"Marcin, are you listening?", The Sequel

About ten months ago (June 17, 2014), I wrote a post entitled "Marcin, are you listening?" in which I laid out my fondest wishes for 1/600 scale minis that I would like to see Oddizal Osmy (aka O8) produce. In the intervening months, Marcin has actually put out a number of them. I wish I could say it was because my post gave him an indication of what his customers were hoping for, but no doubt it was just coincidence. 

So, it seems a good time to update my list. Those items that have been produced, I've removed and replaced with a few new ones, but the bulk of the list remains the same. I'll try to do this at least once every year. 

And without further ado and in no particular order, here is my new wish list:

1) M60A1:

The xenon searchlight sets it apart from the M60A3. 

2) Aero L-39 Albatros:

A widely used WarPac advanced trainer and light strike aircraft. 

3) DAF-328:

It's impossible to have a proper 1980s Dutch force without it. 

4) PKP trailer:

It's the amphibious trailer that PTS-M's are generally seen towing. We already have Marcin's PTS-M, so the PKP is only logical. 

5) M113 C&R 25:

A Dutch reconnaissance vehicle widely used in conjunction with the .50 caliber version, which Marcin already makes:

 

6) 2S7 Pion 208mm self-propelled howitzer:

Used by the Soviets, Czechs, and Poles. 

7) YPR-765 PRAT:

The ATGM version of the Dutch AIFV.

8) Alouette II:

The Belgian Army's recon and liaison helicopter. 

9) S-60 57mm antiaircraft gun:

And the associated Fire Can radar:

Both supplied by the Soviets to most every communist country in the world. 

10) Roland SPAA:

Impossible to have a 70s/80s West German force without it. 

11) Tatra 813 8x8 truck:

Heavily used by the Czechs, East Germans, Hungarians, and Poles.

12) AT-L light prime mover:

Used throughout the WarPac. The smaller cousin of the AT-T. 

13) Green Archer counter-battery radar:

(Sorry, photos of the real thing are scarce). Used by many European NATO nations. Marcin makes WarPac radars, so why none for NATO?

14) M108 105mm SP howitzer:

Used in large numbers by the Belgians into the early-mid 80s and the U.S. in Vietnam. 

15) LARS I MLRS:

Not yet fully replaced by the LARS II in the early 80s. 

16) Fiat G-91R Gina:

Ground attack version of the Italian-built fighter used by much of NATO in the 70s and early 80s.

17) Cymbeline counter-battery radar:

Based on the FV-432 and used by the British, Dutch, and Belgians. 

18) M114 towed 155mm howitzer:

Used by most NATO nations, as well as Japan, South Korea, South Vietnam, and a multitude of others during WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.  

19) M75 APC:

Used in large numbers by the Belgians into the early 1980s. 

20) M54 five ton truck:

Used by too many nations to list. 

21) SA-4 Ganef:

And the associated radar; Long Track:

See more about the radar units in item #25, below. A reload truck would be nice too, but that's pushing it too far:

22) I-Hawk missile:

Used heavily by NATO, Israel, Japan, South Korea. It came in self-propelled and towed versions. I would choose SP if I can have it only one way. Marcin makes WarPac medium range AA missiles, so why none for NATO?

23) The Lance missile:

Also widely used by NATO and comparable missiles for the WarPac are in Marcin's inventory, but none for NATO. 

24) A Pershing I missile:

Marcin makes a Scud for the WarPac, so NATO ought to have an medium range battlefield missile too. 

25) A WarPac radar pack. The SA-6 and SA-8 that Marcin already makes, as well as the SA-4 I'm hoping for, all require more radar than Marcin has provided. An add-on pack with Thin Skin:

And Pat Hand:

would be highly useful. Side Net would be a very desirable addition to this pack:

as would be Flat Face:

26) The L118 light 105mm howitzer:

British-built and used by much of NATO during the 70s and 80s. 

O8 makes quite a bit of WarPac engineering equipment, but virtually none for NATO. So,

27) A Skorpion minelayer:

A must for your West Germans.

28) Pioneerpanzer Dachs:

As well as:

29) Biber AVLB:

30) The British FV-180 Combat Engineering Tractor:

31) I'd also like to see a Soviet ATS-59G artillery tractor, also known simply as an AT-S:

And finally, my only non-modern wish:

32) Skirmishers in a bicorne:

O8's Napoleonic line includes infantry in shakos and in crested helmets and there are skirmisher packs for each. There is also infantry in a bicorne, yet no skirmishers. These would work for early Prussians, Saxons, Spanish, French pre-1806/07, and a number of others. Marcin, my 1806 Saxons and Prussians need a screen of skirmishers and jägers.

As with my last post on this subject, this is in no way a scientific poll. I'm sure it does reflect the wishes of far more wargamers than only myself, but in the end, it's my "Pleeeeeeeese Marcin!!!" list.

I'd be very glad to hear any agreements with my list and I hope you will tell me any additions you would add to this. 

Marcin, are you listening?

Marcin!! Oh, Marcin!! 

Marcin, who is the moving force behind Oddzial Osmy, if not the outright owner, has in the past exhibited a willingness to listen to his customers via the Yahoo 1/600 group as well as on TheMiniaturesPage.com.

So, just in case Marcin should grace my humble blog with his presence (and as an amusement for myself), here are twenty-one items I wish O8 would add to their 3mm product line. So, without further ado, in no particular order: 

1) An M548:

This US-made tracked cargo vehicle was (and indeed still is) used by numerous countries, not the least of which were the US, UK, West Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, and South Vietnam. You really can't make a correctly equipped self-propelled artillery battery for these countries without M548's. 

2) A staff/liaison/command vehicle for West Germany; either a Munga:

Or an Iltis:

Or I'd even take a Type 181:

O8 makes similar vehicles for the US, Soviets, and British, so why no German vehicle?

3) An US M60A1 with the Xenon searchlight:

O8 makes the M60A3, so why no A1?

4) A Dutch DAF 328 truck:

No way to have a correctly equipped Dutch force with it. 

5) An M113 C&R 25:

O8 makes the M113 C&R 50:

But not the more widely used 25.

6) A Dutch YPR-765 PRAT, the antitank version:

7) A Soviet S-60 57mm towed antiaircraft gun, very widely used by all WarPac armies as well as the North Vietnamese, among others:

8) A Czech-made Tatra 8x8 heavy truck, used by the Czechs and East Germans:

 

9) An M113-mounted Green Archer battlefield surveillance radar:

Used by a number of different NATO armies. 

10) O8 makes a couple of different Soviet medium range battlefield missiles, but no US/NATO ones. Maybe a Lance:

Or a Pershing I:

11) A medium range Soviet SAM missile, such as an SA-4 Ganef:

Or preferably an SA-6 Gainful:

12) And if the WarPac gets a heavier SAM launcher, NATO should have one too. An I-Hawk missile, either tracked:

 Or towed:

Used by pretty much all of NATO.

13)  LARS I multiple rocket launcher: 

O8 makes the LARS II, which began to enter service in the mid 70's, but by the early 80's the upgrade wasn't yet complete and both systems were being used simultaneously:

14) M75 armored personnel carrier:

An American-made APC that was used in large numbers by the Belgians, who didn't begin using M113's until 1982-83. 

15) AMX-VCI armored personnel carrier:

A French-made vehicle that was also heavily used by the Belgians until 1982-83. 

16) Fiat G-91R Gina ground attack aircraft:

Used by several NATO countries and not finally retired until about 1982.

17) A US M1 155mm towed howitzer:

Used by pretty much every NATO country as well as South Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, etc. 

18) An M108 self-propelled 105mm howitzer:

Again, heavily used by the Belgians, as well as by the US in Vietnam. 

19) A Soviet AT-T prime mover:

Or at least the smaller AT-L: 

Both used by all WarPac armies.

20) A West German Roland self-propelled SAM:

An 80's Bundeswehr "must".

21) And finally, an Alouette II helicopter:

The main light observation helicopter used by Belgium.

So that's my list. Needless to say, it's all geared toward my chosen timeframe, 1981 NATO v. WarPac. It's not a scientifically generated list and maybe it represents no one's interest but my own. But after all, it's MY blog! What's on your list?