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OK firstly have never liked mantic models much but wanted to give it one more try so went and bought basilean army set and goblin army set

The basilean set was OK to put together but found so many problems with them the paladins (walking knights) had so much flash on them it was insane spent a good 20-30 minutes just cleaning them up.

The foot soldiers (plastic guys) where accutly OK to put together no problems

The women with flails arms where horrible to put together had to almost break the arms by bending them in and even then the fit was just crap.

The knights where a mixed bag the horses where a pain because of the missing parts on the horse leaveing gaps along the two halves so had to use green stuff but the guys on top went together beautifully and they are great looking models better than I thought of mantic

Lastly the angel things very easy to put together apart from one annoying sword but very clean models again fantastic looking all in all this box did bring mantic up in my mind

Then I have started putting together the goblin army box and my opinion of mantic has dropped like a stone so far have put together the goblin archers easy plastic but look naff and noticed on box shows you them all with quivers but you only get enough to give one per 5 them which was a little disappointed in.

But here is the real part that has p'ed me off the goblin spearmen metal feckin spears and sheilds why ooo why have they done this what a lot of crap have done 4 and I am considering not doing any more for one there is no reason it should be metal and half of the spears look like its only a hand attached no arm which look stupid.

I really want to like mantic a while back I got elves and skelton s and they where both bloody horrible models and sculpts the elfs especially nasty so opted to get the more updated models with the humans and goblins and the humans I like I really do although would never add metal parts in ever but they don't add anything to the models so I don't mind but the goblin spearmen metal bloody spears and sheilds in fact the goblins in general just seem so so slopply done the archers and spearmen are so crap the spearmen for the metal the archers because they look direr.

So questions are these
What are the last army's released by mantic ?
Should I go down to mantic and kick one of them squarly in the balls? for the worthless metal crap I really really hate metal parts or metal models there is no justification to them in this day and age.lol

Has any one found a better way of putting the goblin spearmen together?

And last question what the hells with all the materials plastic, resin plastic, resin and damn crap metal seems like the plastic and resin plastic would be good enough that the resin and. Metal especially the metal is so not needed

If you haven't guessed I hate metal so much pmsl.

I want to like mantic and is products I really do so help me out with likeing them

Off to try building the goblin fleabag Ridder's and trolls and war machine thing will post how I get on

You picked some of the worse kits to put together! The goblins were their first attempt at finding a Chinese manufacturer and yeah, not good models. A lot of the Basilean stuff is in the Restic material which is tough to clean up. It's saving grace is that it is easy to repose or push gaps together by dunking it in very hot water. Use hot water on those fleabag riders when you push the halves together and it should close up the gaps.

They seem to now have stopped producing stuff in Restic so are down to hard plastic, resin and metal. The new stuff is much nicer as they've found better sculptors and better manufacturers so I think the quality of stuff is going to get better from here own and more consistent too.

I hate restic too as a material so I'm glad they've stopped unsing it on the newer stuff. Some of the new models funded by the second kickstarted look like they are going to be really nice. I've got an abyssal army coming and the core models for that are hard plastic.

They use metal because it's cheap to produce and they can do it in house. Plastic tooling is expensive and they don't have the money to do too much at once. Where GW win out against a lot of the competition is that they have all the plastic manufacturing in house.

Honestly the Basileans are pretty bleah, I wound up using a different manufacturer for my army, only used the official Mantic angels.

If you already own fantasy models though, the great thing is Kings of War you can use any manufacturer's models. Mantic make cheap ones but often you get what you pay for.
My favorite range of theirs are the Orc models, but I am not a fan of GW-style Orcs, personally.

Restic is no fun for infantry, it works fine for ogres and bigger stuff. I put up a little guide on how to remove mould lines from restic on my blog a while ago:

https://geekandgarden.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/tutorial-mould-line-removal-from-mantics-pvc-restic-miniatures/

Thanks for the reply
Just finished the trolls and digger thing from labyrinth went together a treat only thing was I was missing two prong spike things for the wheel hubs but looks better without so no big deal.

So the goblins where the crap ones damn it just my luck lol
So what would you all say is the better army model wise?

The ogres look kind of good but not to sure.

Was wanting to get the abysmal dwarfs but shop didn't have any so thought will go for goblins they only had the human goblin undead and dwarf in with like one or two boxes of ogre troops.

Problem with stand in models is soon gw fantasy range goes bye bye as the new ranges come out for aos from what I heard as they roll out each race they delete the old model range so when new dwarfs come out all dwarf kits for warhammer are removed which might takes ages or might not as gw seems to be in high gear. Since most people use warhammer as stand in models it could be a big problem in the future. Again this is hear say though but it would be right up gw's to do this as the aos models are bit larger.

Any way only got the flea bags left to put together so hopefully get to that tomorrow

Ogres would have the bonus of being able to use your goblins. And theyre pretty nice models from what Ive heard.

I also hate metal, I'm not a blacksmith! The last deadzone ks was disapointing, it seems mantic heard all the whining about restic and replaced it with metal. I hope all the whining about metal will turn things around for the next ks.

I may be the only one in the world, but I actually like Mantic's metal models. The alloy they use is almost as soft as the mostly-lead minis I started with many years ago, making cutting and drilling pretty much as easy as with plastic.

Most of the new stuff is moving over to hard plastic, hopefully increased community support now that lots more people are interested will allow for hard plastics for KoW to start being released on a regular schedule (1 new kit per month would be great).

Mantic are actually quite a small company, nowhere near the same size as GW, probably a thousandth of the size.

Just to jump in on this and clarify something, if I look on the Mantic site and see the Goblin and Basilean army deals, they are for the restic models currently though right?

Are they planning on re-doing these armies and therefore army deals in plastic soon? Or is this more of a 'soon' - sometime in the undefined future type of situation?

They'll be redone at some point but I think they'll concentrate on getting new kits out to flesh out the ranges first.

Goblin archers are hard plastic (not great casting though). The fleabag riders and any trolls will be restic as they came from the first KS.

Basilian sisters and elohi are restic, the paladins are too I think. The MAA (again not the greatest casts) are hard plastic.


The goblins and MAA casts were experiments with different techniques and didn't work out too well. I think these kits are probably first on the list to be redone... whenever they get round to it.

Meh, I'll probably end up getting them anyway

The angel guys are resin the sisters are plasticresin like the knights

For the larger models, such as ogres and trolls, the restic works fine. I really like the fleabags - but mostly use them for role playing games.

I also really like it for kits like the chariots and the mincers. (And I love me the mincer... reminds me of Labyrinth. And chasing the PCs through a maze with one is a lot of fun for sadistic DMs! )

For the Basileans... The angels are actually pretty good (large models), and I can live with the cats and riders. The foot Sisters... are a pain, but I can cope.

For the rest of the infantry and cavalry, I cheat, and use the Basilean weapons with Perry models. (Inexpensive plastics for the War of the Roses.) Using the Basilean weapons helps tie them in with the rest of the army.

Take a look at the Mantic Undead - which are excellent.

I am looking forward to seeing what the Abyssal plastics look like. (My PCs will be seeing a lot of them in Pathfinder, I think....)

The Auld Grump

 mattjgilbert wrote:

You picked some of the worse kits to put together! The goblins were their first attempt at finding a Chinese manufacturer and yeah, not good models. A lot of the Basilean stuff is in the Restic material which is tough to clean up. It's saving grace is that it is easy to repose or push gaps together by dunking it in very hot water. Use hot water on those fleabag riders when you push the halves together and it should close up the gaps.

*snip*

That's not really good enough on Mantic's part though, Mat. You shouldn't have to risk scalding yourself to put together a few units of minis!

They chose a crap manufacturer and signed off on the results. Their earlier Dwarfs are pretty badly done too.

High hopes for newer stuff, though the fat belly demons and dopey looking devils aren't promising much. The Succubi though, they look great.

Still too hit n miss for many folk I reckon, but the majority will be porting over WHFB armies I would think!

Come on, Mantic - you're soooo close

You do realize that metal has been the industry standard for the highest detail possible for since the 60's? GW plastics used to get gak on for their detail compared to metal.

I would say with injection molding they moved from "good enough" to "good" with the newest version of Space Hulk (2009?) and in the last few years have made the jump to "excellent"

But you will still get crisper detail from a spin cast mold than and injection mold.

There are some things you cannot accomplish in spin casting that resin allows, but the detail will be as good as (with a very good resin cast) but never better.

Look what happened when Workshop jumped into resin with Finecast. Their first go was a disaster they are still smarting from and people are still wonking about the inconsistency and airbubles in it.

Mantic is also smarting from their first forays into injection molding and resin casting, and have had less of a budget to correct their problems.

I will point out that inconsistent quality is not limited to Mantic (and sorry I am comparing them to GW, but everyone else does) The last time I played FB you could get well done plastics and not-so well done plastics that were decades old but still for sale (and your only choice for GW approved units).

But the Heroes and standards were metal. Why? They didnt' sell enough of them to justify injection molding them.

Sorry for the ramble, but resin keeps improving, and obviously you can get someone in a foreign country to produce them cheaper and faster than metal, so that is the way it goes.

I also hope some kits get redone, but if I don't like it I vote with my money and buy elsewhere.

Respectfully,
That Lee Guy

 monders wrote:

 mattjgilbert wrote:

You picked some of the worse kits to put together! The goblins were their first attempt at finding a Chinese manufacturer and yeah, not good models. A lot of the Basilean stuff is in the Restic material which is tough to clean up. It's saving grace is that it is easy to repose or push gaps together by dunking it in very hot water. Use hot water on those fleabag riders when you push the halves together and it should close up the gaps.

*snip*

That's not really good enough on Mantic's part though, Mat. You shouldn't have to risk scalding yourself to put together a few units of minis!

They chose a crap manufacturer and signed off on the results. Their earlier Dwarfs are pretty badly done too.

High hopes for newer stuff, though the fat belly demons and dopey looking devils aren't promising much. The Succubi though, they look great.

Still too hit n miss for many folk I reckon, but the majority will be porting over WHFB armies I would think!

Come on, Mantic - you're soooo close

I actually like the goofy looking devils. (And I do agree that they look goofy - I just like them that way, very mediaeval woodcut look to them.)

And I have never scalded myself with the hot water for a Manti mini. (For a Reaper Bones mini, on the other hand....)

The Auld Grump

I really hate the goblin spearmen have now given up on the goblin spearmen its not fun metals on plastic is a feckin stupid idea sorry mantic but no feckin way hobby is meant to be enjoyable.

So think will have to go to gw and get some night goblin spearmen just worried they don't fit in with the rest of the army unless I can convert the plastic sheilds and spears onto mantic goblins but nah always loved night goblins

It's sad having to do this :( almost makes me not want to support mantic
On to the wolf riders

Going to go visit another shop see about some abysmal dwarfs if they have them

I've never been a fan of metal/plastic hydrid kits. Too difficult to put together.

The worst I ever had was the Space Marine devastators. Heavy metal arms and weapons with plastic bodies. Even if you managed to successfully stick them together, one touch mid-game and they all fell over!

I recall my Devs had metal bods, metal weapons and plastic arms. THAT was fun! Lasted about 7 minutes between gluings!

 monders wrote:

 mattjgilbert wrote:

You picked some of the worse kits to put together! The goblins were their first attempt at finding a Chinese manufacturer and yeah, not good models. A lot of the Basilean stuff is in the Restic material which is tough to clean up. It's saving grace is that it is easy to repose or push gaps together by dunking it in very hot water. Use hot water on those fleabag riders when you push the halves together and it should close up the gaps.

*snip*

That's not really good enough on Mantic's part though, Mat. You shouldn't have to risk scalding yourself to put together a few units of minis!

They chose a crap manufacturer and signed off on the results. Their earlier Dwarfs are pretty badly done too.

High hopes for newer stuff, though the fat belly demons and dopey looking devils aren't promising much. The Succubi though, they look great.

Still too hit n miss for many folk I reckon, but the majority will be porting over WHFB armies I would think!

Come on, Mantic - you're soooo close

I don't think you are really being reasonable here, the water doesn't need to be hot enough to scald, I continue using water long after I can hold the parts in with my fingers. How do you stand on miniatures you have to use knives and files to assemble? Do you agree that you shouldn't have to risk cutting or abrading yourself to put together a few units of minis!

Monders I remember the plastic arms with metal every thing else well it sucked that's why I stuck with epic mostly plastic stuff or metal on metal no hybrid stuff.

Just undercoated the humans and of course ran out of undercoat on last unit lol thankful it was the nuns so don't like them much any way :p

Now just getting the Fleabags ready for glueing

10penceman wrote:
I really hate the goblin spearmen have now given up on the goblin spearmen its not fun metals on plastic is a feckin stupid idea sorry mantic but no feckin way hobby is meant to be enjoyable.

So think will have to go to gw and get some night goblin spearmen just worried they don't fit in with the rest of the army unless I can convert the plastic sheilds and spears onto mantic goblins but nah always loved night goblins

It's sad having to do this :( almost makes me not want to support mantic
On to the wolf riders

Going to go visit another shop see about some abysmal dwarfs if they have them

One solution is instead of buying GW goblin spearmen, find someone to bribe to assemble your metal/plastic spearmen! that way the army all matches.
Or do what I did, get the superglue accelerator spray. Spray one piece with accelerator, put the glue on the other piece, and then push them together - bonds instantly

 filbert wrote:
Just to jump in on this and clarify something, if I look on the Mantic site and see the Goblin and Basilean army deals, they are for the restic models currently though right?

Are they planning on re-doing these armies and therefore army deals in plastic soon? Or is this more of a 'soon' - sometime in the undefined future type of situation?

Oh please let the sisters be redone. By someone who's actually seen a woma human.

Basileans and Goblins are complete poo as ranges. Avoid Abyssal Dwarves as well- they are also smelly hybrid kits that do not go together well.

Mantic's good ranges are:
Undead - their best range by miles
Orcs - Pretty good, and quite complete
Dwarves - If you don't mind the style, the range is complete and mostly plastic
Elves - again, if the style appeals, the range is mostly plastic and complete.

For Goblins I would use GW goblins, or some other manufacturer. For Basileans, I'd look at Perry or Fireforge plastics. The Ogres are apparently alright despite being Restic. I think the Abyssals look okay, too. Kingdoms of Men is basically designed to be played with Historicals, and there's plenty of them around. I'm doing Kingdoms of Men with GW Rohan and Red Box Aenglish.

 Vermis wrote:

 filbert wrote:
Just to jump in on this and clarify something, if I look on the Mantic site and see the Goblin and Basilean army deals, they are for the restic models currently though right?

Are they planning on re-doing these armies and therefore army deals in plastic soon? Or is this more of a 'soon' - sometime in the undefined future type of situation?

Oh please let the sisters be redone. By someone who's actually seen a woma human.

So you wouldn't want to date a woman who could wrap each arm around your waist two or three times? I bet Mantic's Sisters give awesome hugs.

Yeah no adysmal dwarfs so got some ogres
Easy to put together except the two handed weapon ones could get them to go together so opted for the sheilds and weapons one.

Thought the humans where not bad

 Da Boss wrote:
Avoid Abyssal Dwarves as well- they are also smelly hybrid kits that do not go together well.

I believe the plastic/metal hybrid kits have been discontinued, or are about to be. The Black Souls are definitely gone... the Decimators are the only hybrid kits left AFAIK. The new configuration of the Army Set has 20 Immortal Guard, 10 Gargoyles, 3 Abyssal Golems, and 5 Halfbreeds; all PVC plastic; plus a unit of 10 slave orcs (plastic, with one metal champion) http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/abyssal-dwarfs/product/abyssal-dwarf-army-set-48-figures.html

I strongly dislike restic, but I find as far as using it for large infantry, provided it isn't too heavily detailed, it's fine. Normal infantry models though, bleh, after cleaning a FF starter team for Dreadball and then taking 2 hours to half clean a player in the robot team (and yes, I realise the DB robot team is one of the worst kits on a material clean-up basis) I can't bring myself to touch the stuff again.

So I ordered an Ogre mega army in the last KS, go figure.......

I'm glad they've gone back to metal for smaller units.

 Baragash wrote:
I strongly dislike restic, but I find as far as using it for large infantry, provided it isn't too heavily detailed, it's fine. Normal infantry models though, bleh, after cleaning a FF starter team for Dreadball and then taking 2 hours to half clean a player in the robot team (and yes, I realise the DB robot team is one of the worst kits on a material clean-up basis) I can't bring myself to touch the stuff again.

So I ordered an Ogre mega army in the last KS, go figure.......

I'm glad they've gone back to metal for smaller units.

The ogres are pretty good in restic.

Big kits do well.

The Auld Grump