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.
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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 ...
