Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Haak0n on February 10, 2020, 08:13:06 PM
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Hi guys!
At the ripe age of 32 and with a newborn baby I have decided to jump into this hobby again. I have already bought some Warhammer 40k miniatures but I'm also very interested in collecting historical minis, especially vikings or normans.
I have already done some research and I have found a number of shops online which sell 28mm miniatures that I like. Before I buy anything I'd like to ask the people on this forum on their opinions or if they know about any producers which I have missed out on.
So what do you guys think about:
Footsore miniatures: https://footsoreminiatures.co.uk/collections/vikings (https://footsoreminiatures.co.uk/collections/vikings)
Warlord games: https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/vikings (https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/vikings)
Gripping Beast: https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/The_Viking_Age--category--24.html (https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/The_Viking_Age--category--24.html)
Perry miniatures: https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_33_52 (https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_33_52)
The models all look great, and I will most likely mix and match between the different ranges to begin with. If I stay in the hobby I will probably buy a plastic box set from Victrix.
The models are all 28mm, but how do they compare in terms of size and proportions? Will they work well together if I mix them together and put them in a formation?
Best regards
- Haakon
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Hi Haakon,
I've recently returned to the fold too so welcome back :)
To be honest I tend to mix and match mini's, unless there's a huge difference in size when they are painted up it becomes much less of an issue.
The best advice I could give is to maybe order a pack of each of the metals (a sprue if you go the plastic route) and see what you think yourself(?).
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Gripping Beast were most people's go to firm for Dark ages for quite a while, I personally prefer Footsore now, but I've just bought a pack of Victrix Saxons. They'll all mix in nicely, they're all good figure ranges you've listed. Sorry I'm not much help.
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Finished a 10mm Viking army a few months ago; they look good that way (though I think for once there's something to be said for 28mm, given how often games are likely to be skirmishes and gangster scraps). I like to remember that they laid siege to Seville, Constantinople, and Paris too.
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The Warlord metal Vikings, Saxons and Normans were sculpted by Colin Patten, who also did the earlier Gripping Beast figures. I find the Warlord ones are more refined — better proportion and dynamism, but they fit in well together and you could mix and match easily in a single group/unit. The Warlord and GB figures have open hands that you fit weapons into, which can be fiddly, and soft spears that bend quite easily, so think about buying or making wire spears for them.
The Perry crusaders make great Normans, although you may want to pick figures carefully or do some minor conversions to use them for a British or Northern European setting. They are similar height wise to the Warlord figures, but are a bit slighter — more realistically proportioned or delicate, depending on how you look at it. You could mix them with Warlord/GB in an army, but not necessarily in a unit. I really like these figures and if Perry produced more ranges for this period I would buy them all.
I have no experience with footsore but they look really nice.
The Victrix Vikings are great. They are a little bigger than the Warlord metals, and different in style because they lean in to popular stereotypes about Vikings — crazed expressions, wild hair, very dynamic poses. I’d mix them in an army with Warlord, but not necessarily on the same base or in the same unit.
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This base has Footsore and Gripping Beast (older and newer) mini's on; they fit together seamlessly IMHO.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kq0CClUXFhg/VowAkAYpitI/AAAAAAAAqRI/xwwI7C11RvA/s1600/P1060440.JPG)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fdGf_8SSSE/VowAo0-IhiI/AAAAAAAAqRw/i1l1YUe8by4/s1600/P1060445.JPG)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Am3_AseEKhk/VowAr0L4pHI/AAAAAAAAqSI/or6GIeDxIUE/s1600/P1060448.JPG)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu6jzq7ND6Y/VowAscT0ZWI/AAAAAAAAqSM/DCbt8nEiZLA/s1600/P1060449.JPG)
I'm sure I have some bases with Perry Normans mixed in with a lot of other stuff (see my post above) but I will have to take a pic or two to show you. They're cavalry bases if that's OK?
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All the options already mentioned are good, although I find Gripping Beast to be a bit of a mixed bag - some of their stuff is nice and some is lumpy and ugly, all are quite big compared to other ranges. Different sculptors and different times when originally released I guess. Conquest Games also do some nice plastic Normans.
The Victrix Vikings are my choice of plastic Vikings and for metals one option not mentioned are the old Citadel Vikings and Normans (both ranges by the Perry's), now sold by Foundry.
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Thanks for the input and the pictures guys. It's very helpful!
Right now I'm considering buying a basic infantry unit from each of the different producers, just to see how they compare with my own eyes.
I assume I have to order the units from their respective websites, unless there's a handy online store where I can order all of them at once to save on shipping.
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If you hit eBay you can probably snatch single sprues as a taster if you don't want to spend money on full plastic boxed sets. For plastic Normans, I'm waiting on the upcoming Victrix sets, although they will be at least months if not year/s away.
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You can find most of them here mate, http://www.northstarfigures.com
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Hello,
For me there is a clear winner and that are the Victrix plastics. Their vikings and saxons are fantastic and their normans will be even better. Than after Victrix there is Footsore miniatures metals and V&V miniatures resin.
The Footsore miniatures are bit smaller than the Victrix plastics and the V&V miniatures are bigger, imo to big to mix in the same unit.
The above companies are imo the toppers. I really don't like the Gripping Beast miniatures. Don't like their plastics or the metals. There is no concistency in scale or quality.
Here is a conversion I just did with a Footsore Late Saxon huscarl (released two weeks ago) and I used a Victrix plastic viking hand with axe. I will also use a victrix shield with transfer.
It looks great imo. :D
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve30f6xkc726i30/Converted%20Saxon1.jpg?dl=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/uxx0n6p0d5reyjd/Converted%20Saxon2.jpg?dl=1)
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I have happily mixed Footsore, Artizan, Black Tree (I have always had great service but many haven't), Crusader, GB plastic and the odd Foundry.
Footsore has the nicer figures and Foundry has some great personalities.
GB plastics were useful in their day but I suspect Victrix plastics are better. On a side note, GB plastics are good if you are doing fantasy and have some extra orc heads. Many of the poses are that odd knees-bent slightly hunched forward look.
A lot of the older metals have very short Dane axes and would be seen now as historically incorrect.
Artizan and Black tree have highly variable size of figures. One is an absolute giant - but for Vikings you do want a few of these - and a couple are short, but short people can be blood-crazed, psychotic killers too.
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I think there's a bit of an art to mixing and matching models. Not all will mix (V&V are huge for example). Most will.
Crusader (large-obliquely) and Perry (smaller and slighter):
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXQ1zik1w9k/XjnpPkAPwpI/AAAAAAABC2A/643wSiVOnxc4F9vNZ_0VLiYsZSCC4OSSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P1000236.jpeg)
Artizan (Large), Gripping Beast (old Patten Sculpt (slighter, smaller) and Essex (slightest and smallest of all):
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BXtAJt8MTc/XinwOnfxTOI/AAAAAAABCu0/gSY7GHcbnxAvBYxuEXE51kdas0uiLlIkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P1000105.jpeg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BXtAJt8MTc/XinwOnfxTOI/AAAAAAABCu0/gSY7GHcbnxAvBYxuEXE51kdas0uiLlIkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P1000105.jpeg)
Crusader and (new Saxons) Wargames Foundry (new Saxons)- both large by stylistically quite different:
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yb2Uj1Q8ppk/XiCivRcUCEI/AAAAAAABCqk/NwV9friGHu8-mSNw6hL5WXMDnHzbWsymACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P1000097.jpeg)
Footsore (we will take Footsore as a mean average), Saxon Miniatures (Now Warlord- slighter) and Artizan Designs (Large)(Perry Casualty):
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOW6pfCCBiA/XhNjyZm-DlI/AAAAAAABChQ/YDn0hpBRetsCGsIoJFij76o-SwNaukj-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P1000005%2B%25282%2529.jpeg)
Paining up a unit can certainly help with size discrepancies. I think of a size differential between miniatures the problem would appear to be more obvious with single based miniatures.
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Haakon,
You've like proceeded by now but for any future purchases I would emphasize that within the 28mm ranges size variations really shouldn't matter a great deal in this period. Given that all equipment was individually crafted and often bespoke to the warrior the differences aren't as worrisome as later periods.
I have a Norman army and want to do Vikings also. I have Old Glory, Gripping Beast and Crusader Miniatures in my Norman army and they all rub along nicely. The only down side for Gripping Beast is properly fitting weapons to their open hands - I find much cutting and filing is required.
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I have a Norman army and want to do Vikings also. I have Old Glory, Gripping Beast and Crusader Miniatures in my Norman army and they all rub along nicely. The only down side for Gripping Beast is properly fitting weapons to their open hands - I find much cutting and filing is required.
Yep, mix and match, with the caveat (which I should have mentioned earlier) that you are thinking of multi basing. I think mixing manufacturers works better that way.
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Haakon,
You've like proceeded by now but for any future purchases I would emphasize that within the 28mm ranges size variations really shouldn't matter a great deal in this period. Given that all equipment was individually crafted and often bespoke to the warrior the differences aren't as worrisome as later periods.
I have a Norman army and want to do Vikings also. I have Old Glory, Gripping Beast and Crusader Miniatures in my Norman army and they all rub along nicely. The only down side for Gripping Beast is properly fitting weapons to their open hands - I find much cutting and filing is required.
Yep, mix and match, with the caveat (which I should have mentioned earlier) that you are thinking of multi basing. I think mixing manufacturers works better that way.
I actually have not bought anything yet. My newborn has kept me busy so far ;) I still haven't decided which miniatures to buy, and from who. I quite like the crusades range from Perry, but the model range isn't that big. Will these guys mix well with Footsore, Warlord and Gripping Beast(including plastics)? I keep reading different things in terms of size, quality etc.
I don't mind mixing units from different model ranges, as long as they aren't too different in terms of size and sculpts.
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Foundry Vikings and Normans are amongst my favourites.
Normans by Matthew Bickley
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/normans (https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/normans)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1505/0474/products/NM015_1024x1024.png?v=1495983944)
Vikings;
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/dark-age-vikings-warriors-berserkers-valkyries-shieldmaidens-champions-thor-odin-saga (https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/dark-age-vikings-warriors-berserkers-valkyries-shieldmaidens-champions-thor-odin-saga)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1505/0474/products/VIK53_1024x1024.jpg?v=1571231141)
Also the older Citadel Perry ones (Vikings, Saxons and Normas);
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/original-perry-vikings-normans-and-anglo-saxons-1066-and-all-that (https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/original-perry-vikings-normans-and-anglo-saxons-1066-and-all-that)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1505/0474/products/VNS006_1024x1024.png?v=1495984768)
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I really like the old Perry Normans, but those Matthew Bickley ones are superb; I like the unusual poses.
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I mix any make and tie it in by painting similarly. That way everything goes well together.
Normans: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56524.0
Vikings: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=109097.msg1536737#msg1536737
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I mix any make and tie it in by painting similarly. That way everything goes well together.
Normans: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56524.0
Vikings: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=109097.msg1536737#msg1536737
It's the way to go.
I popped over to your links and your painting is fab, lovely and crisp 8) 8) 8)
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Gripping Beast, Perry, Warlord, Foundry, and Victrix all mix well together. Even V&V works well for character figures, such as generals.
My Normans are a mix of Perry, Gripping Beast, Crusader, and Conquest Games.
https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-39995-28671_Gesta%20Normannorum%20-%20Normans.html (https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-39995-28671_Gesta%20Normannorum%20-%20Normans.html)
The Pueri are a mix of GB and Conquest Games with some putty to tie it together. The Milites are either Perry or Gripping Beast (I have some Conquest ones sitting around somewhere). Foot are mostly Perry but the Bows are Crusader.
My Vikings are a mix of Foundry, Artizan, Warlord (Saxon Miniatures), Redbox Games (as a single unit this scales fine with the rest), Shadowforge/Foundry, and some of the WGF plastic.
https://www.dakkadakka.com/core/gallery-search.jsp?p=1&u=39995&g=28821&ll=3&auction=0&unapproved=0&coolnesslow=0&coolnesshigh=10&paintjoblow=0&paintjobhigh=10&sort1=7&sort2=0&skip=30&en=&st=&utype=&start=0 (https://www.dakkadakka.com/core/gallery-search.jsp?p=1&u=39995&g=28821&ll=3&auction=0&unapproved=0&coolnesslow=0&coolnesshigh=10&paintjoblow=0&paintjobhigh=10&sort1=7&sort2=0&skip=30&en=&st=&utype=&start=0)
Recently I've started work on some Victrix plastic vikings, and they scale well with the above manufacturers.
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Might be a bit late to this post, but...I find everything other than Victrix lacks the same quality tbh. just look at the detail victrix Vikings have. their Normans, and their next dark age product(dark age archers) will be even better.
compare the photos others have to that of footsore/gripping beast metals for example. the chainmail on victrix is so pronounced. on the metals, you can barely see it. This is why i don't purchase metal models other than Steel Fist Miniatures(the best metals in the world imo) even GB plastics suck. in fact most other competition does.
you're paying extra for less quality and less options. some people also love to build plastics. my answer to you is to buy a set of victrix vikings, build one sprue, see how you like it. if they're great, build more. get some gallic cavalry from victrix kitbash the viking bodies ontop then you get a few viking raider cavalry(go for the newest cavalry box for best quality, i believe it is the gallic ones) wait for the dark age VD004 box to be released, then you have archers. get some spears/shields left over from the vikings and turn a few of those archers into levy skirmishers with javelins cut down and glued behind the shield.
if you end up hating it, sell the sprues individually on ebay and make your money back. i did that with the dacian set as i couldn't find sprues on ebay and just wanted one sprue made.
if you can't wait for the bows, victrix dacians has some bows(i believe 8 can be made) or buy conquest games medieval archers and use the viking heads on them ;)
the possibilities with a great kit like victrix plastics are insane if you think outside the box.
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Which ruleset are you planning to use?
If appropriate, and given you've a newborn where space and budget maybe an issue there's a whole heap in 1/72
http://plasticsoldierreview.com/PeriodList.aspx?period=6
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the possibilities with a great kit like victrix plastics are insane if you think outside the box.
They don’t actually come in a box, but the sentiment is undeniable.
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I mix and match too. I have found it the best way to get as much variation as possible into a Shieldwall formation.
The latest unit from my Anglo Danish army..... a mix of Gripping Beast, Footsore (older and newer sculpts), Wargames Foundry, Saxon Miniatures (now sold by Warlord) and Drabant in that little lot.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIDqxUCpDJo/X_xDm_7IS_I/AAAAAAABFkc/RfLKyeiYU6ETthsj1EWaF_HODtl85KGBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ANGLO%2BDANES%2BUNIT%2BFOUR%2BABOVE%2B1B.jpg)
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Conquest Games makes the best value Normans (foot, archers and cavalry) in 28mm.
They are nice.
Metals are nice, too. Just don’t pay metal prices for plastic.
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A bit of thread'o'mancy here instead of making a new topic. I'm looking to expand my range or normans, and even though I'm aware that people can come in different shapes or sizes, I was wondering how the Foundry horses scale up to Footsore and Gripping Beast? I've seached for comparison pictures, but I only get footsoldiers. If anyone have a clue and would like to help a man out, feel free to chime in!
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A bit of thread'o'mancy here instead of making a new topic. I'm looking to expand my range or normans, and even though I'm aware that people can come in different shapes or sizes, I was wondering how the Foundry horses scale up to Footsore and Gripping Beast?
If you're talking about the Foundry Viking horses then they are smaller but as they didn't have formalised cavalry then they are about the right size. Note, the Foundry Viking horses are a little larger then most Foundry ranges such as their Late Romans.
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Thanks, that's nice to know, especially that they're a bit bigger. I have a load of their barded horses for the HYW, and they're quite small. I was specifically looking at these: https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/normans/products/nm009-william-the-conqueror
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Thanks, that's nice to know, especially that they're a bit bigger. I have a load of their barded horses for the HYW, and they're quite small. I was specifically looking at these: https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/normans/products/nm009-william-the-conqueror
They're not too bad and would fit with most other manufacturers. They are a little smaller than the generic (old) eBob licensed horses most ranges seem to use nowadays.