Manufacturer Showcase - Part 10 - Renaissance Halflings

A new addition to the manufacterer showcase (right hand menu, towards the bottom), long overdue. There has also been an update to the Ogre showcase.

1. Games Workshop 

GW's Empire halflings need no introduction obviously. The range used to include halfling bowmen, spearmen and swordsmen as well as a hot pot catapult.

http://www.games-workshop.com/

2. WK Halflings

Not a commercial range, but my personal privately commissioned (and growing) landsknecht dwarf, goblin and now also halfling range that you can find to the left of this post. :) These are slightly taller and thinner than your regular potbellied halfling. There are halflings with spears, halberds, swords, crossbows, handguns, command and some wizards.

3. The Battleforge

Uk-based manufacturer of characterful fantasy figures, including some halflings with renaissance influences. 

Website: http://www.thebattleforge.co.uk/

4. Black Hat Miniatures

Black Hat took over the small fantasy range from Crusader Miniatures. They are not full-on landsknecht halflings, but have a similar vibe to the old GW ones. The range includes command, spears, archers, slingers, and swords.

Website: http://www.blackhat.co.uk/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 1 - Historical Landsknechts

Following the example of the pages I worked on on the Colonel Marble's Miniatures Showcase, I will update this blog with a series of posts compiling a list of all suitable figures with a (fantasy) renaissance theme. I will start the first part with a section on historical (and thus human) landsknecht ranges.

1. Wargames Foundry:

Possibly the biggest range to date and all sculpted by the Perry twins, with a few exceptions by Mike Owen. The range has command figures, knights, cannon and crew, handgunners and pikemen.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/

2. Artizan Designs

A relatively recent and growing range of landsknecht figures by Mike Owen. So far, there are command figures, pikemen, handgunners, halberdiers and dopplesoldners.

http://www.artizandesigns.com/

3. Pro Gloria Miniatures

Another new and growing company with a small, but expanding range of excellent figures sculpted by the talented Paul Hicks. So far a hackbut and looting landsknecht.

http://progloriaminiatures.blogspot.com/

4. Eureka Miniatures

Australian miniatures manufacturer with a small Italian Wars range that has some gendarmes (knights) and mounted men-at-arms (unreleased):

http://eurekamin.com.au/

5. The Assault Group

This UK company offers some suitable figures in the renaissance range, including halberdiers and the upcoming gendarmes.

http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/


6. Brother Vinni's Miniatures

Russian one-man company producing some very nice Landsknecht figures in 28mm. So far there are handgunners, halberdiers, a sort of hackbut/swivelgun, a sapper and an officer.

http://www.brother-vinni.com/


7. Old Glory Miniatures

American-based manufacturer with a large, though somewhat inconsistent range of figures, covering pikemen, command, handguns, cavalry, dopplesoldners...

USA: http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/

UK: http://www.oldgloryuk.com/


8. Redoubt Enterprises

Redoubt offers a range of biggish figures that includes pikemen, officers, crossbowmen, handgunners, reiters (pistoliers), knights, artillery and crew, characters ...

http://www.redoubtenterprises.com/



9. Mirliton

Italian manufacturer with a small range of italian wars figures, including a rather nice carriocco (war wagon) and bellwagon.

Italy: http://www.mirliton.it/

UK: http://www.vexillia.ltd.uk/

10. Warrior Miniatures

Uk-based manufacturer of, among other things, a small renaissance range. The figures are a bit dated, but they are cheap as chips (70p each for a footmodel).

http://www.warrioronline.demon.co.uk/
11. Irregular Miniatures

Another oldie. To be honest, they are pretty bad by today's standards.

http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/

12. Miniature Figurines (aka Minifigs)

Another company that seems to have been around forever and that do some landsknechts. No pictures though...

http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 2 - Fantasy Landsknecht Humans

The fantasy part of the human renaissance showcase. Some of these figures als feature in the size comparison pages of this blog. Depending on your own preferences, you could include other, more loosely renaissance inspired figures from other manufacturers, but for this showcase, I'm sticking with those that reflect the landsknecht style or are closely inspired by the GW Empire setting.

1. Games Workshop

GW's Empire range needs no introduction obviously. The range includes infantry, cavalry, warmachines, characters, ...

http://www.games-workshop.com/



2. Gamezone Miniatures

Spanish manufacturer of Fantasy miniatures including a Renaissance themed human range called "Imperium". Most of them are Spanish themed, but some are more general, landsknecht themed.

http://gamezoneminiatures.de/



3. Armalion/Das Schwarze Auge

Originally a German range of fantasy figures, including some Renaissance themed ones, now produced by Ral Partha Europe in the UK. There are some male and female characters as well as some nice crossbowmen.

http://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/



4. Lead Adventure Miniatures

German manufacturer of a growing range of 28mm Fantasy Landsknechts. They are pretty fantastic looking.

http://www.lead-adventure.com/



5. Freebooter Miniatures

German company doing a fantasy pirate game which includes a range of "Imperials", some of which are female.

http://www.freebooterminiatures.de/


6. Mirliton

Italian company that, among other things, now produces the old Grenadier Fantasy Warriors range. The human faction of that range is on average slightly early to really fit well, but some of the figures, including the knights and characters, work well. They are gorgeous Mark Copplestone sculpts to boot.

Italy: http://www.mirliton.it/
UK: http://www.vexillia.ltd.uk/



7. Mega Miniatures

US-based manufacturer bringing back many old school ranges. Some of the figures are small by today's standards (25mm), but there are some real gems to be found.

http://www.megaminis.com/

8. Victoria Miniatures

Australian based range of figures by Victoria Lamb, with a few interesting items for Empire players.

http://www.victorialamb.com/



9. Avatars of War

Avatars of War (AoW) is a young company located in Spain that designs and manufactures 28mm fantasy miniatures, including a war priest, not unlike the GW ones.

http://www.avatars-of-war.com/



10. Scibor Miniatures

Controversial Polish range including some GW-style Warrior Priests...

http://sciborminiatures.com/

11. Black Scorpion Miniatures

This range of 30-32mm figures includes some GW Empire-style figures in the Desolation Row section.

http://www.blackscorpionminiatures.com/

12. Tertio Creativo

Spanish manufacturer of an Alatriste-like fantasy range with some figures that can crossover into a GW inspired Empire setting.

http://terciocreativo.blogspot.com/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 3 - Renaissance dwarfs

1. Marauder MiniaturesThey've been OOP for close to two decades now, but the Marauder dwarfs still remain some of the best Renaissance style dwarfs out there. Ebay is a good source.

http://www.solegends.com/marauder/index.htm

2. Wargames Foundry:

Foundry does a small range of Landsknechts dwarfs.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/

3. Fenryll Miniatures

French manufacturer of resin fantasy figures, including a nice dwarf cannon. Only downside is they are a bit on the large side.

http://www.fenryll.com/

 

4. Bronze Age Miniatures

US-based company making 32mm dwarfs, including landsknecht dopplesoldners and civilians.

http://www.bronzeagemin.com/

5. Black Hat Miniatures

Black Hat took over the small fantasy range from Crusader Miniatures. They are not full-on landsknecht dwarfs, but have a distinct renaissance vibe. The range includes command, handgunners, halberdiers, axemen, a cannon...

http://www.blackhat.co.uk/


6. Alionas Miniatures

A German manufacturer offering figures with old school charm, including some Marauder-esque dwarfs. They aren't quite landsknecht style, but still look interesting.

http://www.alionas.de/

7. The Battleforge

Uk-based manufacturer of characterful fantasy figures, including some dwarfs with renaissance influences. For some reason, the newer releases are only availaible through their ebay store.

Website: http://www.thebattleforge.co.uk/
Ebay store: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/fromfireandflame

8. WK Dwarfs

Not a commercial range, but my personal privately commissioned (and growing) landsknecht dwarf range that you can find to the left of this post. :)

9. Beaumont Miniatures

Sold through Armorcast, this small ecclectic range has a dwarf "gong farmer" sculpted by Brad Shier. For when your privies need cleaning...

http://www.beaumontminiatures.com/

10. Ilyad Games

OOP French fantasy range including some suitable dwarfs. Hard to find now. Image taken from Stunties.

11. QT Models/Amazon Miniatures

An older, but relatively extensive range of renaissance styled dwarfs, of the tall and slim variety. Image was taken from Stunties (as the Amazon site is down).

http://www.amazonminiatures.com/

http://www.stunties.com/wiki/index.php/QT_Models

12. RAFM Miniatures

This American company does (or did, I couldn't locate them) a small range of conquistador dwarves, also of the tall and slim variety. Image is taken from Stunties.

http://www.rafm.com/

13. Renegade Miniatures

Renegade apparently have a small range of landsknecht style dwarfs that is as of yet unreleased. Picture is taken from Stunties.

http://www.renegademiniatures.com/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 4 - Renaissance Elves

Not many companies currently produce Elves in Renaissance outfits, but there are a few around nonetheless.


1. Foundry Miniatures

The Foundry has a small range of "revenant" elves who may be used as either Imperial Elves or Vampires, depending on how they are painted. They come with cherubs that might also be useful. I belive these were sculpted by Mark Copplestone.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/


2. Mirliton
This Italian manufacturer bought the old Grenadier Fantasy Warriors moulds when Nemo Miniatures went out of business. The range includes some Renaissance themed Dark Elves, sculpted by the talented Mark Copplestone. There are spearelves, crossbowelves, swords and bucklers, boltthrowers, cavalry, condor riders...

http://www.mirliton.it/


3. Terrain Warehouse

This UK-based company also produces the aforementioned Grenadier Dark Elves and while their back catalogue seems less extensive than Mirliton, they do offer a chance to buy single figures if you don't want to commit to whole packs.

There seems to be some dispute as to who really holds the right to the UK Grenadier-moulds since these would appear to be claimed by EM-4 (who does however not currently produce the figures).

http://www.terrainwarehouse.co.uk/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 5 - Renaissance Greenskins

1. Wargames Foundry:

Foundry does a range of Landsknechts orcs in two sizes (ogresized and orcsized) and the occasional goblin. All sculpted by Kev Adams to a pretty high standard. You could even throw in some of their regular orcs as more poorly dressed contemporaries.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/



2. Black Hat Miniatures

Black Hat took over the small fantasy range from Crusader Miniatures. Their buccaneer orcs aren't fullblown landsknecht orcs like the Foundry one, but they do have a distinct renaissance vibe. The range includes command, handgunners, halberdiers, swordsmen,

http://www.blackhat.co.uk/


3. Black Scorpion Miniatures
This UK-based manufacturer does something called a grongoid fairy catcher which is vaguely orclike. OK, I'll admit this one's a stretch, but I like it and somehow it fits.

http://www.blackscorpionminiatures.com/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 6 - Renaissance Ogres

1. Marauder MiniaturesThey've been OOP for close to two decades now, but the Marauder ogres still remain some of the best Renaissance style ogres out there. Ebay is a good source.

http://www.solegends.com/marauder/index.htm



2. Games Workshop

GW's ogres tend towards the mongolian theme, but a couple of the man-eaters seem to be wearing renaissance style clothes.

http://www.games-workshop.com/



3. Cavalcade Wargames

This US-based company produces a small range of conquistadore ogres.

http://cavalcadewargames.com/


4. Rackham

OOP but still relatively easily obtainable French range of miniatures, including some puffy-sleeved ogres. A small word of warning, they have rather odd, long necks, not always evident in the pictures.


5. Wargames Foundry

Foundry does a range of Landsknechts "Ogres" sculpted by Kev Adams to a pretty high standard. Originally they were labeled as Mercenary Great Orcs (which they are) which explains why they are painted green on the website.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/



6. Beaumont Miniatures/Frothersunite UK

Beaumont Miniatures now holds the rights to Brad Shier's Ogre Queen, which works well with the Marauder or Foundry figures. This figure was briefly available through frothersunite.com after taking first place in the Alice in Wonderland sculpting contest. It is not up on the Beaumont/Armorcast site yet, but it could not hurt to drop them a line to find out when it will be released. They also have a never released battlequeen conversion of it.

http://www.beaumontminiatures.com/

7. The Battleforge

Uk-based manufacturer of characterful fantasy figures, including some "Marauder" style renaissance ogres. 

Website: http://www.thebattleforge.co.uk/