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/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 7 - Renaissance Civilians

Soldiers are all very well, but once you've built that renaissance city or village, for some more interesting scenario's than a big battle in open space, you may want some nice civilians to go with them. The following list is not exhaustive, but only features those ranges that fit best to the theme of this blog in my opinion (YMMV).

A small tip, cannon/mortar crew often make good civilians too with little or no conversion.

1. Lead Adventure Minatures

LAM's Bruegelburg range, sculpted by Igor, is the closed thing you'll find to a Mordheim-esque civilian range. The figures are crammed with character and detail.

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

2. Pro Gloria Miniatures

Simply the best historical renaissance civilian range currently available. Sculpted by Paul Hicks, they are a must have if you want to populate your town with something other than soldiers.

http://progloriaminiatures.blogspot.com/

3. Alionas Miniatures

A German manufacturer offering figures with old school charm, including some Mordheim-esque civilians, allegedly sculpted by the same Igor who is doing LAM's Bruegelburg range.

http://www.alionas.com/shop/shopmichel_online/index_en.html

4. Fenryll Miniatures

French manufacturer of resin fantasy figures, including some nice civilian minis. Only downside is they are rather big, 32mm figures, that will work ok with the bigger fantasy ranges, but less so with the smaller historical ranges.

http://www.fenryll.com/

5. Mega Miniatures

US-based manufacturer producing several older ranges. Some are better than others and sizes can vary from 28mm to 25mm, but there are some old school gems to be found here.

http://www.megaminis.com/

6. Games Workshop


Both the Warhammer Empire (collectors) range and Mordheim range offer some civilians. This is of course without counting the old OOP civilians, travellers and townfolk that  were available in the 80's and still show up on ebay on a regular basis.

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

7. Front Rank Miniatures

Front Rank don't produce a renaissance range as such, but a couple of their WOTR figures fit in well in my opinion and they are nice crisp models that scale well with 90's GW figures.

http://www.frontrank.com/

8. Mirliton Miniatures

Italian manufacturer with a small range of italian wars figures, including some civilian types.

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

9. Hasslefree Miniatures

UK-based company with a small range of fantasy villagers by Kev White.

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/

10. Reaper Miniatures

American company making a large fantasy range, including several packs of townsfolk.

http://www.reapermini.com/

Manufacturer Showcase - Part 8 - Renaissance Spanish and Elisabethans

This page will address some ranges that offer Renaissance figures with a - to the popular mind - distinctly spanish look (read: morions everywhere), including both fantasy and historical ranges, going from conquistadores over border reivers and Elisabethans.

1. Gamezone Miniatures

This Spanish manufacturer of GW-style fantasy miniatures, has a load of mounted and dismounted figures with a definite spanishlooking slant. The range includes cavalry, handgunners, crossbowmen, halberdiers, pikemen, artillery,...

http://gamezoneminiatures.de/



2. Pro Gloria/Arsenal Miniatures

A small range of 16th century Maltese (mounted and on foot), sculpted by Paul Hicks. Originally shown by Arsenal Miniatures over a year ago, word on the streets is that these are set to be released by Pro Gloria Miniatures in the coming months.

http://arsenalminiatures.blogspot.com/

http://progloriaminiatures.blogspot.com/



3. Wargames Foundry

Foundry has several ranges that fit this theme: a high renaissance swashbuckling range, an El Dorado conquistadore range and a, somewhat older, Elisabethan range.

http://wargamesfoundry.com/

4. Victoria Miniatures

A small Australian fantasy range by sculptor Victoria Lamb, including these Pythonesque Spanish Inquisition figures.

http://www.victorialamb.com/

5. The Assault Group (TAG)

TAG's Renaissance range offers a large selection of Conquistadores and Neapolitan/Spanish troops. The range includes characters and command figures, infantry armed with crossbows, arquebus, sword and buckler, pikes/poleweapons, wardogs and handlers, mounted conquistadores...

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



6. Eureka Miniatures

The Australian based ecclectic miniature manufacturer offers a wide range of conquistadore figures. The range includes swordsmen, halberds, crossbows, arquebusiers, command figures, dog handlers, cavalry and artillery.

http://www.eurekamin.com.au/

7. Brother Vinni's Miniatures

This Russian manufacturer offers a selection of fantasy and historical miniatures, including some dynamic rodelero's.

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

8. Games Workshop

I almost forgot to include them, but over the years, GW released some (in many cases now OOP) Estalian figures, which are the warhammer equivalent of renaissance Spanish. Aside from the classic handgunners and swordsmen from the nineties, there was also the Pirazzo's Lost Legion unit (they're not even trying to hide their inspiration source with that name) that can be assembled with pikes or crossbows.

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

9. Old Glory Miniatures

Possibly the American minimaker with the most extensive catalogue. Some ranges are a bit hit and miss, but I've been told the 16th century wars of religion figures are quite decent quality. The range includes command, pikes, handgunners, bravos and swashbucklers, cavalry (lances and pistols),...

http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/

10. Sgt Major Miniatures/Vendel

The Vendel Miniatures range of border reivers and elisabethans is now produced by Sgt. Major Miniatures in the US under the "Molon Labe" label. Pistols, crossbows, guns, cavalry, ... Quite chunky figures.

http://www.sgmm.biz/

11. Graven Images

UK-based company making mostly big 40mm figures, but also offering a range of chunky 30mm border reivers sculpted by Jim Bowen.

http://www.monolithdesigns.co.uk/

12. Redoubt Enterprises

UK-based company with an extensive Renaissance range, some of which can be used as Spanish or Elisabethans. Redoubt figures tend to be on the large end of the scale.

http://www.redoubtenterprises.com/

13. Essex Miniatures

One of the oldtimers of miniature manufacturers. They must have been really nice back in the day, but sadly, they show their age now.

http://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/

14. Pendraken

This company produces a range of Elisabethans. No pictures on the site, but the one I have seen shows advanced symptoms of the pumpkinhead-syndrome. They seem to offer a large range of foot, cavalry and artillery though.

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/

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Note that more morion-wearing goodness can be found in most ECW and TYW ranges, but as these are a slightly later period, they are not included in this showcase. Some noteworthy ranges for that era are Warlord Games, TAG, Perry Miniatures, Old Glory, Redoubt Enterprises, Bicorne Miniatures, Renegade Miniatures,... See also Tercio Creativo.

Renaissance Showcase - Part 9 - Fantastic Contraptions

1. Black Army Productions

US-based company producing a rather cool model of a Renaissance tank based on Da Vinci's designs, mastered by Tobsen.

2. Tobsen77 Miniaturen

If round conical tanks aren't your thing and you think Leonardo was a nutcase, there is also this excellent resin model sculpten by Tobsen.

http://www.asches-garage.de/

3. Mirliton

Italian company that, among other things, has a historical range that includes a carrioco (warwagon) and a bellwagon (the latter making a nice alternative war altor base).

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

Hors Série: pig familiar/mascotte

Having a spare space on the mould, I have thrown in this older, but never released figure by John Pickford from his entry in the 2007 Frothersunite Sculpting Competition. Pictures of the green can be seen here: http://contest.frothersunite.com/2007/puckgal.htm

The model is called Peaseblossom, has a pigface and small leathery wings on his back and is playing the lute. He may be used as a familiar to a sorcerer or possibly a strange mascotte picked up by your favourite unit.



A size comparison with a dwarf to show how tiny it is:



This figure is not part of the regular "range", but will be the first of the occasional "Hors Série" special models.

Imperial Ogre Standardbearer

Standards are meant to inspire fear in your enemies and to motivate the men of your regiment and when those men are ogres, well, a piece of cloth isn't going to do it. So this standard tries to do both, by using the head of a slain enemy (a stone troll) as a trophy on one side, and the regiment's mascotte on the other side. Of course, on occasion it happens that said mascotte doesn't make it through the battle, but it is also generally known that halflings make for a particularly tasty morsel if you're an ogre...

The figure is a conversion of the Marauder ogre with halberd, using a dwarf slayer standard top, a tied halfling from an old metal giant kit, a plastic shield from 6th edition with some added battlewear and a Foundry great orc sword (ramage). Modifications were made to the shape of the hat, the face, the hair, the trousers, the knife in the back was removed as was the small rat, a feather and a large sash were added, in order to make it as different as possible from the original figure (which will also be added to the unit later on).



A closer look at the terrified halfling.:

With the rest of the unit so far:

Dwarf halberdiers - Part 4

Another dwarf halberdier. This one is a simple conversion of a Marauder dwarf cannon crewfigure. Just add a halberdhead (this one came from an old Heroquest plastic weapon).

And a quick picture of the group so far: