This review is for the Viking Hirdmen box.
This is the first time I've seen inside the new Gripping Beast Plastics boxes. I've liked their metal models for a long time but these new figures a bit of an unknown entity so I wasn't sure what to expect.
Luckily, in no way did they disappoint!
You get 44 plastic figures in the box, FORTY FOUR.
That's enough to give a GW CEO a heart-attack.
They're spread over 4 standard sprues and 2 command sprues. Let's take a look.
Okay so first thing I thought was check out all the extra bits they give you! You get enough spears on each sprue to arm 5 guys with spears and the rest with hand weapons. Or with a bit of chopping, enough to arm everyone with hand weapons. Theres also the option for left handed weapons and a 2 handed mega- axe. The arms are in poses that you'd actually use, which is a nice change to some GW kits.
The bodies and weapons are a bit bigger than most other 28mm scale figs but its a minute difference that is within the realms of possibility. In the real world everyone is a different height and weapons are all different sizes, that's part of realistic gaming, so I welcome the difference. Check one of my previous posts for a scale comparison of these against other figs.
This is the reverse of the above sprue. You can see the facing of the shields- standard round with a bossed centre, spot on for Vikings.
The heads are glued on to a flat plateau neck with the join just above the Adam's apple. This makes a really solid and easy joint without any faff trying to get the heads to fit in place. It does unfortunately also make it hard to mix these torsos with other model ranges but theres enough heads in here to have plenty of options so I wasn't fussed.
Torsos and leg are joined but are in a range of 5 poses so they don't look too static when ranked up.
They're also in the perfect positions to form a shieldwall- a major bonus over warlord games ad wargames factory whose figures are in more combat based poses.
4 come with Mjolnir hammer amulets and one comes with an iron cross necklace.
Saxon sprue on the left and Viking sprue on the right- can you spot the differences?
Saxon and Viking side by side flipped. Notice the Vikings have much more in the way of axes and swords whereas the Saxons have majority spears. Helmets are also very different.
Both sides of the command sprue. You get two torsos, a wolf cloak, a runic sword, a warhorn, shields, single bladed sword and two cool heads. No banner but Vikings weren't that keen on them so it's really no great loss.
The kit also includes bases! Definite tick for that! Theres a nice selection too, theres 20mm and 40mm squares and then 100 x 20 , 60 x 20 and 40 x 20 strips. So no matter how you want to base them you're covered.
Detailing & sculpting: 8/10- few mouldlines in places but over all really good and easily trimmed, great detailing on all hair, beards etc, weapons look great and chainmail is spot on.
Scaling: 8/10- Bit chunkier than most other brands but mix in ok. Weapons are slightly chnkier than wargames factory but can still be mixed.
Amount of bits: 10/10- an insane amount of bits! check the pics- you get a tonne of stuff!
Ease of construction: 10/10- incredibly easy to build. Having joined legs and torsos was handy, and arms go on easily. Neck joined heads are easy and still allow for posing.
Value for money: 9/10- bit pricey compared to other sets but youre getting 44 men- thats a saga warband or for wab/fog either one massive regiment or two regular regiments. Awesome.
Over all: 45/50 - a mighty fine score!
So for your money you're essentially getting two regiments or one huge one if you play WAB, or a whole warband if you're playing SAGA. Plus a tonne of stuff for a bits box. AND bases included. The models themselves are of a very high quality, with excellent sculpting and manufacturing. They barely needed trimming before being built, hardly any mould lines at all!
Awesome kit, will be investing in more!
To see how they scale up with other manufactures of 28mm dark ages check my other posts!
The wooden warclub was used by William Duke of Normandys brother who`s name escapes me at present. however he was in fact a Bishop too and it was deemed by him and the Church unsightly for him to kill with a sword or an axe so he used the wooden war club,with great effect. Beano Boy, from Benno`s Figure Forum.
ReplyDeleteAs I already mentioned I wanted lot`s of figures on the ground because the Raiders have reached their destirnation and after rowing up river now plan to attack a small Saxon village and sack the Church too. Carying off what they can in the way of spoil,including the women and children.However before that happens they are confronted by a well armed Saxon army.How it will turn out has not been decided yet. Hopefully this Topic can eventually be viewed on Benno`s Figure Forum,under the name Beano Boy. BB
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