Yeah, I figured. I had a vague idea to use the Vikings as a race of gianty guys for a non Middle Earth setting. 40mm is a particularly odd design choice, though!
Actually on the subject of 40mm figures (sorry to hijack the thread a bit Gavin), but does anyone know of any manufacturers of that size figure with static/wooden designs that could be used as the statues of Gondor’s kings in Denethors Hall?
I have looked at some ranges on the web, but none seem quite right for what I want. I suppose the nearest I have seen is the GW (sorry to mention them before Christmas) statue that comes with the ruin accessory box.
Vikings? … 40mm is rather an unusual size. The only Viking-series I still do appreciate was made by Elastolin Hausser in the early sixties. They’re about 35mm and many of them do nicely match the figures of the Mithril-ranges in size. Non-metal figures they are (Elastolin). I do like them as many of those figures were sculpted as three-dimensional beings of Foster’s comics about Prince Valiant. – Unfortunately that company does not exist any more (for about more than 20 years by now, I think). Those figures were a bit expensive in the 60s as they were hand-coloured. So, Sir Gawain, Arne of Ord, and many others still are very nice figures.
Elastolin Hausser produced a wide range of brilliant miniatures. The Roman series are great, I think. So are those Norman riders (William the Conqueror) and the British knights in full armour.
Well, Frumgar also has his source in one of those dynamic riders ….
Sorry. I cannot help with these 40mm Vikings.
Certainly does. I think my very earliest figures (other than some lead toy soldiers my old gaffer gave me from his own childhood) were some Elastolin Romans (or was it Landsknechts? Perhaps it was both…). As the Tree says, they were horribly expensive, and they were also very brittle. Sadly, like any child, I treated them as toys and they are consequently no longer with me – R.I.P. (Romans in pieces, that is).
Huoomm .. as for those Elastolin (Hausser) figures I still keep a lot of them. Yes, you’re right, Master Barliman, that those Romans were produced before the “Landsknecht”-Series (which by the way are marvellous figures). I tried to complete that part of my collection in the 70s and had to realize that it was too late, as the company did not exist any more.
I even built a castle for those figures, as a first scenario and table-top for a siege-campain .. also reconstructing those siege-devices fitting to a 32mm figure scale. Those tiny things can still throw a peddle about 5 metres …
Alas … I’ll need time to take pics ….
Do they come up on aBay at all? And how expensive are they when/if they do? I seem to remember that Elastolin produced a fortress in one of their ranges, as well as the siege engines – I can recall a local toyshop which set up a siege scene in their window, crowded with what seemed to my young eyes to be literally hundreds of figures!
Sometimes they come up on Ebay. Last night I was bidding for a Roman cavalryman … I gave up when the price extended 16,50 €. For the Roman (marching with pilum) I was willing to pay 7 €, but that was not enough.
Yes, the siege … I still keep that siege tower and some other machines. Ooops, did I write peddle? …. Alas, pebble I meant, of course. Sorry.
It´s easy to find Elastolins in german Ebay but they also always expensive.
It´s also a question from the age. The first ones are more expensive (in water color, named “wachser”) 60 – 80 Euros or more for one fig. The newer ones are much cheaper (ca. 15 euros) but in “worse” quality of painting.
You can buy all figs new in shops from the brand “Preiser”:
The siege Equipment from GW is nice for Mithril (Empire Defenders, Attackers, Uruk Hai Ballista, all in white Metal).
Elastolin has not the right scale.
Festive greetings to you as well, Master Estel – ah, hang on, I think I’m in the wrong parlour… I must get back to the taproom before the rugs eat everything I’ve laid out for Yuletide.
P.S. Yes, the GW siege stuff is very useful – in particular their old ‘Rock Lobba’ (as I think it was called) which has a large, thin hand as the receptacle for its missiles; I use these for Saruman’s army, just in case he ever gets as far as Meduseld.
I also want to join the other guys before wishing all these wonderful persons I have made the acquaintance with during this year
a very happy christmas and a merry new year . . .is that right . . .
( I think I have listen one time too often to “do they know it´s chritmas time-one year is over . . . do you know that song ?! )
