In-Service Miniatures

Courtesy of Mike McCloud, a scan of what appears to be the first ISM catalog. See here.

In-Service Miniatures was a small company run out of Lakewood, California, during the 1980s and early 1990s. They produced a variety of unique miniatures and specialized in variants of widely available models.

Many items in the ISM line were existing miniatures with camo netting, on-board baggage or sandbags added, hence the name "In Service." Many of their base models (that is, the models without the baggage) resemble those of other manufacturers. I don't know their licensing arrangements (if they had any), but it appears that GHQ and CinC models formed the bases for a few of their models. It appears as though the company was originally called Croissant Miniatures.

In terms of quality, ISM miniatures varied from poor (such as their IT-80), to near-GHQ (such as the Brockway bridge erection truck.) In general, though, quality was pretty good -- wheels generally have treads and are round (not by any means a given with some manufacturers), tracks are well detailed, and the on-board baggage looks good. Mold quality is also generally good -- there is little sign of flash or incomplete molding. Overall, I would rate their line somewhere above H&R but below CinC.

ISM packaged their miniatures in one of two ways (that I know of) -- either in a segmented plastic bag (see examples below) with 4-5 minatures or in a plastic tray containing a company-sized unit roughly analagous to a GHQ Combat Command. Earlier, when they were still known as Croissant Miniatures, they came in smaller company boxes. I can't really comment on pricings, as they have long been out of production.

ISM was unique (as far as I know) in selling many of their standard packs as mixed units -- that is, with a selection of miniatures representing actual units rather than just five copies of the same thing. This was particularly useful as many of their packs continued items you wouldn't need five of (such as decontamination vehicles).

The fate of the ISM moulds remains something of a mystery. From various rumors and stories on the net, it seems they were sold off in the early-to-mid 1990s when the manufacturer went out of the business (and moved?). At some point, the molds were sold to someone in Illinois (see the address on several new additions). Reportedly, however, the moulds were in rough shape and production was not resumed. Any other information on this subject would be appreciated.

ISM Catalog Reference
If a photo of a model is available, there will be a link to it in the table. All models for which I have images are at the end of this page (jump to it here). This list is incomplete, and any additional information would be appreciated.

US Vehicles

Stock #	Model Name	Notes
1001	Jeep with Machinegunner
1002	M4A3E8	Camo Netting
1003	M4 Sherman	Sandbagged Hull
1004	M4 Sherman	Wood Plank Armor
1005	M4 Sherman	Wood Plank Armor and Wading Kit
1006	Chevy K-41 Signals Truck	includes trailer
1007	M4 Dozer Tank
1008	M-32 Recovery Vehicle
1009	M-4 Sherman Crab
1010	M-40 155mm SP Gun
1011	M-32 Ammo Carrier
1012	Chevy 1 T Ambulance
1014	2 1/2 Ton Truck	Ammo Boxes
1015	2 1/2 Ton Truck	Crates
1016	5-Ton Truck with Load	Appears to be M35 truck
1017	White 7-Ton Semi Trailer	with Van Body
1018	White 5-Ton Semi Trailer	with Van Body
1019	Diamond T Wrecker
1020	HEMTT breakdown truck	Wrecker
1021	HEMTT Fueler	Large single fuel tank
1022	HEMTT Tank Transporter
1023	HEMTT w/55gal drums
1024	HEMTT w/pallets
1026	HMMWV Command
1027	HMMWV Light Truck	Another sources says 1027 is hard back
1028	HMMWV Crossbow
1030	HMMWV-HMG
1031	HMMWV-TOW
1032	Tomahawk attk msl Lchr	Launcher truck
1033	Tomahawk attk msl Cmd	Tractor Truck + Trailer
1034	Fast Attack Vehicle w/ TOW
1036	Super M60	Proposed upgrade
1038	M163 Vulcan
1039	M113 Cav
1040	M577
1041	5 Ton Dump Truck
1044	M5 Stuart with Sandbags
1045	M24 Chafee with Sandbags
1046	LCU
1048	Brockway bridge erection trk
1049	M3 Bradley
1050	M3A2 Bradley	With reactive armor
1051	ADATS support platoon	ADATS launcher on Brad chassis
1058	M1A1
1059	M1A2 with 140mm Gun	Speculative vehicle, never built as shown
1060	Construction Equipment
1061	MLRS reload carrier	a HMMTT truck with MLRS reloads
1063	Patriot SAM	FC radar+ Cmd + Power+ Launcher
1067	M1 recovery vehicle	Proposed M88 replacement
1068	LAV 25
1069	M88 Recovery Veh
1070	M1 Abrams	Defender
1071	M2A1 Bradley	Defender
1072	M1A2 140mm Gun
1073	M109 SP Arty	Defender
1074	MICLIC trailer	Rocket-launched mine clearing device
1082	LAV-C2 Command Vehicle
1083	LAV-AD Air Defense Veh	Spculative
1084	LAV-AG 105mm Gun
1085	LAV-L Logistics
1086	LAV-R Recovery
????	HMMWV w/Hellfire	Proposed Anti-Tank Vehicle
????	M48 with Reactive Armor
????	M113	with onboard baggage
????	M113 with Turret	has small MG turret
????	M113 Air Defense?
????	M-901 ITV
????	FAV	With Figure
????	FAV	with Mk 19 AGL
1108	SBD Dauntless
1207	AD1 Skyraider
1208	A-4E Skyhawk
1211	OV-10A
1215	F-100
1301	P-61 Black Widow
1326	F-4 Phantom
1328	EA-6B
1329	A-7E Corsair II
1330	S-3B Viking
1334	A-10 Warthog
1342	V-22 Osprey
1354	F-105D Thunderchief
1401	AC-47
1402	B-17E
1404	B2 Bomber
????	B-26B/C/E Marauder
????	A-20 Havoc
1505	Heavy Tank Company	Division 86
1506	9th ID Inf Co
1508	9th ID Assault Company
1509	9th ID Light Attack Company
1510	US Heavy Tank Company
1916	USMC Task Force

	Generic Equipment
0007	Civilian Cars
0009	Mack Cement Mixers
0014	Mercedes 2-Axle Trailer	N-Scale
0019	White 3-Axle Trailer	N-Scale
0020	Aero Mack Tractor

Soviet Vehicles

Stock #	Model Name	Notes
6001	IT-80
6004	GAZ 69	includes figures
6005	BTR-152 Command
6006	MAZ 537 TK Transporter
6009	T-34/85
6011	AA/C3I Unit	2 Mercury Grass Radar Truck, 2 Flap Wheel Truck
6012	URAL-375	with load
6014	SA-10 Grumble Battery
6015	Recon Group?
6017	T72M1
6019	BMD-M
6020	BMP-2
6022	IMR Engineer Vehicle	T-55 based
6023	PMM ribbon bridge	with bridge section
6024	T-62E
6025	EW unit	1xCheese Brick EW+1xCmd Truck; Elec Warfare
6026	NBC Defense Unit	1xJet Spray Trk+1xWater Trk+2 BRDM
6027	SNAR10	MTLB with counter battery radar
6029	Ural 375 Fueler
6030	SS20 Battery	Cmd+3 Lchr
6031	ATS 69G supply track	with canvas cover
6034	BTR-80 command
6035	MT-LBV	Engineer version
6038	SA13B Gopher SAM	Tracked SAM
6039	SA12 Gladiator SAM	2 Launchers, 1 reload, 1 radar, 1 command
6040	BM28 MLRS	Lchr+Reload Trk
6042	GAZ66	Water tank+general cargo
6043	GAZ66	with cargo load
6045	SS25 Missile	3xlchr+Con Van Trk+MTB cmd vehicle
6050	T55B
6051	GAZ dump truk	with load in bed
6053	BM27 reload truck
6054	SS21
6057	BMD-2 Hvy Wpn Plt	Missile launcher
6058	T64B	Reactive Armor
6059	T72B	Reactive Armor
6060	FST-1	Speculative Soviet Tank
6331	Mig-29
6332	SU-25
6344	Sukhoi SU-27
6345	KA-29 Hokum
6348	Mi-24/35	Upgraded Mi-24
????	Company Pack	FST Company
????	Company Pack	BMP-2 Improved Company
????	MTLB Recovery
????	BREM-1	T-72-based recovery vehicle
????	Early T80	No reactive armor
????	SU-130	130mm armed assault gun
????	T-90/FST	Speculative vehicle based on SMT-1989
????	Gaz-66 Maintenance

Israeli Vehicles

Stock #	Model Name	Notes
7001	M60 with Reactive Armor
7002	M60 with Reactive Armor and Mine Rollers
7004	Improved Centurion w/Reactive Armor
7005	Imp Centurion w/Mine Roller & Reactive Armor
7006	M113 Zelda
7008	M113 Zelda with Screen Armor
7009	M113 Zelda with Screen Armor & 60mm Gun
7010	RBY Scout Car
????	5 Ton Truck
????	Jeep w/Heavy MG

7501	Improved Centurion Company	22 Vehicles

German Vehicles

Stock #	Model Name	Notes
2006	Berge Hetzer	Hetzer rec veh
2009	Hornisse
2010	FAMO HT w/88	Half Track
2011	Marder III
2012	SdKfz 250	Half Track commo version
2014	PzKW IV-L
2015	Panther D
2019	Berge Panther	Panther rec veh
2021	Sdkfz 251 w/Infantry
2022	SdKfz251/3	Half track Command version
2027	SkKfz 251/22	Half Track 75mm anti-tank gun
2028	SdKfz 251/16	Half Track Flamethrower
2034	Minen Skorpion
2035	Puma HVMS
2037	Puma ADATS
2044	Leopard 2	camo
2046	Marder 1A3	1 piece, covered with camo
2047	Mann Ribbon Bridge	with bridge section
2048	Mann 5t pallet truck
2049	Mann 7t pallet system
2050	Mann 7t fueler
2051	Mann 7t Hvy wrecker
2053	Leopard 1A5	Defender
2054	Leopard2	camo
2043a	Leopard rec veh	Leopard ARV
2043b	Leopard eng veh	Leopard CEV
????	PioneerPanzer Dachs	(may actually be 2043b)
????	Leopard 1A5	(may actually be 2053)
????	Marder	Some kind of variant
????	Pinzgauer 6x6
2109	ME-262A1A
2110	ME-163B1
2111	FW-190A8
2124	ME-109G-1a
2203	ME-410a
2205	FW-189A1 Owl
2304	JU-52g3a
2306	HE-219E7
2336	DFS Glider

British Vehicles

Stock #	Model Name	Notes
3004	Centaur dozer tank
3005	Morris 15 cwt Jerry Can carrier	canvas top
3008	Challenger MBT
3009	Cymbeline Counter Battery Radar Trailer
3010	Chieftain MBT
3014	Chiefain MBT	Stillebrew armor
3017	MICV-80
3018	Bedford Comms Truck
3114	Early Spitfire
3116	Hawker Tempest
3218	Lysander Mk 2
3309	Bristol Beaufighter
3333	Panavia Tornado
3353	Harrier

	Japanese Aircraft
4120	Ki-84 Frank
4310	Yokosuka_P1Y_Frances
4311	Ki-21 Sally
4312	G4M Betty
????	B-5N Kate

Images Of US Models

1001 Jeep With Machinegunner
Image collected from eBay
I believe this is the same model listed under Israel as Jeep with Heavy Machine Gun

Another shot, courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1002 M4A3E8 Under Camo

1004 Sherman w/Wooden Armor

1005 Sherman w/Wading Gear

1014 Deuce and a Half w/Cargo

1016 M35 w/Pallets

US 5-Ton w/Pallets

1018 White 5-Ton Semi Tractor w/Van Trailer

1019 Diamond T Wrecker

1021 HEMTT Fuel Tanker

1022 HEMTT Tank Transporter

1023 HEMTT with 55 Gallon Drums
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

A painted version, courtesy of Tim Gow

1024 HEMTT w/Pallets
Courtesy of Tim Gow

1026 HMMWV C3I Van

1027 HMMWV Light Truck

1028 HMMWV Crossbow SAM
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1030 HMMWV-HMG

1031 HMMWV-TOW
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1032 Tomahawk Launch Vehicle
Courtesy of Tim Gow

1033 Tomahawk Command Vehicle
Courtesy of Tim Gow

1034 FAV TOW
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1036 Super M60

This is the same vehicle painted up in Marine Corps colors.

1038 M163 20mm AA
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1040 M577

1041 5 Ton Dump Truck
Courtesy of Tim Gow

Painted version from my collection:

1044 M5 Stuart with Sandbags
Shot from eBay lot

Another shot, from Andrew Kirk

1045 M24 Chafee with Sandbags
Shot from eBay lot

1046 LCU
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1048 Brockway Bridge Erection Truck

1050 M3A2 with Reactive Armor
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1051 ADATS Support Platoon
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1058 M1A1
Painted up in Cold War USMC colors

Another version with cables on it

1059 M1A2 with 140mm Gun
Courtesy of RedRick.net

1060 Construction Equipment

1061 MLRS Reload HEMTT

1063 Patriot Launcher
Courtesy of RedRick.net

1063 Patriot Radar Vehicle
Courtesy of RedRick.net

Packaging, courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1067 Abrams Recovery Vehicle

1068 LAV-25

From my collection:

1070 M1 Abrams Defender
(Note: this may actually be a slightly different M1 and I obviously need a better shot)

1071 M2 Bradley with Camo Netting
Courtesy of Tim Gow

1072 M1A2 140mm Gas Gun

1073 M109 With Camo Netting
Courtesy of Tim Gow

1082 LAV-C2

1083 LAV-AD

1085 LAV-L Logistics Vehicle

1086 LAV-R Recovery Vehicle

1087 LAV-M Mortar Carrier

LAV-AT Anti-Tank Vehicle

???? HMMWV w/Hellfire

Here's another version that came packaged in the "9th Inf Div Assault Co" box

M2A2 Bradley
Courtesy of RedRick.net

M48
Courtesy of RedRick.net

M113
This, and the following three, are going to be cleaned up and painted.

M113 with Small Turret

M113 Air Defense? ADATS?
Not really sure what this is supposed to be

M-901 ITV
This is the version that was included in the "9th Light Inf Div Assault Co." It appears as though the launcher (molded into the back of the model in the loading position) could be cut away from the hull.

FAV with Commander

FAV with Mk19 AGL

A-10 Warthog
Courtesy of RedRick.net

1108 SBD Dauntless

1205 AD-1 Skyraider

1208 A-4E
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

1211 OV-10A Bronco

1215 F-100

1301 P-61 Black Widow

1326 F-4 Phantom

1328 EA-6B

1329 A-7E Corsair II

1330 S-3 Viking

1334 A-10 Warthog

1342 MV-22 Osprey

1354 F-105D Thunderchief

1401 AC-47 Gunship

1402 B-17E
Swiped from eBay

B2 Bomber
Courtesy of RedRick.net

B-26 C/D/E Marauder

A-20 Havoc

1505 Company Pack -- US Heavy Tank Company Division 86
14 "M1E1" Abrams
1 HMMWV C3I
2 Transport Hummer
2 8 Ton Truck
2 M113

1506 Company Pack -- 9th Light Infantry Division Infantry Company
12 HMMWV
12 HMMWV w/40mm AGL

1508 Company Pack -- 9th Light Infantry Division Assault Company
12 M-901 ITV
8 HMMWV Hellfire
1 HMMWV C3I

1509 Company Pack -- 9th Infantry Division Light Attack Company
12 FAV w/TWO
4 FAV
4 FAV w/40mm AGL
4 HMMWV w/Setter Air Defense Systems
1 HMMWV C3I

1510 Company Pack -- US Heavy Tank Company
17 "M60A4"
2 Jeep
1 5 Ton Truck
1 M113

1916 USMC Combined Arms Unit

Images Of Generic Equipment

0007 Civilian Cars
Courtesy of Tim Gow

009 Mack Cement Mixer
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

0014 Mercedes 2-Axle Trailer
N-Scale Model for railroaders

0019 White 3-Axle Trailer
N-Scale Model for railroaders

0020 Aero Mack Tractors
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

Images Of Soviet Models

6001 IT-80

6005 BTR-152 Command
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6006 MAZ-537 Tank Transporter

6009 T-34/85

6011 Flap Wheel/Mercury Grass

6012 URAL-375 With Load

6014 SA-10 SAM Battery
Courtesy of Bob Mackenzie

6020 BMP-2
Courtesy of Tim Gow

6022 IMR Engineering Vehicle

6023 PMP Ribbon Bridge
Courtesy of Tim Gow

6024 T-62E
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6025 Electronic Warfare Team

6026 NBC Decon Team

6027 SNAR-10

6029 Ural-275 Fueler
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6030 SS-20 Battery
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6031 ATS-59 Tractor
Courtesy of Tim Gow

6035 MT-LB

6039 SA-12B

6043 GAZ-66 With Supplies

6045 SS-25 Battery

6050 T-55BM

6053 BM-27 Reload Vehicle

6054 SS-21

6058 T-64B (actually T-64BV, I believe)

6060 BMP-3

6331 Mig-29

Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6332 Su-25

Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

6344 Sukhoi Su-27

6345 KA-29 Hokum

6348 MI-35
Courtesy of RedRick.net

FST-1 Company

BMP-2 Improved Company

6060 FST-1

(Unkown Number) MTLB Recovery Vehicle
Courtesy of Bob MacKenzie

My Version

(Unkown Number) BREM-1 Recovery Vehicle

(Unkown Number) Early T-80

SU-130 130mm Assault Gun
Courtesy of RedRick.net

T-90 (Speculative) (also sold as FST-1)
Courtesy of RedRick.net

Gaz-66 Maintenance

Images Of Israeli Models

7005 Improved Centurion

Improved Centurion

M113 Zelda

7008 Zelda w/Screen Armor & HVMS
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

M113 with 60mm Turret?

7009 Zelda HVMS
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

5 Ton Truck (likely the same as the US model)

Jeep with Machine Gun (likely the same as the US model)

7501 Company Pack -- Improved Centurion Company
Contents:
17 Improved Centurion with Blazer Reactive Armor
2 Jeep w/Machine Gun
1 5-Ton Truck
2 Zelda APC

Images of German Models

2015 Panther D

2021 SDKFZ 221 w/Infantry

2035 Puma w/HVMS

2037 Puma w/ADATS

2044 Leopard II (Camo)

2048 MANN 5 Ton Pallet Truck

2049 Mann 7.5 Ton and 5 Ton Trucks
Courtesy of Tim Gow

2050 MANN 7 Ton Fueler

2051 Mann Heavy Wrecker
Courtesy of Tim Gow

PioneerPanzer Dachs
I believe this is based on speculative drawings of the replacement Leopard CEV. Ultimately, it was built with only one, longer, bucket arm. Still a very cool model.

Leopard 1A5
Courtesy of RedRick.net

Same model, version 2

Marder
Courtesy of RedRick.net
Obviously, this is meant to be some sort of variation of the Marder, but what exactly, I'm not sure. It may be the Marder 1A3.