First historical mini choice

[Forté]

Hi.

I've been toying with this for some time now but feel the need to try and paint a historical figure. I have a bust lined up already (Young Miniatures amazing, yet complex, Daimyo 1650) but fancy trying a full piece. I've been having a good look around and although there are amazing sculpts at 75mm and above, I'd like to test my teeth on a smaller 54mm first.

I've narrowed it down to these but I'm hoping PF members may have a little more insight into these which may help me chose my first. Things like casting quality, complexity involved, unbuilt/painted photos (my fingers are firmly crossed as I prefer to see a mini in this format before I buy).

So here they are:
Romeo Models - 'Crusader 1189'


Pegaso Models - 'Thraex'


Art Girona - 'Ramses II'


Andrea Miniatures - 'Templar Knight Bannerholder XII Century'


Andrea Miniatures - 'Norse Blacksmith'


Alexandros Miniatures - 'Lucius Sertorius Firmus'


I'm thinking of a 40×40×50 block for whichever I go for. Possibly mahogany though may just be black.

Any input would be amazing.

Many thanks,
Steve.

 

[Tecumsea]

My choice would be Ramses although I do have some of the others in my collection. The rationale for this would be simplicity of construction, a good range of colours, red, blue, white and a mix of metallics.
Good luck with your choice,
Keith

 

[billyturnip]

The cheapest!

Like Keith I would also choose the Roman, lots of different colours and textures to practice your skills on and to me it just looks the nicest figure which has got to be the number one reason for painting any figure in my opinion.

 

[megroot]

For your first figure none of this will do.
I've painted the Ramses and it is difficult.
There are more reasonable figures for a good start.
- http://www.pegasomodels.it/productdetails_en.asp?id=575
- http://shop.bestsoldiershop.com/epages/14739.sf/it_IT/?ObjectPath=/Shops/14739/Products/BEST_75009

Marc

 

[OldTaff]

I would stay away from the Andrea Templar standard bearer, as the fit of parts requires a lot of fiddling around and filling to get a good fit. I confess to giving up with it in the end, not something I usually have to do with Andrea. Perhaps I was just unlucky with the casting supplied.

Alan

 

[Forté]

For your first figure none of this will do.
I've painted the Ramses and it is difficult.
There are more reasonable figures for a good start.
- http://www.pegasomodels.it/productdetails_en.asp?id=575
- http://shop.bestsoldiershop.com/epages/14739.sf/it_IT/?ObjectPath=/Shops/14739/Products/BEST_75009

Marc

Sadly neither of these subjects really appeal to me. I can see what you mean about the Ramses figure due to all the fine parts on the armour.

This will be far from my first ever figure. Just first historical. I've been painting minis (mostly GW 28-32mm) since the late 80s.

 

[Forté]

I would stay away from the Andrea Templar standard bearer, as the fit of parts requires a lot of fiddling around and filling to get a good fit. I confess to giving up with it in the end, not something I usually have to do with Andrea. Perhaps I was just unlucky with the casting supplied.

Alan

That's great advice thank you. Have to admit the joint near the right elbow does look questionable.

 

[DaddyO]

Of the one's you shown I'd suggest the crusader.
With the closed visor you avoid the 'trauma' of trying to get a good face and eyes. The clothing is simple and you could opt for a simple motif on the shield and tabbard.
The viking looks cracking, but being simple your painting needs to be top notch to carry it off well. The gladiator could be a good choice, but large areas of skin can be tricky to pull off; on the flip side there's no face and lots of freedom with colours.
The others have already been mentioned.

The quality of casting on all these should be pretty good. I've got the Ramses which is loitering in it's part-built primed state on the shelf. Should look fantastic when done, but I keep picking simpler paint jobs first . . .

 

[Forté]

Cheers DaddyO.

Skin doesn't worry me too much. Just treat it like another colour more than anything. Until you start working other subtle colours in, which is something I've been working on with the current bust I'm painting.

 

[Ferris]

I'd say all these options have their challenges. I would pick the Alexandros Roma simply because I like it the most. Its challenge will be the crossed arms: this requires one or two to be left off for painting what's behind.
With each one posing its own challenge I'd suggest to simply pick the you like the most!

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Forté]

Just a quick update.

Thanks to another member on PF (and various Facebook groups we both inhabit/admin), I've been lucky to receive this Latorre beauty.


I can't believe how fine the chainmail is on this but it's going to be a fun one to paint for sure.

Many, many thanks to evl hmr.

Edit: grrr..mobile uploaded photo rotated.

 

[oldtrousers]

That Latorre figure is an excellent choice for your first historical mini. If you enjoy that one, give the Alexandros Roman pictured above a try. You will not be disappointed with that one either. Good luck, have fun, and I hope to see this one when it is finished.

 

[Forté]

Cheers oldtrousers.
I'll be sure to post in the wip area when I work on it.

 

[Mirofsoft]

The crusader 1189 ( 3rd crusade )
You can choose in a large panel of heraldry

• Frédéric Ier Barberousse, empereur romain germanique
  • Léopold V de Babenberg
• Philippe Auguste, roi de France
  • Hugues III de Bourgogne
  • Robert II de Dreux
  • Philippe de Dreux
  • Pierre II de Courtenay
  • Albéric Clément
  • Philippe d'Alsace, comte de Flandre.
  • Henri II de Champagne
  • Thibaut V, comte de Blois et de Chartres.
  • Étienne Ier de Sancerre, comte de Sancerre.
  • Raoul Ier de Coucy
  • Hugues IV de Campdavaine
  • Jean Ier de Ponthieu
• Richard Cœur-de-Lion, roi d'Angleterre
• Guy de Lusignan, roi de Jérusalem
  • Geoffroy de Lusignan, comte titulaire de Jaffa
  • Conrad de Montferrat, seigneur de Tyr, puis roi de Jérusalem
  • Hugues II de Saint-Omer, prince titulaire de Galilée
    • Onfroy IV de Toron, seigneur titulaire de Toron
  • Renaud Grenier, comte titulaire de Sidon
  • Guy de Brisebarre, seigneur de Césarée
  • Balian d'Ibelin
  • Jean d'Ibelin
  • Amaury II de Lusignan, connétable du royaume
  • Gautier Durus, maréchal du royaume
  • Obertus Nepos, sénéchal du royaume
  • Thomas, chambellan du royaume
  • Pierre de Tripoli, chancelier du royaume
  • Roard l'aîné, vicomte et châtelain du royaume
• Bohémond III, prince d'Antioche
• Bohémond, comte de Tripoli
  • Guy Ier Embriaco, seigneur titulaire du Gibelet
• Robert IV de Sablé, maître de l'ordre du Temple
• Garnier de Naplouse, maître de l'ordre Ordre Hospitalier de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem

 

[Forté]

The crusader 1189 ( 3rd crusade )
You can choose in a large panel of heraldry

I'll keep that in mind as I've become more tempted by that one over time. Cheers.

 

[frank h]

Hi
The Latorre figure is an excellent choice

Frank

 

[Forté]

Hi
The Latorre figure is an excellent choice

Frank

I'd actually not even thought of trying to find one as it seems they are pretty much gold dust. Couldn't believe it when I was offered one.

I'm aiming of having this all done for Salute 2017 so have a deadline.