FireForge - Byzantine Auxiliaries

Box Art

This box set enables you to build 25 x Byzantine Auxiliaries. You'll be able to assemble 10 x armoured archers and up to 5 x Slingers, up to 10 x light archers and up to 10 x javelin men. Obviously with just 25 torsos to work with you will be left with a significant number of pieces for your spares box!

The box contains five identical Figure Frames and a single frame with bases, each frame has 5 x torsos, 8 x heads, 5 x swords and shields.

Two torsos on each frame are armoured, the remainder are unarmoured.

Figure Frame

The box contains also contains 25, 20mm x 20mm bases.

Conquest Games - Medieval Archers

Box Art

This boxed set contains 28 multi-part, hard plastic Medieval Archers, you get 4 x Figure Frames plus 1 x Command Frames which are the same frames form their infantry box.

As an additional bonus you also get 2 x Weapons Frames, each of which contain another figure, this Weapon Frame is the same as the lower half of the main Figure Frame.

Despite being labelled as Medieval', these figures would work well as 'Dark Ages' archers as well, so have been categorised here as such.

Each figure frame contains 6 x torsos, 12 x heads, 6 x Long Bow Arms, 4 x Short Bow arms and 9 x 'other' arms in a variety of poses to represent figures loosing an arrow, pointing or placing an arrow onto the string.

Figure Frame - Front

Accessory wise, each frame also has 6 x Quivers and 3 x knives / daggers.

Figure Frame - Back

The Weapons Frame contains 6 x Long Bow Arms, 4 x Short Bow arms and the 9 x 'other' arms noted above plus 2 x Quivers and the 3 x Knives.

Weapons Frame

Command Frame

Overall a very useful set which adds variety to the Gripping Beast Dark Age Archers set, reviewed elsewhere on this site.

Gripping Beast - Dark Ages Cavalry

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This boxed set contains 12 x Dark Age Cavalry miniatures.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 12 finely-detailed unarmoured cavalry, fighting with either spear, sword or axe.

The box also includes a banner for conversion purposes. The Dark Age Cavalry may be used to represent the unarmoured cavalry forces from 300AD to approx 800AD including Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Franks, Germans, Heruls, Lombards and more!

Parts from this box are compatible with most parts from all other Gripping Beast box sets so you can do many, many conversions.

Figure Frame

Gripping Beast - Dark Ages Archers

Box Art

Inside you will find parts to assemble 30 finely-detailed archers.

The Dark Age Archers may be used in a range of armies from the Dark Ages, such as the Goths, Saxons and more.

Parts from this box are compatible with most parts from all other Gripping Beast box sets so you can do many, many conversions.

Figure Frame

As an be seen from the picture of the frame above, you only have three body poses and three heads to attach to the bodies, so a limited number of combinations. The figure requiring the Bow hand to be added does allow for some conversion opportunities.

Dispite the limited number of poses a useful set and one that will provide missile troops for many an army.

Gripping Beast - Arab Light Cavalry

Box Art

This Boxed Set contains 12 x Arab Light Cavalry & Horse Archer miniatures.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 12 finely-detailed Light Cavalry, fighting with either bow, spear or sword.

The box also contains extra parts to build some of your figures as trumpeters.

The Arab Light Cavalry & Horse Archers may be used to represent the unarmoured cavalry forces of any of the Arab states of the Middle East from 10th - 13th centuries, or the Turcomen or similar horse archers who fought with them as allies.

Figure Frame

Gripping Beast - Arab Heavy Cavalry

Box Art

This Boxed Set contains 12 x Arab Heavy Cavalry miniatures.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 12 finely-detailed armoured Cavalry, fighting with either bow or spear.

The box also contains extra parts to build some of your figures as trumpeters. The Arab Heavy Cavalry may be used to represent the armoured cavalry forces of any of the Arab states of the Middle East from 10th - 13th centuries.

Figure Frame

Gripping Beast - Arab Spearmen & Archers

Box Art

This boxed set contains 40 x Arab Spearmen & Archier miniatures.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 40 finely-detailed Arab Spearmen & Archers, each warrior can be armed with a spear, but for extra flexibility the set also contains additional parts for you to make up to 16 of these warriors with bows, up to 16 with javelins or up to 8 with swords.

The box also contains extra parts to create trumpeters.

The Arab Spearmen & Archers may be used to represent almost any unarmoured Arabic infantry from the pre-Islamic period to the 18th Century Ottoman Empire. They might be found in the Moorish Armies in Spain, defending the Holy Land during the Crusades or even in the auxiliary infantry at the Siege of Vienna.

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Gripping Beast - Goth Elite Cavalry

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This boxed set contains 12 multi-part plastic Goth Elite Cavalrymen mounted on fully cataphract armoured horses.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 12 finely-detailed armoured cavalry, fighting with either spear, sword or axe.

The box also includes dracos for conversion purposes. These figures make an excellent centre-piece for your Goth army or allies for Late Romans.

Parts from this box are compatible with most parts from all  other Gripping Beast box sets so you can do many, many conversions.

Figure Frame

It is worth noting that the bodies are the same as those in GBP21, Goth Nobles.

Gripping Beast - Goth Noble Cavalry

Box Art

This boxed set contains 12 x Goth Noble Cavalry miniatures.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 12 finely-detailed armoured cavalry, fighting with either spear, sword or axe.

The box also includes a vexilla and a standard for conversion purposes. These models can be used to represent a wide range of armoured cavalrymen from 300AD to 800AD, including the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Franks, Germans, Herules, Lombards and more.

The Goth Noble Cavalry formed the core of the Gothic armies that washed across Europe during the Dark Ages, serving as heavy cavalry that brought death and destruction to their enemies in support of the infantry, light scouts and horse archers.

Figure Frame

The average cavalryman would have been equipped with a mail shirt, an iron or steel helm and whatever weapon they could afford.

Wealthier Goths may have opted to garb themselves in lamellar armour due to the additional protection it offered against the blunt force trauma inflicted by the maces and axes common in the period.

Gripping Beast - 28mm Viking Hirdmen

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The first release from Gripping Beast sees a box containing parts for 44 spear, sword, hand-axe or two handed dane-axe armed Hirdsmen.

The set also includes command figures to allow the building of up to two Viking Jarls and two horn blowers or standard bearers. Also included in the boxed set are two paper banners.

These fearsome warriors would be well equipped with the finest weapons and armour. A favoured weapon was the mighty dane-axe which was wielded with both hands and quite capable of severing a horse's head with one blow.

Figure Frame

The figures are very easy to put together and have virtually no flash to deal with, Vkings 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

Command Frame

All figures are armoured with chain mail, representing the viking period (8th-10th centuries), most bearing a hammer pendant in honour of their god Odin.

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-attached, to which a range of arms and heads can be attached to give the required variety

Conquest Games - 28mm Norman Knights

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Box of 16 multi-part, hard plastic Dark Ages Norman Knights.

More to come soon....

Norman Knights Frame

Gripping Beast - 28mm Dark Age Warriors

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This is the third, long awaited third set from Gripping Beast.

These Dark Age Warriors may be used to represent almost any unarmoured European warrior from the Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval.

Inside you will find parts to assemble 40 finely-detailed Dark Age Warriors. Each Warrior can be armed with a spear but for extra flexibility, the set also contains additional parts for you to make up to 8 of these warriors with swords, up to 8 with hand axes, up to 32 with slings or up to 16 with javelins.

The box also contains extra parts to create horn-blowers and plastic bases for all your figures.

Figure Frame

Pack contains 40 plastic figures which are fully compatible ith the Saxon and / or Viking boxed sets also available from Gripping Beast.

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.

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 ...

Gripping Beast

Gripping beast have been leading metal miniature manufacturers for many years, specialising in Dark Ages, Late Ancients and into early Medieval periods.

Their initial releases, in mid to  late 2010, fall squarely into the Dark Ages era, see below, then after a two and a half year wait the third set of generic Dark Age Warriors was released in Spring 2013.

Since then there has been a steady stream of releases in this popular series.

Gripping Beast Website  <Here>

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Product List

28mm Dark Ages 

GBP01: Viking Hirdsmen
GBP02: Saxon Thegns
GBP03: Dark Age Warriors
GBP04: Arab Spearmen and Archers
GBP05: Arab Heavy Cavalry
GBP06: Arab Light Cavalry
GBP07: Plastic Viking SAGA Starter 
GBP08: Plastic Saxon (Anglo Dane) SAGA Starter 
GBP13: Dark Age Archers
GBP16: Dark Ages Cavalry
GBP19: Plastic Saracen SAGA Starter Warband
GBP21: Goth Noble Cavalry
GBP26: Goth Elite Cavalry


28mm Ancients 
GBP09: Late Roman Infantry
GBP18: Late Roman Heavy Cavalry
GBP23: Late Roman Light Cavalry
GBP24: Plastic Roman SAGA Starter Warband

Conquest Games

Conquest Games are relatively new to the plastics arena, they are based in Bexley Heath, Kent, UK and specialise in Dark Ages figures - Normans in particular!

As well as plastics, they also produce metal figures designed by independent designers and sculptors to  a consistently high standard.

Conquest Games Website <Here>.

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Product List

28mm Dark Ages
Norman Knights
Norman Infantry

28mm Medieval
Medieval Archers
Medieval Knights

Wargames Factory

Wargames Factory Figures are now available via Warlord Games, where the sets have been re-boxed and re-branded accordingly

Wargames Factory is the first American company to appear on this site, it is also unique in that it uses computer assisted design techniques to sculpt and produce their offerings, which are manufactured in China.

Wargames Factory boxed sets are typically rich in parts - allowing many variations of pose to be achieved - yet to many people,  the quality of their figures is best described as OK not great.

That said, I think that the company has been the first to say that they have been going through a learning curve, their more recent output is of a much better quality than some of their earlier offerings. Their production techniques has meant that they have been able to get a lot of product to market in a relatively short period of time.

Wargames factory website <Here> This Website is no longer functional

Warlord Games Website <Here> 
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Product List

Ancients
28mm Heavy Armor Greek Hoplites
28mm Persian Cavalry
28mm Persian Infantry
28mm Ancient German Cavalry
28mm Ancient German Infantry
28mm Caesar's Legions
28mm Celt Cavalry
28mm Celt Chariots
28mm Celt Warband
28mm Numidians
28mm Roman Cavalry

Dark Ages
28mm Saxon Fryd
28mm Saxon Thegns
28mm Viking Bondi
28mm Viking Huscarls

Oriental
28mm 16th Century Ashigaru Missle Men
28mm 16th Century Ashigaru Spearmen
28mm Samurai Cavalry
28mm Samurai Warriors

War of Spanish Succession
28mm Infantry
28mm Cavalry
28mm Artillery

Colonial
28mm British Infantry
28mm Zulus

WW2
15mm German Infantry
28mm German Infantry
28mm American Infantry
28mm Red Army INfantry

More somming soon...