Bombed-Out House 20mm vs Armoured Locomotive: MDF Terrain Picks

Two very different tabletop roles

The Bombed-Out House - 20mm and the Armoured Locomotive & Tender are both MDF kits aimed at WWII-era tables, but they solve different scenery problems. The house gives you a ruined building for 1/72 or 20mm infantry games. The locomotive and tender give you a railway centrepiece. Neither kit is a direct upgrade of the other, so the right first purchase depends on the table you are building.

This comparison sticks to the supplied product records. Where a detail is not confirmed, it is flagged as a decision limitation rather than assumed.

Scale, footprint and what each kit contains

The two kits differ in scale and contents. Match the kit to the figures and terrain you already own.

• Bombed-Out House - 20mm: Described as ideal for 1/72 or 20mm scale WWII tables. Approximate dimensions: W90 x D85 x H130mm. Contents: 1 x 20mm scale bombed-out house. Supplied unassembled and unpainted with full instructions.
• Armoured Locomotive & Tender: Contents: 1 x locomotive and 1 x tender. Approximate dimensions: locomotive L155 x W55 x H75mm; tender L115 x W55 x H70mm. Supplied unassembled and unpainted with full instructions. The supplied record does not state a figure scale for this kit, so check it against your collection before buying.

Product facts: Bombed-Out House - 20mm

• Bombed-Out House - 20mm: Typical of ruins seen in Europe and Britain at the height of WWII, this bombed-out house is intended for 1/72 or 20mm scale WWII wargaming tables. Confirms the kit's intended figure scale, so you can tell at a glance whether it matches your 20mm collection.

  

• Bombed-Out House - 20mm: Approximate dimensions: W90 x D85 x H130mm. Gives you a realistic footprint for planning streets, cover and storage before you buy.
• Bombed-Out House - 20mm: Product features include a removable roof, etched detailing and stacking floors; material is MDF. These features affect how you can use the building during games and how much detail you get for the price.

Product facts: Armoured Locomotive & Tender

• Armoured Locomotive & Tender: The set contains 1 x locomotive and 1 x tender, supplied unassembled and unpainted in kit form with full instructions. Tells you exactly what arrives in the box and that assembly and painting are required.

  

• Armoured Locomotive & Tender: Approximate dimensions: locomotive L155 x W55 x H75mm; tender L115 x W55 x H70mm. The combined length matters when you plan a siding, station or rail line on your table.
• Armoured Locomotive & Tender: Product features include etched detailing; materials are MDF and greyboard. The mixed materials and etched detail give the locomotive a different build and painting routine from a simple ruin.

Which kit suits your table first?

If your games are infantry-focused and you need cover, sightlines and a ruined streetscape, the Bombed-Out House - 20mm is the more direct purchase. Its removable roof and stacking floors support interior access and multi-level play, and its stated 20mm scale matches 1/72 figures.

If your scenario revolves around rail movement, supply lines or a centrepiece objective, the Armoured Locomotive & Tender gives you a focal point that a building cannot replace. The trade-off is that it needs a rail line or siding to look right, and the supplied record does not confirm a figure scale, so measure it against your models rather than assuming compatibility.

Buying both is reasonable if you are building a WWII table with a village and a railway. Start with the piece that unlocks the scenarios you actually play.

Limitations to check before ordering

The supplied information leaves some questions open. Treat these as checks, not faults.

• Figure scale for the locomotive: The Bombed-Out House record states 1/72 or 20mm. The Armoured Locomotive & Tender record does not state a figure scale. Compare its dimensions with your figures and existing rolling stock before buying.
• Models and accessories: Both records state that any models or accessories shown for scale purposes are not included. Plan for separate figures, paint and glue.
• Assembly and painting: Both kits are supplied unassembled and unpainted with full instructions. No preparation or operating steps are supplied in the records, so follow the instructions in the box.