Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: Lost Egg on February 17, 2017, 09:02:16 PM
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So, I've been thinking of getting into 40mm scale after seeing some of Monolith's bronze age minis, sadly they aren't available at the mo though. Anyway, I still kinda like the idea of the scale and was wondering if anyone could recommend some good suppliers or ranges.
Mostly, I'm thinking of either the Dark Ages or Ancients. Sash & Sabre look pretty good as does the England Invaded range from Time Line Miniatures. Any other good ranges out there?
Also, out of interest what sort of games do you use 40mm scale in? I assume it gets favoured for skirmish but then Sash & Sabre sell warriors in packs of 20.
Cheers
EDIT: I have since found a few companies that make 40mm minis as well as those suggested so I thought I'd pop the links here in case anyone is interested...
Hasslefree http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=40mm-artemis~hf4002&category=fantasy-%26%0D%0Asteampunk~40mm-%26-54mm-scale (http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=40mm-artemis~hf4002&category=fantasy-%26%0D%0Asteampunk~40mm-%26-54mm-scale)
Perry Minis https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_42 (https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_42)
Old Glory
Sash & Sabre http://www.oldgloryuk.com/sash-saber-40mm/27 (http://www.oldgloryuk.com/sash-saber-40mm/27)
Romanoff http://www.oldgloryuk.com/40mm-romanoff-miniatures/43 (http://www.oldgloryuk.com/40mm-romanoff-miniatures/43)
Drabant http://www.oldgloryuk.com/40mm-drabant-miniatures/36 (http://www.oldgloryuk.com/40mm-drabant-miniatures/36)
Hoka Hey (Graven Images) https://www.timelineminiatures.co.uk/store/index.php?page=graven-images-36-40-mm-figures (https://www.timelineminiatures.co.uk/store/index.php?page=graven-images-36-40-mm-figures)
Miniature Service Centre http://www.miniatureservicecenter.com (http://www.miniatureservicecenter.com)
Fighting 40s http://www.fighting15sshop.co.uk/fighting-40s-852-c.asp (http://www.fighting15sshop.co.uk/fighting-40s-852-c.asp)
First Legion http://www.firstlegionltd.com/40mmcrusades.aspx (http://www.firstlegionltd.com/40mmcrusades.aspx)
Nurnberger Meisterzinn http://www.bauer-spielwaren.de/en/brands-products/nuernberger-meisterzinn/casting-mould-and-accessories/ (http://www.bauer-spielwaren.de/en/brands-products/nuernberger-meisterzinn/casting-mould-and-accessories/)
Prince August http://www.princeaugust.ie (http://www.princeaugust.ie)
Front Rank http://www.frontrank.com/product-category/40mm-awi/ (http://www.frontrank.com/product-category/40mm-awi/)
Gringo 40s http://www.gringo40s.com (http://www.gringo40s.com)
Irregular Miniatures http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk (http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk)
Miniature Figurines Matchlock Miniatures http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=14&CategoryID=49 (http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=14&CategoryID=49)
CP Models http://www.cpmodelsminiatures.co.uk/40mm%20single%20figures.htm (http://www.cpmodelsminiatures.co.uk/40mm%20single%20figures.htm)
HLBS http://www.hlbs.co.uk/class.php?id=2 (http://www.hlbs.co.uk/class.php?id=2)
Wargames Foundry http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/40mm-american-civil-war (http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/40mm-american-civil-war)
Spencer Smith Miniatures http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/s_t_s_.html (http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/s_t_s_.html)
V&V Miniatures http://vminiatures.com/40-mm/ (http://vminiatures.com/40-mm/)
Knuckleduster http://knuckleduster.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_15 (http://knuckleduster.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_15)
Steve Barber http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/12-40mm-miniatures (http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/12-40mm-miniatures)
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Im slowly building are quite a large collection of 40mm Viking and Saxon figures, which are mostly S&S, with a few from Miniature Service Center, which fit very well with the S&S range.
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I got some 40mm Three Musketeer figures. Then got more for Am Rev skirmish.
Right now I have ordered some of the old Graven Image Gotterdamerung figures.
I like 40mm.
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I use the Little Britons figures from Spencer Smith. The S&S figures are nice and seem to be a fair price. The Miniature Service Centerhttp://www.miniatureservicecenter.com/msc-40mm-vanguard.htm (http://www.miniatureservicecenter.com/msc-40mm-vanguard.htm) has some great figures, they may be latter than Dark Ages but I would think some would work.
I haven't seen these and they are Crusaders but look nice. http://www.firstlegionltd.com/40mmcrusades.aspx (http://www.firstlegionltd.com/40mmcrusades.aspx)
Dan
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Thanks guys :) I'll have a good look through those.
It's a shame that some sites don't seem to have many pics of what they are selling and some don't even clearly state what scale their minis are.
Oh, I'm also interested in Sci-Fi if anyone knows of a good 40mm range there too.
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I, of course, keep alive the former 40mm Flashing Blade range of Ancient Greeks, Skeletons, Napoleonic Cacadores, Dark Ages Saxons and Romano-British. http://www.fighting15sshop.co.uk/fighting-40s-852-c.asp (http://www.fighting15sshop.co.uk/fighting-40s-852-c.asp)
I really have to update the pictures, but then after a redesign of the website I do have several thousand pictures to update...
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(http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah44/rstewartdean/IMGP5242_zpshdwnebeb.jpg) (http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/rstewartdean/media/IMGP5242_zpshdwnebeb.jpg.html)
I've got several hundred French and Indian War figures, which we use with home rules that are similar in scale to Muskets and Tomahawks. So, units of 8-12 figures representing companies. Not man-to-man skirmish, but not fully battle scale either...
The figures are a mix of Nuernberger Meisterzinn and Prince August home cast figures, and Irregular and Sash and Saber commercial figures.
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Front Rank do a very nice range of 40mm AWI. If I was starting AWI again I think I would have opted for these instead of 28mm.
Gringo40 do really nice 40mm stuff but some of their ranges are rather obscure.
Foundry do a nice 40mm ACW range.
Always felt there was a good case for plastics in 40mm.
The S&S stuff is really nice but many of their ranges are incomplete. Their Dark Ages range should be good though for Saga forces.
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Thanks guys.
@Fighting 15s - Good luck updating all those pics, I think it would give me brain-ache. Had a quick look and those skellies look very cool :D
@RS Dean - Nice set up you got there.
@armchairgeneral - Yeah, I don't think I've seen any 40mm plastics...though GW are almost there anyway. I bet a game of SAGA with 40mm minis would be impressive.
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Those Fighting15 40mm Romano-British would tempt me for the new Saga Arthurian supplement if the range was more extensive.
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It looks like most of the notable producers for 40mm have been listed.
The only scale I do AWI in is 40mm, and this is intended as a long term project. Currently I'm using them with a rules set called Light Bobs by Day of Battle, a battalion level set of rules where units are in groups of 4, 6, 8 or 12 figures and typically 4 to 6 units per side, although I've seen and played in games of as many as 12 units per side as well. There are aspects of this rules system that remind me of Saga.
I encourage folks to give 40mm a try. The ease of painting is better than I suspected, and the overall visual quality of the games is different than smaller scales, yet also impressive. There is one guy I know who has significant quantities of 40mm AWI and his games are especially enjoyable when there are so many figures being used on a 4 x 12 playing space, but I'm starting out small, and perhaps one day will work up to that quantity.
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Those Fighting15 40mm Romano-British would tempt me for the new Saga Arthurian supplement if the range was more extensive.
What would you like to see added?
Ian
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@GamesPoet - I must admit that now I've been looking at so many 40mm minis anything smaller is starting to look a bit underwhelming. :D
I've ordered some of the England Invaded minis from Timeline and I'm looking forward to painting them up. I've also started working out a list of minis etc to check out at Salute, really looking forward to it this year as missed out last year.
At some point soon(ish) I'd really like to have a go at sculpting some minis myself, if nothing else I figure sculpting at 40mm will be easier than 28mm.
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Front Rank do a very nice range of 40mm AWI. If I was starting AWI again I think I would have opted for these instead of 28mm.
Wow!
What a nice range!
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@GamesPoet - I must admit that now I've been looking at so many 40mm minis anything smaller is starting to look a bit underwhelming. :D
I've ordered some of the England Invaded minis from Timeline and I'm looking forward to painting them up. I've also started working out a list of minis etc to check out at Salute, really looking forward to it this year as missed out last year.
At some point soon(ish) I'd really like to have a go at sculpting some minis myself, if nothing else I figure sculpting at 40mm will be easier than 28mm.
I remember first seeing 40mm Sash & Saber at a Historicon convention a number of years ago, and seeing them caused me to do a double take. Very impressive looking figures, yet couldn't see myself doing this scale at that time. Initially I was concerned about painting them, yet when a friend of mine gave me a sample medieval figure from MSC's selection, I found it wasn't that big of a deal.
Then I had the opportunity to purchase some 40mm AWI on sale, around the time Light Bobs first came out, and jumped in to AWI accordingly. The rules system only needs a relatively small amount of figures to get started, I hadn't started AWI in another scale, and the size of the fights comes out nicely on the table top with the 40mm figures.
Suspect Dark Ages/Medievals will work nicely in this scale as well, and I have purchased some along the way. The addictive properties of the hobby of course ... lol.
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Maybe 10 years ago now I was at Uni and sculpted a 54mm Viking for kicks. I was surprised how easy it was to paint as I'd heard people saying larger scales were tricky, no idea why.
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I started painting 54mm Historex plastic minis a loooong time ago.
There were fun to paint, though a bit fiddly putting together. I even dabbled using oil paints to paint them and though it took time to dry, it allowed you to highlight and shade right on the mini. It also gave a wonderful texture to it as well.
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What would you like to see added?
Ian
Ian,
Cavalry and archers really. Both armoured and unarmoured. More variety of poses and some opposition for them.
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Ian,
Cavalry and archers really. Both armoured and unarmoured. More variety of poses and some opposition for them.
Someone has asked about Romano-British archers before. They did head-swaps with the Dark Ages Saxon archers and the unarmoured Romano-British figure. I can look at doing a permanent solution. And then I'll think about cavalry. Some pictures of what you would like would be handy (I have the Dark Ages book by Ian Heath). I realize a lot of the Dark Ages stuff is a matter of beard and hair, style of helmet, and peculiar weapons because to me the basic tunic, mail and leggings look broadly similar. There's potential in the weapon masters to create a Dane axe for later huscarls without much trouble.
Mark Rowsell (Flashing Blade) clearly set up the ranges with a limited number of basic poses, but then he was paying for each sculpt, not doing them himself: there is more variety in the Greeks because, I guess, you can swivel a ball-joined bare arm in a cuirass arm socket more easily than any arm that has a sleeve on it. Doing much about this basic limitation will take time. For some reason, perhaps heroic, the Romano-Brits are 40mm foot to eyeball, and the Saxons are 40mm foot to top of head. When I inherited the masters he was also clearly looking at Normans and late Saxons, as there are four sculpts in that style and a kite shield. He clearly looked at a lot of things (10mm, 28mm, modern vehicles) and some focus would have been better. :-)
As for opposition for the Romano-British, I thought the early Saxons in the range did that. How broad did you want to go?
Best, Ian
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Ian,
Apologies, when I first looked at the Saxons I thought they were later types but checking them again they should be fine as opposition for Romano-British. I also hadn't realised some of the figures had variants. The Saxon archer should also work for the RBs as well.
For cavalry, not suggesting copying figures but the Late Roman/Romano-British ranges that Crusader, Foundry and Footsore are what I was thinking of but I realise this is a big ask for 40mm. Saga forces are circa 50 figures so I am not sure how viable 40mm cavalry would be?
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I've been searching for 40mm companies & ranges and have added everything I've found to the first post in this thread if anyone is interested.
Some of those listed are a single figure or range while others have multiple ranges. The Dark Ages, Cowboys and the American War of Independence seem to be the most common ranges.
I've ordered a Pict Noble (foot and mounted) and 4 Saxon Warriors from Hoka Hey and they've just been posted, so next week I will hopefully be starting my adventures in 40mm. :D
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I've been searching for 40mm companies & ranges and have added everything I've found to the first post in this thread if anyone is interested.
Thanks for doing that. Very useful.
I have ordered 3 Romano-British figures from Fighting15. Wondering what I have started :o
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No problem, if anyone else knows of any other ranges etc let me know and I'll add them.
I know what you mean, I've ordered 5 minis and I'm already thinking a Saga warband is very tempting :D
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Ian,
Apologies, when I first looked at the Saxons I thought they were later types but checking them again they should be fine as opposition for Romano-British. I also hadn't realised some of the figures had variants. The Saxon archer should also work for the RBs as well.
For cavalry, not suggesting copying figures but the Late Roman/Romano-British ranges that Crusader, Foundry and Footsore are what I was thinking of but I realise this is a big ask for 40mm. Saga forces are circa 50 figures so I am not sure how viable 40mm cavalry would be?
I'll see what I can do, though don't expect anything soon. I may have to use resin for the horses, but the few Flashing Blade horses are quite robust. I was also considering resin versions of the infantry bodies with metal weapons, but this involves an extensive mould making and remastering programme. I ran a sample Romano British infantryman in resin a while ago, and one advantage of the material is that it superglues together very well.
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I'll see what I can do, though don't expect anything soon. I may have to use resin for the horses, but the few Flashing Blade horses are quite robust. I was also considering resin versions of the infantry bodies with metal weapons, but this involves an extensive mould making and remastering programme. I ran a sample Romano British infantryman in resin a while ago, and one advantage of the material is that it superglues together very well.
Okay thanks Ian. Very impressed with the 3 Romano-British figures that arrived in the post this morning :)
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When I inherited the masters he was also clearly looking at Normans and late Saxons, as there are four sculpts in that style and a kite shield.
I have just discovered these are on one of the master moulds and will run some off when I get the chance. Just as I'd ordered some Sash & Saber 40mm Normans too...
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I have just discovered these are on one of the master moulds and will run some off when I get the chance. Just as I'd ordered some Sash & Saber 40mm Normans too...
Do you know anyone who does 40mm Dark Ages terrain?
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My minis from Hoka Hey arrived and they look great. Incase anyone is interested I've started a plog.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98440.msg1220794#msg1220794 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=98440.msg1220794#msg1220794)
I've not done much so far just started to built the Pict Noble on foot but I've almost finish painting an Eldar Dread so after that things should move quicker :D
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I don't think Steve Barber's range has been mentioned?
http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/12-40mm-miniatures (http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/12-40mm-miniatures)
cheers
Michael
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Good spot Lovejoy, thanks. They've been added to the first post, don't know how I missed them as I just picked up a copy of Steve Barber's Ultimate Skirmish Game which has rules for 40mm minis, not managed to read through it yet though.
http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/books/426-theultimateskirmishgame.html (http://www.stevebarbermodels.com/books/426-theultimateskirmishgame.html)