Dark Sword Miniatures

[eldargal]

Dark Sword Miniatures (http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/) probably have one of the most extensive ranges of miniatures out there after Reaper (not including GW), and some of the best. It has been a while since I've bought from them myself but I never had any problems with quality. They employ(ed) some of the best sculptors out there, notably Julie Guthrie, Tom Meier and Larry Elmore.

Some favourites:

Visions in Fantasy range:

Female Paladin:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7404_fs_m.jpg

Female Ranger:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7431_f1_g.jpg

Female Elf Warrior:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7414_p_f1main_verzani2.jpg

War Eagle with Female Elf Rider:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7011_Eagle_farleft_p.jpg

[eldargal]

Visions of Fantasy continued:

Male Elf:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7406_Mdelf_f_p.jpg

Male Barbarian:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7401_f_m.jpg

Male Assassin:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7408_f1_g.jpg

George R. R. Martin line:

Daenerys:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/grrm_5045_f1_p.jpg

[eldargal]

George R.R. Martin continued:

Eddard Stark:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/grrm_5042_f1_p.jpg

Caldwell Masterworks rnage:

Female duellist:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/c_set1_femaledual_f_g.jpg

Female Mage:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/c_set1_femalemage2_f_g.jpg

Parkinson Masterworks range:

Demorgan:
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/P_set1_demorgan1_jen.jpg

There are many, many more miniatures on their website. I personally find a lot of their monsters to be a bit too cartoonesque for my tastes. Also if you are wondering why most of the miniautres I have highlighted are female, it isn't just that I'm a female chauvinist. Sculpting good female miniatures in 28/30mm scale is notoriously difficult, so if a producer has a lot of them it indicates quality sculptors at work.

[Wildeybeast]

Wow. I have to say, I personally have never wanted to use non GW models in my armies, but some of this stuff is absolutely amazing and I am seriously considering getting some. I notice that they have largely managed to restrain from the rather unnecessary fantasy archetype of bare breasted women that many other companies favour. Any idea what their postage times are like?

[eldargal]

I don't recall postage times, sorry. Hopefully someone else might. Some of their ranges to have a lot of bare-breasted or scantily clad women it has to be said, but I can't say I have a problem with it myself, it is a well established cliche.:)

[Wildeybeast]

Sorry, just found their postage times. Have to say, you are doing sterling work in bringing these other model makers to us eldargal.

[eldargal]

Well I buy a lot of things from a lot of independent companies so I thought I should share the names with others, there aren't many places with a comprehensive list like this.:) Not that this one is comprehensive yet, but it is getting there. I think it has all the major companies now.

Also it might go some way to showing people that even if you love GWs products you can still use other companies bits and pieces to add variety to your games.

[Wildeybeast]

Absolutely, I've just bought a couple that I'm looking to integrating into my Empire army. Do you buy much sci-fi stuff from other places?

[eldargal]

Not really, there is little that fits with Eldar.:(

[Wildeybeast]

So I ordered a couple of minatures from them on Saturday and they arrived through the post this morning! Outstanding speed from the US. The models are lovely, beautifully sculpted, especially the faces. The only down side was bent swords/staffs but given they are pewter they were soft enough to bend back with seeming to have damaged the strength of the metal.
I also got an extra model I wasn't expecting, thought I'd ordered it by mistake, but no it's a bonus one. I don't know whether it's a freebie or they put it in my parcel by accident but it's a happy bonus. Just weighing up whether I should contact them to see if they want it back (stupid conscience) Anyway, I'd recommend Darksword to anyone thinking about buying them.

[eldargal]

That is good to hear, certainly extremely fast shipping. Do post some pictures if you can.:)

[Wildeybeast]

I've just got another mini from Dark Sword, once again excellent delivery speed, particularly given the Christmas period. Yet another bonus model in there, this time with a sticker saying it was a free gift - tell all my friends about Dark Sword, so that is precisely what I'm doing. I really can't recommend them highly enough; stuff takes about a week to get from the US to UK, very reasonable prices, excellent models and they seem intent on giving me free ones. I'll try to get some pictures posted of them all soon so people can see them in the flesh.

[eldargal]

That is good service, better put another order in myself teehee.:rolleyes:

[eldargal]

Some new releases that I particularly like:

Female Archer (I'm thinkinf of painting her up as a statue for a HE terrain piece, bit of waste but she has that 'nude heroic sculpture' look about her)
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/e_1175_f1_p.jpg

Temple Dancer
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7521_f1_p_jen.jpg

Mouse Cleric
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_8002_f1_p.jpg

Female Undead Hunter (swap the sword or spear for an Empire pistol and she would make a fine Witch Huntress)
http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/mainwebsite_html/gallery/images/miniatures/v_7433_f1_p.jpg