"Museum Miniatures Z Range" Topic

Although it seems to have flown under the radar here, Museum Miniatures has released a new range in 15mm/18mm ancients figures – Z range. This range is 3d sculpted and then cast in metal. The figures shown on their website look fantastic. The range is currently limited to hoplites, Indians and Macedonians. Has anyone seen these figures in the flesh? Are they really as good as they look? How do they compare in size to Xyston, Essex etc. I need more hoplites and Macedonians like a fish needs a bicycle but these are very tempting. Would like to get some feedback before ordering.

Ooh, the Macedonian pikes are new, I hadn't seen them before.

Don't forget the Sumerians – IIRC these were the first in the Z range, and someone else is producing the same sculpts in 28mm.

But I am afraid I haven't seen the real thing either.

There has been a post in Sumerians, and maybe on Indians, before on TMP. I believe the Sumerian one was also about the use of GW contrast paints.

The Museum Miniatures hoplites are as good as they look, with different levels of armour and different heads.

The hoplites will not go well in a Xyston unit, as they are slightly chunkier, and the shields are bigger and flatter. That said, they will look good in their own units serving alongside the Xyston troops. I like them and have about 150 of them ready to be painted.

Transfers specifically designed for this range are available from both Museum, and Little Big Man Studios.

I also have some of the Indians as well.The archers are very slightly smaller than Xyston, but their spearmen are very good (apart from the one that I dislike spearing someone to his right whilst looking forward – but that is personal preference).

I will use the Xyston figures that I already have as the main Classical Indian army, and have an allied contingent from Museum, so I can tell the difference on the table.

The advantage of the Museum figures is that you dont have to drill out the hands to put spears in, or attach the shields.

I was chatting to Dave (of Museum) at the show in York and he said that he had sold several thousand Indian archers in his January sale, and over 250 elephants. So many elephants in fact he burnt out the mold and had to make a new one. I contributed to that as I bought 14 of them!

The elephants are one piece castings, with the crew cast seperately, and are excellent. The fact that you dont have to glue 2 halves of the ellie together and then put the head into a space that it may or may not fit means that I will scrap my unmade Xyston elephants.

I recommend their figures and will most likely be ordering some of their phalangites later this month.

Thank you all for your comments. I was afraid of that. Now, where did I put my credit card…lol.

Kent

@Gurkhan – 28mm version of Sumerians is CP Models. I got a sample, excellent.

I think it was my post about the Sumerians and Contrast Paints. The Sumerians are excellent and paint up brilliantly: highly recommended.

Odd – there have been quite a few threads on Museum Z on here. Though this forum is a tragedy to use so not such a shock if you couldn't find.

This year I've bought quite a bit of Museum and Xyston indians and greeks.

The museum z indian elephants, swords, spears and archers are fine, maybe there's a tiny bit more depth in the xyston sculpt detail but you can't go wrong. The museum maiden guard not so exciting but I don't have the Xyston maidens to compare. I have indian chariots from both and they also seem quite similar – haven't painted yet. Xyston character packs e.g.Porus, Selucas are special)

The museum hoplites as noted are also fine, not great to mix due to the giant shields but they are fine, and the commanders too.

Downsides, well, my recent Xyston purchases have needed a lot of tidying up. And one poor unit from museum Z, the greek peltasts, lacking detail, blurred, not worth painting for me.

I've already re-bought more museum z hoplites and I'm highly likely to buy the new pikes and more, as well as more from Xyston.

My general conclusion is that museum z is not earth shattering or better – but – so far IMHO the figures are quite Xyston-like in quality and detail – and that is a very smart and a very good thing. :)

The older Museum figures were closer to 18mm so do not mix well with Essex or Xyston.

How tall are the new Z sculpt "15mm" figures?