In-Service Miniatures

NEW!  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.  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 acutal 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
1016 5-Ton Truck with Load Appears to be M35 truck
1018 White 5-Ton Semi Trailer with Van body
1020 HMMTT breakdown truck Wrecker
1021 HMMTT Fueler Large single fuel tank
1022 HMMTT Tank Transporter
1023 HMMTT w/55gal drums
1024 HMMTT w/pallets  
1026 HMMWV Command
1027 HMMWV Hard Back
1028 HMMWV Crossbow
1032 Tomahawk attk msl Lchr Launcher truck
1033 Tomahawk attk msl Cmd Tractor Truck + Trailer
1034 Fast Attk Vehicle w/ TOW
1036 Super M60 Proposed upgrade
1038 M163 Vulcan
1039 M113 Cav 
1040 M577
1044 M5 Stuart with Sandbags
1045 M24 Chafee with Sandbags
1048 Brockway bridge erection trk
1049 M3 Bradley
1050 M3A2 Bradley With reactive armor
1051 ADATS support platoon  ADATS launcher on Brad chassis
1059 M1A2 with 140mm Gun Speculative vehicle, never built as shown
1060 Construction Equipment
1061 MLRS relaod 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
1073 M109 SP Arty Defender
1074 MICLIC trailer Rocket-launched mine clearing device
???? 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
1108 SBD Dauntless
1301 P-61 Black Widow
1329 A-7E Corsair II
1330 S-3B Viking
1334 A-10 Warthog
1342 V-22 Osprey
1401 AC-47
1402 B-17E
1404 B2 Bomber Perhaps the only one is this scale?
???? B-26B/C/E Marauder
???? A-20 Havoc
1506 9th ID Inf Co
Generic Equipment
0009 Mack Cement Mixers
0020 Aero Mack Tractor

Soviet Vehicles
Stock # Model Name Notes
6001 IT-80
6004 GAZ 69 includes figures
6006 MAZ 537 TK Transporter
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
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

???? 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
6331 Mig-29
6332 SU-25
6345 KA-29 Hokum
6348 Mi-24/35 Upgraded Mi-24

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
7010 RBY Scout Car
???? 5 Ton Truck
???? Jeep w/Heavy MG
???? M113 with 60mm Turret
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
2019 Berge Panther Panther rec veh
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
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
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
3114 Early Spitfire
3116 Hawker Tempest
3218 Lysander Mk 2
3309 Bristol Beaufighter
3353 Harrier
Japanese Aircraft
4310 Yokosuka_P1Y_Frances
4311 Ki-21 Sally
???? 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



1016 M35 w/Pallets


1018 White 5-Ton Semi Tractor w/Van Trailer


1022 HEMTT Tank Transporter


1023 HEMTT with 55 Gallon Drums
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk


1026 HMMWV C3I Van


1036 Super M60


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


1040 M577


1044 M5 Stuart with Sandbags
Shot from eBay lot


1045 M24 Chafee with Sandbags
Shot from eBay lot


1048 Brockway Bridge Erection Truck


1050 M3A2 with Reactive Armor
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk




1059 M1A2 with 140mm Gun
Courtesy of RedRick.net


1060 Construction Equipment




1063 Patriot Launcher
Courtesy of RedRick.net


1063 Patriot Radar Vehicle
Courtesy of RedRick.net


1067 Abrams Recovery Vehicle


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


???? 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.


A-10 Warthog
Courtesy of RedRick.net


1108 SBD Dauntless


1301 P-61 Black Widow


1329 A-7E Corsair II


1330 S-3 Viking


1334 A-10 Warthog


1342 MV-22 Osprey


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


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


Images Of Generic Equipment

Mack Cement Mixer
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk


Aero Mack Tractors
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk

Images Of Soviet Models

6001 IT-80



6006 MAZ-537 Tank Transporter


6011 Flap Wheel/Mercury Grass


6012 URAL-375 With Load


6014 SA-10 SAM Battery
Courtesy of Bob Mackenzie


6022 IMR Engineering Vehicle


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


6035 MT-LB


6039 SA-12B




6043 GAZ-66 With Supplies


6045 SS-25 Battery


6053 BM-27 Reload Vehicle


6054 SS-21


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


(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)
Courtesy of RedRick.net


6331 Mig-29
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk


6332 SU-25
Courtesy of Andrew Kirk


6345 KA-29 Hokum



6348 MI-35
Courtesy of RedRick.net

Images Of Israeli Models

7005 Improved Centurion


Improved Centurion


M113 Zelda


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


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


M113 with 60mm Turret?


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

2044 Leopard II (Camo)


2048 MAN 5 Ton Pallet Truck


2050 MAN 7 Ton Fueler


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.


2109 ME-262A1A
Swiped from eBay


2110 ME-163b1
Swiped from eBay


2111 FW-190A8
Swiped from eBay


2124 ME-109G1a
Swiped from eBay




2203 ME-410a


2205 FW-189 Owl
Swiped from eBay


2304 JU-52G3A
Swiped from eBay



2306 HE-219E7
Swiped from eBay


2336 DFS Glider
Swiped from eBay


Images Of British Models

Challenger
Courtesy of RedRick.net


3114 Early Spitfire


3116 Hawker Tempest
Swiped from eBay


3218 Lysander Mk 2


3309 Bristol Beaufighter

3353 Harrier
Courtesy of RedRick.net



Images Of Japanese Models

4310 Yokosuka P1Y Frances


4311 Ki-21 Sally


B5N Kate


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