Norman Quilted Infantry 28mm scale plus Weapons restored

Sculpted alongside the venerable Fantasy Warlord range in 1990-1991 we are proud to announce the restoration of 28mm scale historical codes. Norman Infantry (open handed) as well as a Norman Officer and a sprue of spears, two different shields and a saver full unit too.  11th Century and the time of the Conquest.

The infantry are supplied without bases and without weapons or shields just as with Fantasy Warlord. We are not sure who sculpted these miniatures and would welcome input in that regard.  Restored by wargamer request and now in new molds as well.  Fresh and clean.

NO1 Norman Officer

NO2 Norman Infantry

NO3 Spear Sprue

NO4 Kite Shields

NO5 Round Shields

We have created a new page just as we did with our 28mm Jacobite Scottish Range.  We will not be expanding these classics we have simply restored them as we have with Laserburn for wargamers to enjoy on the table or to complete their collections. Each of the five infantry poses are slightly different and can be had as five with a saving or choose singles. The officer is on his own with sword and shield included and the Spears, Kite Shield and Round Shield are in packs of five.

There is a full unit code NOU01 Norman Quilted Infantry Unit (20) which has a baked in saving and also comes with spears and kite shields; that is an officer with nineteen mixed of five poses of infantry.

This is our last news before the end of the current free code period on the 6th February so this is your last chance to get VNT62 Three Wise Skeletons automatically in your package free with any shipped order. See them along with all the Former Free Collected Codes on our website.  These go great with our Undead Legions with the new Skeleton Crossbows and Warriors.

It is also your last chance on January Joy with 50% off three codes and dozens of other Deals and Offers.

What will the next new free code be...not long to wait...we have just planted a seed in your mind...

Thanks for your time.

GPSR Compliant Shipping resumes to EU/EEA and NI at Alternative Armies

On the 13th December of last year Alternative Armies ceased shipping and allowing orders to be placed from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Northern Ireland (NI).  It has been a process and a curve but we are now fully General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) compliant! Our website now once more offers shipping to the whole world.  Europe is back for our miniatures!

If you have any questions on this please contact us on sales@alternative-armies.com with an email headed ‘GPSR Information’ and we will be happy to assist you.  See our Information and Shipping page on the website for our rates and types of postage across the world.  Standard Shipping, Smaller Order, Tracked and Courier door to door.  Note that any discounts on orders are applied BEFORE (at cart page) shipping is applied on shipping page.  We do our best on shipping but sadly like everything else it never gets cheaper.

In essence the sweeping GPSR legislation from the EU requires any company selling into the EU from outside of it to have a ‘responsible person’ within the EU along with product safely notices and a few other things.  Alternative Armies does all of this.  Every package we now send into the EU / EEA and NI has this information and compliance notices contained with it along with contact details for our responsible person inside the EU.  If you wish to read about GPSR which replaced the GPSD then see Compliance Gate website.

We welcome back our long term and new customers from Europe with open arms.  We have missed you and best wishes from Scotland.  See the New Releases pages for what has recently been happening.

Thank you for your Time.

VNT63 Skeleton Crossbows new 28mm releases

"In two serried ranks they stood opposed. Each surprised by the other. One of mortal Men in bright tunics and ruddy complexions and the other of men who had once been; now silent as soil.  With a raised arm officers ordered the preparation to fire.  Truly the mortal men worked their windlasses and readied their crossbows much faster than the bare bones animated by magicks whom they faced.  By the time the Undead had readied their own crossbows the triumphant Men pulled their iron triggers and a flight of bolts struck all along the skeletal soldiers.  But such is the way of things as their bolts almost all passed through the gaps in bones felling only a few animated dead.  In horror the Men hesitated, their hearts heavy, before training caught them and they began in desperation to reload their crossbows.  A skeletal arm fell and the bolts of the dead all hid themselves easily in warm flesh...”

Our last new release this month is one from our ‘asked for’ list.  That is it is by customer contacts as we create the codes most requested in each of our many ranges and scales.  We present VNT63 Skeleton Crossbows five poses added to our 28mm Undead Legions Range.  These are an excellent counter point to our original 1990’s VNT14 Skeleton Archers.  You can have them as singles or as a pack with a built in saving as all packs have.  Here they are preparing to put bolts through a pair of adventurers (FL22-07 Female Thief and FL22-05 Female Halfling) from our Adventurers and Wizards Range.

VNT63 Skeleton Crossbows five different metal miniatures which are supplied unpainted and without a base (shown on our 59021 Resin 25mm Square Bases).  Sculpted by Sam Croes.

Foes for the walking dead? Certainly. See FL30 Human Hirelings in our 28mm Knights and Footsoldiers Range.  Four well armed and armoured men to defend your settlement.

January Joy is on until 6th February. You can save 50% off three codes one of which is HOTR05 Trolls a 15mm Fantasy resin sprue for any system. See our Deals and Offer page.

Hear, See and Speak no Good...according to Necromancers.  Three new 28mm skeletons totally free and included automatically in every order shipped until 6th Feb.  See the ARTICLE for details of these fun bone guys which have many uses.

Thanks for your Time.

FM27v2 Half Troll Chieftain painted by The Work of Shaitan

Alternative Armies has been working steadily to restored the mighty and well remembered early 1980’s figures of the legendary British company Asgard Miniatures.  While we still have a ways to go we have returned nearly two hundred poses by Nick Bibby, Jes Goodwin, Tony Ackland, Stan Pochron as well as John Blanche and Mark Weston among others.  These are split across several ranges on the website but today we are in the Fantasy Monsters (FM) Range with a treat!

One of the most eagerly anticipated restorations (aside from the NB2 Nick Bibby Dragon) was FM27v2 Half Troll Chieftain and while Studio Maxi tackled it beautifully on our website there was another take which garnered quite a bit of attention.  We are proud to present to you the paint work of Ned Gladdis otherwise known as TheWorkOfShaitan on Instagram. Our thanks to him for this.

The brushwork on this miniature is so fine it almost looks alive with armour which would ‘ping’ if you struck it with an arrow!

Ned is in progress of completing ranks of Broo for Runequest and his FM27v2 has taken its place as its Beastlord.  Superb!

Thanks for your Time.

Ogres from the Oldhammer Collection of OliHot27

We are delighted to be able to show you some painted miniatures from the extensive ‘oldhammer’ collection of OliHot27 over on Instagram. He is a keen collector of the restored Asgard Fantasy Monsters Range but this time it is his VNT Alternative Armies and Fantasy Warlord castings of Ogres that are the subject.  

The Alternative Armies VNT (Various Nasty Things) codes are VNT18 Orrid Ogres II and VNT19 Ogre Cavalry sculpted by Phil Lewis in 1991 while the Fantasy Warlord are 16100 Ogres from 1990.  All are metal except for the riding rhino which is now presented in resin. 

The painting style of OliHot27 suits these classic miniatures really well and his Instagram is well worth a dig through for a look.  We were most happy to be given permission by him to use his pictures on our website too.

Thanks for your Time.

VNT64 Skeleton Warriors II new 28mm releases

"Bones long buried. Bones long away from the warmth of the sun. Bones that have served their purpose in life and now rest deep in the cold soil. Bones that due to the dark arts of the Necromancers now serve a new purpose no longer buried and immune to the warmth of the sun overhead. Rattling and creaking with the clank of rusted armour the Skeletons that were once Men take to the field of battle ahead of their liche lords. Ranks numerous marching with sword and spear, bow and axe leering with empty eye sockets and hanging loose jaws. Sickening ordered steps bring them ever closer as their chariots pulled by long dead horses enter the fray and bolt throwers served by Skeletons fire iron at our terrified lines. Your sword will slip between ribs and your arrows pass straight through with no effect so to mace and hammer. Smash them and send these bones back to rest."

The first of two new releases this month added to our 28mm Undead Legions Range.  Five new Skeletons armed with melee weapons and following up on the original 1990’s Skeleton Warriors (VNT13).  You can have them as singles or as a pack with a built in saving as all packs have.  Above you see them attacking a couple of brave dungeoneers (FL22-03 Half Orc and FL22-04 Cleric) from our Adventurers and Wizards Range.

VNT64 Skeleton Warriors II five different metal miniatures which are supplied unpainted and without a base (shown on our 59021 Resin 25mm Square Bases).  Sculpted by Sam Croes.

Mortal men have access to armouries and to armourers too. Why not for the Dead too?  See VNT51 Undead Weapons and VNT59 Undead Shields for a selection of ten weapons and five shields for animated corpses and other evil things.  Choose from single pieces of a pack. In the pack the pieces come on free sprues which can be cut up and used with their ‘skull motifs’ on your scenics or table.

January Joy is on and you can save 50% off three codes including VNT19 Ogre Cavalry until 6th February 2025. Example painted by OliHot27. See our Deals and Offer page.

Hear, See and Speak no Good..according to Necromancers. Three new 28mm skeletons automatically included for free in every order shipped until 6th February.  See the ARTICLE for details of these fun bone guys which have many uses.

Thanks for your Time.

Klarna and Currencies update 2025

Two updates to the Alternative Armies website to tell you all about and a progress report too.  The first is that we now accept the payment method of Klarna for those who seek to use it for purchases and secondly that we have reverted back to single currency display on our website.  Lastly the GPSR and the EU resolution is nearing.

What is Klarna?  In 2024 we were asked many times if we would accept orders from the Swedish service provider and now we do.  You have to sign up for an account with them in your country but once you do you will be able to choose Klarna as an option when checking out on our webstore.  Selecting Klarna at payment methods gives you order payment options.  You can pay in full or choose to pay in three instalments (interest free) or pay in 30 Days time. This is an arrangement with Klarna and not with Alternative Armies.  We treat Klarna orders as we do any others with quick dispatch.  See their website for more information.

We have taken the choice to return to the sole use of GBP (Great British Pounds) as currency on our website rather than displaying prices in local currencies. Consulting with our customers over the last year led, on balance, to this being preferred. This does not change order placement or prices or anything else it simply means you will see GBP as UK customers do regardless of where you are in the world.

We are working on a solution to the European Union’s GPSR legislation for selling our products into the EU/EEA and Northern Ireland once more. See our blog article for the current situation.  Hopefully before the end of this month we will announce a return to providing miniatures and more to customers in these regions.  If you would like to be informed of this as soon as it happens please email us on sales@alternative-armies.com and we will contact you as soon as the shipping matrix features EU/EEA/NI once more.  We are confident it will happen smoothly and soon.

Thanks for your time.

Three Wise Skeletons free in orders plus half price January Joys

“Hear no Good, See no Good, Speak no Good” such is the creed and teachings of the Necromancers.  Until 6th February 2025 we are including automatically for free three brand new 28mm scale miniatures in every order shipped out across the world.  You need do nothing but place an order which is sent out by us (no digital book only orders sorry) and we will include them.  As many orders as you like, of any size; plus you can purchase them too and you will still get the three free included.  See our Current and Formerly Free Codes Collected and read on.

Those players who collect the Undead often look for interesting Skeletons of a comedy or unique pose.  As many will know at Alternative Armies we keep a list of ‘requested new miniatures’ from our customers and that we create what is top of the list.  Our first free code of 2025 is just that. A riff on the pictorial maxim of ‘see, hear, speak no evil’.  Well Necromancers are evil so no good will be done by these bone fellows.

VNT62 Three Wise Skeletons:  This pack contains three different 28mm scale metal miniatures to add to your forces of the Undead. The pack gives a saving over single purchases too. Sculpted by Sam Croes.  The single miniatures are VNT62-01 to VNT62-03 on the website.

These new Skeletons fit right in with our VNT Undead Legions and with the classic Asgard FM Range such as the shown FM27v2 Half Troll Chieftain (35mm tall).

This month has three main thrusts to it for you to explore and enjoy and you have now seen the first (well seen, heard and spoke it!) and it gives a clue to the new releases happing over coming weeks which will all be Undead in this scale! We also aim to have Furioso 16th Century rules and Sengoku Monster Hunter Rampage back in print and to have a resolution to and begin shipping once more to the EU/EEA and Northern Ireland. News on these as they happen of course. 

January Joy 2025

It is the darkest and coldest month of the year and we aim to bring you some joy within it.  To this end see our Deals and Offers page for not only all our usual bundles, armies, packs and so on at 5% or more reduced but also THREE fantastic 50% off codes from now until 6th February.  We will speak on each of these in detail across January. Here they are:

VNT19 Ogre Cavalry:  Sitting atop a Rhino this Ogre wears armour including a spiked helmet and carries a club as well as a shield made from an ‘inn door’. A 28mm scale metal and resin model (50mm tall sitting on his Rhino) at half price during January Joy! Example painted by OliHot27 over on Instagram.  In our Monsters and Creatures Range.

HOTR05 Trolls:  One of our resin 15mm fantasy codes this sprue contains two different Trolls good for any game system.  Choose from a sprue of two a pack of four sprues or bundle containing 32 Trolls. Half Price during January Joy!  We also have Orc Horde, Archers, Boar Riders and much more.  All in the HOT 15mm Fantasy Range.

MRX1 Early 16th Century Gun: Booming across battlefields in the sixteenth century this cannon fits in many armies and mercenary companies.  It is one of several in the Furioso Range of artillery and gun crews. Half Price during January Joy!

Thanks for your Time!

Happy New Year 2025

All is still and quiet here at Alternative Armies and nothing is stirring not even a (Joccian) mouse.  The whole team is off on a well earned break before returning to work on the 6th January and then launching our 2025 new and news on the 9th January.  Upon this New Year’s Day we wish you fine fortune and all the best for the coming twelve months in this short missive.  Read our Christmas and New Year article on our BLOG in full.

Until the morning of the 9th January 2025 our festive offer is in place. A blanket 20% off automatically on every order placed at checkout (you will see this on screen before reaching shipping) on everything in your cart.  This is on top of any discounts on screen such as those codes in Deals and Offers, Slaughterloo Divisions and the All of Erin Celtic Myth mega bundle.  You need do nothing but order and on the 6th we resume shipping.

Every order placed until 9th January 2025 also automatically gets VNT52 Wee Beasties three different little creatures for any scale and many genre uses.  There is a saver bundle VNT52P code as well.  See them as well as everything else which has ever been free on our Former Free Collected page.

Craig the ‘Mad Welsh Wizard’ who runs the superb Orcs in the Webbe site has an ongoing collection of new and classic restored articles, scenarios, lore, stories and more for Flintloque, Slaughterloo and other game systems.  Have a dig and a read for such things as The Plight of Henri Guidon Pt1 by Gav Syme and Cornwulle by Nikki Chatwin (sculptor of Todoroni) and much more.

Happy New Year!