Normans - Which to get?

[Argonor]

Fantastic response, thank you, gentlemen! 

I'll browse the suggested lines - I think I am going to stick to one manufacturer, as it makes buying shield decals easier, but as it is a project likely done in stages in between other stuff, I may decide on mixing after all.

[shrubs]

A few years ago I bought the Norman Saga box, nice miniatures but a little chunky like expected out of GB. I added a few Perry mounted for more warriors and the warlord. I felt they mix well, all things considered. I do recall thinking that if I did do it again I'd probably go heavier on Perry and mix GB in.

Here's a shoddy shot of my 4pt warband, complete with droopy spears, thick varnish, average paint and broken swords 



I can do a comparison shot between Perry and GB mounted if anyone wants, I have since figured out the macro on my camera 

[Argonor]

I am tempted to get the SM 9-figure Norman Knights set. Not sure, yet.

[Paul Richardson]

I've just bought some Saxon Miniatures Anglo Saxon huscarls and they're very nice figures, matching in well (for obvious reasons) with some of my older GB figures. 

[Keith]

Went for the Saxon Miniatures Norman's on Friday after thinking about this for ages. The figures I already have from Colin were ace!

[AdamPHayes]

Foundry's Casting Room Miniatures normans are excellent.

Should this have a "said with a straight face" emoticon?

[The Gray Ghost]

I have Crusader with some Gripping Beast and new Foundry mixed in

[Barbarus]

Nicest Norman infantry: definitely the one from Ebob!

And the mix well with Perry. So I would go for Ebbob + Perry.

But I would never play Normans in Saga 
That Battleboard is just a mess 

[Argonor]

I like the look of Normans - so a SAGA warband might just grow into something else over time 

[westwaller]

I'll add a vote for Saxon Miniatures Normans as well. Oh the Huscarls and the Vikings are very nice too...

[Legiocustodes]

I have mixed GB, Perry, Essex Miniatures, Conquest, Drabant, Crusader and others in my trial warbands for Outremer: Faith and Blood.

I have found all ranges have their pros and cons but a mix gives by far the best results!

[Sitric Caech]

Love the old foundry line.

[Kamandi]

I always liked the old Foundry line by the Perrys. Alas they are rather small compared to modern lines.

[Koyote]

Drabant Miniatures, sells some BEAUTIFUL 28mm historics, including a line of Normans.  

I have only two small criticisms about their 28mm minis. First, the models are a bit on the small side, even for historics.  When compared to 28mm minis from other historical manufacturers, they look a bit puny and their arms a bit stumpy.  I should mention that this assessment is based upon 4 boxes of Drabant Vikings that I purchased a couple of years ago and that these were some of their earlier 28mm models, so the scaling of their models may have changed since.  

My second criticism is that recesses in their chainmail armor are bit shallow. This is in no way a deal breaker for me, but it requires a different painting technique. Typically chainmail is painted by applying a basecoat of iron/steel, washing with black ink, and then dry-brushing with metal.  Since Drabant's chainmail recesses are so shallow,applying too much paint to the armor is likely to fill in the recesses and give the black ink nowhere to go.  I haven't tried it yet (my Vikings are still in their boxes), but if I were to paint Drabant chainmail I'd begin with a black basecoat or maybe even just use black primer, and then lightly dry-brush metal, followed by some spot washing and maybe some spot dry-brushing with a brighter shade of metal.

Below are Drabant's Norman crossbowmen, cavalry, and William the Conqueror.  Beautiful models. Simply gorgeous.

[yamaneko]

I have mixed GB, Perry, Essex Miniatures, Conquest, Drabant, Crusader and others in my trial warbands for Outremer: Faith and Blood.

I have found all ranges have their pros and cons but a mix gives by far the best results!

Totally agree here.  I have complete catalogs from GB, eBob, Crusader, Foundry (Matthew Bickley's work), and Saxon.  I love them all, but they do each have their pros and cons. 

• Crusader casting requires a lot of work, and sometimes I found the chunks on horses easier to work around and nearly impossible to totally clean.
• Gripping Beast are soft on details, but easy to paint.
• eBob have sculpted spears (why?!), but beyond that they are one of my favorites (third).
• Foundry are beautiful and my number one or two.
• Saxon are another favorite, competing mostly with Foundry.  They ship with cast spears, which I replace for wire spears; but he cast spears are great for scenics, etc.