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Miniatures Adventure => Post-Apocalyptic Tales => Topic started by: Braxandur on 20 March 2009, 11:10:23 AM
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Yesterday when I arrived at home I found a package from Wargames Factory, containing my zombies and celts.
I know there is quite some debate about these models so I decided to take some more crappy pictures to give everyone another chance at saying how ugly they think the models are ;)
first off a size comparison shot, showing (from left to right)
West Wind German Zombie - Games Workshop plastic - Wargamer Factory plastic - Mega Miniatures - Copplestone - Griffin miniatures
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/comparison.jpg)
For me the important thing with these plastics is that I can build a large horde which I can paint easily and will still look good. So the amount of time i put into painting the miniatures is an important factor. I don't want to spend a lot of time making a masterwork. Basecoat, wash highlite. that should be it.
However, with metal miniatures I never get around doing that. They just deserve more time and I easily spend a few hours on a miniauter.
With plastics I care less. If I need to move them in large quantities, I can just throw them in a big box. they won't really chip that easily.
So those are my reasons for trying the WF zombies.
I spend a total of 1 hour on this zombie. Which includes removing from the sprue, cleaning up, glueing together and painting. I watched also an episode of Dexter in the meanwhile.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/zombies_front.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/zombie_right_side.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Zombie_back.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Zombise_left_side.jpg)
for one hour of work I'm happy enough. And yes, that's just paint plain on the sprue without an undercoat. I already tested a while ago how well GW foundation paints stick to plastics and found that an undercoat is not really neccesary :D
I glued the rest of the sprue together and took some pictures of them as well, to give a feeling of what you get in the spue and what kind of a poses you can end up with, I didn't remove any mould lines yet though. so they can look a bit rough.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Poses_1.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Poses_2.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Poses_3.jpg)
I also wanted to see if these can be used for making large hordes. (Damn you Akula for showing them hordes) and this is the resulting picture:
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/Horde.jpg)
*edited to remove some typos :D
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everything aside, that is short... looks like they've kept historical sizing for a non-historical range...
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Thanks for posting, they look more tiny than I had imagined (smaller even than mega miniatures!). The casting doesn't look very good from the sides but I guess for filler they're alright. Can I borrow a sprue or two from you? 8)
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Indeed, they are pretty tiny. Not what I expected, and probably didn't help with the level of detail they tried to incorporate.
Main reason I put one together and gave it a lick of paint was to see how it would look next to other models. After that taking some picture to (at least) show the size to "the public" seemed decent. :p
some more picture with one next to a hasslefree zombie hunter (Kev was wondering about te size)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/hasslefree_1.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/hasslefree_2.jpg)
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/braxandur/Zombies/hasslefree_3.jpg)
And yes I've got some sprues for you Pil
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I'm convinced..I'm totally buying some! :-*
Thanks for sharing, very nice looking zombie...especially for one made in 1 hour :o
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Thanks again for taking the time to post the photos Brax.
As I mentioned on Frothers (clearly as part of the secret Frothers conspiracy to bring down WF ;D)
Sizewise - looks alright - certainly better than the GW plastic, that just looks wrong on so many different levels.
Anatomy of the WF ones still looks pretty awful, although admittedly better than some of the daft renders), but given that if i buy some, i'd stick them in the middle of another horde base, that wouldn't be as much of an issue, as if i wanted them based individually.
What gets me is the mould lines, the way that they don't genuinely seem to sit well together, and the amount of prep you had to do, before painting. The bases don't help, as they make them look like a bargain bag of green plastic soldiers out of poundland - not a factor once they're based up, but just adds to the flimsy look of them.
For me, an hour per figure seems like a huge amount of time, to be spending upon this standard of sculpt - i'm not criticising your painting as clearly a lot of that time is removing them from the sprue, trimming mouldlines, glueing etc etc
To put it into perspective, the 46 zed horde base i did, took about 4-5 hours, not including drying time, for the milliput base - the 29 zed horde (the second one i did) took about 3 hours - ie 10 figures an hour - my point being that little or no prep time was needed - yes of course, some of the figures cost more (actually some were from as little as $1 per figure, not including "spare" lead i had lying around), but even assuming the cost per metal figure was higher, i've saved time (and in my book, money), with the quicker prep time.
Still toying with the idea of a few sprues, but i can't help thinking i'll get bored after the first dozen minis....
:(
In summary - cheap in cost, but not in time?
:(
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It was indeed 1 hour, including watching Dexter at the same time. Cleanup was less then 2 minutes, glueing everything together took some time. I just like to try a lot of option before deciding how to put a model together. I think I spent about 30 minutes on choosing which head/arm/torso to use and how to put it together.
If you care less how the poses are (like in a mob) you can cut down enormously on the time I took. Cleanup was actually faster then with most metal models since the plastic is very easy to scrape away. (So there is a benefit to there not being a lot of hard angels ;))
Sure metal are prettier and I'll keep on adding those to my collection, but I like that I can just throw them plastics in a box and they don't get damaged easily.
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i think someone mentioned using a hot wire to melt off the mouldlines (I guess it wouldn't help with the hands though).
Thanks again for posting.
:)
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Maybe worthwile to mention (I only noticed this when putting everything away)
The painted model is the smallest of the bunch. most are a few mm taller. (I used the shortest legs :P)
I did try the trick with the hot wire, but will have to practice this a bit more before it will be faster then using a knife and it combines less well with watching the telly at the same time... (way easier to fuck up the miniature or yourself)
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I just picked these guys up today. Interesting they kept it at the more "Historical" Scale.
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im not impressed with them, the GW ones are far better
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Thanks much for the pics, Brax. I've been waiting on the fence about getting some of these because of concerns about their scale. I had no idea they'd be even smaller than the MegaMinis zeds which are currently the smallest in my horde. When a hasslefree girl looms over a zombie, THAT's a tiny zombie.
I'll still likely end up buying some. I'm a sucker for zombie variety.
-Curry
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they look bloody brilliant to me and the sort of zombies i really mean,not the GW ones (not sure what they are ??).
On the small size sure,but that lumbering/slow/moaning type brilliant.Perfect for conversion and modelling up HUSSAR!!,for me they work because i loved "PLANET TERROR" and these zombies work so well in fitting into all of that genre.
HUSSAR HUSSAR HUSSAR!!
thank you for the photos and review most helpful :D
Just a shame i cannot get any until later this week,the order for wargames has been hels at british customs :-[
Cheers all
:DYorkie :D
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Well, they're an improvement on the Romans/British, but not by much...
Hussars? I see no hussars! I'd buy some Zombie hussars if they were made though, that would be cool.
::)
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Here are some more photos for reference that I took.
Hasslefree, Cold Wars, Wargames Factory, Cold Wars, Wargames Factory, Hasslefree.
(http://www.13threalm.com/images/wfzombiesize1.jpg)
Foundry, Wargames Factory, Foundry, Wargames Factory, Zombie Smith.
(http://www.13threalm.com/images/wfzombiesize2.jpg)
Also this shows the figures as bare plastic and as primed. I don't think it is losing any detail.
(http://www.13threalm.com/images/wfzombiesprimed.jpg)
I don't have any painted examples though. That will be later.
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Not bad, they look decent enough for the horde to me.
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Wow! Detail-wise they arent perfect, but as most people have said, they are damn good for hordes.
$50AU for 2 boxes, supplying 48 zombies (as they come out for me due to the postage costs :() ain't too bad especially as GW makes you fork out $50 for just under half that number >:(
Definately going to look into these!
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Yeah, and they've hands the size of someone with cancerous palms >:D.
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Thanks for the shots , I think Audreys photos show they are good sizewise . I'm not so sure on the details though as I like making my Zombies look good.
I might get some sprues when I order some ECW ones and see how they paint up for myself.
First though I'm going to do all the lead Zombies I can.
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Nice pictures guys, here are a few of mine with scale comparisons for your reference. I put a bit of effort into these figs to see how nice I could make them look. Overall, I think they compare to GW quality wise. It's a different sculpting style for sure, a much more realistic scale certainly, but I think that is to the line's credit. They look very realistic compared to the cartoony miniatures I am used to (don't get me wrong, I like the cartoony stuff too!). I would highly recommend them.
(http://www.hourofwolves.org/images/armies/zombies/1_firstZombie.jpg)
(http://www.hourofwolves.org/images/armies/zombies/1_secondZombie.jpg)
(http://www.hourofwolves.org/images/armies/zombies/1_zombieScale.jpg)
From left to right: Hasslefree Alyx, Wargames Factory Zombie, West Winds NAM range platoon leader, Wargames Factory Zombie, and West Winds later Road Kill line Cop.
Overall, they will work on the table for me. The variation in size isn't much different than the variation we see from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even withing manufacturers (look at that NAM fig compared to the cop!).
WF zombies: great stuff!
n.
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Great paint jobs!
I note from the comments on your blog, that:
"In 1/56 scale, hair would simply appear textureless. Unfortunately this leaves it to the painter to paint the texture on. "
Is that really true - i honestly don't know - even if that is the case, i would have thought some compromises could have been made to produce a figure that is easier to paint?
Its also the first time i've ever heard Hasslefree figures described as "larger"... ;)
I really admire your work, but honestly still can't decide if the figures warrant the effort you've gone to.
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As for the hair, it seems to be an issue with that particular head only. The other heads with hair actually seem to have texture, so I updated my blog in regards to that. Honestly I think it's just that the company is relatively new, and so the sculptors are working out the kinks. It has never stopped me from buying figs before.
As for Hasslefree, aren't they on the bigger side? Even beside some GW stuff I think they are in some cases. Big in a fun cartoony way that most miniatures are, but big none the less :) I would recommend the WF figs, they are a lot of fun on top of everything else :) Now, I can hardly wait until WF releases their 28mm vikings! I have 200 unpainted, I want 200 more!!!!!
Thanks,
n.
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Thanks for posting and nice piccies. I guess the way you painted them is about as good as it gets with these models detail-wise (unless you really want to paint everything on freehand). The legs of the army Zed are the shortest on the sprue and the only pair that really looks too small, the other legs are much better in size and proportion.
I built one of the WF zeds and in size they line up with other 28mm's (EM4) quite well but they are slimmer, like Cold War zombies. I would have liked slightly bigger heads as at the moment they are pretty tiny but overall they're fine filler I think.
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Thanks for posting and nice piccies. I guess the way you painted them is about as good as it gets with these models detail-wise (unless you really want to paint everything on freehand). The legs of the army Zed are the shortest on the sprue and the only pair that really looks too small, the other legs are much better in size and proportion.
It could be as good as it gets... I appreciate the kinds words, but I am sure a more talented painter could do more :)
As far as the legs go, you have opened that can of worms on scale really :) With your average miniature, bent legged or not, the figures tend to stand about the same size. Note the Road Kill cop on the far right hand side of the image; he's leaning back, but is as tall as a 28mm mini could be! With the army zombie there, they bent the legs and actually kept them the correct proportion to his body, making him look shorter... Which is technically correct, just not what we are used to :)
I am looking forward to the female Wargames Factories zombies to be honest!
thanks,
n.
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I am looking forward to the female Wargames Factories zombies to be honest!
If only we could get more people to sign up (http://www.wargamesfactory.com/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=39985). ;)
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Just pre-ordered 5.
I hope people will pre order some!
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Thanks for the photo , you've made a good job of the painting . I'm still undecided about them though , but that could be me just running out of enthusiasm with painting Zombies as I'm on the 100 mark now.
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that could be me just running out of enthusiasm with painting Zombies as I'm on the 100 mark now.
Take a break for a few days and maybe paint some survivors....or have a go at a couple of conversions - painting shouldn't become a chore!
For example, what happens when a zombie gets attacked by a bunch of students armed with a paintball gun....?
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/P1020581-1.jpg)
;)
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Those p[lastic zombies are such awful models, I really cant see why anyone would waste money on tat like that....
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Those p[lastic zombies are such awful models, I really cant see why anyone would waste money on tat like that....
24 zombies for ?14, my friend. I've been tempted several times, but haven't given in... yet (the first time I was tempted I bought from you instead, the second time from Studio Miniatures. I'm not sure what will happen if I get tempted a third time...)
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For example, what happens when a zombie gets attacked by a bunch of students armed with a paintball gun....?
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/P1020581-1.jpg)
lol Nice!. I love the traffic cone on the head and sign on his back.
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that could be me just running out of enthusiasm with painting Zombies as I'm on the 100 mark now.
Take a break for a few days and maybe paint some survivors....or have a go at a couple of conversions - painting shouldn't become a chore!
For example, what happens when a zombie gets attacked by a bunch of students armed with a paintball gun....?
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/AKULADEEP/P1020581-1.jpg)
;)
Love that cone and might have to borrow the idea. 8)
I'm still painting Undead lol I've just done the John Jenkins Hopping Vampires and Jade Mummy plus some Amazon Zombie Germans . I am in the process of painting some Undead WW2 Germans converted from some truly awful BTD Greatcoated Germans . :-[
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thanks you for size comparison
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To be honest I got excited ordered a couple of sets, made them, painted them (pretty damn quick for me as well, did all of them in a couple of days) and then ended up ordering loads of metal ones as I was dissapointed with them when on the table.
But as fillers for a massive hoard they are fine, we have just been playing the 'zombies' in games so wanted them to have more 'character', which is where the other fine figs you can get kick in well. Although in theory the WF ones would be easy to convert.
RJ