The Principate Army Project at this point involves taking the original figures - painted by Minidragon - and sending them to Ukraine, where Old Guard Painters are painting an army of figures to match!
![The Duke and Spearman The Duke and Spearman](workbench/pics/fan/2007/806663d.jpg)
Above, you see the Duke and the original Spearman. So we sent the painted Spearman, plus 45 of his unpainted brethren (in two poses) to Ukraine!
![Original figure (left) and random new figure Original figure (left) and random new figure](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732a.jpg)
The figures have just returned, and all I've done is to slap some bases on them and put a random sample in front of the camera. The figure on the left is the original; the one on the right is the Ukrainian-painted figure.
![Original figure (left) and random new figure Original figure (left) and random new figure](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732c.jpg)
Differences that I've noticed: the armor on the new figures is slightly darker; you can see the eyes on the original, while the new figures are more heavily shaded behind the visor; the skintone is slightly brighter; the leather highlights are slightly brighter; the spear shaft and black shadows throughout are slightly darker. Some of the spear shafts and tips could have been filed better before painting.
![Original figure (left) and random new figure Original figure (left) and random new figure](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732b.jpg)
Those figures are the "back row" spearmen - now here is the "front rank" spearman, painted by Old Guard Painters following the pattern set by the other pose:
![Showing how the two poses work together Showing how the two poses work together](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732d.jpg)
![Original figure (left) and new figure Original figure (left) and new figure](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732f.jpg)
![New figure (left) and original figure New figure (left) and original figure](workbench/pics/fan/2008/481732e.jpg)
Total cost from Old Guard Painters was $377.93 USD (including assembly - one pose is a two-part model - and shipping), which works out to about $8.40 USD per figure.
More pictures when I get these figures properly based!
These Crucible figures are available from Ral Partha Europe individually as 02-323a and 02-323b; they are also probably available from Iron Wind Metals, but might require special ordering.