Are these Old Glory figures any good?

[Gundamentalist 5.56]

I've recently been bitten by the "Legends of the Old West" bug and started to hunt down figures for different posses.

I prefer stuff by Artizan but the sets below seem to offer remarkable value for money. But are they any good?

MARSHALS, SHERIFFS AND LAWMEN
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=191&oc=2307

GUNFIGHTERS, SHOOTISTS AND NO-GOODS
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=191&oc=2308

DISMOUNTED GUNFIGHTERS
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=352&oc=4234

MEXICAN BANDITS ON FOOT
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=352&oc=4235

How do they rate against Artizan or Foundry? Any pics would be greatly appreciated. Old Glory have only got one picture and that's of the Marshalls set. There they look OK.

[Lowtardog]

My mates bought them when they first came out, they were nice then with some recognisable characters amongst them. They are however more 25mm than 28mm and fit better with the Perry wild West figures from foundry

[Hammers]

Sorry for coming out as the smart alec here but against the background of recent forum discussions that's like asking: "Do you think that dog shit over there might be tasty?

The fact is Old Glory figures (and the figures of quite a few other manufacturers) are frankly sh*t, and it's time people started saying so, rather than pussy-footing around like we all do, because we don't like to criticise.
Then maybe the culprits might have an incentive to raise their game and improve the quality of their goods.

[archangel1]

I have the first two sets you mention.  They are like a lot of Old Glory minis - some really nice figures and some mutants.  Considering I got them for 60% off, though, I'm not complaining too much! 
If you want to see pictures of most of the Old Glory lines, visit this site.  Don't know why they're not on their other main sites.

http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/

[Verderer]

Sorry for coming out as the smart alec here but against the background of recent forum discussions that's like asking: "Do you think that dog shit over there might be tasty?

The fact is Old Glory figures (and the figures of quite a few other manufacturers) are frankly sh*t, and it's time people started saying so, rather than pussy-footing around like we all do, because we don't like to criticise.
Then maybe the culprits might have an incentive to raise their game and improve the quality of their goods.

Isn't that a bit harsh? Anyways, what thread was the quote from, can you give a link, please?

I got some warpaint Indians recently, and I am happy with them. Granted they took a bit work to clean and assemble (separate upper and lower torsos), and some of the poses are a bit stiff, but they're not half bad all in all. Obviously with a such a large selection of ranges, the quality will be variable. Many sculps show their age, they've had (I am guessing) lots of different sculptors etc. But I would not tar all of them with same brush. Just ask around and try to see some pics, so you can judge yourself. I am guessing the US OG site might have more pics?

[Svennn]

Horses for courses. If they fit your bill buy them -simple as that.

My personal opinion is that their marketing ploy works. They are cheap and if you subscribe to the club they are even cheaper. If you pay out for a membership to something you somehow will become obliged to use that membership - an excellant way of generating customer loyalty.

Like most things in life you get what you pay for and I do not have a membership.

[Captain Blood]

Isn't that a bit harsh? Anyways, what thread was the quote from, can you give a link, please?

Hi Verderer

That's my quote, I believe 

You won't find the link because it was PM correspondence between Hammers, myself and a few others - perhaps I wouldn't have been quite so blunt in open forum. But I stand by my point. I've bought several bags of OG stuff over the years, and in each case I've regretted it as most of the figures in each bag have been so badly cast or just plain poorly sculpted that they've been literally unusable. So, whilst completely agreeing that you pays your money and takes your choice, I personally will be exercising my choice not to buy any more OG figures.

My more general point was that we are sometimes just a little too polite - we don't like to knock manufacturers who are all presumed to be 'doing their best'. Fair enough. But I'm tired of having to pretend that all figures are as good as each other. Truthfully, they're not. There's a group of companies and sculptors that are widely acknowledged as producing great products to a consistent level of quality. We could all name most of them. And then there's another group of manufacturers who are not known for this.

I would not indulge in gratuitous sledging just for the hell of it.
But I'm not going to pretend that all miniature figures are just as good as each other either.
If people find certain manufacturers' products to be of consistently poor quality, then they should be free to be honest and say what they think.

[matakishi]

Every time I've bought OG figures I've regretted it, never found one I liked.

[ancientsociety]

I've recently been bitten by the "Legends of the Old West" bug and started to hunt down figures for different posses.

I prefer stuff by Artizan but the sets below seem to offer remarkable value for money. But are they any good?

MARSHALS, SHERIFFS AND LAWMEN
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=191&oc=2307

GUNFIGHTERS, SHOOTISTS AND NO-GOODS
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=191&oc=2308

DISMOUNTED GUNFIGHTERS
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=352&oc=4234

MEXICAN BANDITS ON FOOT
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/disp_item.php?c=352&oc=4235

How do they rate against Artizan or Foundry? Any pics would be greatly appreciated. Old Glory have only got one picture and that's of the Marshalls set. There they look OK.

Like you, I too just recently have gotten the Old West bug...however, I've been fortunate enough to only purchase 3 bad sets (not really bad, just out of scale) but have mostly stuck to the Artizan stuff.

Let me just say that Mike Owen (who sculpts the Artizan range and Foundry's Old West sets 01-08) is excellent and he really sets the bar IMO by which I judge all other Old West minis. Go with your gut and spend the little extra on Artizan. I guarantee you won't be disappointed (plus the Artizan site has actual, clear pics of all their minis, unlike OG).

[Verderer]

Isn't that a bit harsh? Anyways, what thread was the quote from, can you give a link, please?

Hi Verderer

That's my quote, I believe 

You won't find the link because it was PM correspondence between Hammers, myself and a few others - perhaps I wouldn't have been quite so blunt in open forum. But I stand by my point. I've bought several bags of OG stuff over the years, and in each case I've regretted it as most of the figures in each bag have been so badly cast or just plain poorly sculpted that they've been literally unusable. So, whilst completely agreeing that you pays your money and takes your choice, I personally will be exercising my choice not to buy any more OG figures.

My more general point was that we are sometimes just a little too polite - we don't like to knock manufacturers who are all presumed to be 'doing their best'. Fair enough. But I'm tired of having to pretend that all figures are as good as each other. Truthfully, they're not. There's a group of companies and sculptors that are widely acknowledged as producing great products to a consistent level of quality. We could all name most of them. And then there's another group of manufacturers who are not known for this.

I would not indulge in gratuitous sledging just for the hell of it.
But I'm not going to pretend that all miniature figures are just as good as each other either.
If people find certain manufacturers' products to be of consistently poor quality, then they should be free to be honest and say what they think.

I know how you feel, it really sucks to get an inferior product. I have got my share of those, and from respected and big companies too. And it's remarkably common even these days, as many manufacturers don't put up good pictures (and with good reason too, few would buy them if they did). That's why I try do as much research on the product as I can.

My OG Warpaint Indians case was pretty typical, I asked questions around here and other forums, got opinions and pictures, and then decided to buy them even if some people warned against them. I saw some potential in the pictures, and it's not like there are legions of plains Indians waiting to be bought. So they're not aboslute top sculpts or up to the latest standards but they're ok.

I have to admit those are the only OG figs I have bought, so I can't give very far reaching opinions on the matter. Oh, I do have one or two medieval civilian types which were ok as well. I got lods of Blue Moon and Cowboy Wars figs, but they don't really count, as they were made by others.

[Hammers]

That's my quote, I believe 

You won't find the link because it was PM correspondence between Hammers, myself and a few others - perhaps I wouldn't have been quite so blunt in open forum. But I stand by my point.

Sorry Cptn Blood. That was inappropriate of me even if you stand your point. 

[jet]

I have one pack of Artizan, and one pack of Foundry. I like the Artizan better, but Foundry offers poses that Artizan doesn't. Will Artizan be coming out with any armed and unarmed townsfolk in the near future? Anyone out there have an inside line?

[bandit86]

Well I like Black scorpions cowboys there bigger than most but really nice. Bluemoons western civilian’s paint up nicely also.  The old Foundry are nice but small and not cheap.  A few years ago I had painted 100 or so gladiators mostly Wargame Foundry’s they are all very nice sculpting (a few to many Dwarfs) I also did the gladiators from Old Glory and although they are a rougher sculpt they painted up really nice and are among some of my favorite gladiators. I was also very happy with some Old Glory African masked warriors that I had done.  So from what it seems Old Glory can be hit or miss.

[Lowtardog]

I started cowboy gaming around 10 years ago so have the old foundry range which is still the most complete as civilians etc go. If a few of you are doing it why not buy a deal and pread the cost thats what we did when we started or as said go for Artizan or those lovely Black Scorpion ones which are where I would put my money if starting again.

Saying that the nice Brigade figures and the masses of pulp figures around will likely give you a plentiful supply of civilians or Non coms.

[JollyBob]

I have stated this before, I think, but it's worth repeating.

Old Glory are so variable and unreliable in their quality that even though they still have lots of stuff I would be interested in buying, I have resolved never to order anything from the website again.

If I want something, I'll wait till I'm at a show, where I can see what I'm buying. I got a stack of Wars of the Roses stuff at this year's York show, and it is fine. I stood there with it in my hand, examined the packs, and asked them to give me a different one if there was a noticeable amount of miscasts. And they were happy to do it too, very friendly people.

Conversely, a big web order of Darkest Africa stuff that I got for my birthday has lain mostly untouched because it is just too depressing to look at. Out of the whole pack of 30 or so bearers, I think I could find two that were useable without major reconstruction. The other packs were better, but I would estimate a good two thirds of the stuff was just awful.

In short then (sorry for ranting), unless you can see it before you buy it, go with Artizan because you'll never be disappointed.



Just a thought, but the OG-UK blokes don't cast their own stock do they? Am I right in thinking its all shipped over from the US, so they have no control over the quality?