28mm Rus

[Dukewilliam]

Men,

Can someone recommend a maker of Rus c. 1000 A.D. in 28mm?

I believe my Vikings are from Artisan, not sure though.

Thanks,

Steve

[SaltyWendigo]

Drabant has the nicest looking rus out there, but the heads give them a certain look that might not mix well. I have the all for a Rus vs Byzantium project since Drabant also does Byzantines. https://www.oldgloryuk.com/28mm-dark-ages-range/53/224/536/554

The only other option I'm aware of in 28s is Gripping Beast https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Rus_Pagans_To_Princes--category--51.html. They should mix fine with Artizan.

Cheers

[Atheling]

It's a large question as Rus Armies often included both the now settles Scandinavian migrants and various ethnic Slav populations.

Also, the period is by convention usually divided into two succinct period, the Era of the Princes (Christian) Rus and the Pagan Rus. Unless you were collecting both armies I think you would have to make a decision on what sort Rus force you were looking at creating.

Onto manufacturers- each with a few pics to give you some idea:

Drabant Line- available in the UK from Old Glory:
https://www.oldgloryuk.com/28mm-dark-ages-range/53/224/536/554
For Early Pagan Rus Armies the range of Drabant Vikings sold by Old Glory could easily be pressed into service as well




Drabant Line:have no Cavalry bit the sculptor seems to be working through his ranges, based on Saga as far as I can tell so maybe there's hope for Era of the Princes type mounted Druzhina? It is worth keeping one eye one their Facebook page as all the new releases appear there first:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2063656313935447

V&V Miniatures:
https://vminiatures.com/28-mm/rus/
Again, the V&V Vikings could be pressed into service in Early Pagan Rus Armies
I have to admit that I really don't know much about V&V. I've heard a few people say that the miniatures can be a little fragile as they are cast in resin but I cannot personally comment:



Gripping Beast has the most extensive range of Rus by far. You have a choice between Early Pagan Rus, Era of the Princes (Christian) Rus or even 13th CE Medieval Rus.
A couple of pics from each:
Gripping Beast Early Pagan Rus:



Gripping Beast Era of the Princes (Christian) Rus:
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/shop.php?p=category_products&category=51&page=2


Gripping Beast 13th CE Medieval Rus:
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Medieval_Russians_Tribal_Warriors--category--145.html


Again, the very extensive range of Gripping Beast Vikings could be pressed into service as Vargazi in all except the 13th CE Medieval armies.

It is also worth mentioning that many Rus warriors were employed by the Byzantine Empire at Varangian Guards. Many of these soldiers would have travelled back to their homes with much of the armour they had worn in Byzantine Service or perhaps had similar armours made when they returned. Anyway, if not then the spread of culture would certainly have spread armour styles around. Many ranges such as Crusader Miniatures, Gripping Beast do Varangian Guards of which the less flamboyant miniature could be pressed into service also.

Hope that helps? 

[armchairgeneral]

Fireforge also do a range though maybe a bit late for the period you after.

https://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=124&cat=286&sub=706&page=1

[Dukewilliam]

Thank you for the responses, especially Atheling with your near comprehensive list.

On the Old Glory website I see they have bags of 30 Pagan Rus spearmen but no pictures. Does anyone know what they look like or have any pics? That would be awesome.

About the GB, are they hard plastics or something else? Anyone know?

I will be focusing on the Pagan Rus. I want a mix and the Drabant axes look awesome.

Thanks again,

Steve

[armchairgeneral]

About the GB, are they hard plastics or something else? Anyone know?

The GB are metal

[Atheling]

Thank you for the responses, especially Atheling with your near comprehensive list.

No probs. Happy to help

On the Old Glory website I see they have bags of 30 Pagan Rus spearmen but no pictures. Does anyone know what they look like or have any pics? That would be awesome.

Please see the hyperlinked pictures at the bottom of this post.

About the GB, are they hard plastics or something else? Anyone know?

GB don't do plastic Rus (at least for now) but you could use this bow as poorer warriors or Slavs by changing the shields:

I will be focusing on the Pagan Rus. I want a mix and the Drabant axes look awesome

Drabant are a good choice IMHO. What follows are by no means all the miniatures but will give you some idea.







And Steppe nomads as allies:


And don't forget you can mix in Drabant Vikings easily with Pagan Rus:

[Dukewilliam]

No probs. Happy to help

Please see the hyperlinked pictures at the bottom of this post.

I don't see them. Am I just missing them?

Steve

[Atheling]

I don't see them. Am I just missing them?

Steve

They are there.

[armchairgeneral]

I don't see them. Am I just missing them?

Steve

I don't see them either.

[Atheling]

I don't see them. Am I just missing them?

Steve

I don't see them either.

Guys, it would be more helpful if you could tell me which images you can see. If necessary I can download them from FB and post again rather than using a hyperlink. But it is 2021

[Aaron]

I don't see anything beyond the GB plastic box but ir I right-click on the empty spaces I can open the images in new tabs and see them.

[Atheling]

I don't see anything beyond the GB plastic box but ir I right-click on the empty spaces I can open the images in new tabs and see them.

OK, that's really odd as they're all showing on my screen. I'll try downloading the images when I get the time.

Please feel free to remind me as I can imagine Dukewilliam is very eager to see them.

[Dukewilliam]

I am very grateful but was hoping to see the guys from Old Glory. I thought that was what was hyper-linked. In the meantime I will keep looking for them online. Thanks again,

Steve

[Atheling]

I am very grateful but was hoping to see the guys from Old Glory. I thought that was what was hyper-linked. In the meantime I will keep looking for them online. Thanks again,

Steve

All the images are of the Drabant Line Facebook page. I've got a ton of stuff to do so I'm unlikely to get around to saving all the images then posting as files for a while.