Lead Figures

Other­world have been busy again. This time with a set of evil dark elves or Drow if you like.

Other­world DR1 Drow Warriors I — Sculpted by Matt Bickley

What would have made this pack perfect would have been a dual-scimitar wielding drow with headband and bracers on his feet. He could possible be mistaken for Drizzt Do’Urden. Add in a large black panther (Guenhwyvar) in a wild encounters set and I’m sold!

Anyway these figures look pretty good to me; well done Matt for a good sculpt.

From the site:

This is a pack of 3 Drow Warriors, the first models of an extensive range planned for the coming months. The photo shows the sculptor’s master models. The Drow range is being sculpted by Matt Bickley. They stand at around 24-26mm tall to the eyes, and will be supplied with 25mm round plastic bases.

Usual Price — £11.00

Other­world in partnership with Goblinoid games are due to release some seriously good boxed sets (due around the 20^th of September).

A range of boxed sets were first announced back in March 2010:

This Summer, Other­world Miniatures and Goblinoid Games will launch a partnership project. Starting in August 2010, a range of boxed sets of ‘Official Labyrinth Lord Miniatures’ will be available, featuring 28mm figures made by Other­world Miniatures. Most of these models will come from Otherworld’s existing ranges, but some will be designed and sculpted specifically for the new Labyrinth Lord sets.

These boxed sets will be level specific, with the first sets featuring the weaker monsters found in the upper labyrinth levels. Later sets will contain progress­ively stronger monsters which dwell in the deeper levels. Some wilderness-themed sets will also feature woodland inhab­itants and creatures found in a marshland habitat.

This range of boxed sets will be tied together by a set of mini-adventures which are included in the boxes. Individually, they’ll make an enter­taining evening’s adven­turing, but together they make up an exciting mini-campaign. Adven­tures will be written by some of the best writers of the old-school gaming scene, including Jeff Talanian, James Maliszewski, Rob Conley and Michael Curtis, and many others.

“I have been a role-player and miniatures enthu­siast for over 30 years. Other­world Miniatures now produce the figures that I wish I had been able to buy when I first started gaming. They are inspired by old-school imagery, but we use modern sculpting techniques and production standards to make miniatures that would never have been possible in the early years of our hobby. Goblinoid Games follow similar principles with their Labyrinth Lord game, and I think that we’re ideally suited to work as partners.”

Well after over a year in devel­opment it looks like we are finally going to see the fruits of this partnership. The first boxed set:

Other­world Labyrinth Lord Level 1 Monsters

This is the first of a series of official Labyrinth Lord boxed sets. The range will consist of several sets of dungeon monsters, and creatures suitable for wilderness encounters too.

This set includes 4 Giant Centi­pedes, 3 Fire Beetles, 5 Giant Rats, 5 Kobolds, 4 Goblins, 5 Pig-faced Orcs, 3 Hobgoblins, 3 Skeletons and 4 Stirges. Miniatures are supplied in an illus­trated, foam-lined A4 size box, and suitable plastic bases are included.

Expected Release Date — 20^th September 2011

Pre-release Price — £60.00 (After release, the price will be £75.00)

And the second boxed set:

Other­world Labyrinth Lord Level 2 Monsters

This is the second of a series of official Labyrinth Lord boxed sets. The range will consist of several sets of dungeon monsters, and creatures suitable for wilderness encounters too.

This set includes 3 Gnolls, 3 Ghouls, 3 Zombies, 4 Troglo­dytes, 2 Shadows, 3 Large Crab Spiders, 3 Berserkers, 1 Green Slime, 1 Yellow Mold and an Evil Magic-User. Miniatures are supplied in an illus­trated, foam-lined A4 size box, and suitable plastic bases are included.

Pre-release Price — £60.00 (After release, the price will be £75.00)

Expected Release Date — 20^th September 2011

Go pre-order before the 20^th of September release to get 25% off the release price. Can’t wait!

Skeleton miniatures have appealed to me since watching the 7^th Voyage of Sinbad where the skeletons erupt from the ground as the seven children of the Hydra’s teeth. There are plenty of skeleton miniatures around as they are a very popular denizen of the dungeons. Which manufac­turer is the best? Well I’m not a big fan of the plastic GW skellies as the arm leg joints are too large to and look un-realistic; earlier metal ones are just fine though.

I much prefer most of the Ral-Partha or Reaper ones myself.

Reaper produce some excellent figures including one of my favourites, an undead pirate captain (Reaper 14218) patch and all.

Quite why the patch is needed (since he has neither eye now), is beyond me; but it suits him nevertheless.

Picture	Description	Price	Total Bids	Time remaining
	Painted Fantasy Reaper Miniatures D&D Pathfinder Skeleton Archers	$10.00	0	0d09h25m
	Ral Partha RP-003 Skeleton Archer Undead Warrior w/ Bow 25mm Miniature NIB	$4.25		0d11h11m
	Ral Partha DF-769 Skeleton w/ Axe & Shield II Undead	$4.25		1d18h28m
	Ral Partha DF-013 Skeleton w/ Great Sword II Undead	$4.25		2d11h33m
	LICH Skeleton Warrior Citadel Ral Partha Grenadier Fiend Factory? Lead AD&D TSR	$1.99	0	2d23h49m
	1980’s D&D Ral Partha Pewter Skeleton Warrior w Sword	$6.00		3d09h46m
	Ral Partha Sterling Collection Skeleton Motor­cycle Ride	$65.00		3d16h16m
	Skeleton Warrior with Sword and Shield Reaper Miniature 1990’s	$1.99	0	4d15h24m
	Ral Partha Undead Skeleton Fighters 01–219	$7.75		5d11h07m
	REAPER MINIATURES PRE PAINTED FANTASY TROLL ORC OGRE MINOTAUR SKELETON LOT	$9.99	0	5d19h03m
	Ral Partha Undead Skeleton 91–700 Crucible Mini Slotta	$3.49	0	5d19h31m
	D&D ral partha SKELETON REAPER game FIGURE LOT OOP 1985	$22.00		6d16h33m
	Ral Partha 36–035 Skeleton Legionaire Undead Warrior	$3.75		8d19h40m
	Ral Partha DF-765 Skeleton Knight w/ Great Sword NIB	$4.25		10d11h13m
	Ral Partha 01–219 Undead Skeleton Fighters Archer New	$7.95		10d18h24m
	Ral Partha Skeleton with Scimitar and Punch Dagger	$4.25		10d21h50m
	Ral Partha DF-016 Skeleton Knight w/ Sword II Undead	$4.25		11d09h16m
	Ral Partha DF-015 Skeleton Knight w/ Sword I Undead	$4.25		11d11h42m
	Ral Partha RP-005 Skeleton Skirmishers Undead Warriors	$11.95		11d13h35m
	Ral Partha Space Knight Necrovore undead skeleton robot	$13.79		12d17h41m
	Warhammer Citadel DOW Cursed Company Undead Goblin Skeleton Musician Long OP	$12.00		2d08h10m
	Citadel lead figures Vampire vampiress 2 wight 2 zombie 1 skeleton, ghoul, mummy	$10.00	1	2d19h04m
	LICH Skeleton Warrior Citadel Ral Partha Grenadier Fiend Factory? Lead AD&D TSR	$1.99	0	2d23h49m
	Citadel lead minatures, limited edition ‘Space skeleton’ from the eighties. RARE	$10.00	1	3d12h42m
	Citadel, Games Workshop, Vampire counts / Undead OOP Skeleton #1	$2.50	0	4d01h32m
	Citadel, Games Workshop, Vampire counts / Undead OOP Skeleton #2	$2.50	0	4d01h34m
	Citadel, Games Workshop, Vampire counts / Undead OOP Skeleton #3	$2.50	1	4d01h36m
	Citadel, Games Workshop, Vampire counts / Undead OOP Skeleton #4	$2.50	0	4d01h38m
	Citadel, Games Workshop, Vampire counts / Undead OOP Skeleton #5	$2.50	0	4d01h40m
	Classic Citadel Blood Bowl Undead Player SKELETON with SPIKY HELMET from 1987	$4.99	0	4d13h45m
	OOP 60mm Citadel Fighting Fantasy Miniature ” FF-16 SKELETON” Mint in Blister– A	$12.99	0	5d07h25m
	OOP 60mm Citadel Fighting Fantasy Miniature ” FF-16 SKELETON” Mint in Blister– B	$12.99	0	5d07h28m
	OOP 60mm Citadel Fighting Fantasy Miniature ” FF-18 SKELETON” Mint in Blister	$12.99	0	5d07h31m
	OOP 60mm Citadel Fighting Fantasy Miniature ” FF-17 SKELETON” Mint in Blister	$12.99	0	5d07h37m
	CITADEL WARHAMMER OOP 1980s UNDEAD SKELETON A	$2.20	2	5d11h00m
	CITADEL WARHAMMER OOP 1980s UNDEAD SKELETON B	$2.20	2	5d11h02m
	CITADEL WARHAMMER OOP 1980s UNDEAD SKELETON C	$0.99	1	5d11h02m
	FF52-1 SKELETON WARRIOR — Fiend Factory CITADEL 1980s pre slotta Undead Monster	$1.99	0	5d12h50m
	FF66 SKELETON RIDER ON HORSE OF HELL — Fiend Factory CITADEL 1980s pre slotta	$4.99	0	5d12h57m
	Vintage 80’s Citadel C17 SKELETON…1 of 4	$2.29	0	5d13h28m

Troll­forge have announced that they are moving away from metal and onwards towards more affordable materials, namely plastic.

Troll­forge Trollcast miniature

Ed has put the finishing touches to ‘Trollcast’ a new spin castable plastic – a hard (80D) custom mix containing high impact polystyrene. It is much harder, and tougher, than resin. Heat resistant up to 200F, and can handle prolonged exposure at 150F (so our Australian friends should not have any problems during the summer). It can be super-glued together, and takes standard miniature paints.

They have also posted up some videos demon­strating the hardiness of their miniatures in the new material. From the look of the example presented, the detail level is very good indeed, let’s see if they achieve their objective of keeping costs down.

Pop over to the troll­forge for the latest developments.

So with Games Workshop adopting their finecast technology and smaller manufacturer’s such as troll­forge heading that way too, is someone pulling the rope on the death-knell for metal miniatures?

Games Workshop are attempting to up the ante on the level of detail their miniatures can support. To this end they are announcing their new resin moulding process called “finecast”.

Games Workshop, Citadel Finecast — Gandalf the White

The Citadel Finecast miniatures are made from a unique resin formula. For us as hobbyists, this is great news. The resin is easy to work with and quick to cut off the sprue, making assem­bling a miniature easier than it has ever been. Not only that, but it’s incredibly light too, which means pinning wings and other heavy components will be a thing of the past. So, quick and durable, that’s a good start. But of course, one of the main reasons for this change to resin was quality. One thing you’ll notice immedi­ately when you pick them up is the excep­tionally sharp detail on the model, which can only be described as staggering. For dedicated painters (which we all are to some extent) this is a dream come true.

Games Workshop have also announced that the first of the finecast line will be in their shops this Saturday (28^th May), so pop along to your local games workshop store and pick up a couple.

Let’s hope they manage to avoid bumping up the price over the rest of their range as the manufac­turing cost for these should be less than metal miniatures (ignoring their inital R&D costs).

P.S. Finecast miniatures have started to appear on ebay.