This thread

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/115592&page=1

has been debating the various figure brands and which ones are superior. One suggestion was to get the resin head sets and modify them to out-of-the-box figure sets like those from Dragon. Good idea. Problem?

The various retailors carrying the Royal Model and Tahk/Tank figures usually save on bandwidth by not picturing the head sets. So it's hard to decide which sets to get. I'm trying to work on several dioramas that where testosterone-laden screaming faces wouldn't be appropriate.

I've also searched for a Tank/Tahk website showing the manufacturer's wares, but no luck. I'm sure you can imagine how many 100,000 sites come up for the keywords "Tank" or "Royal Model."

http://www.tank-model.ru

That's what I love about this place: ask and you get answers.

Thanks, Jim. Much obliged.

This company makes beautifully-detailed headsets of many different types. I know because I ordered theirs:

http://www.hornetandwolf.com

Bill,

Try Firestorm for Royal models link. http://www.firestormmodels.com/store/cart.php

Hope this helps out.

Hi

Please be aware that the Tank heads are on the larger size of the 1/35 scale and may look a little oversized with some plastic figures.

Fine for Miniart because I believe its the same sculptor, but they look the same anyway apart from the resin holding better detail, so you'd be unlikely to swap Miniart heads for Tank if looking from the perspective of variation in your figures heads.

I'd second Hornet as a great choice.

There are cheaper such as Legend Productions available from Lucky Models if price is an issue.

Alan

Steve, thanks for the tip!

Alan, price isn't the issue, realism is. The Tamiya figures are increasingly too crude for my tastes. I'm trying to outfit an Sd.Kfz. 7 with a full crew, and the MiniArt artillery riders has proven one of the only sets applicable (no helmets).

Not enough resin figure makers seem to be able to get beyond the "heroes of the Motherland" bombastic pose and put them in natural attitudes that look like something a human being would do outside of a photographic studio or in front of a newspaper cameraman. I've been looking through the Warrior line, and they seem to be more like what I'm looking for, but so far, few half-track riders.

So let me get this straight.... the Tank/Tahk heads will look out-sized on the DML bodies? Bollocks, that sure makes getting 2 sets of the same figures to stretch out a bugger....

Another asset to Hornet headsets is because they have such a wide variety of expressions, including defeat and exuberance.

Hey Bill
I recommend having a view at the Firestorm website linked above. The whole hornet collection is featured, along with every head in each set, so you can really weed out the ones you need...
Cheers
Brad

Hi Bill. Im finding more and more .... there is no best .... its the most suitable that counts. Im a big fan of Hornet heads ... and when they fit/suit, you wont get much better. But Ive found recently that these have looked too small on Miniart figures ..... which Ive been buying a lot of recently. So a little reserve of heads is great. Legends have three sets, with something like 18 heads per set ... at a pretty decent price ... which will help the reserve. Another company that makes really nice heads is Ultracast from Canada. They have bare 40s style heads that are particularily nice! A bit more in the Hornet size though.
Verlinden may have heads of a suitable size as well!

Hi Bill
In my humble opinion Hornet heads are very sutible for Dragon figures.
Best regards
Jacob

Hey Bill,
Have a look at Ultracast, especially if you do British or Commonwealth figures and vehicles.

http://www.ultracast.ca/

Their very early heads sets also are on the large side of 1/35th scale but their newer issues appear to be closer to scale.
I like the fact that they're faces appear older , more weathered or haggard looking.
Ultracast's figures, helmets, decals and vehicle accessories are also excellent.
Cheers

jjumbo

Legends¡ Headsets (Reviews)

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/1399

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/1382

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/1367

Hi

Thanks for posting links to your reviews of the Legend heads Jim, as I suggested in my earlier post Bill, they represent excellent value for money.

I think your problem is not the availability of heads, as has been shown here there is a good selection to choose from, but the requirement of figures as you'd like them posed.

I can only suggest getting several sets of the Miniart Artillery Riders you saw and with some cutting and use of Milliput, Apoxie Sculpt etc. swap arms, legs modifying them to get the quantity of personnel along with variety you need. Then use the available heads to add further variation.

Thinking about it if the soldiers were sat together you could get away with only minor modification to achieve the results your after. A twist of the head here, a stoop of the body, change of leg position and you should get great results.

Alan

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful suggestions. I'm going to get a little head-strong and order some to make the various figures more lively and realistic. Thanks.

Of course, now I have a whole new area of competence I have to master beyond kit-making, upgrades, painting AND weathering....

Hornet - hands down THE best.

Warriors- great variety and good sculpting.

Chris