Best Glossy figures to start with ? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JohnReid
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jazzeum
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The ones that come to mind are
Tradition http://www.traditionoflondon.com/
Fusilier http://www.fusilier-miniatures.com/index.htm
Alma http://www.forlornhopesoldiers.com/?page_id=112
Yeomanry. Take a look at the this thread on the Forum, http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?30086-Yeomanry-Miniatures/page2
There are probably lots of others. If you send johnnybach a pm, he can probably give you more suggestions.
Brad
Tradition http://www.traditionoflondon.com/
Fusilier http://www.fusilier-miniatures.com/index.htm
Alma http://www.forlornhopesoldiers.com/?page_id=112
Yeomanry. Take a look at the this thread on the Forum, http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?30086-Yeomanry-Miniatures/page2
There are probably lots of others. If you send johnnybach a pm, he can probably give you more suggestions.
Brad
theBaron
Major
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- 10,351
Hi, John, I can say, Tradition's castings are very good. Tommy Atkins' and Fusilier's are, as well. Fusilier owns several other lines, such as the old Hussar Miniatures.
Imrie-Risley still hold up, and are available through their website, www.saratogasoldier.com, or through eBay auctions.
Ulrich Puchala's line of 54mm Seven Years War figures is excellent. That line is now available direct from Muertiz-Miniaturen (http://www.mueritz-miniaturen.de/) or through Chuck Robinson's Red Lancers store (www.redlancers.com)
Also, there's Peipp Miniatures, which you can buy through Scholtz' Berliner Zinnfiguren online store, www.zinnfigur.com. Peipp's figures have an animation to them that reminds me of the old Phoenix line. His 54mm figures are a little bigger than the classic 54mm, and he also has a line of 45mm figures. His catalog includes sets to make a vignette of a subject, like the court of August the Strong, or a kidnapping and elopement in the 18th century.
Rylit is another German maker whose catalog includes many animated poses, with figures depicting camp life. The website is www.rylit.de. I have her Seven Years War catalog scanned, so if you send me a PM with your email address, I can send it to you.
Dolp is another German maker whose figures you can buy through Berliner Zinnfiguren. His castings are very good, and paint up nicely.
John Eden owns a portion of the old Phoenix and Rose (Russell Gammage) catalogs, and sells unpainted castings, as well as painted figures. His site is www.johnedenstudios.com. Not all of the figures he can produce are depicted on the website, so if there is a specific figure you're looking for, you can contact him through the site and ask.
Speaking of Phoenix, Forty-Third, Co. now owns the Phoenix catalog, their website is http://www.forty-third.co.uk/index.htm.
New Hope Designs also makes excellent castings, but I don't know if they're still in production. I get mine on the second-hand market.
If you're interested, take a look at my galleries here and you can see how these figures paint up in glossy style.
Hope that all helps, prosit!
Brad
Imrie-Risley still hold up, and are available through their website, www.saratogasoldier.com, or through eBay auctions.
Ulrich Puchala's line of 54mm Seven Years War figures is excellent. That line is now available direct from Muertiz-Miniaturen (http://www.mueritz-miniaturen.de/) or through Chuck Robinson's Red Lancers store (www.redlancers.com)
Also, there's Peipp Miniatures, which you can buy through Scholtz' Berliner Zinnfiguren online store, www.zinnfigur.com. Peipp's figures have an animation to them that reminds me of the old Phoenix line. His 54mm figures are a little bigger than the classic 54mm, and he also has a line of 45mm figures. His catalog includes sets to make a vignette of a subject, like the court of August the Strong, or a kidnapping and elopement in the 18th century.
Rylit is another German maker whose catalog includes many animated poses, with figures depicting camp life. The website is www.rylit.de. I have her Seven Years War catalog scanned, so if you send me a PM with your email address, I can send it to you.
Dolp is another German maker whose figures you can buy through Berliner Zinnfiguren. His castings are very good, and paint up nicely.
John Eden owns a portion of the old Phoenix and Rose (Russell Gammage) catalogs, and sells unpainted castings, as well as painted figures. His site is www.johnedenstudios.com. Not all of the figures he can produce are depicted on the website, so if there is a specific figure you're looking for, you can contact him through the site and ask.
Speaking of Phoenix, Forty-Third, Co. now owns the Phoenix catalog, their website is http://www.forty-third.co.uk/index.htm.
New Hope Designs also makes excellent castings, but I don't know if they're still in production. I get mine on the second-hand market.
If you're interested, take a look at my galleries here and you can see how these figures paint up in glossy style.
Hope that all helps, prosit!
Brad
johnnybach
Major General
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- Nov 24, 2010
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- 13,663
Hi John - I paint castings in Glossy Toy Soldier style, mostly. Being UK and Europe based - I buy my castings mainly in UK - and collect them, where possible - to reduce postal charges - which are quite frankly, getting beyond a joke! Some packages I've received cost more to send - than the castings contents. If I were you - in Canada - I think I would firstly look closer to home - and try to find some decent suppliers nearby - where you can collect - if possible. How about the USA - I have only ventured there once for some figures - which weren't available anywhere else - and the postage wasn't too bad. That was Camp Randall - who do have a very limited range, and I enjoyed making them up and painting them. Maybe some of the American guys know of more?
Depends what you're after - as to where you go. Is it the "Toy" end of the market you're after - or the "Model" end? There's usually quite a difference in price.
As to the UK - well, many of the so-called "Cottage Industries" are pretty good - with the price going up a bit at the "model" end - some of which are superb. Tradition is still going - without a London shop now - which should lead them to hold prices down to at least present levels and have an excellent online catalogue . Asset and Yeomanry Miniatures are near model quality too - as are Alexanders Toy Soldiers (ATS), with another good web-site.
Tommy Atkins, Hussar and Fusilier Miniatures are all owned by two brothers now - good web-site too - and a bit more toy-like - so can be a bit cheaper than the above.
Dorset Soldiers is probably my favourite for castings - with a huge catalogue on-line - at very reasonable prices - and just how I like Glossy Toy Soldiers to look. Giles Brown, who owns it - will even make things up for you - usually by combining parts from his range - for something specific - as will many of the other guys - as with castings in kit form - just about anything is possible, if you mix and match parts.
Another couple of British sites I like are Irregular miniatures - and White-tower Miniatures - again very reasonably priced - and maybe towards the toy end of the market.
Postage is the only issue that may prevent you going to the UK - so there's only one way to find out - look and see what you would like online(where possible) - and then ask for a quote.
Apologies if I missed anyone out - these are off the top of my head - hope it helps. Johnnybach
Depends what you're after - as to where you go. Is it the "Toy" end of the market you're after - or the "Model" end? There's usually quite a difference in price.
As to the UK - well, many of the so-called "Cottage Industries" are pretty good - with the price going up a bit at the "model" end - some of which are superb. Tradition is still going - without a London shop now - which should lead them to hold prices down to at least present levels and have an excellent online catalogue . Asset and Yeomanry Miniatures are near model quality too - as are Alexanders Toy Soldiers (ATS), with another good web-site.
Tommy Atkins, Hussar and Fusilier Miniatures are all owned by two brothers now - good web-site too - and a bit more toy-like - so can be a bit cheaper than the above.
Dorset Soldiers is probably my favourite for castings - with a huge catalogue on-line - at very reasonable prices - and just how I like Glossy Toy Soldiers to look. Giles Brown, who owns it - will even make things up for you - usually by combining parts from his range - for something specific - as will many of the other guys - as with castings in kit form - just about anything is possible, if you mix and match parts.
Another couple of British sites I like are Irregular miniatures - and White-tower Miniatures - again very reasonably priced - and maybe towards the toy end of the market.
Postage is the only issue that may prevent you going to the UK - so there's only one way to find out - look and see what you would like online(where possible) - and then ask for a quote.
Apologies if I missed anyone out - these are off the top of my head - hope it helps. Johnnybach
I would definitely go with Tradition. The castings have a lot of well defined detail and are easy to paint in a glossy traditional style. The web site has a photo of every figure and it's easy to order with Paypal. It only takes about a week for the figures to ship to the US from the UK.