Thursday 11 August 2016

Test Figures

Having decided that I wanted to do this project in 20mm I was pretty much limited to a choice of three manufacturers. Firstly the range in plastic by Srelets (the figures look ok but plastic isn’t really my thing), secondly the comprehensive range by Jacklex (perhaps the most logical choice but I wasn’t sure if I wanted another ‘old school’ project), and thirdly the colonial range by Newline Designs (limited range but the Boers in particular are very nice). In the end it was the picture of the Boers on their website that swung it for me and I plumped for Newline.

Newline Designs Boer from pack BOE01 - very nice figures

I put in a mixed order for the Boers and various packs of the British infantry from the Sudan War range as I felt these would be near enough to pass as Boer War British. It was slightly annoying that the website doesn’t show any pictures of the British infantry which is a bit inexcusable in this day and age. However, order done I settled down to wait for the troops to arrive which they did a few days later.

Sudan War British from pack SUD02 'Standing at Ready'

As this is a side project to my main Napoleonic one I decided that I didn’t want to spend hours painting these figures or I’d never get anywhere. Fortunately the uniforms are all quite drab and the figures lend themselves well to block painting followed by a wash of GW Ogryn Flesh. I still found myself trying to include too much detail and had to go back several times to simplify the paint job but I’m quite happy with the result.

Next I need to decide on the organisation and OOB of my armies and then put in a proper order to swell the ranks.

9 comments:

  1. Ouaouh, very nice...and very tempting!

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  2. Cool. Unit sizes? Base sizes? Up for a game against my Jacklex kit?

    The weakness of Jacklex was no 2 pdr Pom Pom and no Staats Artillery figures...probably accurate, but its would be nice to field them in uniform. Do Newline do the Pom Pom?
    Roy

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    1. Roy - I believe Raventhorpe do a Pom Pom in 20mm.

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  3. Thanks gents!

    Roy - I'm open to suggestions at this stage but I'm thinking of going with perhaps 30 inf to a British battalion so approximately 1 figure to 15 real men. The Boers of course will be in commandos of varying size. Annoyingly nobody seems to make any Boer artillery in 20mm so I may be forced to scratch build. I'm up for a game but would probably need more than two figures!

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  4. I must admit I have been looking at these figures for a while. As I already have the beginnings of a Jacklex Colonial collection I will stick with them but I am watching with interest.

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    1. Hi Matt - I'm really quite torn between Newline and Jacklex, if only the Newline British infantry were as good as the Boers it would be a no brainer. I'm getting some Jacklex samples just to see what I think.

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  5. Thanks Ian for mentioning NEWLINE Miniatures - I have had a good look at the Boer, Sudan and Zulu Range- I have often thought about doing the BOER WAR though could not settle on a Figure Range to choose - the 20mm NEWLINE looks excellent...I may in the future begin a Boer War Project - though I must first complete my current investiture in Arthurian -DBA 15mm. Regards. KEV.

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  6. Kev - I would've thought the Boer war theme would be crying out for some of your own little sculptures! The Newline Designs figures are pretty good though.

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    1. Yes Ian- I could make up my own figures - though after years of Sculpting- and Casting I've come to the conclusion that I'm not that good at it- I'd prefer to Buy Commercial Figures made by far better Sculptors than I'll ever be- I really appreciate receiving and Order from the UK with ready made figures- it IS a real buzz!- all the frustrating work has already been done...also in old age I'm getting a bit lazy. I'm Joining your Boer War Blog...and look forward to developments- Best Wishes. KEV.

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