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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: Onebigriver on December 16, 2008, 08:41:24 PM

Title: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 16, 2008, 08:41:24 PM
HLBS are stopping production of their 28mm figures at the end of March 2009. Grab your Great White North/flora and fauna wants while you can!
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Durutti on December 16, 2008, 10:15:35 PM
I'm surprised to see that, I spoke to Richard at a show earlier in the year, and he was going back to his animal range to add to it.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 16, 2008, 10:58:21 PM
Heard it from the horse's mouth via email this evening.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Ray Rivers on December 17, 2008, 01:42:30 AM
Terrible news...

I'll try to be sure to get an order over to them at the beginning of the new year.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Keith on December 17, 2008, 07:49:43 AM
Bum!

I'll have to pick up the Great War artillery.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Shikari Sahib on December 17, 2008, 09:11:04 AM
Why is closing? bad business?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: oxiana on December 17, 2008, 12:26:32 PM
Sad stuff. Ill have to bag me some more polar guys. You always get such good and quick service from HLBS too. I hope this doesn't mean the demise of their fantastic 40mm ranges as well.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 17, 2008, 01:38:28 PM
Sad stuff. Ill have to bag me some more polar guys. You always get such good and quick service from HLBS too. I hope this doesn't mean the demise of their fantastic 40mm ranges as well.

No, Richard said it was just the 28mm figures.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Orctrader on December 17, 2008, 02:00:55 PM
Never bought any of these so...

What are they like - Quality and "style?"

What size are they - what other figures would you compare them to/mix them with?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: geronimo on December 17, 2008, 06:42:08 PM
Never bought any of these so...

What are they like - Quality and "style?"

What size are they - what other figures would you compare them to/mix them with?

Their dinos and african animals, in particular, are very nice. Haven't picked up any of their humans so can't compare directly - but their velociraptors, for instance, are pretty much spot-on for scale (ie. small). Ostriches, baboons, and other dinos all fit in well for scale with my Foundry and OOP Citadel runequest stuff.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 17, 2008, 07:41:40 PM
Never bought any of these so...

What are they like - Quality and "style?"

What size are they - what other figures would you compare them to/mix them with?

HLBS make a sled driver for the Copplestone sled so I imagine their figures will be similar in size
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Chairface on December 18, 2008, 04:29:01 AM
I guess I have to get my but in gear and grab some Mounties.... :(
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Dr. The Viking on December 18, 2008, 05:21:41 PM
Links to anything they've done?!
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 18, 2008, 08:26:58 PM
Links to anything they've done?!

Try their website.  :?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Wirelizard on December 18, 2008, 10:28:34 PM
Right, some of that Christmas money is going toward dinosaurs.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Dr. The Viking on December 19, 2008, 06:30:45 AM
Links to anything they've done?!

Try their website.  :?

Too easy!  :D

Ok well.. once upon a time I stumbled over them and I distinctively recall there being no pictures on their site at all. Almost. I see that have changed!
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on December 19, 2008, 08:13:35 AM
Bad news indeed!
I have some of their prehistoric animals, Terror Bird, Wooly Rhino etc as well as several dinos and they are lovely models.

I wish I had the money to buy loads more  :(

Hopefully another manufacturer will buy the moulds, as they are too good to disappear forever.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Argonor on December 19, 2008, 11:09:41 AM
Bugger!!

I shall be buying a collection of their African animals in January, and then some dinos in February, and some northern stuff in March....

What's going on..??

I buy 2 packs from Spyglass, and Steve quits...
I bought 4 packs from HLBS some time ago, and they close their 28 mm line...

Do I jinx?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: JollyBob on December 19, 2008, 11:32:38 AM
I might have to put an order in before March then. Been eyeing them for a while, but always found something shinier to spend my cash on somehow.

Hmmm, I wonder if they'll do a "remaining stock sale" in a few weeks...?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Hitman on December 20, 2008, 12:14:12 AM
I sent Richard an e-mail and his reply does indeed support this revelation...they are focussing on the 40mm line as the 28mm line only does a fraction of the sales in comparison. Since they preoduce the lines, they are selling it off on a first-come, first serve basis until there is no stock left. Leaving it to the last minute might not be in your best interests.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Geudens on December 20, 2008, 09:05:35 AM
Bugger!!
I shall be buying a collection of their African animals in January, and then some dinos in February, and some northern stuff in March....
What's going on..??
I buy 2 packs from Spyglass, and Steve quits...
I bought 4 packs from HLBS some time ago, and they close their 28 mm line...
Do I jinx?

I guess so...  Could you order something from the Evil Empire, please?.... See what that does...  lol

Rudi
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Chairface on December 20, 2008, 02:07:07 PM
Do I jinx?

Yes. Yes you do.






 :D
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: answer_is_42 on December 20, 2008, 05:27:59 PM
Bugger!!
I shall be buying a collection of their African animals in January, and then some dinos in February, and some northern stuff in March....
What's going on..??
I buy 2 packs from Spyglass, and Steve quits...
I bought 4 packs from HLBS some time ago, and they close their 28 mm line...
Do I jinx?

I guess so...  Could you order something from the Evil Empire, please?.... See what that does...  lol

Rudi

They may begin to collapse...who'd notice a difference?  lol

I must remember to order some HLBS divers...

Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 20, 2008, 05:32:11 PM
I hope Great War or Renegade pick up the WW1 artillery pieces, I just can't afford them at the mo.  :(

Hitman - why would I make this up?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Will Bailie on December 20, 2008, 11:12:03 PM
Quote
I hope Great War or Renegade pick up the WW1 artillery pieces, I just can't afford them at the mo. 

North Star already has these on their website:
http://www.northstarfigures.com/shop/hlbsfigures/

And Brigade Games managed to pick up some of the other vehicles, including the u-boat:
http://www.brigadegames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1BG-S001&Category_Code=BGHMT&Product_Count=8

Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Hitman on December 21, 2008, 03:33:41 AM
Onebigriver;
Never doubted you...as I received an e-mail from Richard like you...you just beat him to the annoucement on this forum, so I was confirming what you found out days or maybe weeks before me. Regardless, a sad day indeed!!
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on December 22, 2008, 03:55:52 PM
Onebigriver;
Never doubted you...as I received an e-mail from Richard like you...you just beat him to the annoucement on this forum, so I was confirming what you found out days or maybe weeks before me. Regardless, a sad day indeed!!

I'll let you off then  ;). Didn't know Richard posted on here so it seemed natural to post the news. It is sad news, all too often you put miniatures on the "will get round to buying some" list, then the company or the range disappears in the meantime.  :(
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Argonor on December 22, 2008, 05:10:24 PM
Exactly - just ordered some stuff, will have to get african animals and small dinos next month...  :(
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Hitman on December 23, 2008, 02:32:02 PM
On several occasions I said the same thing...I'll buy that another time only to be disappointed that it is no longer available. My wife told me when I see something that I "will use" then buy it so you won't be disappointed when it is no longer around. Personally I think she just doesn't want to listen to me rant on and on about "Crap...I should have bought it when I had the chance!"
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: swiftnick on December 24, 2008, 01:20:59 PM
I made a small order on the 20th and most of them arrived today.
Not bad going considering the time of year.
The figures are lovely and full off character nicely cast too with no sign of flash or mould lines.
They even threw in some extra castings to make up for the delivery coming in two parts. No need to do that but thanks very much.
Mike
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Argonor on January 07, 2009, 10:27:58 AM
The figures are lovely and full off character nicely cast too with no sign of flash or mould lines.

I agree. Very nice minis - just got a bunch of the Great White North stuff yesterday. Will go for African Animals later this week! Already have the ostriches and the baboons, but need more wildlife!

Why on Earth do they not sell well enough????

Please, somebody buy the molds, and continue at least the animal and dino lines!!!
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Onebigriver on January 10, 2009, 05:37:27 PM
And the triffids! Bought one this week with a batch of WW1 Americans for pulp games. Really nice figure, want to buy a few more triffids for the fifties sf wargaming I'm getting into.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Plynkes on January 10, 2009, 06:43:41 PM
Thanks for the heads-up.

It's a long, long time since I shopped with them. Got my U-Boat and various dinosaurs from them. The range now is completely different.  I had no idea they did so much cool stuff I hadn't seen. They just got a pile of my money via PayPal.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Ray Rivers on January 10, 2009, 07:16:23 PM
Just launched an order for the following:

ND01: Mongolian Velociraptor / Pyroraptor
ND03: Compsognathus (pack of ten figures)
ND04: Stenonychosaurus / Troodon
ND05: Mini-Raptors / Dwarf Dromaesaurs
MP25: Eagle catching a salmon.
      
First order with them...      
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Mancha on January 10, 2009, 07:38:19 PM

Why on Earth do they not sell well enough????



Because so much of their catalog lacks pictures.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Sterling Moose on January 10, 2009, 08:53:09 PM
Lack of publicity hasn't helped them either.  I didn't even know that they did Colonial and British Home Service figures (ideal for VSF)............oh they don't anymore!!!  :( :( :(
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Ray Rivers on January 10, 2009, 09:12:44 PM
Well... they still are until March.

Buy something now and maybe they'll change their minds.

And yep, they need all their products to have photos.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Plynkes on January 10, 2009, 09:47:48 PM
Amongst other things I've actually ordered a few of their K.u.K. troops just to see what they look like while I have the chance. If they're nice I may well get more to put up for a rainy day.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Argonor on January 10, 2009, 09:55:56 PM
Just ordered all the African Animals I did not have yet (everything but the baboons and the ostriches).

£47.30..... not enough to make them change their minds, I'm affraid....

Got six packs from The Great White North range bout a week ago...
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Calimero on January 10, 2009, 10:18:44 PM

Does anyone know if a third party showed interest in buying (and continuing) the HLBS 28mm ranges?
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: wolfgangbrooks on January 14, 2009, 08:13:00 AM
I've brought it up for our business. However cash flow is pretty much dead for us in winter, maybe if we have a good convention season.

Tiger Miniatures bought some of their old lines to start his business. We're also trying to get him interested.
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Argonor on January 14, 2009, 08:22:32 AM
Sounds good. Would be a pity if they just disappeared.

As soon as I get the African Animals, I'm going to order some of the small/medium Dinosaurs. Time will tell if I can get the cash together for buying a bunch of the North American Wildlife, too (great for those mountaineering adventures)...
Title: Re: End of HLBS 28mm
Post by: Ray Rivers on January 16, 2009, 07:16:03 PM
 :o

Just got my order from HLBS (with a handwritten thank you from Richard) and they came in most excellent 2 piece hard plastic cases... definite conversion material.  The miniatures themselves are very nice so I will almost certainly be placing another order for a few of their larger dinos.

Great thing here is... I can use them for both Lost World and VSF Venus scenarios, so I'm really happy with the minis.

I especially like the pack of the 10 little dwarf dudes...  :D