

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