Films and Minis Ranges for Sci-Fi Smugglers, Pirates and Cowboys

[MiniPigs]

What are all the best films and miniatures ranges in either 15MM OR 28MM for that Sci-Fi look where it's a rag tag or quasi civilian starship crew, smugglers, bikers, mercenaries, pirates, cowboys etc? Sometimes with relatively contemporary weapons and sometimes with blasters from the future. Mostly human but bots, cyborgs and the assortment of correctly attired aliens also welcome.

You know that look; it's got jump suits and vests, cavalry breeches and boots, sometimes helmets or caps and the colors always seem to be an endless variety of browns, creams, greys, blues or olive greens with just a hint of military decoration like trouser stripes, jacket piping or an ex-cosmic fleet patch. Think Han Solo in the original Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica or the series Firefly.

Good ranges are like:

Battle Valor Games https://03cfac3.netsolstores.com/28mmscifipulpandfantasy.aspx

Northstar's  Rogue Stars https://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=234&page=1 and

East Rifing Miniatures GoGol island range https://shop.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/golgo-island-171-c.asp

Copplestone's Future Wars Range https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/list.php?cat=1&page=1

Also, a lot of the humans from Scotia Grendel's Kryomek range https://www.shop.scotiagrendel.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=217_218_3_112_116

You can also pick out some good stuff from Hasselfree's Modern Adventurers range https://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?category=modern-%26%0D%0Apost%252dapoc~modern-adventurers

Even Khurasan's Scavs have sort of a place in that "look" http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/scav-raiders.jpg

What other films have that color palette to draw on and what other figure ranges are there? Let's nail down the look.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

If you are happy with the 40K sized weapons, Anvil Industries is worth a look.

I am building male and female squads for a (spoilers) doomed raid on an archive somewhere far far away.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2020/09/anvil-industries-not-colours-2020.html
There is a whole range of different heads, torsos, legs and arms to play with.
https://anvilindustry.co.uk/

[Cacique Caribe]

“Think Han Solo in the original Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica or the series Firefly“

For 15mm ...

Start with Splintered Light’s spacer crew:
http://www.splinteredlightminis.com/1518mmscifi.html

Or start with GZG’s Free Trader crew:
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-x04a.html
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-x04b.html

Then sprinkle in any number of figures from these other companies:

Also by GZG
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-x06.html
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/human-characters-and-misc-aliens/sg15-x07.html
https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk/15mm-stargrunt/infantry/civilians-colonists-cops-etc.html

Pico Armor
https://www.picoarmor.com/product-category/sci-fi-15mm/

Alternative Armies
https://www.alternative-armies.com/

Highlander Studios
https://highlanderstudios.blogspot.com/p/highlander-studios-catalog.html
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=522465

Rebel Minis
https://www.rebelminis.com/

Darkest Star Games
https://www.darkeststargames.com/colony-15-sci-fi.html
https://www.darkeststargames.com/spec-sec-figures.html

Khurasan Miniatures
http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/

Ral Partha Europe (Critical Mass Games)
http://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/shop/critical-mass-15mm-scifi-c-213/

RAFM Miniatures
http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RAF&Category_Code=GRAV

Brigade Models
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/15mmSF/

CP Models
https://cpmodels.co.uk/product-category/15mm-ranges/sci-fi-15mm-ranges/
https://cpmodels.co.uk/product-category/15mm-ranges/15mm-wild-west/

Clear Horizon Miniatures
https://clearhorizonminiatures.com/shop/product-category/15mm/

Blue Moon Manufacturing (Old Glory)
https://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/categories.asp?cat=645

And there are many many more SF choices in 15mm these days, to add to the above.

Dan

[3 fingers]

Been thinking of space western stuff and I thought about artizan  or foundry with weapon swaps ?

[MiniPigs]

Been thinking of space western stuff and I thought about artizan  or foundry with weapon swaps ?

  Is it easy to swap weapons, including long rifles with Sci-Fi guns on Cowboys cast with weapons? Or, are the weapons separate in those ranges? When I say easy, I mean for a competent modeller.

I was looking at the Knuckleduster sets too: https://knuckleduster.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_70_81&page=1

[Von Trinkenessen]

If you look at what the film industry is arming scifi characters with. Some great fun can be had with plastic rod, green stuff etc. IMDB weapons database. Also so many separate weapons are being produced in 25/28/30mm.
I do my skirmish gaming in the old 25mm size so am somewhat limited, however the amount of pump action shotguns that become 20mm grenade launchers etc.
All the best and go with your gut feeling for look and feel.

[3 fingers]

  Is it easy to swap weapons, including long rifles with Sci-Fi guns on Cowboys cast with weapons? Or, are the weapons separate in those ranges? When I say easy, I mean for a competent modeller.

I was looking at the Knuckleduster sets too: https://knuckleduster.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_70_81&page=1

Depends on the figure stance tbh if they cradling they weapon down their body no but if arms out stretched could cut an file or even a barrel swap or change the tip to make it look more sci fi.
As an example I’ve seen artizan ww1 not lawerence of Arabia with pistol removed and 40k weapon added to make a tallarn officer .

[Onebigriver]

Don't forget Heresy Miniatures:

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2

[Craig Oxbrow]

A bit of a late answer, but the Firefly Adventures: Brigands And Browncoats miniatures boardgame has five Cowboy and five Thug 28mm miniatures, as well as 'casual' and 'action' versions of Mal, Zoe, wash, Jayne and Kaylee, and cardboard cargo container scenery.

Official link
BoardGameGeek link with painted photos and the like, as well as added scenery like the Serenity model from elsewhere.