Thank you
And now for something slightly different... Not, in fact, Perry (
- shocking, I know) although very definitely designed to fit with the Perry WOTR era figures...
Here's a first company of mercenary Euro pikemen for Billhooks.
These excellent 28mm figures are by a brand new company called Warsteel Miniatures, based in Germany, and run by Simon Maier, who's also here on LAF (user name GulKelan)
These figures will form part of a Kickstarter in 2023, portraying unarmoured 'Vorhut' Swiss / Continental European pikemen, crossbowmen and handgunners for the late medieval period.
The figures are digitally sculpted by Simon, who - since I expressed an interest - got in touch to ask if I would like to see some samples. He then generously sent me a batch of about 100 different figures printed in resin (yes, it's a very large selection!) The resin holds the fine detail on the figures wonderfully. There are also about 130 different interchangeable heads, all in distinctive mittel-european styles of helmets and headgear. All beautifully done.
The figures are sized to fit exactly with the Perry plastics late medieval ranges, and I'm looking forward to trying out some of Simon's heads on some Perry bodies in the near future (and vice-versa in fact!).
The Warsteel poses are a lot more active and dynamic than the Perry figures, but I think they will fit in very well. Simon has practiced late medieval re-enactment combat, so his poses feel very realistic.
I guess it's also true that you can print almost any pose you like using 3D printing. Whereas 'traditional' injection-moulded plastic figures on a frame have certain limitations imposed by the process.
Anyway, I'll be painting some units of mercenary crossbowmen and handgunners next, followed by a second pike company.
I believe Simon's intent with the Kickstarter is now to provide the digital files to backers - and if, like me, you want nothing to do with the gooey, sticky, time-consuming and technical end of 3D printing, you'll be able to send on the files to a local '3D print farm' (yes, apparently such places exist) who will print the figures out for you.
If the first Kickstarter is successful, Simon then plans to sculpt armoured and part-armoured types.
(Please don't ask me questions on the Kickstarter though, because I have no direct involvement! Simon offered to send me some figures in exchange for pictures of any of the figures I end up painting. I liked the look of the figures so much that I said yes. And I'm glad I did, because they're lovely
)
Simon's original thread on these figures is here, and best to address any questions direct to him
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=139184.0