"Wargames Factory vs Games Workshop" Topic

I am NOT a GW fan. They are too expensive and the whole Space Marine controversy was just .

However.

I recently intended to make a SAGA levy of bowmen from Wargames Factory saxons, and, after a test figure, decided not to do it. The necks are just not intended for the sideways pose. I could make it work, but the effort involved was daunting.

So, I looked into Gripping Beast's metal saxon bowmen. Sold out in the USA, as far I could tell.

I bought Warhammer Bretonnia Peasant Bowmen. A GW product. Damn.

They are really nice. And, per figure, about what I would have paid for Gripping Beast. So, for GW, pretty cheap.

Here's the GW mins vs Wargames Factory. WF in the middle

Cost is 50 cents per mini for WF (The War Store has the box of 32 for $15.99 USD) and $2 USD+ for GW (I bought them at a FLGS for $35 USD, but Amazon has them for less)

Blog post: tabletop.magigames.org/?p=741

They are nice figures. However, while I'm not a Dark Ages expert, I'm unsure if the GW figures really work as Dark Ages historicals. GW's Warhammer humans started as historical figures, and through at least 5th edition or so remained mostly faithful to their historical archetypes (Landsknechts and 100 Years War for Empire and Brettonians, respectively). But over time, they have become more fanciful.

These figures are a close call: that might still be okay on a 14th Century battlefield. But Dark Ages, maybe not.

As Ivan said, nice figures but not Saxons (or any DA troops).
It just takes a few moments with a file to get the WF neck shaped to allow the head to turn.
And what SM controversy?

I'm with you on Warhammer figures not being DA accurate, but this particular set is pretty generic. The two in my pic are very representative.

The "few moments with a file" in my experience, translates into 3 hours to assemble 12 minis. These 12 WH troops took me about 30 minutes, total.

Also, the poses were exactly the same for my WF hearthguard and warriors. I wanted a change of pace for my levy. I have some Gripping Beast metal minis waiting for paint – 4 hearthguard and 8 warriors, to mix it up even more.

The SM controversy is GW suing anyone and everyone who used the term "Space Marine", despite the fact that Heinlein used it years before GW.

The problem with the WF figures is not just the necks.

Its also the arms – which are often narrower at the shoulder than any other point!

And the poses just don't work – the archer blooddave has put together is about as good as you can get from these figures. They really are poor.
I gave up assembling mine after about half a box.

Yes, the GW ones are a bit too late – but are much nicer figures.

Well, I have to say if you are making miniatures that look like the middle one out of the kit that WF provides, then you did not grow up on the diet of airfix figures that I did.

Needless to say with a bit of work, you can get much better poses (filing down and filling the shoulder areas, filing and chopping the neck, chopping the arm at the elbow joint, filling and reattaching … ) I know its a lot of work, and a lot of faff – I think plastic is a lot of faff anyway – I enjoy it though!

The GW ones are nice enough for about four hundred years later if you are doing a mid saxon army, and would be ok (not good) for the period up to the end of the Hundred years war! – If you want real dark age archers – they are few and far between – even in metal. I am currently looking for welsh Longbowmen – late 12th/early 13th century – with at least three poses … in 28mm – and it has not been an easy search!

I used the Gripping Beast set of plastics and added Wargames Factory arms to make some bowmen.

See, I love filing and assembling, and PAINTING is what I have to work myself into the mood for…

Needless to say with a bit of work, you can get much better poses (filing down and filling the shoulder areas, filing and chopping the neck, chopping the arm at the elbow joint, filling and reattaching … ) I know its a lot of work, and a lot of faff – I think plastic is a lot of faff anyway – I enjoy it though!

I enjoy assembling plastic figures, especially the Gripping Beast and Perry ones.

But the kind of surgery you suggest is beyond my interest level – I would much rather have well made parts that work as is – and then if I really want to convert them I can. The WF ones are such hard work to start with I would rather spend a little more and get something better to start with.

Would reducing the size of the bow make these Dark Ages appropriate, or is there something in the dress of the figure that needs adjustment as well?

Why not just join the OG army and get metal ones for the cost of plastic --- this with all the varients already built right into the figure to begin with?
regards
Russ Dunaway

architectsofwar.com has an Anglo-Saxon bow unit for Saga for under $30 USD, it's in stock.
link

no – there is nothing right about those figures as dark age bow men – other than they are human ? figures. (and have massive oversize bows – but everyone seems to have oversize weapons so…)

Chris B: I swear they were out of stock as recently as yesterday.

Russ has a good point. I have a lot of OG DA figures and have been very pleased with the sculpts and the variety. The 100 years war and war of the roses line is also pretty good.

Hey Russ. Any thoughts on doing a 25mm Franco-Prussian War Range?

>>> Why not just join the OG army and get metal ones for the cost of plastic --- this with all the variants already built right into the figure to begin with?
regards
Russ Dunaway <<<

My thoughts too on the cost of most plastics by the way.

The 12 are finally painted. I need to get them based because I have a game on Tuesday (5 days from now)

They may not be historically accurate, but the paint job is great.