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Reviews of Irregular Miniatures

General Reviews

Paul Harrison -- I don't like most Irregular figures but random codes are very good. The Macedonian hypastist, Selucid Agema & Cataphract, Sassanid Clibanarius rank&file (but not command!) and all elephants are quite good. The elephants are the best in 15mm I have seen and the cheapest also. I also like the chariots.

Carl Taylor -- Irregular are very variable in quality depending upon who casts them.

Jay ViaCava -- Most Irregular figs don't look their best until paint is applied. I have Arabs - some are the best ones I've seen and others have dog faces. The Irregular sculpting style deserves paint before judgment.

David Kuijt on Irregular 15mm Goth Cavalry

I recently acquired:

Irregular V75 (Goth H. Cav) -- 3 poses
Irregular V76 (Goth Md Cav) -- 5 poses

From Nic Robson at Eureka, and they are VERY nice. Much higher quality than most of Irregular's human figures. They match well with Essex and with my Gladiator AN/GO range figures. Round shields and spear; the heavy cavalry are wearing a mail hauberk. They'd work well for any Dark Ages cavalry.

David also has a review page of selected Irregular offerings including pictures for reference.

Paul Rice on Ancient Artillery Crew

These guys are labeled generic ancient crew (15/27), and they don't look particularly Greek, Macedonian, Syracusan, or Roman. Whoever heard of Romans with pants and sleeves? They could pass easier for medieval. Quality is pretty good, almost up to Essex standards, except one figure has a dent in his head. One guy is handling a bolt (arrow), one guy handling a large rock (bowling ball), one guy holding a chest high shaft who could pass for another bolt loader or leader, and last guy is a spotter. I did some amateur filing and cutting to make some look Roman and some Syracusan.

Stephen Montague on Irregular's Macedonian, Punic and Medieval Ranges

A review of figures from Irregular miniatures 15mm Macedonian and Punic wars range. First some general notes. Irregular's figures all have variations. However what that means is you get one pose with differences in clothing and equipment and perhaps a small alteration in the main pose. How obvious these variations are depends on the troops depicted, with irregulars being more obvious than regulars.

Irregular's figures vary in another way but less intentionally. The figures tend to vary in height and style, what makes this more puzzling is that one person, Ian Kay, sculpts them all.

The horses and Elephants are one piece castings. The horses tend to be on the thin and delicate side.

One final note. In my experience the figures often don't look to good unpainted, this is deceptive, as they often look excellent once painted. One other note for anyone reading this in the UK Irregulars postal service is phenomenal; I usually receive the figures within forty-eight hours of sending for them.

RC1 Roman Principes. This figure is advancing right foot forward holding their swords upright. It looks like they are holding the swords up for inspection. The variations are, different helmets (including Corinthian, which is surely an error), wearing a cloak, missiles stuck in shields and one chap resting his sword on his shoulder. None of the variations I got had mail shirts, which is an oversight. The figures are well sculpted and about 17mm tall. I would say they are good but not great so six out of ten.
RC2 Roman Hastati. This figure is standing holding a pilum in a clumsy way. The butt of the pilum is resting on the ground behind the right foot. The shields show some nicely moulded scarring. Other comments and variations as RC1. This figure is ok but is not very impressive, five out of ten.
RC3 Roman Triari. This figure is kneeling in the properly approved manner. All have mail shirts and Corinthian helmets. Variations are missiles stuck in shields and cloaks. Apart from having an oversized spear point I like this figure it looks just right, so seven out of ten.
RC5 Roman Later Velite. This figure is in a fairly passive pose not a fighting pose. The figure wears a bearskin has a large round shield and javelins. The variations are in the position of the shield and javelins. A solidly average figure so five out of ten. Note anyone with Vikings who wants ulfhednar could use these.
RC8 Roman heavy cavalry. Standard Roman cavalry types standing waiting for action. The variations are muted and on the examples I have are cloaks, javelins and the pose of a horse. The variations are so muted that I have a base of three of them and at first sight they look identical however close inspection will show they are all different. The figure is not at all bad so I will give it six out of ten.
RC9 Roman cavalry officer. Heavy cavalry type wearing chainmail and waving his sword about dramatically. Not a bad figure I will give it six out of ten.
RC10 Roman cavalry standard bearer. Heavy cavalryman carrying a vexillum. An odd figure this one. He is much smaller than the other Roman cavalry, though this is not helped by the pose, which is slouched. Despite that its not a bad figure and the vexillum looks good I would say five out of ten.
RC11 Roman Mounted General. Nicely dramatic figure pointing with a baton. The facial detail is vague although he does have a large nose. In contrast to the last figure this is a fairly large figure. I would say slightly larger than the rest of the Roman cavalry figures. This will help make your commander stand out. This figure is ok, but not as good as a commander of the army should be, so only five out of ten.
Note the last three figures go well together to create a command group. The two officers busy waving and gesticulating while the standard bearer sits waiting for them to make their minds up. As a command group I would give them eight out of ten.
RC35 Hellenistic/Cretan archer. Figure in a tunic standing holding one end of bow whilst other rests on ground. Variations cloaks, hats, bearded or clean-shaven. The figure has real personality and I like it a lot. It is a pity the pose is so pedestrian I rate it seven out of ten.
RC42 Hellenistic heavy cavalry javelinman. The figure is in a stationary pose sitting waiting; all the figures I have wear Boiotian helmets. The variations are cloaks and facial hair. These figures come with separate shields so you can use them shielded or unshielded. The figures are ok but nothing special so only five out of ten.
RC43 Hellenistic light cavalry javelinman. Another fairly sedentary pose with trotting horses and javelins held along the side of the horse's body. I should perhaps say that this figure reminds me of ancient equestrian statues, so the pose is probably right. Variations are cloaks, hats and the number of javelins; they also have separate shields. The head on this figure is on the large side and rounded giving them the appearance of a caricature. This is not a complaint but a compliment since it gives it real personality. I would rate it seven out of ten.
RC49 Hellenistic cavalry officer. Classical style cavalryman, holding a lance at 45 degrees. The figure has a separate shield. The face is badly defined. I must admit I don't like this figure much so only four out of ten.
RC50 Hellenistic cavalry standard bearer. Like its Roman counterpart this figure is on the small size, also its face is ill defined. Despite those moans the figure isn't to bad and the horse's pose (beginning to get frisky I would say) is good. This could have been better so five out of ten.
RC51 Hellenistic mounted general. Classical cavalry figure holding sword straight up in front of himself. Swathed in a voluminous cloak, mounted on a partly armoured horse and on the small side, this does not make a very impressive general. I would rate this figure four out of ten.
Note, like the Romans I have used the above three figures as a command group. Unlike the Romans this hasn't worked well. This is an uninspiring, pedestrian command group so five out of ten.
RC55 Hellenistic theuropori/later peltast infantry. The figure is standing holding up a spear getting ready to throw a javelin. Variations, Helmets cloaks (including fur cloak). Another uninspiring figure, ok but nothing special five out of ten.
RC57 Carthaginian heavy cavalry. Heavy cavalryman sitting resting spear on shoulder. As you may have guessed not an active pose. The figure itself isn't bad so six out of ten.
RC60 Libyan/Carthaginian sacred band spearman. Ignore the sacred band bit these are Libyan spearmen. The figure is a typical hoplite style heavy infantry, holding a spear upright at his side and large shield across his body. Variations are cloaks and helmets. I haven't got around to painting these yet, so I can't be a hundred percent sure, but they look like they should make an impressively solid shield wall. I would rate them six out of ten, possibly seven if they paint up well.
RC61 Libyan heavy infantry spearman. Another misleading title, these are veteran spearmen with Roman chainmail and shields. They are advancing peering over their shields. Variations are helmets and (Gallic) cloaks. These are a fairly solid uninspiring bunch so I rate them six out of ten.
RC62 Libyan/Numidian javelinman. These are very large chaps at about 19mm, in a static standing pose. There are slight variations in the tunic and shields. Apart from the dull pose and large size the hair on these figures lets them down. Instead of braids these figures look like they have lank greasy hair that they have backcombed into place. Part of the problem with this figure may be that if was also the basis of the figure RC81 Celtic infantryman. In this case the extra height may be justified, but not on a skirmisher who is supposed to be small and nimble. Because of all the problems this figure is rated two out of ten.
RC63 Libyan or similar slinger. These are small (16mm) fellows striding forward to shoot at the enemy. They have loose tunics small shields and slings. The variations I have are different poses. One is swinging his sling back for a shot whilst the other is loading both good poses. The contrast between this figure and the last could not be greater; this is how skirmishers should be. My only reservation is that the faces are fairly crude so they only get seven out of ten.
RC67 Spanish scutari infantry. The basic pose here is standing holding the shield in front. All figures wear tunics and have crested sinew helmets. The variations are cloaks and weapons. Some figures have large falarica swords some have pilum. The latter have two poses pointing forwards or held behind and pointing at the ground. The Figures aren't bad and standing at about 18mm tall would defiantly be bad going bullies. I rate them at six out of ten.
RC72 Carthaginian or ally cavalry standard bearer. A Carthaginian cavalryman carries a well-sculpted standard. The standard is right in front of his face almost hiding it. I like this figure it looks quite impressive so it gets eight out of ten.
RC73 Carthaginian or ally mounted General. A big bloke in a big cloak, wearing long boots and carrying his helmet instead of wearing it. The figure looks like the general has stopped to pose for his official portrait. For once the face is well done and the whole figure bristles with life. As you may have guessed a favourite figure of mine so ten out of ten.
Note I put the general, standard bearer and heavy cavalryman together to make a command element. The General is on the outside so you can see him properly. Because the figures that make it up are so good it looks good another ten out of ten.
RC75 Carthaginian elephant. A smallish (23mm) elephant carrying a tower with two crew in it. This is a one-piece casting and when I first saw it I was very disappointed. Once the paint started going on and the detail started to come out I rapidly changed my opinion, it looks wonderful painted up. A superb model (despite the mahout and rear warrior's spears looking suspiciously phallic) this rates ten out of ten.
RC80 Celtic infantry semi-naked. Semi-naked in this case means topless, apart from baggy trousers and shoes all they wear are helmets. I only have a couple of these figures and they are very different. One stands holding his spear and shield in front of him, the other holds his sword in the air and his shield to the side. Both are good figures and won't disgrace any warband. I would rate them seven out of ten.
RC81 Celtic infantry clothed. This is RC62 with baggy trousers and a moustache. The variations are different shields; some have helmets, some furry waistcoats. Being big and brawny suits this figure better than RC62 but it still isn't very good. It's saving grace is the head as the addition of a bristling moustache makes it resemble the stone heads the Celts carved hence it gets five out of ten.
RC87 Italian infantry javelinman. The figure is walking forward holding a sword or javelin at the ready. There are quite a few variations, helmets (including a one with the hair plume falling down the sides), Shields (mostly oval but one has a heater shaped one), fur cloaks, weapons. I would like to like these figures more but the faces lack detail and the pose life so they only get five out of ten.
PR21 Moorish light cavalry. This is also Numidian cavalry. The figures are mounted on chubby little ponies, which aren't bad, but the riders are stiffly formal. The riders hold their shields in front of them and their javelins are held upright in front of them as if they were on parade. Since the figures I got are all the same I can't give any information on variations. There is nothing wrong with these figures except their stiff pose but I don't really like them so five out of ten.

A review of some of Irregular's medieval figures.

HR1 Later knight charging. This must be the slowest charge in history, as the horses seem to be going at a slow walk. The knights all have their lances couched ready for action, and all are in late fifteenth century full plate, and all of the horses are armoured. There are several variations. The horses are armoured with a mixture of metal and cloth armour and in one case chainmail with a cloth cover. The knights have a variety of helmet types; some with visor some without. Some wear cloaks and some have tabards. There is also a slight variety in the pennons on the lances. I must admit to not liking this figure at all and I would say it is one of the worst Irregular produce. The reason for that is the lumpen pose and the ill-defined armour. Having said that when I came to look at them again to do this review the detail was better than I thought, which is why it gets two out of ten instead of one.
Hr5 Asiatic auxiliary light cavalry charging. From the awful to the sublime. These light cavalry look just like Figures 85 and 86 in WRG's Armies of the middle ages part two. As such they could be Cumans, Szekler, Ruthenian or Tartar. They all wear the pointy hat and caftan; all have bowcases, quivers and sabres. Unfortunately I only got two variants, one with the arm back swinging a sabre the other holding the tip of the quiver. The latter has a small round shield slung on his back. The horses don't look like they are charging more like prancing, however I am willing to overlook that and award these figures ten out of ten. Note these figures can be used fairly widely and not just in the Balkans. For example I use mine as part of an Italian condotta army, but they could also fight for the Imperialists, Turks, Poles or Russians.
HR7 Cavalry standard bearer. This is a late fifteenth century knight on a horse with cloth housing. He carries a banner, which has a long tail trailing from the top edge. The figure is again not as well defined as I would like but it looks ok so it gets five out of ten.
HR8 Mounted General. The figure has late fifteenth century armour and rides a horse wearing cloth housing. The figure has a Balkans feel to it since it is wearing a long fur lined coat over the top of the armour and this has lacing across the chest. He also carries a wing shape shield. All in all a nicely eccentric figure to command your army. I rate it eight out of ten. Note this figure has one strange anachronism, it seems to be smoking a pipe!
HR10 Infantry handgunner. The figure is unarmoured except for helmet and knee armour and is standing firing a handgun. Whilst the gun is more modern looking than I would have liked it is correct, as is the firing method; applying a match to a touchhole. Variations are helmet style and cloaks. This is not a bad figure but nothing special so it gets six out of ten.
HR11 Infantry pavasier with spear. This figure is an advancing armoured spearman with a very large shield. The armour consists of helmet; coif and leg harness though there may be more under the clothing. Variations are helmet and cloaks. I like this figure it paints up very well so it gets eight out of ten.
HR17 Medium infantry crossbowman. This is an unarmoured crossbowman standing holding the crossbow across the body. Variations are padded body armour, cloaks, headgear (two types of hoods, three types of helmet, helmet with beret worn over it). I like this figure. The pose may be static but they look like they are patiently waiting to shoot. A go ahead and make my day pose. This figure gets eight out of ten.
HR18 Heavy or extra heavy front rank pikeman. This figure is advancing with pikes (pieces of wire supplied separately) lowered. Variations are headgear, cloaks and some having tassets. I don't like this figure much. There are two reasons for this one is the sculpting; the armour just doesn't look right. Second the pose is a nuisance as it makes putting the figures into two or more ranks impossible. Because of that this figure only gets four out of ten.
HR27 Mounted crossbowman. The figure sits leaning back resting his left hand on the horses rump whilst holding the crossbow in his right hand. Variations are headgear and some have padded body armour. A nice relaxed looking figure, just waiting to take a shot. This figure would look good if mixed with firing mounted crossbowman since they would look like they were firing by turns. This is a good figure so eight out of ten.
HR35 General-purpose slinger. This figure stands with sling out behind it the sling trailing along the ground. Variations headgear (bareheaded, hat, hood), clothing and the arm held out at front is slightly differently posed. This is a typical peasant slinger, not very eye catching, which is just as it should be. This isn't a bad figure though the facial detail is sketchy I think it deserves six out of ten.
HR38 Genite/light cavalry. This figure is wearing an aketon and helmet it carries an adarge shield. Variations? No idea, all the ones I got are identical. Not a bad figure though the pose is odd, (sitting looking to the right) for once the horse looks as if it is going at speed. I think this figure is worth six out of ten.
HR39 Almaguvar Infantry. The figure is running with a spear thrust out ahead of it and a javelin carried in the other hand. Variations, hats have different shapes, cloaks some carry a satchel some don't. This figure looks like a hair mountain bandit, so that's just right. The pose is a very dynamic looking one. All in all a pretty good figure seven out of ten.

John Kovacs on the 25/28mm Irregular Biblical Range

The Assyrian figures (ASS1 through 11) are beautifully sculpted, with extensive detail and expressive faces. The quality of the actual castings varies widely, with anywhere from minimal to extensive flash and mold lines. The Egyptian infantry figures in the same range (ASS12 through 20) generally lack such detail, and are much rougher in appearance, although they clean up reasonably well with a little work, and look presentable when painted. The Assyrian sculpts are also available under the Eureka name.

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Last Updated: March 23, 2004

Comments, suggested additions, and/or critiques welcome. Direct them to Chris Brantley at brant@erols.com.