Connard Sage | 02 Dec 2010 8:00 a.m. PST |
Not a lot of love for Peter Laing 15s I see. Quite right too. They were dire. Back in the 80s I bought some 'near future apocalypse' figures (well Mad Max was all the rage
). Can't remember the maker, but they looked as though they'd started out as 25mm figures and had been stretched. 35mm tall and about 5mm wide. |
Norman D Landings | 02 Dec 2010 8:18 a.m. PST |
Ridiculously stretched 1980's post-apocalypse figures
Hero Miniatures, maybe? |
Connard Sage | 02 Dec 2010 8:28 a.m. PST |
Dunno Norm. Remember the good old days of buying on spec, sight unseen? I think I've still got the things in the loft
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richarDISNEY | 02 Dec 2010 8:40 a.m. PST |
Warm Acre's Hour of Glory WWII figs. The original Gamma World figs. WEG's Star Wars 25mm figs. And I know that I am gunna catch some flack for this, but I feel that it true
Perry Minatures. I will NEVER buy any of those again! Ending up either throwing them away, or using them as test figs. I even tried to GIVE some away, they didn't want them. YEECH!
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clibinarium | 02 Dec 2010 8:43 a.m. PST |
15mm Donnington 1680-1700 Europeans. Absolutely awful sculpts, for example the split in the coat was very obviously just a line drawn down the front of the sculpt with a scalpel. Very simplistic work with practically no detail, unsavable with good painting. Every sculptor starts somewhere, so I tend to be generous in my assessments, but these were unpardonable (or possibly they were very old and done when 15mm was quite new). They were the first set of bad figures I ever bought, and were never taken out of the box they came in again. Strangely their 1660-1680s Europeans were actually very nice, plainly done by a different sculptor. |
Prince Rupert of the Rhine | 02 Dec 2010 8:48 a.m. PST |
Irregular Miniatures 15mm fantasy where horrible sculpts. I also had some Irregular Miniatures 25mm late medievals that where basicaly formless blobs of metal that defied a good paint job. Just about everything in 25mm from Old Glory I have had is poor (although I know some people love them) Wargames Factory stuff. I've bought a few different sets I really want to like them, but as soon as I compare them to the plastics from Warlord or the Perrys (or even 1/72 valiants) they just look so poor with odd poses and shallow detail. |
Connard Sage | 02 Dec 2010 8:52 a.m. PST |
Five words that inspire a feeling of unease "
but they paint up nicely" |
Buff Orpington | 02 Dec 2010 8:54 a.m. PST |
GW's first lot of Dark Eldar, especially the unhelmeted ones. |
axabrax | 02 Dec 2010 8:58 a.m. PST |
The Old Glory Napoleon in Egypt range with the heads that looked like they were clipped from other figures and make everyone look like a giraffe. Cannon Fodder miniatures porportions are absolutely bizarre as are many of the Brittania ranges--although the figs have a lot of character. Tiger minis German Camel Corps have gotta be up there with the worst too. I also agree that Wargames Factory's early releases are at best sub par--but they do seem to be getting better with time. |
Norman D Landings | 02 Dec 2010 9:13 a.m. PST |
I bought Over the Wire's "Wanted: Dead or Alive" on the strength of a WI review. Very good value, brief, simple A5 gunfight ruleset, and a pack of Warrior miniatures gunfighters
which were really nice. Chunky, characterful 28mms, a good match for Foundry. So I bought the expansion pack – "For a Few Cents More" – which also came with a pack of figures
which were appalling. Quite obviously a different sculptor – didn't fit with the first set at all. Rudimentary 'slit for a mouth, wedge for a nose' faces
bizarre proportions, including one notably hunchbacked, some with limbs that curved rather than bent at a recognisable joint. Strange idiosyncracies such as everyone having a flapped, army-style pistol-holster. |
John the OFM | 02 Dec 2010 9:26 a.m. PST |
Five words that inspire a feeling of unease "
but they paint up nicely"
So does a blank canvas. |
Dr Mathias | 02 Dec 2010 9:57 a.m. PST |
First generation plastic GW Terminators, or first generation plastic genestealer hybrids, or first generation plastic space orks. |
avidgamer | 02 Dec 2010 10:24 a.m. PST |
Some of the older OG lines are very bad nowadays. The sculpting is not great but the castings are DREADFUL! The ACW line sold by Bicorne is really hideous. The ACW Crusader line is bad and hardly American Civil War! |
Garand | 02 Dec 2010 10:32 a.m. PST |
Forgot to throw in the ex-Gladiator Games 15mm Norman line. Very basic sculpting, with a standard bearer holding the standard with a tentacle rather than an arm. Shield bosses were "decorated" by pressing what looks like a proprietary star shaped screw driver into the putty. Really dreadful stuff IMHO. Damon. |
Delthos | 02 Dec 2010 10:37 a.m. PST |
I don't remember who it is, but the company that advertises their $1.00 USD miniatures here. Those are some of the worst miniatures I've seen. Horribly misproportioned and amatuerish sculpts. |
vojvoda | 02 Dec 2010 10:37 a.m. PST |
I am sure there are figures out there that are worse but for me it is the 25mm Warrior Roman Republic figures I purchased sight unseen in the 70s. I did a legion of them, about 84 figures but never put them out at a game. VR James Mattes |
DeanMoto | 02 Dec 2010 10:52 a.m. PST |
The Old Glory Napoleon in Egypt range with the heads that looked like they were clipped from other figures and make everyone look like a giraffe. thanks for the "heads up" on that – I was thinking of getting some; but may have to look to Eureka. Dean |
kustenjaeger | 02 Dec 2010 10:57 a.m. PST |
Greetings I generally give figures the benefit of the doubt. However: (a) Spencer Smith plastics – bought a sample years ago and binned them (b) Peter Laing – bought some mediaevals shortly after they first came out and never used them or wanted to (c) Quite a few Jacobite 15mm bought decades ago and will probably be disposed of unused shortly (d) Naismith Design 15mm Napoleonic French light infantry – very poorly proportioned – no idea about others in the range as I didn't investigate further. Regards Edward |
CPBelt | 02 Dec 2010 11:22 a.m. PST |
The old Asgard line of fantasy figures still being sold. Some real blobs of lead. The orcs look pretty interesting though. I hate to say this, but some of the MegaMini figures are not very good either. Everyone looks like a hobbit. |
Farstar | 02 Dec 2010 11:47 a.m. PST |
In the context of their day, I'd have to second the Prow Warzone and Prow Leviathan models. Sculpting had moved so far beyond Mr Prow's abilities that they were almost unbearably, though competently, cartoony. For some ghastly models, however, you have to look at much older lines. You will find horrid blobs, stealthy WTH's, and more than a few things that should paint up nicely, but don't. Some candidates include Dragontooth (one of the oldest 37.5mm lines), very early Citadel (ye ghods those "Red Orcs"), Chernak-era Grenadier (HUGE heads, often with broken necks), early Archive (is his sword folded over the edge of the base TWICE?!?), Martian Metals 25mm Fantasy, and a British company (the name of which escapes me) who sold models that were basically nude dollies with the clothing lines etched in, and only the weapons and occasional piece of armor actually sculpted on top. As ugly as some of the Heritage lines were, they were much more clearly "wargame" pieces meant to be viewed at 3 feet or more, so the fact that many looked like burn victims is excused. As for RicharDISNEY's call out of the Perrys, I have to say that I've seen some nasty stuff with their name (and GW's price) on, but these rarely consitute an entire line. |
Pierce Inverarity | 02 Dec 2010 11:57 a.m. PST |
That's right, Martian Metals
I remember not buying their Traveller range, for reasons that will be readily apparent here-- link |
Farstar | 02 Dec 2010 12:28 p.m. PST |
I could deal with the Martian Metals 15s, but the 25s were just nasty, even compared to Heritage. |
Timbo W | 02 Dec 2010 1:11 p.m. PST |
Overheard many moons ago at Armageddon (Colours for you youngsters) Veteran – "Well the new Minigfigs 15mm range is popular but the undercuts are ridiculous" Acolyte- "Huh??" Veteran- "Well, what you want is Peter Laing 15s, they don't have any detail so you can paint them as you like" Acolyte- "But
." Veteran- "Ah, remember that in 15mm the thickness of a leather belt is about the same as a single coat of paint!" Me- "!!!" |
Noldor42 | 02 Dec 2010 2:58 p.m. PST |
1970's Archive miniatures, most of the Heritage range (The majority of Barsoom & Star Trek lines in particular) & FASA's attempt at Wrath of Khan crew
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Patrick Sexton | 02 Dec 2010 3:20 p.m. PST |
Minifigs fantasy line in the '70s. Brutally ugly and sometimes just downright stupid figures. |
combatpainter | 02 Dec 2010 3:28 p.m. PST |
This could end up being one of the most helpful threads especially if you keep hearing certain lines mentioned again and again. You will know what to avoid. |
John the OFM | 02 Dec 2010 5:04 p.m. PST |
Yeah, but I bet it's doing wonders for Bill's advertising revenue. |
Doc Ord | 02 Dec 2010 5:37 p.m. PST |
There was a line of FFL for Mexico back in the '80s. They were supposed to be 15mm-squat figures with seperate 25mm heads. I threw the bodies away and saved the heads for some 25mm conversions later.Peter Laing were awful-especially the British colonials-the horses looked like dogs,Most of Scruby's 20mm and 25mm were bad. |
Cardinal Ximenez | 02 Dec 2010 5:37 p.m. PST |
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Farstar | 02 Dec 2010 5:50 p.m. PST |
"Bill's advertising revenue" Aside from some of the GW Perry stuff, and maybe the Archive models (now under Emperor's Choice, IIRC), I stuck to lines long gone. |
The Monstrous Jake | 02 Dec 2010 7:15 p.m. PST |
Reviresco/McEwan spaceships. I don't think even a nice paint job could salvage these. Reviresco/McEwan wild west figures. Very portly and supposed to be 25mm, but that might be measured to the top of the cartoonishly tall hats. Don't remember the brand, but around 1991 I bought a set of 6mm Alamo figures from an ad in The Courier. The figures were, er, very round. In a rotund sort of way. I bought just about every set, but the Martian Metal 15mm Traveller figures were just awful. I painted most of 'em too. |
Pictors Studio | 03 Dec 2010 11:13 a.m. PST |
I sculpted a range of Star Wars figures out of clay when I was about 6, it pretty much sucked. |
Olaf the hairy | 03 Dec 2010 6:40 p.m. PST |
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DesertScrb | 03 Dec 2010 8:33 p.m. PST |
Speaking of Martian Metals, I acquired some of their old Paneuropean vehicles for OGRE/GEV, and they're horrible compared to the Ral Partha or SJG versions of the same models. |
fitterpete | 04 Dec 2010 9:10 a.m. PST |
1)Renegade WW2 range.Ogres in helmets. 2)Closely followed by the Napoleonic British Cavalry(the infantry are fine).I used to have Flintloque figures,Brtish Orcs, and these would fit in with them nicely. 3)Bearsden Miniatures Mohgul and Turkish cav.Went right back into the box they came in to be sold in the next Flea Market.Or maybe it was because I was trying to mix tthem in with Perry and Foundry figures. |
Cardinal Ximenez | 04 Dec 2010 11:22 a.m. PST |
Fitterpete, As far as the Renegade WW2, for me it's not so much the quality of the sculpting as much as the lack of useful poses. Other coy's figures look more like they're actually fighting. DM |
SJDonovan | 05 Dec 2010 4:01 a.m. PST |
I know lots of people love them but I really dislike Adler 6mm. I would actually prefer to paint old Peter Laing 15s. |
Gennorm | 08 Dec 2010 6:12 a.m. PST |
Nobody would but Peter Laing figures now they're probably more accurate than current very detailed 15mm figures as they depict what you can see at the distance being modelled. My PL Early Achaemenid Persian army will soon be rebased for FOG. It was the first army I bought and nobody made EAP in 15mm at that time. |
Gennorm | 08 Dec 2010 6:14 a.m. PST |
The worst figures I've bought? 15mm Tin Soldier medievals – the visored helmets looked like halloween pumpkins. |
20thmaine | 10 Dec 2010 8:58 a.m. PST |
I really liked Asgard when they first appeared – still do. |
Two Owl Bob | 13 Dec 2010 8:53 a.m. PST |
I got my post on Saturday (having been snowbound for a fortnight) to find a nice shiny pack of FoW early WWII German Infantry sent by a friend who owed me some miniatures. I gave him some nice Peter Pig miniatures and in return I got what can only be described as Weird War II German Zombies. Odd poses, misshapen bodies, missing limbs, what look like rotting faces. I have bundled them into the scrap pile, they frighten me. |
Lord of the Sock Puppets | 15 Dec 2010 6:46 p.m. PST |
Though I liked the original 28mm Mutant Chronicles minis, I thought the second, 54mm go-around were pretty atrocious. |
EvilGinger | 22 Dec 2010 1:24 p.m. PST |
I like Peter Lang figures are still good & very nice to paint & no over scale details. The worst figures ever were 1970-80's Hinchclife 25mm melted all mine down to & recast them in Prince August moulds some early warrior 25mm where a bit bad but not on the magnitude of Hinchclife |
Farstar | 22 Dec 2010 5:56 p.m. PST |
Though I liked the original 28mm Mutant Chronicles minis, I thought the second, 54mm go-around were pretty atrocious.
I found them mostly acceptable from a sculpting POV. The atrocious part was the body of marketing decisions that led to them being 54mm. |
Scorpio | 22 Dec 2010 6:07 p.m. PST |
Steve Jackson Games put out a Hellboy set. Whuf. |
number4 | 08 Feb 2011 8:14 p.m. PST |
Another vote for Peter Laing – I bought a load of the ACW range sight unseen back in 1985
. Also Airfix plastic AWI and most of their "Waterloo" sets, plus their (British) 'Paratroops' along with all of the enterprisingly packaged knock offs by B.U.M. – now there's an appropriate name! Esci ACW sets, and anything by the mis-named Accurate miniatures. Revell ACW artillery in Currier & Ives costumes I was once offered some Spencer Smith figures for free but would not give them house room Movin' on up to the present day, Valiant and Italeri giant sized figures (but the prize winner must be Italeri's AWI Continental Infantry, truly hideous figures), and most of the unbelievably chunky Napoleonic and Crimean war stuff by Strelets R. Some of Hat's stuff is good, some appalling. Valiant are so bad they are worth mentioning twice as it's the only set I've ever bought and given away without even bothering to try painting |
Dasher | 25 Feb 2011 8:03 a.m. PST |
GW's Dark Eldar. Given the potential for truly otherworldly wonderfulness, this range was unforgiveably banal, even tedious. |
Captain Carter | 13 Jan 2018 2:57 a.m. PST |
I cannot put Peter Laing in there though his figures had little detail the range was inspired. some how Im very fond of them. But for me the worst of the worst has to go to Warrior Miniature. The Napoleonic's are awful. And the 10mm ranges are just dreadful. A close second for me goes to Irregular miniatures 6mm ranges. Look like metal shaving swept up off the floor. |
khanscom | 14 Jan 2018 6:37 p.m. PST |
Don Featherstone in "Wargamer's Newsletter" of Nov. 1974: "There are no really BAD wargames figures. Obviously, some are better than others…" |
Marc at work | 15 Jan 2018 7:50 a.m. PST |
Can I suggest early Strelets, or Atalantic. The soldiers that make plastic 1/72 look bad… Warrior – The Naps range – oh dear… Martian Metals – I have those!!! Anybody want some :-) |