New Gripping Beast Plastics?

[JoV]

Currently putting together my first box of GP Hirdmen. I can see the complaints people have with the poses, but am otherwise a big fan so far.

Although having said that perhaps my expectations are a little low, I also didn't mind the Warlord Games Saxons thegns, and they seem to have come in for a lot of criticism. With a bit of work they came up fine for me at least

Seriously hanging out for the conquest Normans though. Have been checking their website daily for months!

If I am allowed to dream, would love a box of GP plastic Byzantines, particularly since they are adding them to Saga, or so the rumour goes.....

[redben]

Byzantines are getting a Battle Board in an upcoming issue of Wargames Illustrated.

[Griefbringer]

Although having said that perhaps my expectations are a little low, I also didn't mind the Warlord Games Saxons thegns, and they seem to have come in for a lot of criticism. With a bit of work they came up fine for me at least

AFAIK Warlord Games have not done any Saxon Thegns. Are you perhaps mixing them up with Wargames Factory?

[6mmhero]

Lol I wasn't saying there were not gaps, its just I didn't find the gaps to be the issue that frustrated me with the kit. I shaved some of the joins to get a nice fit, but getting the Chainmail to line up or even look natural on some was just a nightmare and I was getting the impression that certain arms only work on certain models. I know your problem with the shields as well but this wasn't that tricky to fix.
I too hope that the next kits they bring out would have learnt from some of these issues but overalll they are nice figures

[Hairy Norseman]

I emailed the Beast this morning and got a speedy reply from Andy...

We are indeed working on a box – the tool is currently being made at the plastic manufacturers. They will be released in a couple of months, no date as yet.

At the moment there will be around 40 in a box and they will primarily be spear armed but there are options for javelin and sling variations – final composition will be announced later.

Expect an official announcement (with pictures, hopefully) in a months time.

So fingers crossed they will be out for Salute, if not before!

HN

[PsychosisPC]

Now that I'm painting them, I love their plastics even more. So I look forward to it. Martin Gibbins posted a reply to my showing of the old Bondi metal archers on the WAB Forum, that GB is going to be releasing plastic Bondi. I look forward to that, and it makes sense for SAGA.

[Hairy Norseman]

Fingers crossed we will see them soon.

I emailed Andy again asking about mixing the kits and if they plan on doing archers, he said...

Yes they will be interchangeable as far as possible – obviously putting mail arms on armoured bodies and vice versa is going to look odd but heads etc no probs.

There won’t be archers in this box as the body pose of archers is not the same as for spearmen etc. We may well do a box of archers down the line but we haven’t started and these things take for ever to get done....

It's good to hear the kits can be combined which will make identifying warriors/ hearthguard easier; I'm thinking bare headed warriors with a bit less armour thrown in. Obviously thats most levvies taken care of too. Shame about bowmen but then I see what he means about poses. Tis still all good news as am thinking of getting into SAGA soon.

HN

[PsychosisPC]

I have both of the current plastic box sets, Saxons and Viking Hirdmen, and they can be mixed.

[Caiphas Cain]

Doesn't the WGF kit have plastic bow arms? I know the Warlord plastics have some bows, so we can pick up some of those from bits sellers on eBay. It shouldn't be a problem getting all plastic archers with a combination.

[Codsticker]

Doesn't the WGF kit have plastic bow arms?

Yes they do. The WGF kit is so cheap it's worth buying a box just for the bow options as well as the heads for variety.

[Caiphas Cain]

Yeah, but that would also add ~40 more miniatures to my "bought" amount... Sometimes cheap miniatures are a bad thing!

[Codsticker]

Yeah, but that would also add ~40 more miniatures to my "bought" amount... Sometimes cheap miniatures are a bad thing!

Oh NO! Sometimes Hoard O' Bits on eBay sells the bows quivers and arms separately.

[Crazy Harborc]

Oh yeah!! I "only" have 250 or more Vikings already. Then.....I have oh, 200-300 Saxons. I mean...gee, I just might "need" some of those.

[Griefbringer]

I know the Warlord plastics have some bows

Which ones of them? I cannot think any at the moment.

As for another source of bow arms, do not forget the Perry WotR infantry kit - many of the bow arms on that set will also work for earlier periods.

[Engel]

Nice to read something about unarmoured dark age plastic infantry. I heard the rumors long time ago but thought they had changed their mind.
Im soo looking forward to this.

[Hairy Norseman]

Which ones of them? I cannot think any at the moment.

I think/assume Cain meant Wargames Factory.

HN