European Miniatures Lines?

[Manchu]

I notice here in the New World - and presumably also in Blighty as well - we hear of quite a lot of miniatures gaming products coming out of some countries, such as Spain and Poland. But we, or at least in my own experience, hear comparatively little about stuff made in - for example - France and Germany.

Has anyone else noticed this?

If so, any guess as to why? Is miniatures gaming simply a bigger deal in Spain than Germany? Are Spanish miniatures companies more anglophonically accessible than German ones?

[Elbows]

The Spanish do a lot, though I'm not sure how much of it ends up here.  Lots of really crazy artistic sculpts (not unlike the French).  But for large miniature ranges, or gaming companies, I agree - I see very little.

[Sir_Theo]

Both Germany and France have big board game industries.  Maybe there is some link there?

[Manchu]

I'm wondering if there is a ton of great stuff out therebthat we are just missing out on because of a language barrier - for example, French comics.

[manic _miner]

 There are lots of companies in Spain and France which do miniatures.Most are for game systems which are only in there language which stops sales outside of there countries.Sphere Wars is one of these ranges and has some great miniatures in it.MOM miniatures is another great company doing Fantasy resin miniatures and they will be starting a Sci-fi range soon too.

[Mad Doc Morris]

In Germany many people play 'systems' rather than 'miniature games', i.e. you don't sell rules and minis separately but as boxed games. Also, boardgames, model tanks/cars/ships/planes and especially railways have a much greater following than wargaming (which was deemed inappropriate in postwar Germany; "Kriegsspiel" is still a derogatory term, you're rather into "Tabletopspiele").

However, a few small companies based in Germany spring to mind:
Lead Adventure (elephant in the room )
Westfalia (at least formally German)
ProGloria (sold to Warlord Games)
Tsuba
Black Hussar
Heer46
Stronghold Terrain

That's for 28/15mm, and I surely forgot someone. Not to mention various producers of 20mm and 1:48 ranges.

[Major_Gilbear]

I was just going to add that France has produced lots of miniatures games and models! Off the top of my head in no particular order:

Alkemy (Alkemy Miniatures)
Confrontation (Rackham)
AT-34 (Rackham)
Hell Dorado (Asmodée Éditions, later by Cipher Studios in the US)
Eden (Happy Games Factory)
Smog (Smart Max Games)
Mauser Earth (Smart Max Games)
The Toughest Girls of the Galaxy (Raging Heroes)

All of these had, have, or will have rulesets for their games too. However, there are plenty more, as well as many boutique display miniatures and parts stores too (Blight Wheel being one).

[manatic]

That's for 28/15mm, and I surely forgot someone. Not to mention various producers of 20mm and 1:48 ranges.

There's Obelisk miniatures, too!

[manic _miner]

 Two great shops for other miniatures ranges.

 http://www.e-minis.net/index.php

 http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/

[white knight]

I suppose one might call my private project a (the?) Belgian miniatures line.

[Maichus]

There's Obelisk miniatures, too!

Unfortunately, Obelisk has stopped due to personal reasons. 

One could also add Schilling Miniatures, Thomarillion, Hagen Miniatures and Stoessi's Heroes to the list of German companies.

Meglith Games, the company behind the Godslayer tabletop game, is (or at least was) a British-German co-venture.

[Cherno]

[...]

 http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/

My go-to shop whenever I need to order something the local shops don't have. Never been let down, and they have a good selection.

[Duncan McDane]

Fenryll come from France too...

[WillieB]

In Belgium there's the inimitable Van Dijck 12mm range.
http://vandyckmodelsandfigurines.be/

Red Star is now distributed by Empress Miniatures.