Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: black hat miniatures on 24 October 2012, 09:21:10 PM

Title: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: black hat miniatures on 24 October 2012, 09:21:10 PM
(http://www.blackhat.co.uk/images/WW1/halfling.jpg)

This is a test sculpt for a WW1 French Halfling officer with the idea of providing opposition to the WW1 Goblin range.

I'm hoping to produce early and late uniformed halflings, plus the usual riflemen, machine gunners, etc. 

At the moment I am trying to judge what interest there would be and what else people would like to see.

thanks

Mike
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Timbor on 25 October 2012, 01:01:59 AM
Nice sculpt!  Not my area of specialty, so I doubt I would be buying, but I imagine those who are into weird war stuff would like it  ;)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 25 October 2012, 01:40:25 AM

I love WWI, I love the French Army and I love Halfling...I'm in!  lol
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Thantsants on 25 October 2012, 01:49:11 AM
Not my area either but they do look like fun - all the best with it!

Any plans for a cooking pot/ beer barrel tank?  ;)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Maspalio on 25 October 2012, 08:10:58 AM
Good !!!  :-* :-*

Allons enfants de la patrie !!!

it could be fun to make some bearded halflings to recall the poilus (beware not making dwarves  lol lol)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 25 October 2012, 09:45:31 AM
I loooooove it! Would have preferred Gnomes to be fully honest, but they should be easy enough to convert. Give them beards and shoes and I'm set!!!

Fantastic stuff, I hope to see more.
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Conquistador on 25 October 2012, 01:32:31 PM
Nice sculpt!  Not my area of specialty, so I doubt I would be buying, but I imagine those who are into weird war stuff would like it  ;)

same.  same, same, disagree  slightly.

WWW2 turned me off to the whole Weird War thing initially but I no longer feel so negatively about the concept - just still won't consider playing it.  I have the impression that WWW (1 or 2) is more "verge of the Apocalypse" (Pre-apocalyptic?) or very dark SFRPG style looking games.  These are more, (IMPBO) a blend of Fantasy (halfling, goblin) and historical looking weaponry (replacing nationality with race/species.)  IIRC, there are currently "large 28 mm" WW 1 style halfling figures in a current line of miniatures (Hassle Free?) on hte market.  How would these compare to those?  I could see someone pitting "British halflings versus "French" halflings ina  re-imagined "historical" WW1 skirmish game.

Gracias,

Glenn

IMPBO = In My Poor Benighted Opinion -hopefully not beknighted...
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: DeafNala on 25 October 2012, 02:03:51 PM
VERY COOL IDEA & you did a FINE job bringing them to life. I wonder how well they'd work with the Quar. That aside, VERY WELL DONE!

Not my area either but they do look like fun - all the best with it!

Any plans for a cooking pot/ beer barrel tank?  ;)

In keeping with the Arms Race, the Goblins will be needing Mechanize Mega Mushrooms.
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 25 October 2012, 09:23:13 PM
Conquistador, I agree. Less weird war, more fantasy.

It's natural progression, most Fantasy backgrounds are set in Medieval or Dark Ages really. Warhammer even pushes into the boundaries of Horse and Musket.

Flintloque, Pax Bochemannica, Panzerfauste and the ranges of miniatures from Black Hat and Hasslefree (Even White Knight's Landschnecht Fantasy, along with Foundry) all promote this idea. Each has a distinct flavour, but I'd say it all came about from an article in a wargames magazines many moons ago, before Flintloque came around. This is according to Steve Blease, who is the owner of Wessex Games and was a big part in the development of the original Flintloque game. The article, IIRC was discussing Marlburian Goblins, why not!

Some people think it is 'too soon'. I can see where they are coming from, but that is why I think it is important that if you make it into a game, it only loosely follows the actual history. Just be careful about what you say. Panzerfauste, for example, has no 'German dictator' type dwarf, it would be in very poor taste! It's a mix of WW1 and WW2 smashed about with a bit of Tolkien and a dollop of playful fun.

I'm looking forward to seeing where Black Hat go, alongside the Hasslefree British Halflings and soon to be released Dwarf Russians there should be enough to get some good games going.

I for one am dying for some larger races! Bring in the Orcs, the Elves, the Undead, the Trolls and Ogres! However much I like diminuative fantasy races, I want some normal ones too!!!
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 25 October 2012, 09:23:54 PM
p.s. I will be buying these, in bulk, in multiples too I am sure.
Any chance you could put these ranges into 'unit packs' too. It would save a lot of headaches!!!
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: SBRPearce on 26 October 2012, 01:55:33 PM
Quote
It's a mix of WW1 and WW2 smashed about with a bit of Tolkien and a dollop of playful fun.

Add a dash of psychedalica and you have the Ralph Bakshi movie "Wizards"... (For example, if you can lay your hands on any of the OOP miniatures for the Kenzer wargame "Fairy Meat" and the gnome-mechanics supplement entitled "Clockwork Stomp", you're golden. And I think that Zombiesmith's Quar fit in with the "Wizards" theme too.)

Yet another game that will never happen, buit it's fuin to contemplate. Though, as may pal Scott says "That's, um,specialized."
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: workerBee on 26 October 2012, 07:08:43 PM
<snip>

Some people think it is 'too soon'. I can see where they are coming from, but that is why I think it is important that if you make it into a game, it only loosely follows the actual history. <snip>

I'm looking forward to seeing where Black Hat go, alongside the Hasslefree British Halflings and soon to be released Dwarf Russians there should be enough to get some good games going.

I for one am dying for some larger races! Bring in the Orcs, the Elves, the Undead, the Trolls and Ogres! However much I like diminuative fantasy races, I want some normal ones too!!!

Well,I am sure there are a group of people who are wondering, "Why did it take so long?"   :o As a person who covets the "M-i-i-i-i-i-c-e in S-p-a-a-a-a-a-c-e!"  miniatures  :o  :o I suppose I should never call anyone's vision as 'niche' no matter what induced that 'vision' if truth be known.   lol  ::)

Even if I never buy a single miniature along these lines I will certainly enjoy seeing them come to fruition.   ;)   :)

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 26 October 2012, 07:19:39 PM
Believe me, I have played games with these kinds of models before and sometimes people just get offended because of how few years have really passed since then.

Even now people complain about the Russians being undead in Flintloque and Alternative Armies can no longer paint their Halflings with Dark Skin.

I will buy anything that comes out. I'll stress I prefer fantasy races to anthropomorphic. Flintloque has gone about as far I would like, perhaps a little further with the rabbits, Dogs (gnolls) and Toads (Slann), I can handle, but anything else starts to get silly.

As I said before, I'd recommend gnomes for the French. It's different, no one else has done it and they can be somewhere between a Halfling and a dwarf. The Russian Dwarves that Hasslefree are about to put out are very stocky, typical of Bob Olley. With that in mind, the gnomes could be somewhere inbetween the two, with smaller, neater beards.
Look at the gnomes for Panzerfauste and then 'update' them.  ;) That would be my dreeaaam!
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: workerBee on 26 October 2012, 07:33:22 PM
Believe me, I have played games with these kinds of models before and sometimes people just get offended because of how few years have really passed since then.

Even now people complain about the Russians being undead in Flintloque and Alternative Armies can no longer paint their Halflings with Dark Skin.

I will buy anything that comes out. I'll stress I prefer fantasy races to anthropomorphic. Flintloque has gone about as far I would like, perhaps a little further with the rabbits, Dogs (gnolls) and Toads (Slann), I can handle, but anything else starts to get silly.

As I said before, I'd recommend gnomes for the French. It's different, no one else has done it and they can be somewhere between a Halfling and a dwarf. The Russian Dwarves that Hasslefree are about to put out are very stocky, typical of Bob Olley. With that in mind, the gnomes could be somewhere inbetween the two, with smaller, neater beards.
Look at the gnomes for Panzerfauste and then 'update' them.  ;) That would be my dreeaaam!

Doesn't Brigade Games do ethnic flavored gun toting gnomes?

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 26 October 2012, 07:49:07 PM

That may sound like an odd request but would it be possible to have pictures of these figures with Copplestone, Brigade or Artizan figures… for "scale" reference?




...and, as a side note, Brigade Games do have a whole "Gnome War" range 8)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 26 October 2012, 08:10:23 PM
Doesn't Brigade Games do ethnic flavored gun toting gnomes?

Gracias,

Glenn


Those Gnomes are huge and based on the 'garden gnome' rather than the 'fantasy gnome'. In their own game, they are quite fun, but in another, they would dwarf normal models!!!
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Conquistador on 26 October 2012, 09:56:24 PM
Those Gnomes are huge and based on the 'garden gnome' rather than the 'fantasy gnome'. In their own game, they are quite fun, but in another, they would dwarf normal models!!!

Never seen one live.

Interesting.

Gracias,

GLENN
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 26 October 2012, 10:00:53 PM

They are huge indeed... and can't really be used with other ranges. That's also the reason why I would like to see pictures of these Halfling and Goblins WWI figures with some "historical" figures 8)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 27 October 2012, 11:34:41 PM
They come in at around 22mm tall I'd say. They scale up to around the same size as Hasslefree's halflings, which are teeny weeny!

But yeah, some photos would be handy!!!  :)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: bollix on 28 October 2012, 05:40:19 PM
I love these. I'd purchase, though only the early war version (for both Goblins and Halflings).
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 28 October 2012, 05:54:12 PM
When can we expect to see some of the Halflings released? I'd rather like some...
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: black hat miniatures on 28 October 2012, 07:42:17 PM
Hi

Many thanks for the comments and apologies for the delay in replying - my PC Motherboard died on Friday morning so I've been offline for a while.  Currently using a borrowed laptop to catch up...

I am still looking at the range of French and talking to another sculptor about a test sculpt to see what he comes up with.  I am still a little uncertain of the market for these so want to test the waters before I commit.

It is a possible project for Kickstarter to raise the funds to cover the sculpting costs....

I don't expect to release the range of French until the start of next year (probably) - there is only one test sculpt at the moment!

thanks

Mike
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 28 October 2012, 07:48:24 PM
I would imagine the impetus for a range such as this would be rules. Being able to play games with the miniatures you buy is always a bonus. Minis on their own sell well enough to Lead Adventurers and the like, but otherwise, people look for games to play I think. I especially think this is the case because WW1 Fantasy is quite specialist!!!
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: black hat miniatures on 28 October 2012, 08:00:39 PM
Perhaps - thought it wouldn't be too difficult to add rules for fantasy twists to the Great War rules, or others like it such as the Qaur rulesets.

I'm already thinking about a tall military advisor with a beard and a staff...

Mike
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 28 October 2012, 08:22:26 PM
That would be awesome Mike!!!

Just thinking factions:

Dwarves - Ereborovich
Halflings (Brit) - Greater Kindred (The Shires)
Halflings (French) - Brande Burque
Goblins - Der Meinen aus Muria (ACHTUNG! CAVE TROLL!)

I would still love to see larger beings mixed in, perhaps as minor nations too. Orcs, Ogres or Trolls could be Austo-Hungarian. You could have Ottoman Undead, Polish Centaurs. There's no reason I guess why you couldn't have mixed races wearing the same uniforms?

As for the Halfling (or gnome!) French, you could have them riding dogs! The Belgians used Mastiffs to pull Machine Guns in real history...

Twists to the great war rules would be great, if they weren't out of print. :(
Akula made some nice simple rules, but some of it you have to kind of 'make up on the fly', which I have no problem with, but some may...
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: The Gray Ghost on 28 October 2012, 10:10:56 PM
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8132667299_17241d7af4_m.jpg)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Conquistador on 28 October 2012, 10:43:24 PM
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8132667299_17241d7af4_m.jpg)

I don't know the size of the other figures (I don't own any GW products due to personal choice/prejudice) but that aside those gnomes are rather tall!

Thank you for the picture!

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 28 October 2012, 11:11:28 PM
As I said, great models in their own right, but they aren't any good for range crossovers really.

Cheers for the pic. :)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 28 October 2012, 11:47:55 PM
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll206/Calimero_34/Photo292.jpg)

Brigade Games Gnomes are huge indeed but what I really would like to see is pictures of these WWI Goblins with some historical figures... :?
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 29 October 2012, 07:40:54 AM
You know what though, with the right conversion, I'm thinking ogres...
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: white knight on 29 October 2012, 10:00:46 AM
True, they might be a good match for the halflings as ogres. Or halflings that took some growing potion.

Either way, I think the test model looks great and works well with the goblins. I wouldn't worry too much at what other ranges are out there as this is about your vision.
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: rob_the_robgoblin on 30 October 2012, 12:00:53 PM
Mike was nice enough to send me a sample miniature of the French halfling, so I will do some comparison shots for you lot soon. :)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 30 October 2012, 02:01:22 PM

Cool, thanks 8)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Vern on 30 October 2012, 08:02:27 PM
Having the Goblins, Russians & Kindred, I'm certainly interested in this potential range  :)

My own preference would be for gnomes (or maybe lutin, whatever they look like ;)), but halflings don't put me off.
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 21 November 2012, 12:35:36 PM

Any news on this project?
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: black hat miniatures on 22 November 2012, 11:36:08 AM
Any news on this project?

Work has started with the plan being a Kickstarter launched in January to try and build a complete range as fast as possible.

thanks

Mike
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Calimero on 22 November 2012, 12:33:30 PM

Cool, thanks for the heads up 8)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: white knight on 22 November 2012, 12:43:37 PM
Work has started with the plan being a Kickstarter launched in January to try and build a complete range as fast as possible.

Based on which of the two test sculpts? :)
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: Conquistador on 22 November 2012, 03:06:33 PM
Based on which of the two test sculpts? :)

Very excellent question!

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: WW1 French Halflings - Test Sculpt
Post by: black hat miniatures on 22 November 2012, 03:23:14 PM
The second test sculpt but with a smaller head....

Mike