Nick R | 08 Feb 2015 3:48 p.m. PST |
Hi, Going on holiday shortly to UK and want to get an army or two while away – my way of remembering. For linkage have chosen ECW and currently looking towards: Peter Pigs for some 15 mm Empress for 28mm (these look fantastic on their site!) Know of PP, but not used their gear, any thoughts on these two as choices appreciated. Thanks Nick |
Jeff of SaxeBearstein | 08 Feb 2015 9:36 p.m. PST |
Nick, If you paint them as Royalists, they will be wonderful . . . but if you paint them as Parliamentarians they will not be good at all. That said, I have read wonderful things about the Peter Pig 15s (although I have never actually seen them). I know less about the Empress figures . . . but by all means buy whatever looks good to you . . . just remember to paint them as Royalists, eh? -- Jeff
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mashrewba | 09 Feb 2015 6:08 a.m. PST |
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Mac1638 | 09 Feb 2015 6:11 a.m. PST |
Peter Pig nice a bit on the small size, I have see a comparison of figures manufacturers (15mm) somewhere on here. 28mm Empress nice Personalities, the officers (officers,sergeants drummers etc) are a bit to tidy for my taste. If you can try and be over here when there a large show on it might help you decide on your purchases. There is little to no difference between the dress of your average Royalist and the average Parliamentarian. If there is any difference it early war (1642),the Royalist issued suits(coat and breeches of the same colour) the King's Oxford Army in 164., There is lot out there on The English Civil War good look. P.S- Always remember we have weather not a climate in Britain, so be prepared. |
steamingdave47 | 09 Feb 2015 10:56 a.m. PST |
I have some of the Empress 28mm, both cavalry and infantry. They are very nicely proportioned figures and well sculpted BUT be aware that they're a bit fiddly to put together. Some of the figures have separate arms, sword belts and scabbards and the cavalry have the the three bar visor separate from the helmet. That is a real pain! I acquired them from a club mate who had given up on them, even though he has a massive ECW collection. Once assembled they are not too bad to paint. They are a bit smaller, less bulky, than my Redoubt figures and a bit bigger and similar proportions to the Warlord Games and Foundry stuff I have. My favourites are Redoubt in 28mm, easy to assemble and paint and with real presence and character. |
martin goddard | 09 Feb 2015 12:16 p.m. PST |
Thanks for mentioning PP figures. There is a new set of rules (Regiment of Foote) due out at the end of 2015 for ECW too. martin |
sjwalker38 | 09 Feb 2015 2:37 p.m. PST |
PP are lovely figures, I'd post a photo or two but no clue how to add one to a post! Several different poses in each pack and easy to do head swaps for added variety using the separate head packs that Martin does. It's also a pretty comprehensive range with no obvious omissions. Empress 28mm are equally nice but somehow, because they are quite slim, anatomically correct, sculpts, they don't quite fit my mental image of what soldiers of the period looked like – ' a bit too tidy' sounds about right: though my impression is probably too heavily influenced by how friends in the Sealed Knot look and, errrr…'slim' is a term rarely used in that company. Redoubt definitely have presence and character but not sure how well used the moulds are, and I must admit to liking the Warlord plastics as well. Hope this helps – when/where are you visiting and is it your first time 'over here'? |
Nick R | 10 Feb 2015 12:28 a.m. PST |
All, thanks for the help. Gives me some thoughts and greatly appreciated. The Redoubt do look interesting and being on the travel route… Over very end of March until end April. Third trip and a previous one was winter so no surprises. Being from the very bottom of Australia (Tasmania), pretty right with the weather. Cheers |
Fat Wally | 10 Feb 2015 12:51 a.m. PST |
PP ECW are lovely sculpts with lots of potential. Check out painted PP ECW examples on my site; link …and scroll down on my painting services page for numerous PP ECW figures completed for customers. link Numerous headswaps make even ore variety. …Hi Martin and Simon [waves] Cheers, Kev |
mashrewba | 10 Feb 2015 6:06 a.m. PST |
Peter Pig are very robust figs-you won't get an flimsy , bendy muskets -solid kit!! The pikemen are open handed to take steel pikes or they come with pikes (which you can cut off to drill the hands). Big plus. |
Some Chicken | 10 Feb 2015 6:49 a.m. PST |
Speaking as one who has benefited from Kev's painting of Peter Pig's ECW range, I can say they are great figures and paint up very well. I am sure I made the right choice to go with both! |
Fat Wally | 10 Feb 2015 12:21 p.m. PST |
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steamingdave47 | 10 Feb 2015 1:44 p.m. PST |
A final thought from me-Bicorne 28 mm miniatures are very good. Size wise similar to Redoubt, but probably better definition and detail |
keiththej | 10 Feb 2015 4:21 p.m. PST |
Bicorne or Redoubt by far the best 28mm here in the Uk! Cheers Keith |
martin goddard | 10 Feb 2015 9:51 p.m. PST |
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Nick R | 11 Feb 2015 12:23 a.m. PST |
So a question that flows on: Wargames S&S in an article indicate both Empress and Redoubt at 28-29mm foot to eye and low 30's with hat. How compatible? Noting I've never really been one to mix manufacturers. I'm looking for 2-3 new armies while away, down to a short list of 4 now. Empress or Redoubt for 28mm ECW PP for 15mm ECW PP for 15 mm War of the Roses OG for Vlad Decisions, decisions. Cheers all. |
steamingdave47 | 11 Feb 2015 1:06 a.m. PST |
I have Empress and Redoubt/ Bicorne figures ( I believe some of Bicorne and Redoubt figures sculpted by same person). They are not in same units however as the Empress are slimmer figures, so appear smaller. I think this is most noticeable with the heads, the Redoubt/Bicorne do look slightly "big-headed. If you are a very patient individual, who is willing to fiddle with the small parts that need to be attached to Empress figures, then go with them. They are beautifully detailed, the horses are some of the best I have seen and, when a unit is completed, they look great- problem is that might take you 6 months to do a unit! If you are a bit ham- fisted and like to see results more quickly and you don't want to worry about bits dropping off your cavalry when they are moved on the table, go for Bicorne. As for 15mm, no real experience of ECW figures in this scale since 1970s era Minifigs, which were fine. Never bought Peter Pig figures at all, but I know they have their fans. |
sjwalker38 | 11 Feb 2015 2:53 p.m. PST |
Hi Kev, Hi Martin! Another PP fan signing in again – by coincidence, my first ever 'proper' wargaming army was 1970's 15mm ECW strip Minifigs, using Gush WRG rules, so the 2015 project is a bit of a tribute to that era, 35 years on. Nick R needs to buy lots of PP ECW and WOTR as soon as possible – some of the nicest figures that Martin has done to date. His ECW figures, painted by Fat Wally, is a great combination. And great timing for a trip over here – by coincidence I've got 'never met' cousins in Tasmania – the Boss-Walkers. If I were doing the project in 28mm, I'd probably go for a mix of Redoubt, Bicorne and Warlord. |
The Colonel | 11 Feb 2015 11:06 p.m. PST |
Sounds like you could make it to Salute, THE UK wargames show, in London on 25 April this year. The Colonel |
Clays Russians | 12 Feb 2015 10:12 a.m. PST |
Fatally, those regiments render me speechless…… |
Fat Wally | 12 Feb 2015 11:53 a.m. PST |
I hope that's good speechless :-) |
sjwalker38 | 12 Feb 2015 2:35 p.m. PST |
If you're going to Salute, don't forget to pre-order from PP as they're not able to take large quantities of everything with them to the show. |
Supercilius Maximus | 15 Feb 2015 5:25 a.m. PST |
Bicorne and Renegade (now available again, I believe) were sculpted mainly by the same guy and probably mxi 'n' match better than any other two 28mm ranges out there. From the proprietor himself, I gather that the ECW range will come back to the forefront of their plans for 2016 with Covenanters etc, but other stuff is taking centre stage until then. For 15mm, it's hard to beat the PP range (especially with all the spare heads etc), and their smaller size means they "play nicely" with Frei Korps and Hallmark. However, don't forget to take a look at the current Minifigs ECW and TYW ranges – none of the "wild dog" horses that spoil some of their other periods, though the "spaghetti pikes" do need replacing with wire for any degree of permanence and handling. If you mix 'n' match the ECW and TYW ranges, you'll get a very "raggedy" look. |
Nick R | 16 Feb 2015 12:16 a.m. PST |
Thanks All. Salute…yes, leave London the day before. Capacity to change this – about the same as convincing Salute to change. |
sjwalker38 | 16 Feb 2015 1:01 p.m. PST |
Bet that was an 'oh ' moment when you realised the timing was so near and yet so far. :-) |
GeoffQRF | 23 Feb 2015 9:00 a.m. PST |
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Nick R | 24 Feb 2015 12:11 a.m. PST |
Thanks Geoff. @sjwalker38…yep, broadly that was the reaction… |