When I was young, Hinchliffe released a set of Barsoom miniatures – They were not great, and so they redigned them almost immediately. They weren’t a great improvement. Then Heritage released theirs – About as good. Soon, none of these were available, and we were left to our own devices.
With no better options, I got in the habit of converting warriors for Barsoom, and even though there are now some lovely figures available, I still occasionally do conversions. Naked figures or those in loincloths work well with hair and weapons added.
These were Pulp Figures Zulus. Now they are generic Red Warriors.
Harness/belts are made from putty or paper. Hair is putty.
Swords are from floral wire curved and hammered flat – Handles are left unflattened, and shaped to form a guard. Many have extra wire added to the guard.
They were a fun conversion, but either my skills have deteriorated, or my eyes have. But at age 70 I have finally found a skin tone I like for my red Martians.
45 or so years ago, I bought some Heritage Green Martians. At the time they weren’t cheap (I was poor) but I wound up with a few. Then Heritage went out of business.
My solution? I sculpted a Green Martian of my own, made to match the Heritage figures in size, though not in style. Mine was not better, but it was not the same. I cast a bunch, but of course never painted them. I managed to finish three, but gave one away. (and one Heritage at the same time)
Years later, Classic Miniatures released the old Heritage Green Martians, and I bought a pair to ‘finish’ the unit (for rules I no longer played) and O, I wished for the old prices again…..
But today, I united the newly-painted with the old, and within seconds, had TWO suddenly-complete units after 45 years of none. (Not true! I have a unit of Bronze Age Martians, and they make both of these hide their faces)
COMPLETE Heritage unit
But I still love the Heritage figures of my youth. My paint is not great, but I am trying to match the style of the older figures.
COMPLETE Homecast unit
My figures are no great sculpts, but they say that quantity is its own quality, and they look OK en masse – They are after all spear carriers at best.
The creatures of Barsoom are fierce and terrifying, and have been copied in many lesser works of fiction. They can be found in the wilderness, or deep under cities, both inhabited and abandoned. They will provide a challenge to adventurers, and a change from the usual sword duels.
The Banth is a fierce predator, referred to as a ‘Martian Lion’ it tracks it’s prey tirelessly on it’s ten strong legs, and is feared by both man and beast.
This is the Banth first made by Heritage, 45 years ago, and recently made available again through Classic Miniatures.
It’s a single piece casting, and it has not aged particularly well. It seems a bit crude compared to other offerings, and it’s not the fault of the new moulds. (Because of better metal they are crisper than the originals) But remember, when this miniature was released, it was world-class sculpting.
The face has a definite Asian look, with curling whiskers like a Fu dog.
They were also sculpting before there was epoxy putty
Even the Green Warriors were wary of the White Apes of Barsoom. Gigantic in size, they had six limbs and an aggressive nature.
This figure is a 3D printed White Ape. (three views) It matches well in size with the Bronze Age apes and the D&D plastic Grillahs, although its head seems to be a bit smaller in proportion.
The pose is dynamic, and could be modified easily with a saw and glue. There are apparently three poses in the file, and this is just one.
There are Giant Spiders in the Valley Hohr, and deep in the tunnels under many cities – Who knows where else they may be found?
These are the Wargames Atlantic Giant Spiders, and they are horrifying in aspect but fun to assemble. They come 12 in a box, perfect if you want to use them as mounts for depraved cultists from a lost city. There are also smaller spiders (not the ones under the big guys in the photos) and web-wrapped victims included as well.
The set includes mechanical arms and SF weapons for those of a more SF and less VSF bent. (Although they would be great for Barsoom, where weird science was the norm.)
A while ago, a friend confessed to me that he was one figure short for a unit of Heritage Green Martians. So I popped one in the mail and he was happy. (I hope) A couple of weeks later, I found a box full of Heritage Green Martians., and found that I am now TWO short of a full unit. (It’s OK, I have plenty of others, and am negotiating for a pair from Classic Miniatures.)
But I had a mixture of unpainted, half-painted, and old painted Green Martians. I threw paint on the lot, using the old paint as primer, or just touching it up. They aren’t beauties, but they are dam’ near 50 years old. My painting does not enhance them….
I never worried about Heritage’s classification as Tharks, Warhoons, etc. as I would be using them as whatever Greens I needed.
The sword blades are all flat sections of bobby pins, as they don’t bend or break like the soft lead ones did.
There are only 8 of them: This picture is to show the four of them that are the same pose, bent around.
There are Giant Spiders in the Valley Hohr, and deep in the tunnels under many cities – Who knows where else they may be found?
If you want to run a wilderness adventure, or a dungeon crawl in the tunnels beneath a city, these creatures will provide a terrifying challenge to your heroes.
These are the Wargames AtlanticGiant Spiders, and they are horrifying in aspect but fun to assemble. They come 12 in a box, perfect if you want to use them as mounts for depraved cultists from a lost city.
There are also smaller spiders (not the ones under the big guys in the photos) and web-wrapped victims included.
The set includes mechanical arms and SF weapons for those of a more SF and less VSF bent. (Although they would be great for Barsoom, where weird science was the norm.)
Even if you aren’t scared of spiders, they are still pretty creepy, and a bunch of them on the table will give your players the squirms.
For years this was the only model flyer I had: It was nice enough. but even with all the interior removed, it could only hold three figures on 20mm bases.
It was originally a Tatooine Sand Skiff by Galoob, designed for much smaller figures. I added some low wire railings and safety ropes, and four wire rings that I used to hang it above the wargames table. While it looked good hanging there, it liked to swing and tip the figures out.
But it does make a good private boat or light patrol craft. The crew shown are from Bronze Age Miniatures.
I made a base for it using dowels (The toy already had holes the right size for them) and the base plate from a RedVectorsSmall Martian Flyer.
I made the base the same height as the RedVectors base, and here are the two side by side. The similarities in style are obvious.
It’s a nice little flyer, and will be useful for Barsoom or SPACE 1889.
It’s 7″ long, with a bit of crowding, you can fit 12 figures on the decks on 20mm bases. Since this release, they have developed a 10″ and 16″ version, with similar styling.
It’s a lovely kit, inexpensive, and goes together into a sorta-Star-Wars-inspired little skiff. The fit is excellent, and it’s still a pretty simple build. There is also an optional section for a front gun mount provided, but I chose not to use it.
The original stand was not very stable: This picture shows how I modified it. (The ship now comes with a longer, more stable base)
I’ll be using it for Barsoom and SPACE 1889 both. It’s just a great little kit of a generic small flyer. I recommend that you paint the rails and trim pieces before assembly, it makes for a much neater finish.
Here it is beside a smaller Galoob Sand Skiff. The style is very similar. The crews shown are from Bronze Age Miniatures.
This flyer is the Large Martian Flyer from RedVectors in the UK. It’s the same kit as in my post ‘Barsoom: Large Flyer’.’ (So if you want more of a review, or a ship that’s not a black blob, go there.) Please note that it was a custom kit, and may not be on their website – Drop them a line if you are interested.
It’s an upsized version of their first 7″ flyer, and is about 10″ long. The difference seems slight, but the new ship is very much larger (See here.)
I painted it black to represent any sinister force of night raiders, whether they be Kraag Martians, Black Martians, or whatever. It will spread terror through my games, both in SPACE 1889 and on Barsoom.
Overall, the ship is as sturdy as MDF will allow, but you have to watch it when you pick it up: If you squeeze the side railings they will tear out, as they are set very close to the side of the deck. A third support might help there.
There is a gun mount supplied for the front of the ship, but I chose the railings.
The present crew are less sinister than most night raiders, they are mostly conversions from various Heroclix and plastic D&D miniatures.
As always, Elves make very nice Martians, and you can buy Clix singles quite cheaply.
It’s a lovely kit at a good price, useful for Barsoom or SPACE 1889. The postage to Canada was the same either way, so I bought two. (After all, if you only have one, who will it fight?)
Even more madness, there is now a 16″ version on the way, 1.5 larger in every dimension…. Hmmmm… How will it look at 24″?
Back in January, I wrote about a new flyer that I commissioned from RedVectors. I asked for a ship, essentially the same as their small Martian Flyer, but with a deck 1.5 the length and width.
He speedily did his drawings and cut out a prototype, and it was exactly what I had wanted. The price was good, and the postage (To Canada from the UK) was the same either way, so I bought two. After all, they’ll be good for Barsoom and SPACE 1889. It is 10 inches in length.
I chose the railing for the front of the ship: There is an optional position for a gun mount provided. The only modification I made was gluing a couple of round ‘woodls’ to the side as a tribute to the Helium flag in the John Carter movie.
It’s easier and neater if you paint the railings and trim pieces before assembly.
He also lengthened the stand, front-to back, so that it would balance better and be more stable. It came with a base the same size as the smaller flyer, so I made a larger base plate from a dollar store clipboard.
Overall, the ship is as sturdy as MDF will allow, but you have to watch it when you pick it up: If you squeeze the side railings they will tear out, as they are set very close to the side of the deck. A third support might help there.
Here it is beside the original smaller (7 inch) version. The extra inches make a big difference!
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