Please recommend 28mm Crusades Islamic figures

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I want to make forces for Lion Rampant themed around the “Kingdom of Heaven” film. I already have a few Crusades figures but want recommendations for additional Islamic figures.

Christian Forces
I have:-
•   12 Perry Crusader crossbowmen
•   9 Perry mounted Hospitallers
•   12 Fireforge Teutonic Knights
•   12 Fireforge mounted Templar knights (unpainted)
•   at least 12 Fireforge foot sergeants (unpainted)
I will paint  the Fireforge Templar knights as 6 Templars and 6 Knights of Jerusalem.  The Fireforge foot will be built and painted based on the infantry in the film.  Altogether, this will give me a flexible Crusader army, that can be morphed into three different factions.

Islamic Forces
I have:-
•   About 24 Black Tree Arab & Artizan Moorish infantry and 6 archers.
•   6 Perry Arab foot knights
•   16 Black Tree Arab & Artizan Moorish cavalry

I need to buy more Islamic infantry and at least 15 more mounted figures.  I like the Perry Islamic figures but they are quite an expensive option.  

1.   What is your opinion on the three Gripping Best plastic sets (Arab infantry, light cavalry and heavy cavalry)?

2.   Could the Fireforge Mongols be easily converted as Arabic cavalry?  What would need to be converted?

3.   Are there any other plastic sets to consider?

4.   Are there other metal options that you would recommend?

Thanks


Mick

[Atheling]

Well, Saladin's cavalry might well have been mostly from Turkish stock so lots of Horse Archers (Seljuk or Turcoman) with a good dose of Heavies too. I'd go for either GB or Perry personally.

Darrell.

[Codsticker]

Footsore have a nice range and they fit well with Perry's.

I am currently painting some Gripping Beast Muslim infantry (metal); good detail and characterful faces. I really like the Artizan Andalusian minis- a joy to paint. The pictures I have seen of the GB plastic infantry don't inspire me to buy them but I do like the look of their plastic cavalry; I have some of their metal cavalry and I don't rate them very highly.

[MamlukRaider]

Kingdom of heaven showcases Saladins army you can still buy more black tree designs figures, the gripping beast plastic Arab infantry will give you all the archers and spearmen you need. The light cavalry and heavy are fine aswell the fireforge mongol range is okay to reprepresent Turkmen. As a plus Salahuddin used alot of ghulams/faris well armed cavalry Gripping beast has them so you are all sorted good luck...

[MamlukRaider]

Arab cavalry plus fireforge steppe cavalry

[Lowtardog]

I used a mix of footsore, blacktree and gripping beast and some perry. The great thing about a muslim arab army is it can move right through the ages with tweaks and bit of artistic licence from 7th century up to and past 16th century, many even doubling up into napoleon in egypt and beyond