"Best ECW miniatures????" Topic

Hey everybody,

I was wondering what company you think makes the best 25 or 28mm ECW miniatures? I know what Renegade has to offer and I have seen the Foundry stuff. I was just curious if I was missing someone else who might be as good.

Thanks,
Troy

do a search under "perry renegade", on the message board. there are a heap of recent posts on this
Best
M

Redoubt, Redoubt, Redoubt, Redoubt ………….

redoubtenterprises.com

link

Definitely the Perry stuff. I think they combine the best qualities of sculpting and playability. The Renegade stuff is very nicely sculpted but in my opinion is too large. Some of the figures require a 1" square base.

The Perry figures are very well proportioned and sculpted.

I agree with Pictors. Perrys are the best at realistically representing the human anatomy during the ECW period.

Value for Money and for detail I would go with Bicorne as their range is growing fast and mix well with Renegade and Redoubt. The quality of castings is good for Bicorne but not too good on Redoubt although Redoubt have the added variety of unusual items. Renegade have stopped producing more ECW as the Sculptor (Nick Collier – same sculptor as Bicorne ECW)will not do anything more for Renegade. Bicorne apparantly have Irish on the way and about another 20 packs in the pipeline.

The Perry's are fine figures but very small and the detail is somewhat lacking such as no rivets on the tassets etc.

But you pay your money and take your choice. Buy a pack of each, paint them up, put them side by side and make your own decision. I think Bicorne will win every time.

Perry and Renegade/Bicorne…Different styles, different choices. Both great!

I hear Collier no longer sculpts for Bicorne…

I haven't heard that Nick Collier isn't doing any more sculpting for Bicorne. Infact the owner of Bicorne just told me that he has just received 3 new master figures (musketer with rests)from him. I hope the rumour isn't true. Ioannis, Where did you here this from?

I am sorry, I cannot reveal the identity of my agents ;-)

Seriously, though, it is just some information a friend passed on to me…that, and Collier is fully salaried now at TAG.

Maybe, Collier is finishing his projects for Bicorne? I would certainly like to know more from the Source!!!

The fact that he's fully salaried and subject to an employment contract doesn't necessarily mean he can't sculpt for other companies (unless the contract includes an exclusivity or non-competition clause). Just look at the Perries…I really hope the Bicorne range produces the figures that are advertised as "to be released"; I need those armoured pikemen with helmets receiving cavalry.

In answer to the original question: if it's variety you're after then build your army around a core of units of Bicorne/Renegade/Redoubt (all compatible) with a couple of separate units of Perry. Dave Imrie on his website has an army with all those figures; in separate units they go fine, although you wouldn't want to mix Perry in with the others:

link

Giles

Baccus6mm. Quite seriously if you are into ECW and haven't seen these little gems you are missing out.

Ioannis, As regards Nick Collier, he has had a full-time job with The Assault Group for at least 2 years ans has still been churning out Bicorne ECW in his own time since then. Just wondering whether this is just a rumour and nothing more?

GiloUK, Just heard that those Armoured pikemen in tassets, ready to receive cavalry are due out by the end of January along with peasants, Dismounted Scots Dragoons, Dragoon horse holders and casualties, all of which I've been waiting for for a long time!!

Guys, I am with you wishing the best for Bicorne/Collier's collaboration! It would be nice if all these sculptors/manufacturers spent a bit of time in these forums socializing with us – THEIR CUSTOMERS! I know I do with mine…

This may sound like sacrilege to some but here is my ECW setup. I use Perry's for my officers, musketeers and characters. I use Old Glory for my Pikemen, Artillery and Cavalry. Guess what?, they match up very well sizewise and sculpting wise.

I would say that in 25/28 mm I have yet to see a bad line of ECW figures. And now the Assault Group are throwing their hat in the ring.

I think that in this period there are size issues to be concerned with, not so much quality issues.

Ralph

Agreed!

Perry and Renegade/Bicorne are the best IMO. Unfortunately it's either or as they won't mix due to the size difference.

I am responsible for feeding the duff info to Ioannis about Nick Collier. I had heard that Alan Marsh was doing all the new Bicorne stuff. It seems that is not the case, but it looks like the majority of the new (and smaller) stuff is from Alan Marsh. No malitious intent! Just passing on gossip.

It is a great shame that with such gorgeous sculpting from so many manufacturers for the ECW period, there is so much incompatibility in size. I have gone the Perry route in the end, but I wish I could use some of the Redoubt and Renecorne stuff too.

I am busted!

Great. Another company in town: Renecorne.
(Good one, elcid1099)

Wim VdB

The only line I truly admire is the old Foundry group. The new Perry stuff doesn't seem to have the same "slice of life" quality. If I can't get those, Old Glory is good enough and cheaper. I don't care for any of the giant ranges although I have a friend who salivates over them. Onward throught the fog!

Don't Foundry ECE suffer from watermelon-head syndrome? They seem rather big in the photographs compared to their overall anatomy…It might be their hats, though!

That should be…"Foundry ECW"…don't know what ECE is!

I like Renegade/Bicorne for 25mm. Perry does not have a complete range.

The big Foundry heads are not too bad. They are not the Dixon pumpkins. Have a look at these examples of Foundry ECW…

picture

picture

link

I think Redoubt figures have the most character, despite less well cast, and are my favorite range. I also use renegade/bicorne but they are static and limited in terms of pose – much like crusader and artizan. I like perry figures, but not this range.
M

Wow! Thanks for all the great information everyone. I will look over all the possibilities.

Another question…..what does everyone play? What armies? I am thinking of a Scottish Covenanters.

Ouch, that's the most "difficult" army! Renegade Scots have no character (no pipers!) and they are quick conversions of the English ECW stuff…Myself am looking now into Perry Scots…Not much experience with Bicorne's Scots…

Walter some help here, please!!!

See also here TMP link

Good luck!

Nice brushwork from the master! Thanks elcid1099…

Actually Scots Covenanters are pretty easy to do with Perry (and I assume the same is true with Rene-Corne).

The great thing about covenanters is that they are only really distinguished from their English counterparts by the blue bonnet and the hodden grey uniform.

The hodden grey is easily taken care of with paint. And bonnets are one of the easiest and quickest conversions you can do. Chop off the English figures Montero, monmouth or floppy hat, stick a blob of green stuff on his head and squish into bonnet shape. And of course an infantryman in a helmet can be used for Scots or English. A pack of green stuff if probably the best thing you can buy for your covenanter army.

I know when I look through the Perry catalogue for Scots I look at all the ECW figures. The English artillery, dragoons on foot, cavalry and armoured pike, as well as command, can all be used as Scots troops with little or no conversion.

So, the only serious gaps left in the Perry range, for Scots Covenanters, is the absence of any highlanders or lancers. However you can get lancers and highlanders from Foundry and Old Glory (Old Glory lancers are great, but highlanders are dodgy), and Devastator produces a nice but small range of highlanders in the Foundry size/style. Bicorne's highlanders are not that much larger than Foundry, and as they are fielded in seperate units, probably wouldn't look to out of sorts in a mostly Foundry/Perry army.

I have not tried to convert any Perry Scots cavalry to lancers, but I imagine its not impossible. I use the Foundry lancers.

The other great thing about the covenanters is that at different times they fought against every other protagonist in the English civil war, and also fought in Ireland.

Cheers

Walter

Thanks again guys. With all the choices for minis now, I might reconsider my army. So many choices…….

Troy

What are the essex 28mm figs like and do they match other Brands?

Hi bluewillow,
I agree with most of the others who place Foundry & Perry at the top of the best figure list. However I do have a soft spot for some of the Essex 28mm ECW. The problem is consistancy. As far as scale goes the Essex command figs and pikemen match well with my Foundry figs.

What I like most about Essex ECW is that their postures appear to have an "Old English" feel. The don't look like modern skirmshers dressed in ECW clothing.

Byron,
the reason I ask is that they are on sale at the moment and i have never seen one in the flesh, i was thinking of using old glory, but this special is tempting!!!

cheers

Matt

It always amazes me that manufacturers continue to sell sight-unseen!

Bicorne is my favorite, but I mix in Renegade and Redoubt…

with ecw i think it all comes down to taste. Most will agree perry are best for most things but im not so sure of their ecw range, especially the scots. My scots army is mainly resoubt. I like their gritty look and excellent range. You can also buy them as invividuals.

Im not so keen on their cavalry though so i went for bicorne for my moss troopers.

pics to follow..

so everyone plays with BIG 25's (28's)?
i was considering going plastic (a call to arms and revell) and then mixing some metals in, i was thinking of old glory. do people reckon theyd work together??

"i was considering going plastic (a call to arms and revell) and then mixing some metals in, i was thinking of old glory. do people reckon theyd work together??"

i doubt it very much – OG are not 20mm

Tumbling Dice do a nice 20mm range for the ECW.