Hi,

Just thought i'd contribute to the forums with a bit of feedback on a manufacturer i just ordered a number of items from - Brigade Models.

Must say I've been very impressed with both the service and the quality of the models received - not to mention the (IMHO) reasonable prices ! (but then i am comparing to GW's prices ! :-) Everything arrived as promised, exactly 10 days after my order, and after a quick email Tony Francis was happy to add a few extra items in a couple of days before shipping. Since then we have exchanged a few emails discussing the items and he's been extremely helpful and was happy for me to post up a few pics and words about the models (apparently he's on Taccoms too so hopefully he'll say hi.)

Models are clean, and well cast with minimal flash and easy to remove vent/gate tags. Though (as I've seen mentioned on the forums before) the detail is maybe not as extensive as some of the models out there (for example the Epic40k era minis) I'd say they are still near the top end of the 6mm manufacturers out there (though admittedly i'm only speaking from extensive hands-on experience of GW and GHQ - plus a lot of online pics.)

Importantly the level of detail is relative to the scale of the model - I'm really starting to understand all the discussion and effort that goes into scale on the various forums round here ! Brigade obviously scale themselves at a stricter 1:285 or 1:300 scale (ie more similar to the GHQ and other historic models i've seen in the past) which is fair enough. Unfortunately I'd planned to use these guys in a proxy "heavy" gurad army with the Mk1 Landraiders some may have seen painted on the Epic6mm Forum. As can be seen below, they don't really go together thanks to GW's loose 6mm/8mm/heroic scale (probably exacerbated by using Space Marines as proxies too )!

Entirely my own fault for not checking, and i still love the models. On the whole i'd say they are still perfectly usable for Epic (at least they'll be closer to in scale with GWs terrain ! :-), just not in the same army. I'd always planned to paint up my guard army in 2 distinct and/or united colour schemes allowing flexibility between lists / size of army and also playing IG vs IG - the scale difference just makes it easier to decide where to make the paint scheme distinction ! I'll probably mount the armour on bases so they don't look so swamped next to GW infantry (not something i normally do with GW vehicles.)

Anyway, on with some pictures (sorry should have included a ruler in the pics)...

Neo-Soviet - Mammot Hvy Tank (the 4 tracked MBT) :

This comes as a 2 part kit (hull +turret) plus pintel mounted multi-barrelled MG, rocket/smoke launcher option sprue. Hull length 32mm.
Had planned to use them as Russes with the Mk1 LRs as Chimeras (i always think of the LR as a hvy APC but somehow it never gets used that way in any system! ) These are the main reason i when to Brigade in the first place - probably my favourite 6mm MBT design i've ever seen ! May have been distracted by the similar name and the slight resemblance to the "Mammoth" tanks from the C&C computer game from the mid '90s and just assumed they'd be a bit bigger !
My only real complaint (if i'm being a bit picky) is that the clearance under the hull - between the front track units) is nonexistent - but this doesn't show on a gaming table.
I've told Tony from Brigade that, if he ever feels like doing a 8/10mm version, to put me down for the first 20 of what i'd imagine would be a long list of orders ! He's hinted that there may be a 15mm version on the way one day which i'm already lining up for an Ad Mech Ordinatus conversion :-)


Neo Soviet - Lisa Command Tank (Smaller APC / IFV )

This comes as a 3 part kit (hull +2 tracks) plus pintel mounted multi-barrelled MG, rocket/smoke launcher option sprue and 2x aerials.

Again, bought it cos i liked it. Nice fine sharp details, easy to assemble and only a little flash. They all have a little bit of roughness on the sides of the crew compartment near the back, but i doubt if this will noticeable when undercoated. Had planned to use as a Salamander Scout Tank proxy, which it could probably still work as even against the LRs, though might keep them to use as a Chimeras alongside the Mammots as Russ.

Euro Federation - Anti Tank Gun

Comes as a 2 part kit (trailer + gun/shield) plus 3 crew - 4 types - 2x spotters with binoculars, 1x loader with shell/magazine and 1x operator.

Plan to use this as an IG Auto Cannon for support units. I think it works scale wise with both "true 6mm" and the GW mk6 SMs. The gun model is particularly fine and clean of moulding lines etc, the trailer is also good. I don't have much experience with non GW (plastic) 6mm infantry apart from very old historical figures (which were all awful) but detail wise the crew look good enough to me. Not sure the style is for me - look a bit like they are wearing modern bomb-disposal armour which isn't the look i'm going for - but i may find a use for them.

The gun looks great. I must check out the range.

British - Hastia VTOL

One piece model.

I bought this with the intention of using them as Marauders (with some conversion work to extend the wings and add missiles etc.) In the metal i like them even more than on the web site. Don't know why but they remind me of the dropship from Aliens ( not really sure why ?? ) therefore i may get a couple more and use them as Valkyries (no-one seems to rate Marauders anyway.)

Two minor niggles - I would have liked some framing around the cockpit ( though nothing a good paintjob can't fix ) and perhaps less important - some more detail on the undercarriage. Somehow, in the metal they seem larger than they look either my pictures or those on the Brigade site, tho this might be because they are so shiny at the moment (?) may change after painting.



Power Armoured Infantry

A complete impulse buy. I just like stompy robots - must have been early exposure to Transformers or something ! :-) About 8-9mm total height.

My photos don't really do these justice, IMHO they are great- there are some better pics of painted examples in the "What are you working on X" thread in a desert cammo which show them off really well (just can't find the post right now.)

Not sure where i'm going to use them. Obvious choice is Stealth Suits for Tau, though don't have any plans for an army... Might go as Storm Troopers along my Mk6 SMs for my "Heavy Imp Guard" proxys or (even more left field) as Wrath Guard for an Eldar army (which i do plan to do one day - i just wish someone would do good proxies cos i don't want to give my money to GW :-p ) Obviously they don't look much like the GW version, but to be honest i never really liked the Epic or 40k Wrathguard. They're about the right height and something about the smooth head makes me think that with a suitable paintjob they could work - ok maybe not the guys with the bazooka ! :-)

Great stuff - thanks for posting this! I was a bit surprised at how small the Mammot is. I love the Vtol, though!

Excellent !!! Very good job !! Thank you !!! The situation I see with Brigade models is generally they are a little small next to G/W Epic. The same goes for GZG's AFVs, however GZG's infantry is dead on ... With not only Epic, but DRM and Exodus Wars ...

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Great article, really enjoyed reading

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I also thought about C&C Red Alert when watching the Mammot, it´s quite a small tank, but I still love the turret.

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Thanks for the comments guys, glad you found it interesting.

I just couldn't turn away from the marmot for my guard - its exactly the look i wanted - so i'm working on a conversion to beef it up a bit... Looking ok at the moment, watch this space (well, watch my Epic 6mm thread anyway)