Some thoughts on 10mm to 1/144 WW2 manufacturers

I have done a few posts showing some of the size differences between the main manufacturers but I don't generally have the same vehicle in different makes. I mostly choose a particular manufacturer because they do the best version, it fits best with my other models or sometimes only one place makes the vehicle.  I have links and a very brief view of each manufacturer on my WW2 manufacturer page at the top of the blog, but I thought I would do a more considered review of each manufacturer as this seems to be a topic of interest.

I give some basic information below as well as my general observations but if I am in need of a particular vehicle I will often buy one from a few manufacturers to see which I prefer - it is partly about the size and how it fits in with my other models but also about how good a model of the real thing it is - and sometimes cost if the only other option is one of the expensive resin or pre-painted makes.

Pendraken

Scale       -  10mm;
Material  -  metal;
Range     -  a big range with all the major nations, a few things from minor nations;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  sold in packs of 10 (same pose or sometimes a few variations);

Detail - plenty of detail and often 'clutter' on vehicles, wheels tend to be fairly smooth in most cases for both vehicles and guns but some have more of a discernible tread. Infantry have plenty of creases etc. in uniforms and poses are realistic;

Casting quality - generally very good, there are sometimes holes in the models that need to be filled with epoxy putty but  very easy to do as if present just minor little dents or very small holes;

Size of models - in most cases the Pendraken vehicles are noticeably smaller than other makes if sat next to them.  Size difference is general but I find the height of the suspension/ track units are lower for Pendraken in comparison to the rest of the model so it is the height comparison that stands out most;

General observations - if  only using Pendraken then their vehicles are a good choice as plenty of variety and nice models. But if you want to use other makes (or already have a lot from other makes to start with like I did) then the vehicles do look small compared to 1/144 or even other 10mm manufacturers like Pithead. Like all makes though this can depend on the individual vehicle and some fit in better than others (e.g. see the Pendraken M15 half track). Small vehicles work better as the size difference stands out much less. Artillery is much the same, bigger guns look too small against other makes but small pieces are fine (and Pendraken have a good range).

The infantry range of Pendraken is superb with lots of variety and nice figures. They generally sell in packs of 10 of the same figure (sometimes with 2 or 3 poses but sometimes a single pose). They also sell army packs which offer a saving on the individual packs but Pendraken will also mix and match if you want a particular set of poses - for example I needed a lot of Russian flame throwers but not the other figures in the pioneers pack so they just did packs of 10 of this figure for me. I also use Pendraken artillery crew for all my artillery (regardless of make)  and I can just specify how may I need of each pose. So they are also very helpful if you just get in touch.

Pithead

Scale       -  10mm;
Material  -  metal;
Range     -  huge range with all the major and minor nations with lots of variety;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  sold in packs (one pack per type, e.g. infantry, paras etc.);

Detail - plenty of detail on vehicles although generally not quite as much 'clutter' as Pendraken, I really like the wheels on Pithead vehicles and guns as they have obvious tread and look like nice chunky wheels. Infantry and crew figures are decent but quite smooth which does not suit my painting style so I tend to stick with Pendraken and replace gun crews;

Casting quality - generally very good, there are sometimes holes in the models that need to be filled with epoxy putty but  very easy to do as if present just minor little dents or very small holes;

Size of models - despite being a 10mm range the vehicles and guns match well with 1/144 scale in most cases, but can vary by the specific model. For instance the Pithead Marder III is exactly the same size as the CanDo one but the Pithead Marder II is noticeably smaller than the CanDo model. You can see some comparisons in my Sherman and half track posts;

General observations -  a truly huge range which has lots of the less common vehicles, lots of variants and a really excellent choice of trucks. About the only place I have found for some of the less common artillery pieces. Range is still expanding at a decent rate and about the only place to get all the Axis Minor allies. I have a lot of Pithead vehicles and use for most things other than the main tanks for the major nations as I started with Takara and CanDo models when I began this scale for WW2 and can't see a reason to replace.

Magister Militum

Scale       -  10mm;
Material  -  metal;
Range     -  not a very big range and only major nations;
Vehicles -  sold in packs;
Infantry  -  sold in packs (one pack per type, e.g. infantry, paras etc.);

General observations -  I don't have any of these - being sold in packs meant I never got test vehicles. But I have since seen at a show and compared to the 1/144 Takara they also had on the stand. They are noticeably small and would not go well with 1/144 or even most 10mm. They are possibly a similar size to Pendraken but could be even smaller. Infantry is OK but is also small compared to other makes like Pendraken.

Gramodels

Scale       -  1/150 (also described as 2mm in their catalogue);
Material  -  resin;
Range     -  British, Germans and Americans but British the biggest range;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - good detail, generally more of the basic vehicle detail than you get in a metal model, Look really nice painted up (not so easy to see how much detail there really is in the unpainted state);

Casting quality - a bit variable. Even for the same model some will come with more casting issues than others. The resin is a bit brittle so care is needed but as long as you are a reasonably experienced modeler then the repairs are quite straightforward with green stuff or milliput. Some very small air bubbles but these will often fill with paint or can only be seen with very close examination;

Size of models - smaller than 1/144 but not as small as the smaller 10mm ranges;

General observations -  I would not use for the more standard vehicles as the range is small and better to use one of the main manufacturers to give consistency across your armies. Also take a reasonable amount of work to prepare for painting - but do paint up well with good coverage. I have mainly used for British engineering vehicles and these are worth the effort as this is the only option and they do look nice when done. I have not finished all but you can see some in my post on Cromwells.

Minifigs (Miniature Figurines)

Scale       -  10mm/ 12mm;
Material  -  metal;

Range     -  fairly extensive range for the major  nations;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  sold in packs (one pack per type, e.g. infantry, paras etc.);

Detail - does vary with some vehicles not having much surface detail and other that do (for example the Sexton has quite nice detail and not a coincidence this is one of the few Minifigs models I have kept), Wheels are completely smooth with no tire tread effect at all. Infantry and crew figures are decent but fairly smooth which does not suit my painting style so well so I tend to stick with Pendraken and replace gun crews (figures are also thinner and smaller than others);

Casting quality - generally good from the point of view of casting defects but there is a lot of flash and it tends to be big lumps that need removing not fine casting lines. This can be hard work! I find some of the vehicles aren't an accurate depiction of the real thing, for example being less angular than they should be;

Size of models - when I first bought some they were described as 12mm on the web page but then during 2014 I noticed it said 10mm although now is described as 10mm/ 12mm.  From those I have bought they are generally a good match with 1/144, but as noted above even for the same manufacturer you get variations in scale across individual models. My post on half tracks gives one comparison, I have since got rid of the Minifigs White Scout car which was decidedly small and did not look much like the real thing at all, below some photos of the Sexton and some comparisons.

Minifigs Sexton and Takara Sherman M4A3. In terms of vehicle length, width and the height of the tracks the two models are very similar (as Minifigs seem to use the same track casting for all Sherman variants this is probably a good indication of how comparable Minifigs Sherman tanks are):

Minifigs Sexton and Arrowhead Sherman M4A3E8. Again, very similar size in terms of length, width and track height:

The Arrowhead Priest does dwarf the Minifigs Sexton but then the Arrowhead Priest is huge:

Comparing the Arrowhead Priest with the Arrowhead M4A3E8 shows that is is a large model:

General observations -  I find the Minifigs models hard work as lots of big chunks of metal to remove, also they don't always look 'right' but then some of them do look perfectly fine. They are expensive too - I can often get an Arrowhead model for about the same price or cheaper so why would I get a Minifigs one? The guns are good though and are better value but I do replace the crews (more for the size of the figures as they are not bad); although Pithead is doing more and more of the common pieces so I tend to go with those now.

Arrowhead (used to be Wargames South)

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  metal;
Range     -  decent range for major nations and a few other models;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  sold in packs (one pack per type, e.g. infantry, paras etc.);

Detail - detail is generally good and the newer models tend to have move detail as well as things like separate hatches;

Casting quality - generally excellent, only occasionally are there any issues and then is is usually the tracks where the casting has left some parts of the tracks a bit thin and need to be filled on the inside with milliput to keep them firm (green stuff not hard enough for this). Not a common issue but a few models have a regular defect (e.g. the Churchill with petard has the track issue at the front on the right track and the Sherman M4A4 has a gap in one for the two ridges on the bottom front of the hull. Cast lines are hardly discernible and so easily removed;

Size of models - generally compare well with plastic 1/144 but newer models seem to be bigger than older models (see priest and M4A3E8 pictures above). For instance, T34 and Sherman Firefly are bigger than the Takara equivalents - not by a lot but if right next to each other it is reasonably obvious.

General observations -  very nice models with newer ones having more pieces - more like making a model than other metal manufacturers. They are aimed at the collector but the price is certainly fine for wargaming - a pound or two more than Pendraken or Pithead but similar to Minifigs and less than resin or pre-painted models. I have a lot of them, for instance all my British Cromwells, Easy Eights (post coming soon) and various other things where I want better comparability with 1/144 models or just something I like and want a really nice model. Their infantry are nice but most of the range is no longer available.

Takara

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic (pre-painted);
Range     -  main tanks for the major nations although mostly German;
Vehicles -  sold individually (if unopened then model is random);
Infantry  -  none, but some vehicles come with figures;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Painting quality - overall pretty good but the painting of details such as equipment on the vehicle (spades and track pieces etc.) can be pretty poor. I find all their vehicles need a wash to bring out the detail, some tidying up of the painting for equipment and tracks and sometimes decals added;

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144 but slightly smaller than CanDo or Metal Troops;

General observations -  no longer made but when they were in production they were in large volumes so some of the more basic vehicles have been fairly easy to get hold of. All of my basic Shermans, T34s, KV1s, JS2s, also some conversions, Russian SP guns, Panzer IVs, Tiger I and IIs and most of my Panthers are Takara. I have mainly used the versus series as they are easier to get holds of and I have also sometimes repainted them entirely (e.g. KV1 and JS2). Some of the other models are hard to find and so difficult to get a full unit but even when I did I found it had to justify holding on to a model worth £15 to £20 when I could buy a metal one for £3.

Dragon CanDo

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic (pre-painted);
Range     -  main German tanks;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Painting quality - the best of the pre-painted vehicles. The painting is tidy and no repainting of detail needed plus they have a more realistic effect (sort of semi weathered);

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144 but slightly bigger than Takara in most cases. The one exception is the Tiger 1 where overall size is similar to Takara but the tracks/ suspension make the vehicle sit lower and doesn't look the part as much as Takara - about the one instance where Takara is definitely preferable;

General observations -  no longer made and were not made in such large numbers as Takara so not easy to get hold of - plus only ever did Germans. Can be very expensive so I have sold on most of mine to get cheaper alternatives (but see below). I do have all my Elefants and Jagd Panthers and Jagd Tigers from CanDo as these are not so popular and easy to buy.

Panzer Korps (CanDo kits)

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic kits;
Range     -  main German tanks;
Vehicles -  sold in two vehicle packs;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Build quality - some are easy to put together but others are a lot more effort. Some removal of flash and unwanted plastic lumps required so need to fit together without glue to work out where you have to do this. Some fiddly bits on some models;

Size of models - these are just the Dragon CanDo models in a kit form so all the above comments apply;

General observations -  no longer made but much easier to get hold of than the pre-painted versions although now if is mainly from the Far East. I have replaced some of the rarer pre-painted ones with kit versions I have painted myself, for example the Marder III.

F-Toys

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic kits;
Range     -  small range, German and Russian;
Vehicles -  individual kits but Panzer 1 has two in a box;
Infantry  -  none but some figures with some kits;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Build quality - well cast and go together well (at least the ones I have had, although someone told me the T34 is a pig to make);

Size of models - compare well with other 1/144;

General observations -  can be expensive to buy and so not really worth while but I occasionally see them going cheap and will buy them then. Nice models and go together well - some Panzer 1s to give an idea what they are like as a make:

Metal Troops

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic (pre-painted);
Range     -  small range;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none, but some figures with some vehicles;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Painting quality - not bad but will need a wash and some weathering;

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144 but generally slightly bigger;

General observations -  not a big range and expensive even when in production - so not great for wargaming. I have sold all of mine except a unit of 3 Churchills.

Trumpeter 

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic (pre-painted);
Range     -  only Sdkfz 251 for WW2;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - generally good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Painting quality - not bad, better than Takara but not as good as CanDo;

Size of models - compares well with other 1/144;

General observations -  mainly a Modern era range with only variants of the Sdkfz 251 for WW2. Not a bad price was fine when they were available.

New Toys Millennium 

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  plastic (pre-painted);
Range     -  limited;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - generally good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal) but little internal detail in somethings like SdKfz 251 half track. All models sit on a base with a hole in the bottom and for some an extra piece on the bottom;

Painting quality - not bad but some work required;

Size of models - a bit smaller than other 1/144;

General observations -  not much of a range. The tanks are not that great but the transport is OK if you put in some work to remove the bits from the bottom and wash and weather them. Only worth it though if you can get them very cheap otherwise better off with a metal model (I got some for just over £1 a few years back). The US truck is about the best once worked on - see my engineers.

Panzer Depot 

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  resin (pre-painted);
Range     -  quite a large and growing range for major nations;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal);

Painting quality - first few release were not bad at all, but most including all new ones are pretty poor. they are also not always put together that well and have to be rebuilt. Given the price this is not good! Not a good option if other alternatives available;

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144;

General observations -  very expensive for wargaming but also given they are expensive I would have expected a much better product in terms of being put together and painted. I have only used where I have to e.g. Dicker Max and Sturer Emil and they needed some work to make them look good.

Waffen 144 

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  resin (pre-painted);
Range     -  not particularly extensive but still releasing new ones;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - I only have a Pak 88mm gun and the detail is OK but just from he pictures of vehicles the detail and the painting do not look good. The resin is quite brittle;

Painting quality - looks very basic;

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144;

General observations -  same sorts of comments as Panzer Depot - very expensive for wargaming but also given they are expensive I would have expected a much better product in terms of being put together and painted.

CDG

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  resin (3D printed);
Range     -  not huge but something for all major nations;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  some sold in small sets;

Detail - detail is not bad, but not as good as plastic or resin cast in the traditional way;

Casting quality - as they are 3D printed there are lots of sprue pieces still attached and since the resin is quite brittle (looks a bit like glass when it snaps) these are not that easy to remove without damaging the model. Some repair with epoxy putty is therefore needed afterwards. The 3D printing gives it a ridged effect running across the vehicle surfaces but the material is easy to sand or file and so this can be removed without much effort - but you need to do it if you want a good final effect;

Size of models - compare well with all 1/144;

General observations -  quite a bit of effort to get them ready for painting but the paint covers this material very well indeed. They do look nice when done but I don't think they are worth the effort for things you can get elsewhere. They do have a good range of experimental vehicles and that is what I have concentrated on getting, for instance A39 Tortoise and T28 Super Heavy Tank.

Altier Infinite 

Scale       -  1/144;
Material  -  resin;
Range     -  fairly extensive, mostly German;
Vehicles -  sold individually;
Infantry  -  none;

Detail - very good detail (plastic and resin generally have more of the small details than metal) ;

Casting quality - very good and resin is a non brittle type that is easy to work with;

Size of models - compares well with other 1/144;

General observations -  a reasonably big range and different nations but heavily geared towards Germans and odd or experimental vehicles. Really nice models but very expensive and as they come from Japan the postage hugely increases the cost. I have only used when I have to for the KV5 and Super Pershing.

Other resin kits

There are too many resin makers, particularly in the Far East, to list. Japanese makes (e.g. Matuo Kasten and Dameya) are all similar to Altier Infinite in being detailed and seriously expensive. Fairy Kikaku are less expensive and generally come in sets of 3 or 4 vehicles. I have heard they are pretty good but the rivets are overly large. There are masses of Chinese and Hong Kong makes and many of these are counterfeit  - but I can't tell which are so tend to buy via ebay rather than direct as some sort of protection. I have seen some Chinese resin kits on other blogs that are definitely rip offs and they can be pretty poorly cast. I have just got hold of some from Hong Kong (on ebay) that are quite nice and I suspect are pukka - well cast and not cheap but not hideously expensive either - some Italian P40s I have yet to make and some Russian T-100Ys.

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So if this is your scale then there is a wide range of choice! Some makes are better than others and some are better for certain things and not so much in other cases. For the cheaper stuff I always get some samples and then decide which one I want to go with. I only use expensive options if there is no alternative and I really want a particular vehicle.