Old Ral Partha
MALONE MATTHEW JAMES
The answer is no. I bought almost all of my miniatures in 1982, back when
bases were solid and attached to the figure. I haven't looked at anything
other than D+D type miniatures (as opposed to historically accurate soldiers
etc) but I have to say I haven't seen any that compare to my old ones. The
figures are all so chunky, detailed but at exagerated scale to compensate
for low spacial detail. The D+D figures have also gone to horribly unrealistic
looking characters and poses (even when portraying humans). I am disgusted
with quality of what used to be the best D+D miniatures maker. Take a look
at some of your old ones. If they are well painted the look like miniature
people.
I have looked at several other companies' miniatures but have seen nothing
of the quality I am used to. I would gladly pay more to get better miniatures
atleast for player character classes since I know they will see the most use.
My question is obviously, has anyone heard of well detailed miniatures in the
$4-10/miniature range? (Ral Parthas went for $1 in '82)
Matt <mal...@ecf.toronto.edu>
Cedric Chin
well done miniatures of various levels of detail,
for beginning and expert painters alike. From what
I've seen, tho, fantasy minis are harder to paint.
Oh, you don't have a bottomless pocketbook? Oh, well...
--
DEATH to Barney. LONG live Dynamo Duck.
Deep Six
> Johnathan W. Newton asks if Ral Partha has released anything good lately.
> The answer is no. I bought almost all of my miniatures in 1982 [...]
> I have to say I haven't seen any that compare to my old ones. The
> figures are all so chunky, detailed but at exagerated scale to compensate
> for low spacial detail. Take a look
> at some of your old ones. If they are well painted the look like miniature
> people.
Amen and amen. I couldn't agree more. I am sure I am going to get a snootful of
mail for saying this, but those Warhammer 40K figs are just awful, along with
most newer figs. The thing about old RP being like miniature people is too
true. If you were to take one of those silly (and incredibly expensive) 40K
figs and make a human-size mock up (they're almost human-size already), it
would be riduculous. That armor -- no human could even walk, let alone fight in
it. Some of the weapons are the size of furniture. And they're all made with
such over-exagerated relief (studs, seams, muscles, etc.) to facilitate
drybrushing. It's almost like painting by numbers or something -- the
exagerated detail says to the painter, ``I'm bumpy! Drybush here!'' Sad really.
``Real'' figs are sculptures, passed on to the painter for his/her
interpretation. They're playing pieces second (I don't use my favorite figs in
games). While I have seen some decent-looking Warhammer figs, and some
beautiful paint jobs thereon (especially in the magazines and catalogs, painted
by people who do it for a living), they're just the opposite -- they're playing
pieces first and sculptures second.
> I have looked at several other companies' miniatures but have seen nothing
> of the quality I am used to. I would gladly pay more to get better miniatures
> atleast for player character classes since I know they will see the most use.
> My question is obviously, has anyone heard of well detailed miniatures in the
> $4-10/miniature range? (Ral Parthas went for $1 in '82)
Sadly, no. These days, I just guard my old (before 88) Ral Parthas and make due
with what comes along. Like the Warhammer figs, most of the stuff I find is
simply decent. Good enough to be presentable if it gets a good paint job.
Okay then,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chadd VanZanten SL...@CC.USU.EDU ``The whiter the bread, the sooner you're
dead.'' --Ancient Hindu proverb
Henri Tamminen
>mail for saying this, but those Warhammer 40K figs are just awful, along with
>most newer figs. The thing about old RP being like miniature people is too
Well. There are few nice looking figures, thought they're not realistic looking
by any standard and also they are out of standard scale ( CIT and Marauder
figures are more than 28mm already ). But certainly, there few good figures.
>true. If you were to take one of those silly (and incredibly expensive) 40K
>figs and make a human-size mock up (they're almost human-size already), it
>would be riduculous. That armor -- no human could even walk, let alone fight in
Yes. Size problem is there, BUT!!! you obviously haven't read rulebook and
history of Spacemarines? They are genetic clones and bigger than most normal
humans ( around 2 meters and more ). And armor is not just armor. It's more
like armored spacesuit with powerservos and neural links. In rulebook there is
a picture which is halfexposed to show innards of suit. So... :-)
>it. Some of the weapons are the size of furniture. And they're all made with
>such over-exagerated relief (studs, seams, muscles, etc.) to facilitate
>drybrushing. It's almost like painting by numbers or something -- the
>exagerated detail says to the painter, ``I'm bumpy! Drybush here!'' Sad really.
Agree... Weapons are ridiculous sized.
>Chadd VanZanten SL...@CC.USU.EDU ``The whiter the bread, the sooner you're
>dead.'' --Ancient Hindu proverb
I think, that Grenadier 1400-series figures are quite good also and of course
my own fantasy favorities, Mithril miniatures, which seem to be in scale...
Guelph Erronious
some of them are pretty expensive, but considering that these are meant for
display and not gaming I think that's acceptible.
Is Prince August still producing the MERP figures? I thought that they were pretty good. As someone noted earlier, PA miniatures aren't super-detailed, but
they're just so perfectly formed... If you want miniatures that really look like
"little people" with a good paint job, this is the range I suggest.
--
-----==== Guelph Erronious is really jwvh...@descartes.uwaterloo.ca ====-----
| "The dandy has one unique advantage over the common herd. No matter what |
| the situation he will always be more exquisitely dressed than his enemies. |
| Therefore, he has already triumphed" - Sebastian O |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Books
that all I will buy is Partha miniatures because of the quality. The biggest
complaint I've heard with the new 15-mm stuff is it is too detailed. Of
course, all I use is the historical and fantasy miniatures. I don't play
warhammer so I don't pay any attention to those miniatures.
My Partha miniatures usually (not always) have proper sized weapons.
The females wear real armor (shock.) The horses are correctly proportionned.
The detail is excellent.
Roger
Kyle Kohlhaas
I'd like to purchase lead miniatures to be used in an AD&D type
setting. Any of you out there with figures you would like to
sell please e-mail me a list of what you have, the condition they
are in, and how much you want for them.
Kyle
Southern Cal
kohl...@chaph.usc.edu
Art Urban
%I don't know what the gripe is with Partha's miniatures. It's to the point
%that all I will buy is Partha miniatures because of the quality. The biggest
%complaint I've heard with the new 15-mm stuff is it is too detailed. Of
%course, all I use is the historical and fantasy miniatures. I don't play
%warhammer so I don't pay any attention to those miniatures.
%
%
% My Partha miniatures usually (not always) have proper sized weapons.
%The females wear real armor (shock.) The horses are correctly proportionned.
%The detail is excellent.
%
%Roger
I must second this opinion, and I, too, don't bother with the WarHammer
stuff (way too exaggerated). Currently my favorite female figs are the
minis based on the Elmore, Caldwel, Parkinson paintings (I'm not sure if
all three artists are represented, but I didn't want to forget any of
them!). This boxed set even comes with silver and black printed cards of
the actual art work. Very nice!
Happy painting!
--
Art Urban ur...@yoda.fsl.noaa.gov
===============================================================================
"Look, he's being attacked by creamy nougat centers." -Joel
===============================================================================
Andrew Bell
I think the gripe is with some of Partha's miniatures. They've gotten into
the strange situation where their older ones are generally better than their
new ones -- I believe Tom Meier is the sculptor of their very best figs.
Julie Guthrie is also quite good. But then there are the figures that look
like they've caught "GW"; outlandish sized weapons, un-scale armor plates,
etc. While some folks like that, they don't mesh well with the more
to-scale figures.
> My Partha miniatures usually (not always) have proper sized weapons.
>The females wear real armor (shock.)
Not all of them. The three-stage female mage figures are a particularly
heinous example of appealing to the adolescent male gamer. Still, I'd
rate 90% of Ral Partha's miniatures as better than 90% of GW's.
Andrew Bell
be...@cs.unc.edu
Petteri Lindberg
the MERP miniatures by Mithril Miniatures from Ireland. I don't know their
price in $$. They are precoated and extremely well proportioned.
If you are interested in MERP characters, ie Gandalf, Hobbits and Dunedain..
Mithril's are the ones for you.
Petteri Lindberg
Faculty of Law, University of Turku
Elwe in Ancient Anguish
Argon in Rolemaster
tfpa...@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
WELL!! Whilst we're on this thread (hee hee!), lemme re-introduce a
thread I started in r.g.f.m a month or so ago...
I'm looking for miniatures of DROW. I know that (RAFM?) has a new Dark
Elves series out (fantastic! 'cept for the mohawks, course....), and there are
some of the Partha imports.
Does anyone know what Drow minis there are (and this is excluding the
Warhammer stuff...they _DO_ look stupidly evil) available?
Also, any Oriental/Bushido/Ninja/Samurai/etc minis....either gimme a
list, or give me an offer...
Please reply to the below address...
--
------ "Just hope they don't have blasters."-Han Solo, Star Wars / \
THIS is your target, not ME!!!-----> |><(@)><|
TFPA...@ulkyvx.louisville.edu ------------------- \ /
Tom Payne, Glad-Student, University of Louisville, Ky.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\///////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\
IC...@asuacad.bitnet
says:
Partha minis until about 1987 when I bought my first Citadel Dwarfs!
The figures had so much substance to them. Ral partha's dwarfs look like
little skinny boys compared to GWs.
I'm not flaming anyone's taste in minis here :-) Different strokes to differ-
ent folks and all that, but but I must speak in defense of their figures!
I, too, am grossly dissatisfied with GW's philosophy and trade practices,
but that aside, I will never buy anything but GW figures. A unit of
Trollslayers (What a concept!) painted up with the garish reds and oranges
epitomizes my concept of miniature gaming and collecting.
The over-sized look lends itself to unbelievable detail--the carvings on
belt buckles, armor, staffs, etc. are remarkable. And I can't tell you
how much I like the separate base idea! After spending hours sanding off
Ral's bases to mount figures on similar-sized bases without that hulk
of lead attached to each and every figures' feet, the separate base concept
was a relief! And the separate shields! Ever try to paint behind one of
those things if the figure had it close to the body (where it's supposed to
be anyhow!).
For my money (and quite a bit of it!), GW's detail, variety of poses, and
even the quality of lead previously used are what keep me playing and
collecting figures. Oh well, enough rambling!
IC...@asuacad.bitnet
tfpa...@ulkyvx.louisville.edu says:
>
> WELL!! Whilst we're on this thread (hee hee!), lemme re-introduce a
>thread I started in r.g.f.m a month or so ago...
>
> I'm looking for miniatures of DROW. I know that (RAFM?) has a new
>Dark
>Elves series out (fantastic! 'cept for the mohawks, course....), and there
>are
>some of the Partha imports.
>
> Does anyone know what Drow minis there are (and this is excluding the
>Warhammer stuff...they _DO_ look stupidly evil) available?
>
I *like* the stupid evil look :-) Bet you won't find any non-GW dark elfs
on Cold Ones! Personally, i think the Marauder Miniature ones the best
on the market--but some folks consider them GW products anyhow!
Tuomas Viljanen
and Wargames' Foundry available ?
--++ Tuomas Viljanen ++ For a battle like Crecy, you do ++
++ Lahderanta 20 A 19 ++ not need a military genius like ++
++ SF-02720 Espoo FINLAND ++ Edward III. All you need is an ++
++ 358-0-592175 or c34...@saha.hut.fi ++ idiot like Duke of Alencon. ++
MALONE MATTHEW JAMES
while. Ok I understand the comic-book surrealism of oversized figures or
other disproportionate parts. The last poster WENT TOO FAR. I like my
miniatures with big hunks of lead for bases! They stand up on their own!
Ok, so maybe some of the Old Ral Partha would stand a 6.0 but that happened
all the time when gaming got a bit rowdy or someone dropped a 1.5L bottle on
the corner of the table. One of the main reasons I dislike a lot of the
new figures (other than they are a surreal to the point of gawdiness) is the
lack of a good solid base on them. I cannot imagine someone actually filing
off the original lead bases. Do you file off the bases on your lamps too?
Don't things that fall over all the time get on your nerves?
Matt
Tim T Ketchum
Personally, I've bought many more GW minatures in the last couple of years
than Ral Partha. I feel their exagerated proportions make them better
'working' figures. How many of us have bought exquisitely carved RP
minatures with tiny 'scale' staves/spears/swords that bent or broke the
first time out of the box? It's just not true that RP minatures won't fall
over, heck I've had many that just _wouldn't_ stand up (has RP ever made a
horse that had enough of a base that it wouldn't fall over sideways if
someone opens a window?). Ral Partha does make a product (that I will buy
_every_ time I see a blister pack) that is a great compromise for this
standard shaped plastic base vs weighty mismatched 'hunks of lead' bases.
RP makes several sizes of lead hex bases that can mount either types of
minatures (they are recessed for minis already with bases and have slots
for GW type minis with tabs). I simply glue the mini to the base and fill
with modellers gravel. Its easy and works great. It gives your minis a
uniform look and they have a great 'feel', ie heavy, solid, very nice. I
mount every new minature on one of these.
(oh no now everyone will know about this and I'll never find them anymore)
ttk
Ed Sharpe
>minatures with tiny 'scale' staves/spears/swords that bent or broke the
>first time out of the box? It's just not true that RP minatures won't fall
I do not have this problem. do you throw your figures around?
>over, heck I've had many that just _wouldn't_ stand up (has RP ever made a
>horse that had enough of a base that it wouldn't fall over sideways if
>someone opens a window?).
WHY don't you just mount the figure on small base make of heavy poster board?
Tim T Ketchum
wrote:
>
> >'working' figures. How many of us have bought exquisitely carved RP
> >minatures with tiny 'scale' staves/spears/swords that bent or broke the
> >first time out of the box? It's just not true that RP minatures won't fall
>
> I do not have this problem. do you throw your figures around?
>
No and that is EXACTLY the problem. They can be disfigured (pun?) just way
too easily during normal use.
> >over, heck I've had many that just _wouldn't_ stand up (has RP ever made a
> >horse that had enough of a base that it wouldn't fall over sideways if
> >someone opens a window?).
>
> WHY don't you just mount the figure on small base make of heavy poster board?
Because, if I spend the 2-3 hours working on a miniature, I'd like it to
look nice...
ttk
Deep Six
> WHY don't you just mount the figure on small base make of heavy poster board?
Or modeling plastic. I buy it in square foot sheets for about $1 each. I found
some that is almost clear (sort of milky clear), which is less conspicuous than
the white stuff. It's available in thicknesses less than that of poster board,
but will last longer. You can cut it with an matte knife or even scissors, into
squares, hexes, circles, whatever. You can paint it or glue turf and gravel to
it (although I don't paint my plastic bases cuz I use them to hold and move the
figs). Real nice, and adds a lot of stability without too much work.
I agree with whoever it was that said that RP bases are way too small --
especially on the horses. I can't agree that the exaggerated, stylistic detail
on GW figs is better than the realistic detail of other figs. To me it ruins
the illusion. The figures look clownish, almost like caricatures of
themselves.
Okay then,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chadd VanZanten SL...@CC.USU.EDU ``The hardest part about fishing is
that all the fish are underwater.'' --3m Sportsman Bassmaster how-to video
Andrew Bell
>minatures (they are recessed for minis already with bases and have slots
>for GW type minis with tabs). I simply glue the mini to the base and fill
>with modellers gravel. Its easy and works great.
I take a flat washer and a hunk of blue/yellow epoxy putty (available at
hardware stores). I mix the putty, make it into a disk about the size of
the washer, put the disk on top of the washer and push the figure into
the putty. A little shaping of the putty so it goes over the edge of the
base, and you have a big, solid base. Use nickels and pennies for smaller
figures.
The only possible complaint with this is that the base is a little thicker
than I would like. I may try to use only the putty, or perhaps some
thinner metal cut into a circle, for later figures.
I definitely do like the GW bases and separate shields, though.
Andrew Bell
be...@cs.unc.edu
vincent seifert
Usenet or Email access, but reads rec.games.miniatures (thanks to
my assistance) and wishes to respond. Email to me will be passed
on to her:
c34...@saha.hut.fi (Tuomas Viljanen) asks:
>Why buy Ral Partha or Games workshop figures when there are Essex Miniatures
>and Wargames' Foundry available ?
Because they don't sell fantasy miniatures?
Actually, I'd like to stick my two cents' worth in here. I like the new
stuff that Ral Partha is doing. The poses alone are much better than the
old stuff. They have good new sculptors working for them, some of whom
are also sculpting for Grenadier. Tom Meier and Dennis Mize are doing
great stuff. Julie Guthrie and Sandra Garrity are doing very well, also.
The difference I see between Games Workshop and the other companies is
that the other companies go for realism, and GW stuff is more like
cartoons. Especailly the dwarves and orcs. Also the price. Frankly,
I don't see any GW stuff lately that's worth the price. I mean, let's
get real, here. A lead (not even the new metal) elf mounted on a plastic
horse for $10.00? Gimme a break!
For those who were extolling the virtues of the Grenadier 1400-series
elves, did you notice that they were done by the same sculptor (Mark
Copplestone) who did the Citadel elves? That's why they look so similar.
Concerning the new metals: the New York "Cease and Desist" order was
put into effect in early December. Really nice of our government to put
the miniatures companies out of business right before Christmas, wasn't
it? The suit by Citadel only delayed it for a period of time; it will
still go into effect at a later date. I did notice that the foreign
manufacturers were not mentioned in the order, so we may still be able to
get lead figures from overseas. I hope so. I'd miss the Metal Magic
line, especially the Asterix series. Ral Partha, RAFM, and Thunderbolt
Mountain Miniatures all will probably be going to the Ralidium alloy, as
the companies are all related. I'm impressed with the bending properties of
the new metal - I've stressed a sword numerous times, and it hasn't broken.
Grenadier's new figures are cast in "Luminite", which is just another form
of pewter. Price for a single human-sized figure has risen from $1.50 to
$2.15, which seems pretty standard across the board.
Thunderbolt is currently making their King Arthur series in an alloy
that is mostly (94 percent) tin. This is an absolutely beautiful series,
but the metal is very hard and difficult to work with.
I don't remember who was looking for a Ral Partha catalog, but you can
call 1-800-543-0272 and order one, or write to them at 5938 Carthage Ct.,
Cincinnati, OH 45212-1197. The catalog costs $3.00. They may be available
at your local hobby shop; the 1993 catalog is just out.
To the person who was looking for Medieval citizens, Pendragon has a
series of knights and ladies in non-combative poses that are very nice -
again, sculpted by Tom Meier. Wargames Foundry also produces some
Medieval citizenry.
I'm also looking for some miniatures: old Citadel townsfolk and
villagers, human, dwarf, and orcs. I'm also looking for some even older
Citadel/Chronicle figures - the orcs riding wolves. I prefer them un-
painted. And if anyone has a Metal Magic miniature of an orc sunbathing
that they would part with...
--
Vince Seifert Equipment Tech III seif...@csus.edu
CSUS hired me to fix their computers, not to air their policies.
Andrew Bell
> For those who were extolling the virtues of the Grenadier 1400-series
>elves, did you notice that they were done by the same sculptor (Mark
>Copplestone) who did the Citadel elves? That's why they look so similar.
??? Most, if not all, of the GW elves and eldar were done by Jes Goodwin,
IMHO far and away the Citadel's most skilled sculptor.
Andrew Bell
be...@cs.unc.edu
MALONE MATTHEW JAMES
The detail is good and the poses are quite realistic. Some poses have the
figure holding a sword behind their head with the hilt just touching or
joined only by casting fringes to the head. I often modify my figures by
bending arms or weapon hands into more natural orientations. Apart from
these minor modifications, I find most of the new MERF figures as good as the
older RP stuff.
Matt
Mr E D G Robertson
True, Jes did a lot of their elves (and the Eternal Champion boxed set he
did was marvellous) but Copplestone also did some, and as I recall it was Aly
Morrison that did the Regiment of Renown `Prince Oreon's Wood Elven Archers'.
But yeah, Jes is GW's best - pity he's still at GW and not, say,
Grenadier :)
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