Opinions on Great War Miniatures

[Gibby]

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of starting a WW1 project, purely because I find the era so fascinating. However, I'm struggling to decide which manufacturer to go with. After a quick bit of scouting, I'm tempted by Great War Miniatures - they're of the size that is compatible with some other manufacturers. I also like Renegade's range, but their figures are generally too big alongside others, so I'd be a bit restricted.

So, I present the question - how are the Great War minis in the "flesh"? The pictures on Maelstrom Games are of the blister packs, and they look like they're covered in the most flash and mould lines I've ever seen on metals! However, they also look to be really good models. I'm torn, so I am!

[Plynkes]

I'm not sure where people get the idea that Renegade figures are massive from, because I have never found them to be so. Slightly tubbier sometimes yes, massively taller, no.


My early war German force is a mix of Renegade and Great War, and I think they go together fine (though it must be said, I am less fussy about this type of thing than many people).

I think Great War are some of the best out there, only Musketeer really rival them in my eyes (now I do like both Renegade and Woodbine Designs -  nothing wrong with them at all, but I think Musketeer and GWM are just that tiny bit better). But you have correctly identified the only problem I have with them: All the ones I have bought were covered with flash, little metal spikes sticking out everywhere, and mould lines in unfortunate places, which makes cleaning them up for painting even more of a chore than usual.

Only you can decide if that is enough of a problem for you to look elsewhere. Personally, if I were starting now, I would use just GWM figures, as I like them more. But I'm happy with the Renegade guys I started collecting before GWM came on the scene, so I'm not going back.

[Adam]

The couple of packs I have bought were quite a bit of work to clean up (British 1914 BEF skirmishing and BEF cavalry), the cavalry especially. When I was looking at some other packs at Phalanx the other weekend I didn't think they looked as bad as the ones I had bought previously.

What I would say, though, is that once they've been cleaned up they are absolutely lovely. The detail is very clearly defined and the rifles really look like scaled down versions of the real thing. What army/period of the war are you thinking of doing?

edit: I've just held one next to a musketeer Russian and the difference in casting quality is very noticable indeed, as Plynkes says covered in spikes and flash. The musketeer miniatures look like they'll be some of the easiest miniatures I've had to clean up.

[Gibby]

Thanks for the replies, guys! Lovely painting on your example there, Plynkes!

I'm thinking of doing Late War on the Western Front. Great War Miniatures do look beautiful! It's a shame that they'll require a lot of work to clean up, especially being as I struggle to get mould lines off metals! However, it's not quite enough to put me off.

[aircav]

I would tend to agree with the 1st two posts GWM are nice figures, but a nightmare to clean up.
There are a few duff figures though in my opinion as there are in any range.
Renegade are definately the best value and I personally really like there figures and would rather paint them than GWM.
I would say Musketeer are the best though by a mile  it's just a shame that there is not the range to choose from and they are a little smaller than GWM and renegade.
 I also like the woodbine stuff (same size as musketeer) as well as the Scarab figures which fit in well with GWM and renegade.

[Adam]

Don't forget about Brigade Games, Gibby. They do some late war Western/Italian Front miniatures including a very nice French range. I've got some British askari by them and they look like they'll be a lot easier to clean than my GWM (the rifles on the earlier ones are a bit chunky though, the Austrians and Italian rifles are much better).

[carlos marighela]

Well if it's value for money. Renegade single packs £6.95 for eight figures or 87p per figure. GWM retail at  £7.20 for six or  £1.20 per figure. Buy the Renegade ones in their regiment packs (24 figures) and the price drops to just under 50p per figure. Pretty easy choice for the thrifty gamer.

[ushistoryprof]

I agree with everything said about Renegade, Brigade and Great War.  I mix all three in my WWI Armies and find the slight size differences add to the realistic look of the units. Really when was the last time you saw photos of units in combat where everyone was the exact same size and weight?  Try a little mix and match and you might just like it.[/img]  These are Renegade and Great War French.

More photos are here:

http://worldhistoryprof.blogspot.com/2010/04/beware-of-gas.html

[gefreiter]

Hi,

GWM are for me the best in WW1, but i have the impression thet when i ordered my british that they where in a different material, that they changed it, i may be wrong. The flash is also harder to remove. I woul like to use the oportunity to ask question hoping that someone can answer me. In the pictures on the internet and the rulebook Great War, there is a british 5inch gun from HLBS with crew, do these miniatures exist or where they just made by the GWM sculptors for themself, there are even some wounded british in a line marching.I have the impression that they were made by GWM?

[Leapsnbounds]

I really appreciate this.  I am putting together a WWI force and I am always looking to add (mix) different manufacturers together to from many of my units.  It just makes them more unique and distinctive when there is a mix of different manufaturers and they blend well. toegther and don't look out of place.

[Doc Twilight]

Would share the sentiments on GWM, in general. They are beautiful figs - certainly among my favorite for the war, but the casting quality is incredibly poor.

Renegade is also nice,  but shipping prices can be quite high. Not sure if you're in the States, or in the UK, but the overseas rate for Renegade is a bit high for my blood.

Doc

[aircav]

I would like to use the oportunity to ask question hoping that someone can answer me. In the pictures on the internet and the rulebook Great War, there is a british 5inch gun from HLBS with crew, do these miniatures exist or where they just made by the GWM sculptors for themself, there are even some wounded british in a line marching.I have the impression that they were made by GWM?

The 5" Guns is available from HLBS & Northstar, HLBS do a gun crew but not the same one as in the rule book & the wounded british in a line marching along with the gun crew was done for the diorama.

[Orctrader]

GWM took a LOT of cleaning up.  paint up well once that's done but, for me, time is short.  I prefer Renegade.

LINK

[former user]

thx for pointing me to the Gripping Beast Woodbine Designs.
can anyone tell how the separate head options turn out and what the difference between french Kepi and Light Infantry head is? please?

[Westfalia Chris]

I like the GWM figures very much, mainly for their detail level and rather "relaxed" posing. I'll agree, though, that they do require quite some cleanup effort (although mine, which were Late War Germans, were rather decent in that regard, but it's been some time).

As for compatibility, I wouldn't mind pitting a force from one manufacturer against one from the other (i.e. Renegade vs. GWM). Renegade do look a bit bigger in the raw, but I'd say that once painted you could even mix them (although the weapons do look a bit different, but not insurmountably so).