Figures: QRF

The QRF range is excellent and the designer, Steve Cooper, has put in some really nice touches such as infantry with goggles and boy soldiers.

If you are a stickler for weapons then be warned as some of the figures are armed with 1930's weapons. This has not been a problem for me but some people might not like it.

My only complaint with the range is that I don't like the command packs as the figures are too formal.

I'd like to see the range expanded to include Stokes Mortars and crews, frontline officers, standard bearers and buglers.

Pictures:

• The QRF Range
• Gallery

Notes:

Sadly I know very little about this period so forgive me if anything is wrong - and please let me know!

Currently the only reference I have is the Osprey Men-At-Arms Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-1949 (Number 306).

However here are some reasonably useful links

• 1996 AAS Abstracts, China
• Chinese History Books
• The Early Republic and the Warlord Period

I decided to do Fengtien and Kuominchun Clique armies for no particular reason.

The Fengtien Clique was based in Manchuria so I've used mainly QRF's Northern Troops although I am painting up a battalion or two of QRF's Southern Troops as a variation.

I've used the Osprey figures B1 and C2 as the reference. For the uniform colour I use Coate D'Armes Khaki (225) over a black undercoat and finished with a black ink wash to get the grubby look that hides a multitude of sins and a shaky hand.

The Kuominchun Clique was based in Western China and I've used QRF's Southern and Neat Troops.

I've used the Osprey figure C1 as the reference. For the uniform colour I use Games Workshop's Vomit Brown over a black undercoat.

The bases are pre-cut by Peter Pig, painted Humbrol Matt Dark Green, textured with a mix of child-friendly sand and model railway ballast and finally flocked with some brilliant German stuff that Gladiator Games used to stock, they also do the Coate D'Armes acrylic paint range.

I've used the TOE in the Osprey book. As POAB uses company level my forces are organised as follows

Infantry

• 4 bases to a Company
• 4 Companies to a Battalion plus 1 HMG base
• 3 Battalions to a Regiment plus 3 Mortar bases
• 2 Regiments to a Brigade plus 1 Battalion of "Dare to Die" Infantry and 1 Artillery Battery

The HMGs, Mortars, "Dare to Die" and Artillery are all assumptions but they make for a rounded force

The Dare to Die Battalion uses the QRF Assault Troops

Cavalry

• 4 bases to a Squadron
• 4 Squadrons to a Regiment

I haven't got round to getting any armoured vehicles yet but at the most it will be 3 Renault FT-17s and a couple of Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars

I use POAB because I wargame solo and the card based system works well for this.

At some point in the future I will put up political flowcharts for AK47 and TOE for Square Bashing.