Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I saw the sprues today. Very nice stuff.

DRAGON PRINCES

- £18 for five.
- Two sprues, one large, one small with horses and riders on sprue, plus seperate bases.
- Five in the boxset as what is now standard.
- The horses are not slotta but their hooves rest on minor scenery elements.
Each steed is in two halves with molded on rider legs and high backed saddles. Heads with reins attached are a further two pieces. Each horse and head is different and the heads appear to be interchangable so multiple boxsets give a good variety.
- The standard bearer carries a huge pennant on a short banner pole. This can be topped by one of two distinct standard dragon headpieces that look really good.
- There are six molded shields and six sword in scabbards for each knight, plus a seperate very long and delicate sword in hand for the champion. This sword is one of the piecest pieces in thr set.
- There are six dragon helmets, many of them with very large wings, one detachable plume and IIRC one naked head.
- The torsos are in two parts with a single oversized bat winged shoulderpad. Given little work you could make Blood Dragons of much of what I found here.
- There are five lances, and five seperate small pennants with crenelated edges. I can see problems getting the pennants to stay on the lances similar to the problems Silver Helms have.

This is a really nice set. each and every one looks like a hero. I have twelve of the metal Dragon Princes and am happy enough with them, yet these miniatures so completely outdo the older miniatures that despite my poor budget limit I will retire my old Dragon Princes and replace them with these ones.






WHITE LIONS
- Four sprues consisting of a duplicated pair of sprues one containing three White lions the other two Whirte lions and bits for the command group. Thus there are two command group part sets for each boxset of ten. Lots of bitz.
- Very similar the the current excellent metal White lions. I havent seen them assembled but I think they will fit in with the metals very well.
- Again these miniatures are post slotta, you get five lower bodies, five toroso in two halves and enough heads and shoulder pads to go arouhnd. I didnt count up the extras but think there were only one or two spare back torsos for variety.
- Unlike previous White Lions these ones dont just have lion pelts they sometimes wear lion tails.
- The Standard is a small molded pennant (with a lion on it) with three headpiece options including a full sized lion head headpeice, a lion statue price and a roubnd board engraved with a lion. There are also a number of champion axes some single blades others double bladed. Multiple units of this boxset should result in varied command groups.
- The musician as a long S shaped horn with a lion figurine standing on it. I though the heavy brasswork on the worn a bit much allowing for how the horn is held. The only part of the kit I do not like.
- There is a lion head statue base terrain piece in two halves.

Another very nice set. Those with existing White lions might want to just make do with replacement command bitz to customise.






PHOENIX GUARD
This boxset will be released at the same time as the White Lions and Dragon Princes. The Sprues were not available and I cannot comment on them.






Swordmaster boxsets are not up for release, though this is small loss as the Isle of Blood Swordmasters are high quality despite being single piece miniatures. Howedverf for what it is worth a Swordmaster boxset will be made at some point in the not too distant future.
All three boxsets are avaialable pre-order now.

I got my hands on the White Lions and Dragon Princes last weekend, and have seen the phoenix guard.

The guard... the consensus in the 5 or so of us there at the time was that the only let down on he metal minis is the wings on the helmet.

The white lions, a fitting replacement as the old models look very tired. Also really like the lion faces in the decoration on the front of the helmet - great idea.

The dragon princes are about as busy a model as they could do. I had been hoping for the legs to be seperate, but at least they rank up well.

I still dislike the Dragon princes, on account that the Horse's heads remind me of Seahorses.

Oddly enough, I don't think any of those look as good as the Island of Blood Swordmasters. The OTT hats always kill it for me with GW High Elves.

Da Boss wrote:Oddly enough, I don't think any of those look as good as the Island of Blood Swordmasters. The OTT hats always kill it for me with GW High Elves.

At least the Dragon Princes have a reason for theirs.

Dragon Envy.

Those pheonix guard could make nice adeptus custodies .

Thanks for these reviews!

Orlanth wrote:DRAGON PRINCES

- £18 for five.
- Two sprues, one large, one small with horses and riders on sprue, plus seperate bases.
- Five in the boxset as what is now standard.
- The horses are not slotta but their hooves rest on minor scenery elements.
Each steed is in two halves with molded on rider legs and high backed saddles. Heads with reins attached are a further two pieces. Each horse and head is different and the heads appear to be interchangable so multiple boxsets give a good variety.
- The standard bearer carries a huge pennant on a short banner pole. This can be topped by one of two distinct standard dragon headpieces that look really good.
- There are six molded shields and six sword in scabbards for each knight, plus a seperate very long and delicate sword in hand for the champion. This sword is one of the piecest pieces in thr set.
- There are six dragon helmets, many of them with very large wings, one detachable plume and IIRC one naked head.
- The torsos are in two parts with a single oversized bat winged shoulderpad. Given little work you could make Blood Dragons of much of what I found here.
- There are five lances, and five seperate small pennants with crenelated edges. I can see problems getting the pennants to stay on the lances similar to the problems Silver Helms have.

This is a really nice set. each and every one looks like a hero. I have twelve of the metal Dragon Princes and am happy enough with them, yet these miniatures so completely outdo the older miniatures that despite my poor budget limit I will retire my old Dragon Princes and replace them with these ones.

I got to see a set of Dragon Princes at my GW. They really are some of the nicest models I've seen GW do, IMHO. They are ridiculously OTT, but then, they're kinda supposed to be.

Is it just me, or is 18 pounds for 5 actually a pretty good price?

I quite like the Dragon Princes

All these new HE plastics are pretty ugly

I have to agree....the Dragon princes look like sea horses, and the heads on the Phoenix Guard are bad.....however, the White Lions were done very well.

To think in the fluff the Dragon Princes used to ride on dragons... feel sorry they got demoted into riding seahorses

Be that as it may, the plastics are pretty good looking. Very sharp lines and some cool variety.

Exactly my thoughts Flachzange. People might not prefer them stylistically (I know Jin loathes the sight of them...) but it looks like they are very well-made kits, at least!!!

Seahorses? Don't you guys mean..*smirk*...Seadragons? *laughs to himself before being killed with fire*

I've seen the Dragon Princes, some of the horses had some pretty brutal gaps on the barding in front. Kind of bad for a brand new set.

Little lord Fauntleroy wrote:I still dislike the Dragon princes, on account that the Horse's heads remind me of Seahorses.

If they weren't so damned expensive that would make for a great conversion.

Tim the Biovore wrote:Seahorses? Don't you guys mean..*smirk*...Seadragons? *laughs to himself before being killed with fire*

Hehe! Cookie for the Fruits Basket reference.


- Piousman

Old Man Yarrik wrote:All these new HE plastics are pretty ugly

Ugh, finally someone who shares my sentiments.


Not to knock on the physical qualities of the plastics (looks like well-prepped/molded plastics) but I just really don't like the clunky, OTT throw-back aesthetics. The reason I like the current (well, no longer current) metals is that they look sleeker and not so ridiculous. At least I should be able to snag old metals for trade a bit more easily now...

I agree with the Princes lookling like they are ridding sea horses...in a bad way, but not 'that' bad way

Those White Lions are GOLD. That "Tiger Claw" is Just briliant, or should I say Lion Claw

The White Lions are a clear disappointment in the set - their helmets just aren't ornate enough. When you look at Dragon Princes with the big dragon wings, and the Phoenix Guard with big feather wings, the little tassel and mask just don't cut it. Should have gone with a big ruff around the helmet to suggest a mane.

Plus, the White Lions don't have interesting bodies. No capes or fancy horse armors or big shoulders. Just little guys. The short skirts don't impress, and the models lack presence

I wouldn't get White Lions without doing a *lot* of conversion.

Jin wrote:

Old Man Yarrik wrote:All these new HE plastics are pretty ugly

Ugh, finally someone who shares my sentiments.


Not to knock on the physical qualities of the plastics (looks like well-prepped/molded plastics) but I just really don't like the clunky, OTT throw-back aesthetics. The reason I like the current (well, no longer current) metals is that they look sleeker and not so ridiculous. At least I should be able to snag old metals for trade a bit more easily now...

The new PG dont fit in with the others are all, and they look almost fat, and when you put them next to the PG hero whos name iludes me right now it just looks bad