"28mm Renaissance Mini's and time periods represented?" Topic

Are there some lines of post-WOR figs that should not be mixed due to obvious clothing or armor or horse barding differences? In other words, for example, does Artizan's Swiss work with TAG's Italians in terms of being of the same period? All all 28mm Gendarmes of the same period flavor or are some sculpts early and others very late and therefore incompatable? Any thoughts, observations, or guidance welcome.

Warlord
Foundry
Artizan
TAG
Vinnie
Eureka
Old Glory?
Essex
There are probably others….

TIA

Been looking for the magic combination for 35 years. Good luck.

Warlord (Pro-Gloria) lansknechts are fine iwth Foundry, both size wise and sub-period (1520(ish) – 1550 (ish)). Artizan are the same sub-period but slightly larger I believe.

Eureka and Foundry gensdarrmes are about the same period. In my opion, the same as the lanksnechts above.

TAG, I have a few of their Spanish infantry, are generaly the early 1500s. They are threatening a late 15th early 16th range of lansknechts. They look like the real mccoy, but we will need to see them first.

The Foundry Swiss range is suitable for early lansknechts.

The OG lansknechts and gensdarmes are about the same period as the Foundry ones. Their Italian, Swiss and Spanish are early 1500s.

Never seen any Vinnies, and not sure what Essex produce anymore.

The above is entirely my opinion and will soon be contradicted by others, I'm sure.

Essex are quite nice and are circa 1520 I'd say.
Redoubt is another manufacturer in 28mm.

I don't worry about it that much – costume styles evolved over time, and not everyone was up to date with the latest!

>costume styles evolved over time, and not everyone was up to date with the latest!

You could put a Doughboy up on the beaches of Normandy with the same reasoning. Well, not really, but the differences back then were certainly not less glaring to contemporaries.

Apart from that, TAG makes their Italians and Spanish for the first decade – and a fine line for the 40-60 era (mainly the later (third) Henry Tudor invasion of France. The Foundry, WG/PG, Vinni work for the high phase of the Italian wars, some 1515-32. Eurekas Gensdarmes are for this era, too, though they are slightly smaller and will not work together within a unit with the Foundry (or Steel Fist). Artizan Landsknecht/Swiss are also the same era, but slightly larger. You can put the odd mini representing a larger species in a unit, or field them as seperate unit within the same army, but free mixing is not advisable. Redoubt has a fine selection, but the sculpts are a bit rough and outdated by the modern standards. Old Glory is fine, but has some equipment glitches for their Landsknechts, and I do dislkie their 45° approach for pikes – they do offer, however, the best range for Ottomans of the era. The WG line is imho a fail in that regard.
The Perrys Italians and Plastics are pretty good in representing armies up to 1490, though not for all areas – and some minis can be used for later armies.

So I am not sure what you want to field. If you go for an Italian or Spanish army, you should aim for the 1500-1510 era and go with TAG. If you want the high era of the Landsknechts, from Marignano to Pavia (or Vienna) Foundry/WG/Artizan offer a nice stock with many others as complement (like Eurekas Conquistadores, Vinni, Steel Fist or even some GW). Its hard, however, to find good Italians, Spanish or French for that era (apart from Gensdarmes). Mirliton is expanding a small range for the Italians, though their later sculpts are lacking. The newer for the Bande nere look promising.

Here are some musings about the very problem you ponder
link

Its inactive now, but a very good read. And then there is the master of historical conversions for that era:
stuartsworkbench.blogspot.de

Try to figure out what army you roughly want, and I can try to give you a batter listing.

Anyone know when the TAG landsknecht will appear?

They are definitely in the line, and moulds have already been spotted. I would wonder if they do not show up this year – though Pete has a lot of casting to do for several Kickstarter projects…

Thanks everyone--I have this fear of showing up at Waterloo in 1815 with 1806 Prussians (or the Renaissance equivalent of such a faux pas).

Don't worry Grubs, we all mix and match as it is impossible to do it any other way at the moment.

I'm also to the looking forward TAG Landsknechts.
I'm aware of mixing up Landsknechts now from 1500-1525, but knowledge grew while building up my army.
Perhaps some day I'll split them in different periods, but for now I can live with it.

Personally I prefer Foundry, mixed with Artizan and Pro Gloria. Old Glory I like for their active poses, although their 45 degree pikes may not give quite the correct feel.

They are finally here: link

Finally…
order placed for a sampler set – awaiting the minis to see how they look in real. Seems that they did consider the point on atypical headgear.