"Sizing up 28mm Vikings and Normans" Topic

I dont handle a lot of 28mm figures. Are you familiar with Dark Ages figures from the following manufacturers and how they interact with each other? 

Crusader,Artizan,Foundry,Footsore and Warlord?

and as a follow up, Old Glory

Although others may want to know for various reasons, my interest was to do skirmish games with 100+ singly mounted figures a side. Just Normans defending against viking raids.

I wanted to Use the Crusader Norman mounted knights and spearmen but the Norman archers from Foundry and footsore. Maybe about 100 figures.

Also, wanted a hodgepodge of 200 or so Vikings from all these makers. From what I could discern online, it seems like all these makers foot figures sort of mesh with each other (Maybe Old Glory are smaller). Am I mistaken?

Outside of minor variation, is there any maker here which would look out of place in a separate unit but in the same army?

For extra credit, someone may want to weigh in on how Drabant or Black Tree Designs Dark Age miniatures get along with the abov ranges.

I have Vikings from all these companies, except Crusader and Warlord.
Foundry and Footsore are about the same height, though the Footsore figures are slimmer. Old Glory, as you noted, are smaller. Artizan are also a bit shorter than Foundry figures. Both are pretty much within the range of natural variance (personally, I'm 6'1" and my father was 5'8"--that kind of thing). One local store has Warlord Vikings, and I've measured some of their packs against my Foundry figures--they are about the same size.
So, yes, I use almost all of these together, and they look fine. Gripping Beast and Shieldwall (sold through Gripping Beast) also fit in well. I got some Irregular slaves to do the hard work for my Vikings--they are a bit smaller, but look fine clearing the way so the Vikings can portage their trading vessels.
My Vikings have faced off against Old Glory Normans in Saga games, and don't look like they are towering over their foes.

Grelber

Irregular Miniatures RR6 Group of women, slaves, elderly and children with scythe, pitchfork, club or spear. Western dress suitable for Celts, Slavs, Goths, etc. (5 figures)?

Did you get the dancing bear set too? :)

Ive heard bad things about Gripping Beasts' figure detail or quality, or something to that effect.

I should ask about who makes good Dark Ages open handed peasants for siege work and good Dark Ages peasants to defend their town before the Normans show up to relieve them.

I am not fussed about slight variations but you know sometimes a maker's heads are a lot smaller or their weapons are bizarrely bigger.

Gripping Beast figure quality varies by range. Some of the older Viking sculpts have seen better days, but the new plastic Vikings are excellent. I have figures from all the companies you mention. If you paint them in different colors and shield patterns, the figure manufacturer won't make a lot of difference.

Try any of the Gripping Beast plastic Dark Age or Saxon infantry for 'peasants.' They have different heads and weapons options.

Keep scrolling down. There are a load of comparison photos of Dark Ages figures…

link

V and V miniatures Vikings are excellent and fit with Foundry and Gripping Beast vminiatures.com/28-mm/vikings

A newcomer to the area is Victrix with their plastic Vikings, I have not seen them in the plastic yet but if they are like other Victrix sets they are going to be slightly larger than Gripping Beast but still within usual variations link

MiniPigs,
I got set 25/5, the Civilian Work Party, which is listed amongst the laborers, artillery, and wagons. This is going to be part of a scenario where the Vikings portage the rapids and must fight off attacking Pechenegs. I don't have the dancing bear set; Irregular has all sorts of odd things that I could convince myself would be great to build a scenario around. So, it is necessary to exercise more than the normal discipline when visiting their website.
Grelber

What about plastics? Conquest Games, Victrix and Fireforge Games? You can mix and swap for ages. I would love to do it if I had the money.

Old Glory Normans are smaller than the others.

Old Glory Sommerled Vikings are larger and fit in.

The issue with the plastics is how the arms attach. Some attach at the shoulder, some at the sleeve. So you have to be careful and cognizant of this.

Not to mention mounted figures not fitting on others' horses. Plastic figures' legs can't bend to fit like lead.