Bonaparte kits! Do yourself a favour....

[Jonthan mcmeekin]

Good afternoon all.
I've been painting these wonderful things for 35 plus years now and I know a great product when I see it.
If you've not purchased anything from Bonapartes do yourself a favour and get stuck in!
I've just had delivered the attached kits and they are without doubt some of the best examples of this hobby I have ever seen.
I don't give praise lightly and I will admit that having not seen any reviews n this site re Mr Freemans kits I wasn't sure.
These are the best quality for money I have spent in the past years.
The sculpting by Carl Reid and by Richard Bailey continues to amaze me and I consider both of them to be the leaders in our hobby.
The casting by Bonapartes is crisp and very clean. The packaging is excellent and all parts were in great shape upon arrival. The only thing lacking is box art but don't be put off, the kits out shine many products with flashier packaging.
All in all I can't say enough about the kits and I can only hope that trade continues on the same excellent level.
Huge congratulations to Bonapartes and Mr. Freeman.
Get yourself some and if I'm wrong please let me know.
Cheers
Jonathan
PS. the Celt and the Landy are both 300plus size wise and they are "huge". Richards work on clothing and hair is the best example I have ever seen.

 

[Claude Portsmouth]

I agree totally, all of the resin pieces I have had from Dave have been superb and I would recommend them to anyone.

I'm also surprised at the preoccupation some members of PF have with obtaining Post Militaire Original Kits.....I can assure you that his castings (Bonaparte) from the PM originals he bought from Ray Lamb are just as good as anything Ray produced.

 

[waterloo1815]

For the most part - it seems like Bonapartes are a well kept secret!! I have several of their kits & have been buying them for years!! And if I did ever have a problem {not many} their customer service was top notch!! Dave

 

[kagemusha]

Would have to agree......Dave's casts are a tribute to....and continuation of...Poste Militaires quality of casting
Had several pieces from Bonapartes and can confirm their customer service is first rate

Ron

 

[Blue Thunder]

I agree! It's a pity that marketing today is so small. I highly recommend these miniatures, but it's shocking to realize so few modelers know of their existence.

Recently I had a great afternoon with some great guys that share modelling enthusiasm with me since 1983 and highly respected names such as Bonaparte, Mitches, Stormtroopers, CGS and so on were unknown to them all! Luckily I took some samples with me - and people were amazed to see how beautiful the figurine world, and specially the bust world, is nowadays!

 

[peedee]

"I'd like to agree with the previous callers to this show",

and to add that your painted examples are exquisite as well

Thanks for sharing

Paul

 

[Jonthan mcmeekin]

Cheers on feedback to this post fellas.
I might suggest that whoever does th reviews for the site include
some the of the Bonaparte kits.
Jonathan
PS. Snow day! Called off all the appts... safety first of course and am happily painting the afternoon away.

 

[peedee]

I love your enthusiasm, which are your favourites Jonathan,
and why not do an open box review of your next one?

I haven't done any such views myself, by the time I get
round to buying a figure they
tend to be already reviewed !

Paul

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Jonathan,

For the most part I would 95% agree with you, and all of the other comments from our fellowship.

However, I may have to 'Dump a Floater', in the public pool!

I have bought several pieces from 'Bonapartes', in the past. most where absolutely fine.

However, the last one and the most expensive one @ 95 quid, was a nightmare! It had to go back twice at my expense @ 17 GBP. Even though I twice supplied visual evidence of 'Sub-Standard' casting/miscasting ! The return was insisted upon! .. I had no choice but to comply !

However, if this was Stu, or Graham there would have been no such quibbles!

Perhaps I was just unlucky!

Regards,

Mark

 

[waterloo1815]

Tubby - If I had to pay for return shipping - it would be the last kit I would purchase from whom ever the company was!! I'm not saying Bonaparte's is not without their faults but, if I had a problem - usually a missing or broken part - I would send them an email and shortly after a replacement was in the mail!! Maybe living across the pond has something to do with it. And like you stated Stu & Graham also have GREAT customer service!! There are a couple of companies I have had problems with and needless to say - I NO longer purchase their figures or busts!! I may be old fashioned but one hand washes the other!! Dave

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Waterloo, I did all of what you said. .. but the bit had to be returned prior to anything being replaced. Sorry perhaps I should have made my post a bit more clear! .. it was a section of the kit that had to go back twice, before any replacement was re-sent! (Not the whole kit). That's what I found most frustrating.

Mark

 

[waterloo1815]

Mark - To me it doesn't matter if it was the part or the whole kit - like you said it was more of the frustration than anything else!! Maybe I'm being to much of a hard ass but, one producer gave me some troubles about missing parts & it took me 3 months to get it right - needless to say I have not purchased any of his kits since and there are several of them I would like to have!! Dave

 

[Waterman]

Mark, I have several in my cupboard that were bought as a batch that will never get painted because of problems like yours. I now only buy on inspection at point of sale.