Advice needed - 15mm Figures

Quintus · Post by **Quintus** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:24 pm

I've been out of table top wargaming for many years. RL got in the way and then came PC gaming.

However I'm getting the urge to wargame again, especially as my eldest son is of an age where he can appreciate that sort of thing. He has got into Warhammer with a local club and it pains me to see lots of boys and young men wasting time on that sort of thing. So I hope to wean him off Warhammer and encourage him to wargame properly. Field of Glory looks good and hopefully is presented in such a way that will make it attractive to many young Warhammer afficionados.

I need some figure advice.

I'm planning on using Baccus 6mm figures for the "Macedonian and Punic Wars" era (as per Duncan Head's excellent book - and a favourite period of mine) based to 15mm. That way I hope to give an impression of scale and numbers in an Epirot/Macedonian army. However that is a longer term project, in the meantime I intend to assemble some 15mm figures to recreate medieval armies and perhaps with a view to compete in the longer term.

I used to really like Essex miniatures - are they still among the best? Can anyone recommend suitable figures? I am especially interested in armies of the British Isles - in particular the Scottish Common Army of the 14th Century as well as the Isles and Highlanders.

karakhanid · Post by **karakhanid** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:07 am

Check:
http://quickreactionforce.co.uk/catalog ... Path/21_49
http://www.corvusbelli.com/es/02_tienda ... NOTICIA=80
Mikel

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:11 am

If I recall correctly Essex do some nice Islesmen and Galloglaich. (They are in more than one range I think, took me a while to find them all in the catalogue).

nikgaukroger · Post by **nikgaukroger** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:01 am

Donnington do ranges from which you can get some nice figures that will cover armies like the Isles & Highlands - http://www.ancient-modern.co.uk/

Lancashire Games do a mixed pack of Scots which are nice and work out cheap - http://www.lancashiregames.com/

Quintus · Post by **Quintus** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:07 pm

Thanks. Plenty to look at there.

The "Quick Reaction force" website shows some excellent Scottish spearmen, and Essex some very good Islesmen/Gallowglasses.

Lancs. games may have some promising knights. I will have to do a bit more searching but the foot look to be sorted out.

marshalney2000 · Post by **marshalney2000** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:27 pm

I like the Feudal castings Scots for both Scots Medieveal and Isles and Highlands.
John

dave_r · Post by **dave_r** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:01 am

Having just bought a large amount of Scots Pikemen, oops, sorry, Offensive Spearmen from both Essex and Feudal Castings. I have the following observations:

Feudal Castings: Very pretty figures, don't come with any spears, brush bristles work fantastically well. Big downer is that the figures are very brittle and are very susceptable to snapping at the ankles and neck.

Essex: Solid, thickset solid spearmen figure. Holding telegraph poles. Don't look as good as the Feudal Castings, but won't snap.

You pay your money you take your choice...

Quintus · Post by **Quintus** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:49 pm

I will definitely be getting the Feudal Castings spears/pikes.

Brittle eh? Forewarned is forearmed.

andy63 · Post by **andy63** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:58 pm

I went with Feudal castings for my Scotts common they are Fantastic do not come with there spears you have to bye them separately. I recommend Xyston long spears they come in packs of fifty for about £3 and unlike most manufactures spears they don't bend. I also got my Scottish flags from SOA (I think) they look great on the long spears.

Andy.

Quintus · Post by **Quintus** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:55 pm

andy63 wrote:I went with Feudal castings for my Scotts common they are Fantastic do not come with there spears you have to bye them separately. I recommend Xyston long spears they come in packs of fifty for about £3 and unlike most manufactures spears they don't bend. I also got my Scottish flags from SOA (I think) they look great on the long spears.

Andy.

Many thanks for this detailed advice.

I am surprised that they don't come with their own spears as they are shown with them.

I assume that these are exactly the same figures that you used.... http://quickreactionforce.co.uk/catalog ... cts_id/327

Those Xyston miniatures look amazing BTW.

What is/are SOA?

andy63 · Post by **andy63** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:47 pm

Hi Quintus,
Yes they are from that range.
FLAGS

Society of Ancients or it might have been lance & longbow society.

What i mean is you can buy them from Feudal casting because they are separate at a cost, the figures are cheaper if you do not want to buy Feudal spears,but i would go with Xyston because the spears are made from piano wire not soft bendable steel what eventually will break.
Andy.

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Luddite · Post by **Luddite** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:25 pm

Well, at 15mm...

Essex is good if a little expensive
http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/

Corvus Belli are very nice figs but a limited range
http://www.corvusbelli.com/en/default.asp

Donnington do a nice range
http://shop.ancient-modern.co.uk/donnin ... es-1-c.asp

ERM are good and also do some excellent pre-cut wooden bases
http://www.eastridingminiatures.co.uk/erm15.htm

Irregular are cheap and cheerful
http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/

I use Museum Miniatures a lot but there sizing can be a little out
http://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/pages/index.htm