Figure manufaturers to avoid?

[Jim Rapczynski]

How about, for a topic, "Figure Manufactures to Avoid." Untill the day in which there is a one stop shop (as it were) for comparisons of all figures available, we have to rely on the hit-and-miss of individual efforts to evaluate figures. Please, do not get me wrong, I appreciate deeply every attempt. (How many of us have agonized over Kuijt's pages loooking for just the correct figure? I have, and on everybody else's I could find.) Anyway, new gamers come here all of the time and perhaps it would be helpful to them to see who to avoid at least in the early stages. Or, maybe, some of the advanced collectors and painters can springboard off this topic and get some of their fellows to think about figures that may stink for an intended troop type but work for something else. Then of course, people can rant and rave about them. Perhaps this topic is better switched to Miniature reviews, although I would think that my writing is something of a rant.

[Wanax]

My only commentary along this vain is that I wish online retailers would post pics of the figs in the raw. I want to look at each pose, each figure style and each variation before I buy. That way I would avoid another of the large boxes in my garage of crap I'll never paint smile.gif

Wanax

[imported_Richard Lee]

Different people have different criteria. For instance, some people love figures that are big for the scale. Other people get irritated with figures they can not fit on to their intended base sizes. Some people like separate weapons and shields in 15mm, other people curse them. I don't think comments like "manufacturer A are out of this world" or "manufacturer B's figures stink" are particularly useful.

Most manufacturers produce products of variable quality. In my opinion this is true for both the cheapest manufacturer of 25mm that I am aware of, and what is supposed to be the highest regarded (with prices to match) manufacturer of 28mm historical figures.

I believe that critisism based upon the figures is best done by range, not manufacturer.

[derek]

Hullo
In general, quality comes at a price. The more expensive figures (in both 15mm & 28mm tend to be better than the cheaper figures). Having written this I am not a fan of The Foundary - Too Expensive - even second hand when your currency trades at 1/12 of the UK's. I think their Huns are nice. Many of their other ranges look too over-sized; for example their extensive range of Vikings, or too thin, for example their Normans.
Gripping Beast beats The Foundary when it comes to the Dark Ages ranges in my opinion. (At least I can sometimes afford them second hand). Essex are also nice and mix well with GB even though generally slightly smaller. I also prefer Essex horses. For 28mm Ancients (pre-Dark Ages) I consider Newline Design to be the nicest in 28mm. For value for money I would strongly recommend Whitecross Games. They mix well with GB and Essex.
In 15mm Essex is very consistent in quality and can be mixed with all but the largest and smallest 15mm alternatives. I also like Museum, Gladiator, Outpost Wargames Services, Corvus Belli, Mirliton, Xyston, Pass of the North, Grumpy's and Donnington.
Kind Regards
Derek

[imported_Grant Dyck]

I don't know about manufacturers to avoid, but I can provide the following names as ones which are decent or better, although I have few painted, I like what I see "in the raw"

Corvus Belli - outstanding across the range, beautiful detail and nice variety.

MiniFigs by GFI - excellent thin, small sculpts; I have matched Indian and Macedonians to paint up.

Baccus 6mm Samurai - very impressive when based up, I think, and paint very quickly.

Blood Axe Hawaiians - dirt cheap and different.

Old Glory Anglo-Saxons/Jutes - Decent. Very inexpensive.

[Robert of Port Angeles]

I like Old Glory but watch out for 25mm bags that have hands full metal. It usually can not be easily removed with a knife. You can shave it if you take your time and are careful or shave what you can and drill holes to hold weapons. I do not know if this has been fixed in more recent castings but I have several of their first casts.

[ January 09, 2004, 00:40: Message edited by: Robert of Port Angeles ]