Wargames Factory - 28mm Samurai Cavalry

This boxed set comes with two frames of horse parts (see below left) plus another two frames of Samurai parts (see bottom right), allowing for a total of 12 mounted figures to be built.

As would be expected these parts are compatible with other sets in the range to allow for additional variety when constructing figures.

 Many comments that have been made about Wargame Factory's earlier releases still apply here but there is a noticeable improvement in some of the proportions of the horses. We particularly like the standing horse, though the running horse still has a somewhat odd appearance.

Again it would be good if the horses had moulded on bases, rather than having to glue hooves to the ground - fiddly and not always a great bond.

The figures come with an excellent range of weapons, including Yari (spear) and bow and there are a selection of back banners and armour options to add real variety to your collection.
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RRP per Box	Figures per Box	Cost per Figure
$19.95	12	$1.66

                   As of Feb 2013. (Multi Box Deals available to drive cost down further).

More coming soon ...

Victrix Ltd - 28mm Spartan Hoplites 5th to 3rd Century BC

Hot on the heels of the Athenian Hoplites comes Victrix Ltd's Spartan Hoplite boxed set.

As with the Athenian boxed set, there are 48 figures, contained of 6 frames, each holding 8 figures. In fact the basic torso/leg parts are exactly the same and so previous comments hold true here.

The difference is in the variety of weapons and musical instruments supplied and of course a whole new set of Spartan heads. I must say that these heads are very characterful and really make this set stand out form the Athenian counterparts!

As expected he figures are moulded well, with virtually no flash and they construct easily, basically adding the head, from a selection of variants, plus shield arm and weapon arm. There are a mix of swords and thrusting spears on each frame as well as a set of arms holding a set of pipes to be played by a musician.

Victrix Ltd - 28mm Athenian Hoplites 5th to 3rd Century BC

The first departure from Napoleonics for Victrix Ltd. and their foray into the ancient Greek world has been a canny step - judging by the quality of this product.

The box contains 48 figures, contained of 6 frames (see right), each holding 8 figures. That said there are only 4 torso / leg variations on each frame, so Victrix have missed a trick in providing added variety.

The figures are moulded well, with virtually no flash and they construct easily, basically adding the head, from a selection of variants, plus shield arm and weapon arm. There are a mix of swords and thrusting spears on each frame as well as a set of arms holding a set of pipes to be played by a musician.
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RRP per Box	Figures per Box	Cost per Figure
£21.50	48	44.79p

                   As of Feb 2013. (Multi Box Deals available to drive cost down further).

More coming soon ...

Conquest Games - 28mm Norman Infantry

Box Art

Following on from Conquest Games' Norma Knights boxed set, this is a welcome addition to their range.The set contains 8 infantry frames (see below left) each of which have enough parts to assemble five figures, in a selection of mail, quilted Gambeson or simple cloth attire, there are also a wide selection of weapons such as swords, spears and axes to equip your warriors as well as 7 shields, (5 x Kite plus 2 x Round).

There are also 2 command frames, (see above  right) each containing 2 figures, in suitably high status attire, to enable the building of leaders and standard bearers etc. there is also a bonus casualty marker on the frame, not included in the 44 figure box count, a nice touch....

Figure Frame

The design of the figures is such that the basic torso / legs of the figure found on each frame also have the tops or each arm moulded in place. this means that the weapons and shields are moulded with forearms attached, making it a simple (and a lot less fiddly) to attached these to the main body of the figure.

As an aside this makes it simpler to paint the figures ( paint the parts and then assemble, touching-up any glue marks after assembly - particularly good for painting behind the shields!).

Command Frame

Only area that Conquest have skimped in this set is that there are only 5 heads on each frame, it would have been good to have had more variety, though as this set is compatible with their mounted knights set - this is an alternative source for more heads.

Warlord Games - 28mm Ceasar's Legion with Pilum

This is the second boxed set in Warlord Games' new Ceasarian / Republican Romans, this set is with the Pilum.

As with the Gladius armed set there is the option of three command figures that comprises of  centurion, standard bearer and musician. This is the same frame as used in the Gladius armed boxed set and as with them, the basic legionary body is used to build up the specilist command figures from spare parts on the frame.

The frames include parts to build up a figure that is armed with chain mail, pilum, oval shield and Montefortino Helmet, also include arms with slings to provide an alternative missile weapon for the legionaries to use.

Warlord Games - 28mm Caesar's Legion with Gladius

Warlord Games is soon to release their new Ceasarian / Republican Romans, these are to be made available as 2 sets with Gladius or with Pilum. As can be seen this set is with Gladius.

The command frame comprises of  centurion, standard bearer and musician.

The frames include parts to build up a figure that is armed with chain mail, gladius, oval shield and Montefortino Helmet, also include arms with slings to provide an alternative missile weapon for the legionaries to use.

Perry Miniatures - 28mm Austrian Infantry

Box Art

Another set of quality miniatures from the Perry workshops, this time representing a wide range of Austrian Infantry types during the Napoleonic Wars.

When you first open the box and look at the frames, there appears to be a bewildering amount of parts, but the rational is simple, from this one set you can build any  flavour of uniform form 1808-15, allowing for the many changes n style the Austrian Army went through in this period.

The set contains 48 figures, with 7 frames containing 6 infantrymen each, plus a command frame containing an additional 6 figures. All figures are in a marching pose and construction is limited to adding backpacks and heads.

Austrian Command Frame

Now here's the cleaver bit, there are a total of 18 heads per frame, with 6 each in Shako, Helmet and Landwehr headgear. Simply select the head you want and make up the troop type you require. Shakos were used from 1807 onwards, whilst helmets had been phased out by 1809, so your army could contain both - if you pitch it at about 1808!

The command frame (see right) includes an officer, standard bearer, drummer, sapper and 2 x NCOs. As usual there is a paper insert containing a couple of flags.

Production quality is up to the usual excellent Perry standards and these figures appear to be 100% compatible with the Victrix Austrian Infantry boxed sets to add some variety if you so which to your collection.

Warlord Games - 28mm French Line Infantry

Box Art

This release from Warlord Games sees a useful set of French Line Infantry for teh Napoleonic Wars, up to about 1812. The set consists of 28 x plastic figures supplied 4 to a frame, see below right, plus 4 x metal figures of an officer, standard bearer and drummer),

One figure on each frame has epaulette and is thus designed to be used as either a Grenadier or a Voltigeur, this ratio is rather high so some of the epaulettes can be carved off with a sharp knife to reduce the excess flank men back to the centre companies!


Moulding quality is excellent, with virtually no visible flash, the poses are very utilitarian, all figures are in a marching stance. This makes assembly easy, simply add a head and a backpack and you are done...

Figure Frame

... if you want variety then we'd suggest getting hold of some of the Perry or Victrix figures, they are totally compatible.

Back to the figures, as noted each frame has 4 figures, a selection of 5 backpacks (two with attached hangers) plus selection of 8 heads, wearing a selection of shakos, with or without plumes and / or covers.

Victrix Ltd - 28mm Napoleon's Middle Imperial Guard

This is Victrix Ltd's latest Napoleonic release, and the boxed set contains an impressive 60 figures that can be made up to field Middle Guard regiments during the 1812-1824 campaigns.

The box contains four identical frames, each with 15 miniatures therein, all the figures are wearing greatcoats (including officers , drummers and standard bearers) and there is a selection of 16 shako and bearskins adorned heads per frame, allowing you some flexibility in how each figure is uniformed.

The figures are also supplied with separate backpacks, that have to be attached to poses that include marching, firing and reloading.

Each figure is cleanly moulded and well designed and compatible with other figures in the range, so parts are interchangeable for great variety if required.
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RRP per Box	Figures per Box	Cost per Figure
£22.95	60	38.25p

           As of  Feb 2013.  (Multi Box Deals available to drive cost down further).

More coming soon...

Valiant Minaitures - 28mm German Infantry 1943/45

The second release in Valiant Miniatures range, this set builds on all the good work achieved in their first set but also continues the scale issue discussed in that review. These are 'small' 28mm, way too big to mix with other 20mm figures.

The set contains four frames, all exactly the same, which allow the building of 68 figures in a wide variety of poses and weapon variants. Additionally Valiant have taken advantage of this to provide a number of figures with separate or optional parts which expands the basic 13 poses seen on each frame (picture to come).

Each frame has five torsos/legs combined plus a variety of left arms carrying binoculars, an ammunition box, a Panzerschreck, a rifle (x2) and empty-handed (x2) . The right arms on the frame have a mortar bomb, a Panzerfaust (x2), an MP44 assault rifle (x2) and empty handed (x2).

Also included on each frame is a MG42 mounted on a Lafayette tripod and a 81mm Mortar, both well modelled. 

Again this set is designed with the 'Rapid Fire!' wargames system in mind, this means al the elements required to build a German Infantry Battalion under the rules of that system are available and as such the set represents great value for money.

We have already mentioned the fact that the sculpting style and figure size are not a good mix with other manufacturers ranges - so we won't dwell on this. It is quite feasible to build your whole collection from these boxed sets, very little else would be needed.

Valiant Miniatures - 25mm American G.I.s 1942/44

Box Art

Valiant Miniatures again provide a great many options with a number of the figures having a choice of separate arms and weapons as well as other equipment items to provide a wide range of pose possibilities.

As with other releases in this range the figures are designed to be used with the 'Rapid Fire!' system and as such you are able to construct all the key elements of a battalion, as depicted by that system.

Each frame comes with a huge variety options and the number of actual poses that are possible is astounding.

The figures can be equipped with a number of different weapons, including - M1 Garand rifles, M1 Carbines, Submachine guns, BARs, Bazookas, 60mm mortars and even a Browning .30 calibre MG.

Again as with other boxed sets from Valiant, the figures are not compatible with other manufacturer's ranges, that said - given the low cost and quality of the figures, there is every possibility you can build the force you want just using these figures.Definitely 28mm in scale - rather than the 1/72 (20mm) as labelled on the box - be warned!

Valiant Miniatures - 28Box Artmm British Tommies 1944/45

Box Art

This is Valiant's first release into the plastics arena, and a very good set they have produced, however, as with all Valiant figures, the issue is the size of the figures, too big to blend seamlessly into 20mm ranges and maybe a little small for the newer 28mm ranges.

That said real people are different sizes, and mixing thes echaps with other figures will not look that out of place, if done well.

The set contains 68 figures where some of the figures are multi-pose, allowing for the selection of separate arms to hold a variety of weapons and accessories.

Additionally separate heads, back packs, spare weapons, and other valuable items of equipment are liberally included on each frame. See contents list below....

Officer with Binoculars (4)

Officer with Map, pointing (4)
Officer/NCO Forward Observer, kneeling (4)
NCO with Sten SMG (4)
Signaller with Sten SMG, kneeling (4)
Wireless Set WS-18 Mk.III (4)
Machine-Gunner with Vickers HMG (4)
Mortarman/Anti-Tank Gunner (4)
Mortarman No. 1 with 2" Mortar (4)
Mortarman No. 2 with with Bomb Case (4)
Rifleman (multi-pose), kneeling (4)
Separate right Arm, firing PIAT (4)
Separate right Arm, firing Bren LMG (4)
Separate left Arm, supporting PIAT or Bren LMG (4)
Stone Wall Section with Bren Bipod (4)
Separate Figure Base (4)
Rifleman (multi-pose), advancing (4)
Separate right Arm, holding Bren LMG (4)
Separate right Arm, holding Lee Enfield Rifle (4)
Separate right Arm, holding Mortar Bomb Case (4)
Rifleman advancing (8)
Rifleman running (8)
Separate Head with Steel Helmet (8)
Separate Head with Officer’s Cap (8)
Separate Head with Beret (8)
Separate Head bareheaded (8)
3" Mortar (4)
Vickers .303 Heavy Machine-Gun (4)
Back Pack (40)

The figures are constructed in good, useful wargame poses and there are enough figures and weapons in this box to recruit a complete infantry battalion, and supporting elements for RAPID FIRE! wargames.

Note that the figures are not the usual chunky fellows and may appear to be thin but are actually correctly proportioned.

Perry Miniatures - 28mm AWI British Infantry

Box Art

This is the first in a series of American War of Independence boxed sets from Perry Miniatures.

Shown below is the infantry frame, containing 5 figures, all sculpted in cut-down coats and one piece overalls which places them in the later AWI period - post 1776.

As can be seen each figure will have a choice of three pieces of head gear, fully cocked 'tricorne', slouch/half cocked hats and the ‘Saratoga’ cut down hat which should cover most theatres of campaign in America. As such it is the hats, not the heads that are interchangeable - much like their previous ACW releases.

Figure Frame

Note, that there are no specific Grenadier or Light Infantry figures and these will likely be supplied by figures in the Perry's Metal range or future plastic releases. This is not really an issue as it was typical that a British regiment's flank companies were detached for combined light and grenadier battalions.

Each figure also carries the regulation kit including the 'tumplines' (rolled blankets), which would have been the typical look of British infantry in America.

Command Frame

Each figure gets the choice of two sets of arms, either 'at trail' or 'charging', to allow for additional variety of figure pose.

At right can be seen the Command frame, which includes the 2 additional casualty figures, plus six other figures to create officers, drummers, standard bearers and sergeants. There is the usual selection of hats and alternative arms and weapons to help customise the set.

Finally, the set also includes 2 casualty figures, not counted in the 36 pieces advertised for the box.

Warlord Games - 28mm Celtic Warriors

Warlord Games released this boxed set with the aim using the two basic frames included with the set as the basis for a number of future releases.

This boxed set contains 40 multi-part, hard plastic 28mm Celtic Warriors, and the set consists of two each of the frames shown below, right and left.

Each figure can be built in a variety of ways, by combining seperate leg pieces with torsos and arms - to give an exciting variety of poses that you would expect to see in an irregular unit. With each figure comes a selection of weapon options such as spear, sword and javelins and with extras such as spare weapons, helmet icons and severed heads.











Uniquely the set also contains a set of self-adhesive shield stickers to add to the figures. These have come in foe some criticism , from some quarters - many preferring the use of transfers - as with the company's Roman infantry boxed set.

That said, with careful trimming, and application of varnish to ensure the 'stickers' don't peal, the end result is quite acceptable.

When constructing the figures, the initial thought is that there are almost limitless combinations of poses that can be made. This is not so - check the dress of the torso to the dress of the legs, the reality is that these are limited as you need to ensure armoured torsos are joined to armoured legs / waist s and similar to bare chested figures. This is not a problem - just a point to consider.
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RRP per Box	Figures per Box	Cost per Figure
£20.00	40	50.00p

           As of  Feb 2013.  (Multi Box Deals available to drive cost down further).  

More coming soon...

Warlord Games - 28mm Tribesmen of Germania

Warlord Games latest infantry set, based upon their original 'Celtic Warriors' boxed set, allowing 43 figures to be created (including 3 x metal command figures - included within the box).

All the comments made about the previous releases of these multi-pose foot frames apply. The Germanic characteristics are again achieved by the use of cast metal add-on parts supplied with the set, to give th expected selection of topknots, animal skins and other  tribal features.

The command figures include an impressive warlord plus a standard bearer and a carynx player, again as expected, perfectly proportioned for the plastic figures in the set.

See also: Warlord Games - 28mm Celtic Warriors for more details on the original set and it's frames

More to come ...

Gripping Beast - 28mm Saxon Thegns

Box Art

The second release from Gripping Beast sees a box containing parts for 44 spear armed Thegns, plus additional sword and hand-axe arms to allow for added variety.

The set also includes command figures to allow the building of up to two Saxon Lords and two horn blowers and two 'Dracos' standards. Also included in the boxed set are two paper banners to allow the conversion of a additional two spearmen into standard bearers.

The figures are very easy to put together and have virtually no flash to deal with, Saxons would have formed a predominantly spear armed Shield Wall and the choice of arms available reflects this. That said there are not enough spear arms to enable the whole box to be so created

Figure Frame

All figures are armoured with chain mail, representing the 'middle' Anglo-Saxon period (8th-10th centuries), most bearing a crucifix pendant to live up to the boxed set's 'Defenders of the Faith' sub-title! As they are middle period Saxons - you will not find kite shields of axe wielding huscals in this set (not a problem but a heads-up!).

Now to the frames, each set comes with 4 identical frames, each containing 10 figures, each figures is a basic torso with legs, though some have an arm pre attatched, to which a range of arms and heads can be attached to give the required variety

Command Frame

There are also two command frames included, containing two figures each, with a range of weapons, horns and dracos etc

Hat Industrie

Hat Industrie are one of the giants of traditional soft plastic soldiers, they have responded to the rise of hard plastic by releasing their own range of 28mm hard plastic boxed sets.

Their approach is unique, in that they have taken their existing 20mm figure designs and remastered them to the 28mm scale and released these. However, after an initial flurry of activity and despite the announcement of an extensive list of future releases,  there have not been no further releases, to date.

Hat Industrie Website  <Here>

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Product List

28mm El Cid 

28001 Spanish Heavy Infantry
28002 Spanish Light Infantry
28005 Andalusian Heavy Infantry
28006 Andalusian Light Infantry
28007 Almoravid Heavy Infantry
28008 Almoravid Light Infantry
28018 Andalusian Light Cavalry
28019 Andalusian Heavy Cavalry
28020 Almoravid Light Cavalry
28021 Almoravid Heavy Cavalry

28mm Napoleonic

28003 French Light Infantry Voltigeurs
28004 French Chasseurs (Marching)
28009 French Carabiniers
28010 Bavarian Infantry (Marching)
28011 Bavarian Infantry (Action)
28012 Bavarian Infantry Command
28013 Prussian Infantry (Marching)
28014 Prussian Infantry (Action)
28015 Prussian Infantry (Command)
28016 French Light Infantry Action
28017 French Light Infantry Command

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Future Releases

28mm Ancients

Byzantines

28mm El Cid 

Spanish Heavy Cavalry
Spanish Light Cavalry
Spanish Command packs

28mm Seven Years War

Prussians

28mm Napoleonic

Spanish Infantry
Wurttembergers
Austrians
Russians
Prussian Landwehr

More to come ...

Gordon and Hague

Current status of this company and the availability of their sets is in Question

Gordon and Hague are a new miniatures manufacturer from the USA. They are entering the still fresh 15mm plastics arena with ACW miniatures as their initial releases were released in March 2013, the figures are designed to go with their ACW wargames rules system - 'Severed Union', these rules can be downloaded for free from their website.

The companies main selling point is that they will be supplying the figures pre-painted, in sets designed to complement their in house ACW game system noted above. As such the figures will not be cheap, but you will be saved the effort of getting out the paintbrush!

The company has plans to branch out to other periods such as WW1, Napoleonics, the American War of Independence and the Anglo-Zulu Wars.

Gordon and Hague Website <Here> Website no longer functioning.
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Confederate Brigade
Union Brigade

Warlord Games

Warlord Games are currently the 'biggest' of hard plastics manufacturers, with a wide range of boxed set available, all backed-up with metal figures to provide specialist troops and highlights to your plastics armies.

Additionally, Warlord Games, make extensive use of metal 'add on' parts t their basic plastic sets to enable a much wider range of units to be represented.

Based in Nottingham, UK - the company was created in 2007 and is run by John Stallard (ex Games Workshop and author of Warhammer ECW Rules ) and Paul Sawyer (ex Games Workshop and best known as the former editor of White Dwarf).

Another Wargames notable linked to the company are Rick Priestley (again ex Games Workshop and author of Warhammer, Warmaster and many other games systems).

Warlord Games Website <Here> 

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Product List

Ancients

Celtic Warriors

Ancient British Warriors

Dacian Falxmen

Tribesmen of Germania

Early Imperial Romans: Praetorian Guard

Early Imperial Romans: Scorpion Battery

Early Imperial Romans: Auxilaries

Early Imperial Romans: Legionaries

Early Imperial Romans: Veterans

Early Imperial Romans: Legionaries and Scorpion Set

Ceasar's Legions with Gladius

Ceasar's Legions with Pilum

Greeks: Classic Greek Hoplites

Greeks: Ancient Greek Hoplites

Macedonians: Phalangites 

Macedonians: Royal Guard 

Spartans: Spartans

ECW

Royalist Infantry

Parliamentary Infantry

Scots Covenanter Infantry

Royalist Cavalry

Parliamentary Cavalry

Firelock Storming Party

Thirty Years War

Imperialist Infantry

Swedish Infantry

Swedish Cavalry

Napoleonic War

French Line Infantry

Russian Line Infantry 1812-1815

Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiment 1789-1815

Prussian Landwehr Regiment 1789-1815

Colonial

Anglo-Zulu War: British Infantry 1879

Anglo-Zulu War: Zulu Married Regiment 1879

Anglo-Zulu War: Zulu Unmarried Regiment 1879

Anglo-Zulu War: Natal Native Contingent 1879

WW2

American Infantry

British Infantry

German Infantry

Japanese Infantry

Soviet Infantry
US Coloured Infantry
US Marine Infantry
US Rangers

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More coming soon ...