The information and photos have been obtained from the Eureka Miniatures website
After a successful 100 Club launch and campaign, Eureka miniatures are proud to announce the broader release of our new 28mm WW2 Chinese. This entire range was sculpted by Kosta Heristanidis and matches perfectly with their WW2 Japanese also sculpted by Kosta.
100WWT200 Chinese Rifleman
An often-overlooked theatre, China was the first of the allied nations to enter what would become the Second World War. Frequently mistakenly dismissed as a minor front, the war in China was long, gruelling, and brutal, taking the lives of some 20 million Chinese.
100WWT200a Chinese Rifleman – German helmet
It was characterised by large-scale battles, constant guerrilla action, shaky alliances, and unthinkable atrocities.
100WWT201 Chinese LMG Team (2 figs)
The WW2 Chinese have been sculpted in the more common field cap worn by Chinese forces from the time as well as German helmets which were also supplied to select “elite” units.
100WWT201a Chinese LMG Team (2 figs) – German helmet
The range can be used to appropriately represent many of the different Chinese factions that were active during the war, including Nationalist, Communist, some warlord, and some Japanese collaborationist forces (such as the armed forces of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China).
100WWT202 Chinese Rifleman with grenade discharger
They can also be used to represent some of the Chinese forces in Burma such as elements of the Chinese Expeditionary Force and/or Y Force.
100WWT202a Chinese Rifleman w/grenade discharger – German helmet
Chinese guerrillas in civilian attire appropriate for the period will be added to this range. Eureka miniatures recommend using some of the Artillery pieces from their WW1 range to go with the Chinese Crew. These can be found here: World War I Artillery in the Bulgarian and Serbian sections.
100WWT203 Chinese infantry with SMG
100WWT203a Chinese infantry with SMG – German Helmet
100WWT204 Chinese Officer
100WWT204a Chinese Officer in German helmet
100WWT205 Chinese NCO
100WWT205a Chinese NCO in German helmet
100WWT206 Chinese HMG and three crew
100WWT207 Chinese Mortar and three crew
100WWT208 Chinese anti-tank suicide men
100WWT209 Chinese Artillery crew
Comments:
Although I have yet to get my dirty mitts on these figures yet, the fact that they have been sculpted by Kosta Heristanidis means they will be excellent. He normally has great and realistic poses with body proportions excellent. Eureka castings will also mean there will be little or no casting lines or flashing.
I believe this is their best range from a coverage viewpoint. In their Australian and Japanese WW2 ranges there are no medium mortars (just the Japanese knee mortar) and no artillery crew. This means you do not have to hunt around for other ranges to help fill the gaps required. Also M/Guns and Mortars have teams of three rather than two in other ranges.
A gap is certainly the lack of a flamethrower, sniper team, and cavalry. The first two being almost essential in a Bolt Action list. The sniper team can be made up from the kneeling rifleman and artilleryman with binoculars. The later could also be used as a Forward Observer. Germans Early War figures could also be used to fill these gaps, as well as for anti-tank teams. There are also suitable riflemen and NCO’s to represent the “Big Sword” Squads from Northern China.
I had only just sent an email to Nic Robson about when these were going to be released and here they are! And they call me a Guru!
The rating below is tentative because I have yet to see the figures but I don’t believe it will change when I do. Well done Nic expect to hear from me in the New Year with a big order!
Those look really nice and in caps or helmets as well! 🙂 I really like ’em! I’m fortunate in having all of the Chinese I need in 20mm scale, although I’ve still got a few to paint!
I’ve been following these for a while, and it’s nice to have that gap in miniatures for ww2 covered better!
Not sure if Battle of Shanghai is doable with them but I can see myself trying it at some point!
Nice range of poses. I can’t recall seeing a range of WW2 Chinese before? I can’t be the only person who watched the Chinese film “The 800” and thought ‘there’s a niche that needs to be filled’! Whilst you may need flamethrowers and snipers for Bolt Action, did these make a regular appearance in the Chinese army of the time or is that there helpless without these under the rule set?
Snipers were used a lot, particularly in the battles for Nanking and Shanghai where the close range city fighting made them ideal weapons. Flamethrowers were used in large numbers during the start of the Sino-Japanese war. Originally they were sourced from Germany and later in the war from the US.
BTW China was the first country to use them. The original flamethrower was a piston powered mechanism, using a chemical similar to gasoline to spray the hot flame. The Chinese army is the only army to still have the weapons on their inventory despite the 1978 ban on their lethal use.
Nice highlight Dave, hopefully they will fill the gaps in time as well.
That looks a very promising range. Nice animated poses with good detail.
Cheers,
Pete.
Interesting stuff Dave, i’m reading an amazing book at the moment about WWII in the East (Nemesis by Max Hastings) and it covers the Chinese involvement, very interesting as it’s not a subject I knew much about.
I painted up some Caesar 1/72 WWII Chinese earlier this year but am yet to do anything with them, maybe in the New year, any way mate I trust that you and the family have a great Xmas and a Prosperous New Year!
Thanks for the heads up. same to you for xmas and new year.