Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: area23 on March 12, 2012, 08:27:17 PM
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I don't know how this range has passed under the radar, but I only discovered them yesterday.
I really need these as a warband of roman era bandits, brigands, escaped slaves and citizens gone native.
Gossip on the internet says that this range was sold to Aventine around the time Mark Copplestone left Foundry and started Copplestone Castings.
http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=52_54
(http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/images/SP07.JPG)
(http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/images/SP08.JPG)
(http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/catalog/images/SP10B.JPG)
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Yes, they are Copplestones. However, to my knowledge these were originally part of the Companion Miniatures range which continued the Republican Romans Mr Copplestone had sculpted for Foundry. Intention of the models shown here was a complimentary range for the Spartacus revolt.
When Companion took a hiatus (actually it was closed down) their figures got somewhat dispersed. Aventine then purchased quite a few of them from someone else, but unfortunately there seem to be some property issues, for Companion isn't dead yet. So Aventine released just the packs which hadn't been available previously.
I take it they still own a whole lot of ex-Companion Romans. Would so love to see these get a re-release. They were fabulous. :'(
For reference (sadly NOT MINE, please refer to this blog (http://puxty.blogspot.com/2010/11/red-and-romans.html)):
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4RrTETDEBt8/TO_RYHTO7OI/AAAAAAAABG4/YNGHlBcdF-M/s1600/5.JPG)
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Here's a bit of the story on the Aventine site I had not seen before:
http://www.aventineminiatures.co.uk/page17.html
I always believed Companion were Copplestone's Roman dollies reworked by Jim Bowen, but clearly there was much more!
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This Spartacus range is an awesome must-have. I've spotted them some months ago and put them to the to-buy list. Thanks for reminder, ordered the whole range.
Btw, I guess these Copplestone Foundry minis are also the part of this range:
(http://wargamesfoundry.com/_images/thumbs/CIV011_1257441815_380x250.png)
(http://wargamesfoundry.com/_images/thumbs/CIV009_1257441736_380x250.png)
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Nice find! Might have to get those.
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Looked around on the sites posted on this thread.
There are some great figures.
I just don't need more periods to add to the lead pile.
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Hi folks
Just to clear up a few points above.
Companion miniatures were sold to the current owner some years ago, the Spartacus Range was offered but declined at that time so remained the property of the original owner who has given us permission to make and sell them for him, they remain the property of Classical Miniatures his new company. The Caesarean Romans in winter gear we had in our store for a short time were not part of the sale but having spoken to the current owner of Companion I withdrew them from the store as he felt that they were basically his figures with small changes.
Companion miniatures may return as it was certainly mentioned by the current owner during our conversations, as to when and by whom I cannot add.
The Spartacus range is a nice small set that can be adapted into many uses, we will also swap the shields for any we currently produce.
Hope that helps
Keith
Aventine Miniatures
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That helps indeed, thanks for the clarification, Keith!
and welcome to LAF :)
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Btw, I guess these Copplestone Foundry minis are also the part of this range:
(http://wargamesfoundry.com/_images/thumbs/CIV011_1257441815_380x250.png)
(http://wargamesfoundry.com/_images/thumbs/CIV009_1257441736_380x250.png)
:o
are these really from Copplestone?
I know foundry launched them a couple of years ago, I know this because I've bought the full collection at that time but I guessed that they were from their newer sculptors...
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:o
are these really from Copplestone?
I know foundry launched them a couple of years ago, I know this because I've bought the full collection at that time but I guessed that they were from their newer sculptors...
I didn’t know they were Copplestone as well till I’ve bought the Ancient Civilians range. Looking at the minis I’ve seen it’s Copplestone, without doubt, everything on them is copplestonish - faces, bodies etc. At least if you’re going to compare them to other his stuff like Africa, you would see it can only be Copplestone. Very lovely sculpts and a real find.
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I didn’t know they were Copplestone as well till I’ve bought the Ancient Civilians range. Looking at the minis I’ve seen it’s Copplestone, without doubt, everything on them is copplestonish - faces, bodies etc. At least if you’re going to compare them to other his stuff like Africa, you would see it can only be Copplestone. Very lovely sculpts and a real find.
I knew that there must have been a logical reason for me to have bought these without thinking twice :)
thanks for the info! One does really learn something everyday on the Lead Adventure Forum! :)
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Thank's for the info, Keith.
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Just got some elephants from them and must say they are top sculpts and a very good company to deal with :D
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Just got some elephants from them and must say they are top sculpts and a very good company to deal with :D
I've ordered yesterday also the African elephants, can't wait now..
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I've ordered yesterday also the African elephants, can't wait now..
Received them today, what a lovely bunch! Very compatible to Foundry Germans/Caesarian Romans/Gladiators. Now I'm looking forward to paint them.
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btw, I shall mention that Keith is really a great fellow, we had nice communication, he delivered quickly and also he put to my order some different shields/javelins/etc for free. Top service!
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Same here. The figs arrived today, with an extra bunch of spears and shields.
Seeing the figs makes me wonder though, did Companion at the time get hold of some Darkest Africa figs as well? It looks as if some were used as a base for the freed slaves.
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Probably Copplestone did use the same dollies.
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:o
are these really from Copplestone?
I know foundry launched them a couple of years ago, I know this because I've bought the full collection at that time but I guessed that they were from their newer sculptors...
No..they are not copplestone sculpts...
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No..they are not copplestone sculpts...
I'm quite sure they are. You just need to compare them to the Copplestone Africa and other stuff to see the similarities. Bodies, faces, everything. No one could imitate Copplestone that good.
If I'm wrong then I need to know the name of the sculptor. Then I would hire that guy for making stuff for LAM :)
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here to compare, on the left is one of the Foundry revolting civilians, on the right Copllestone's Spartacus range (Aventine).
I would say, it's obvious, they are both made by the same sculptor.
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;) I dont think, it is very important who is right.....
We should have fun with the figures we like ...thats is important... ;)
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We should have fun with the figures we like ...thats is important... ;)
that's for sure :)
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While I absolutely agree it's all and only about having fun, for me part of the fun is tracking down Copplestone sculpts. I'm one of this picky guys who wants units all by the same sculptor.
anyway, at the time I only bought some Snot and Grot miniatures, the Fantasy figs sold by Companion (Grenadier miniatures by Copplestone, now sold by Terrain Warehouse). I remember discussions on the Miniatures Page which I frequented a lot at the time. I remember reading somewhere that Companion Miniatures were basically Foundry Caesarians converted by Jim Bowen.
But digging up old discussions on TMP apparently
From what I recall they used the Copplestone unarmoured Caesarians in Montefortinos as dollies, modified with feather crests and with various square and round pectorals. They looked good for what they were, but the origin was fairly obvious.
The 'extra' (over and above the Foundry range) Companion Caesarians were modified by Michael Percy according to the site – I guess the Republicans were the same?
while
Companion miniatures are just the Foundry Caesarians reworked by the talented Brian Philips. He has a few pics on his site.
I've got some pics of Companion Numidians, and the Aventine Gladiators in my hand it's clear that they are not just dollies but actual miniatures by copplestone with added hair, moustache and clothing. Some of the Gladiators are Africans and I suppose they're either unreleased or converted DA sculpts. and some of the heads are identical with a slight variation of the haircut. :)
Here's the original list of the released Companion Romans I stumbled upon:
http://www.caliverbooks.com/mini/companian/comp_rom.htm