Category Archives: Copplestone Castings

COPPLESTONE CASTINGS, 15mm Barbarica Dwarves

Posted on 2012/07/21 | 1 comment

Copplestone Castings has just released the first sets of dwarves for their 15mm fantasy range, which is set in an “alternative Roman Britain” universe. There the dwarves “live in the Scottish Highlands (which are a lot more mountainous than in our reality),” and are “usually allied with the Northlanders in their battles against the Romans, but will never fight alongside Snowtrolls.”  This release includes the following sets:

  • FM14 Dwarf Axemen
  • FM15 Dwarf Spearmen
  • FM16 Dwarf Command

Be sure to visit Kevin Dallimore’s gallery of beautifully painted samples from this range.

1 Comment

Posted in 15mm fantasy, Copplestone Castings

Tagged , ,

COPPLESTONE CASTINGS, Jolly Good Chap

Posted on 2012/06/02 | Comments Off on COPPLESTONE CASTINGS, Jolly Good Chap

This is my second jolly good chap from Copplestone Castings‘ set by the same name (you can see my first jolly good chap here).  I prepped and primed the model three or four years ago, but it sat in a to-do box ever since.  I came upon it again a couple weeks ago while looking for something else.  On a whim I decided to see what kind of results I could get during the short time my son was napping.  This is the result of that painting session, which lasted about two hours.  Simple and effective (but I think I should fill in the wall of grass a little more, and trim back some of the large strands a centimeter or two).

The Jolly Good Chaps set is part of Copplestone Castings’ Back of Beyond and High Adventure catalogs.

Jolly Good Chaps, from the Copplestone Castings catalog (BC10)

Interesting piece of trivia: “back of beyond,” an emphatic phrase used in reference to a location far removed from the world, comes to us from Sir Walter Scott’s The Antiquary (1816):

The laird o’ Tamlowrie and Sir Gilbert Grizzlecleugh and Auld Rossballoh and the Bailie were just setting in to make an afternoon o’t, and you, wi’ some o’ your auld-warld stories, that the mind o’ man canna resist, whirled them to the back o’ beyont to look at the auld Roman camp.

Comments Off on COPPLESTONE CASTINGS, Jolly Good Chap

Posted in 28mm historical, Copplestone Castings, Pulp

Tagged , , ,

Finally Finished, Copplestone’s jolly good chap

Posted on 2010/09/02 | Comments Off on Finally Finished, Copplestone’s jolly good chap

This is one of the jolly good chaps from Copplestone Castings Back of Beyond Range.  I posted the WIP a year ago, shortly after I started this blog.  The model has been done this whole time, with a very simple paint job (note the varnish sheen).  But I was at a loss about how best to proceed with the base after applying the initial wash layer.

Tonight, while tidying up my table after a painting session, I decided enough was enough: I need to finish this model.  All told I only put another twenty minutes into the piece, and it would have been less if I hadn’t messed up the color for the soil the first time around.  I’m pleased with the results, and need to add those Germans to the list, before my motivation fizzles.

On another note, this was my first experience with the product featured below.  In retrospect, perhaps I should have used the one on the right, and drybrushed the tips with khaki color to suggest drying.  Live and learn.  Oh, love the grass; I have no idea why I waited this long to use it.

Comments Off on Finally Finished, Copplestone’s jolly good chap

Posted in 28mm historical, Copplestone Castings

Predators, miniatures

Posted on 2010/05/12 | 2 comments

Robert Rodriguez is at the helm of the latest installment in the Predator series, Predators, which is scheduled for a July 2010 release.  Judging by what I’ve seen in the two trailers, it looks like this will be a good one (finally).

A clip from the Predators trailer

Believing that the immanent release of this film will likely generatre some interest in collecting and painting Predator alien miniatures, I thought I’d take a moment to remind folks of these offerings from Copplestone Castings (28mm) and Khurasan Miniatures (15mm).

Enjoy!  And happy hunting!

EDIT: I’ve added the new European Vacation Alien from Khurasan, Heresy’s Hurn, and a sample of the Inaps by Old Crow (Ainsty) below.  Click on the pictures to visit their corresponding Web sites.

UPDATE: Be sure to check out Mikko’s review of these miniatures on his Web site, Dawn of the Lead: LINK

FW25 Hunter Aliens (sculpted by Mark Copplestone, painted by Andrew Taylor)

FW32 Hunter Aliens with Guns (sculpted by Mark Copplestone, painted by Andrew Taylor)

PLA-5 Vacation Alien (painted by Carl Robson)

PLA-5a European Vacation Alien

One of the many "Inaps" available from Old Crow Models (an Ainsty product)

Heresy, Hurn prototype 01 (painted by Wildheart)

2 Comments

Posted in 15mm SciFi, 28mm SciFi, Copplestone Castings, film, Khurasan Miniatures

Copplestone City Spearmen, more than half done

Posted on 2010/02/18 | Comments Off on Copplestone City Spearmen, more than half done

Copplestone City Spearmen (WIP)

Here’s my latest update on my progress with the Copplestone City Spearmen.  I own four boxes of these, which comes to 12 stands (24 strips) total.  The shields on three front-row strips aren’t done, but I’ll save that for tomorrow.  I’m saving the bases and flags for last.

In the back row you can see some of the archers, 1.5 stands done.  I have four boxes of these, so my total Gondor force is comprised of 24 stands or 48 strips.

Once these are done, I’ll get back to Rohan.

Comments Off on Copplestone City Spearmen, more than half done

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm Middle-earth, Copplestone Castings

Copplestone City Guard, update

Posted on 2010/02/06 | Comments Off on Copplestone City Guard, update

For those of you following this site for my 10mm Middle-earth project, I want to assure you that despite my interest in other things the project is not dead.  Case in point, my Copplestone City Guard.  I have one stand finished, and six more will follow very shortly.  The only thing left to do on these six stands is the shield insignia.  I’m doing these by hand, so the process is slow and tedious.  But I prefer this method to transfers, and will press ahead.  Once these are done, I’ll be halfway done with the City Guard spearmen.  The others, fortunately, are half finished and shouldn’t take too long.  I’m looking forward to having these out of my queue, as I’m eager to finish the Rohan Royal Guard cavalry.

Comments Off on Copplestone City Guard, update

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm Middle-earth, Copplestone Castings, painting

Kallistra 10mm Viking Huscarls

Posted on 2009/12/20 | 1 comment

Copplestone Horse Tribe infantry (left) and Kallistra Huscarls

Kallistra Huscarls (lefft), Magister Militum greater orc, MM ashigaru, and more Kallistra Huscarls

Kallistra Huscarls (left) and Copplestone City Spearmen

Kallistra Huscarls (left) and GW Warmaster Swordmasters of Hoeth

Kallistra Huscarls (left), Eureka Anvil dwarf, Eureka Warspite elf, more Kallistra Huscarls

Old Glory Persian commmand (left) and Kallistra Huscarls

1 Comment

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, 10mm Middle-earth, comparisons, Copplestone Castings, Eureka, Games Workshop, Kallistra, Magister Militum, Warmaster

Kallistra 10mm Mongolian Light Cavalry

Posted on 2009/12/16 | Comments Off on Kallistra 10mm Mongolian Light Cavalry

Kallistra's four different sculpts of Mongolian light cavalry

Kallistra Mongolian light cavalry (left), Copplestone Horse Tribe cavalry, Magister Militum Mongolian heavy cavalry, Kallistra Mongolian light cavalry

Be sure to click on the photographs to see larger images.

Comments Off on Kallistra 10mm Mongolian Light Cavalry

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, comparisons, Copplestone Castings, Kallistra, Magister Militum

Magister Militum 10mm Greater Orcs w/ Armor

Posted on 2009/10/31 | Comments Off on Magister Militum 10mm Greater Orcs w/ Armor
Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5886

Magister Militum Mongol, orc, ashigaru

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5888

Magister Militum greater orc warriors with armour, all four variations

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5906

MM greater orc (macro)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5889

Copplestone half-orcs, MM greater orc, Copplestone orcs

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5917

Copplestone half-orcs, MM greater orc, Copplestone orcs (macro)

Flavor text soon…

Comments Off on Magister Militum 10mm Greater Orcs w/ Armor

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm Middle-earth, Copplestone Castings, Magister Militum

Magister Militum Mongol Heavy Cav, et al

Posted on 2009/10/31 | Comments Off on Magister Militum Mongol Heavy Cav, et al
Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5886

Magister Militum Mongol, orc, ashigaru

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5895

Magister Militum Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow (command model, center)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5898

MM Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow I (macro)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5902

MM Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow II (macro)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5903

MM Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow, command (macro)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5891

MM Mongol heavy cavalry, Copplestone Horse Tribe cavalry (second from right)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5919

MM Mongol heavy cavalry, Copplestone Horse Tribe cavalry (macro)

With respects to the size of the Mongol cavalry, Richard of Magister Militum wrote the following in a thread on TMP:

The Mongols and Samurai are the only Medieval figures on the smaller pony horse.

We used a pony for all of the ancient ranges, horse breeding did not really develop the large modern horses we see today until the 10th/11th century AD. There was a deal of variation in anicent horses and the Romans did breed some larger breeds but not in great numbers. Even cataphracts were mounted on stocky ponies, there are references in fact to their horses being particularly small and strong with riders legs almost reaching the ground.

For the medievals onwards we use 4 horses, the pony for stepp type armies, the Samurai who had major problems with horse breeding in sufficient numbers and used ponies and some of the earlier border/fringe horse units in Europe (Bretons etc.) Also Cossacks for the Napoleonics are on ponies. At the moment all of our Crimean cavalry are also on ponies to represent the fact that the British and Russians used local horses for remounts after the first month or so of the war. I am considering doing them on larger horses to represent the early war but the Napoleonics are getting priority right now. Also our early Normans are on the ponies, this could be debated but there is evidence that up to the Norman conquest their cavalry was still quite light, if you want Normans on destriers then the medieval early knights fit perfectly. We then have a standard or light horse which is used for anything that is not a knight. It is also used for light cavalry in the Napoleonic ranges. Finally there are two versions of a heavy horse, one is for knights and heavy cavalry. The other is a thoroughbred which we use for guard or elite cavalry units.

This may seem a bit complicated but we try to be as accurate as we can and this seemed to be the best way to achieve a historical look.

Comments Off on Magister Militum Mongol Heavy Cav, et al

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, 10mm Middle-earth, Copplestone Castings, Magister Militum

Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al (100mm macro)

Posted on 2009/10/31 | Comments Off on Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al (100mm macro)

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5904

Magister Militum ashigaru

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5908

Copplestone Horse Tribe infantry, MM ashigaru, Copplestone City Guard

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5911

Old Glory Persian command, MM ashigaru, GFI/AIM Persian command

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5912

Eureka elf archer, MM ashigaru, Eureka halfling militia

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5915

Eureka Anvil dwarf, MM ashigaru, Eureka Warspite elf

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5916

GW Swordmasters of Hoeth, MM ashigaru, MM orc

Flavor text soon…

Comments Off on Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al (100mm macro)

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, 10mm Middle-earth, AIM/GFI, Copplestone Castings, Eureka, Games Workshop, Magister Militum, Old Glory, Warmaster

Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al

Posted on 2009/10/31 | Comments Off on Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al
Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5873

Magister Militum ashigaru with spears & command

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5875

Copplestone City Guard, MM ashigaru, GW Swordmasters of Hoeth

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5878

Copplestone Horse Tribe infantry, MM ashigaru, Old Glory Persian command

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5879

Eureka elf archer, halfling militia, MM ashigaru, AIM/GFI Persian command

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5882

Copplestone half-orcs, MM ashigaru, Copplestone orcs

Under the Mountain 31 October 2009 5884

Eureka Anvil dwarf, MM ashigaru, Eureka Warspite elf

Flavor text soon…

Comments Off on Magister Militum Ashigaru, et al

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, 10mm Middle-earth, AIM/GFI, Copplestone Castings, Eureka, Games Workshop, Magister Militum, Old Glory, Warmaster

Recent Order, an experiment

Posted on 2009/10/24 | Comments Off on Recent Order, an experiment
Bjorti TrollsBane (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Bjorti TrollsBane (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Hostrom HammerSmite (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Hostrom HammerSmite (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Crowbiter (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Crowbiter (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Goblin Berserkers (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Goblin Berserkers (sculpted by Tre Manor)

Viking Husecarls (Kallistra)

Viking Husecarls (Kallistra)

50mm castle wall section (Kallistra)

50mm castle wall section (Kallistra)

Mongol light cavalry (Kallistra)

Mongol light cavalry (Kallistra)

Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow (Magister Militum)

Mongol heavy cavalry with lance and bow (Magister Militum)

Ashigaru on foot with spear (Magister Militum)

Ashigaru on foot with spear (Magister Militum)

Greater orc warrior with armour (Magister Militum)

Greater orc warrior with armour (Magister Militum)

I recently placed orders with three separate companies, Kallistra, Magister Militum, and Red Box Games.

Rather than order direct, I decided to buy the RBG stuff from Full Metal Planet, one of the two online vendors for miniatures-related product in Japan (the other is Malefic, another great store).  There aren’t many game stores in Japan, so this is the closest I can come to supporting an LGS.  I’ll post pictures against the grid when they arrive, for those of you who are curious.

This is my first time ordering from Kallistra and Magister Militum.  I’ve been interested in some of their products for several years, but have never made the commitment to buy anything, because the pictures don’t tell me enough about what to expect.  Size is the main issue here, but also detail, casting quality, and customer service.

I ordered this seemingly random selection of models (see photos above) because I’m still looking for good proxy models to flesh out my ever growing 10mm Middle-earth project.  I don’t really need anymore orcs, as Copplestone Castings has provided me with ideal models for the race, but I’m always looking for ways to add further character to what I have.  I’m also looking for models to use as Dunlendings, Variags of Khand, Wainriders, and Easterlings, thus the Vikings, Mongols and ashigaru, the latter of which will require some modifications with putty. Questions remain, however, about how these will work with the standards of my project, largely set by Copplestone, Eureka, and GW 10mm metal models.  When they arrive I’ll put them against the wall and take a load of comparison pictures to share here.  We’ll all know soon enough.

Comments Off on Recent Order, an experiment

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm historical, 10mm Middle-earth, Battle of Five Armies, Copplestone Castings, Kallistra, Magister Militum, Red Box Games, terrain

Copplestone Castings Selling Japanese Toys

Posted on 2009/10/11 | Comments Off on Copplestone Castings Selling Japanese Toys

The F-Toys At-At next lined up with some Copplestone German Mercenaries

The F-Toys AT-AT lined up with some Copplestone German Mercenaries

I mentioned in an earlier post that Copplestone Castings is now selling (for a limited time only) 1/144 (≈10mm) WWII Luftwaffe fighter planes, early jets, and Star Wars vehicles.  I’ve collected a few of these, although I have little interest in Star Wars at the moment.  Regardless, these vehicles were too good to pass up, and I hope to find a use for them one day.

I took my collection home to the United States in August, but the announcement by Copplestone Castings last week enticed me to visit my local after-the-market shop (in Japan) this afternoon to pick up another AT-AT.  Besides, this way I can share a photo of the actual model (sans side guns) standing against a grid and next to some Copplestone Castings 28mm miniatures for comparison.

The legs of the AT-AT are comprised of two pieces and poseable; they snap together with hex-shaped pins.

Tempted?  Copplestone Castings’ first shipment is almost sold out, but according to their last e-mail announcement another should be on the way in a few weeks.  The best way to find out when the new shipment arrives is to join their mailing list.

P.S. My apologies for the poor quality of the photograph.

Comments Off on Copplestone Castings Selling Japanese Toys

Posted in 10mm sci-fi, Copplestone Castings

Meanders of Darkness Painting Challenge, Update 01

Posted on 2009/10/09 | Comments Off on Meanders of Darkness Painting Challenge, Update 01
Rackham's Kelt Musician with a fresh coat of gesso

Rackham's Kelt Musician with a fresh coat of gesso

I finally finished the base and painted on the gesso primer this evening.  It will be totally dry in 24 hours.  I can’t wait to start painting this.

In the meantime, 50 stands of Copplestone City Guard Spearmen are distracting me.

Comments Off on Meanders of Darkness Painting Challenge, Update 01

Posted in 10mm fantasy, 10mm Middle-earth, Copplestone Castings, gesso, hobby, Rackham Entertainment