Review of Gripping Beast Plastic Vikings

I am not great at making models or putting figures together and this is the box of hard plastic figures I have been waiting for and it gives you an army right off the bat! I have been tempted by the Gripping Beast line of figures for a long time and when I read an Dux Bellorum article in Wargames Illustrated # 299 that featured at the end of the article how to build a Late Saxon era and Viking army with 2 boxes of Gripping Beast plastics I knew that this is what I wanted to do. 

You have probably guessed already, this is the box that the components for 44(!) unpainted and unassembled screaming horde of figures come packaged. I found the box and instructions extremely useful for putting the figures together, painting schemes, plus the added bonus of paper banners that can be cut out of the instructions and added to spears to give you extra banner men. The two banners in the first picture came with the instructions. I wish that I had taken a picture of the instructions so you could see the banners that come with the box, but I'll point them out in the photos below. So what do you get?

The small banner in the rear came with the box; the large banner I printed off the internet

I think the Gripping Beast Website says it best: Inside you will find parts to assemble 44 finely-detailed ferocious Viking Hirdmen, armed with either axes, swords, spears or dane-axes, suitable for use in Swordpoint. The box also contains extra parts to assemble two of your warriors as Viking Lords, as well as two horn-blowers or standard bearers. The Hirdmen were the professional fighting men of a Viking Lord's household. These fearsome warriors would be well equipped with the finest weapons and armor. A favored weapon was the mighty dane-axe which was wielded with both hands and quite capable of severing a horse's head with one blow. The figures are sculpted by the talented Bob Naismith. The box also comes with comes with sixteen 20x20mm bases, two 20x100mm bases, two 20x40mm bases and two 40x40mm bases from Renedra. I did not use the bases as I put the figures on round 25mm based to fit the movement trays I already have.

Again, I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures of the sprues, so the following pictures belong to Gripping Beast and are copyright Gripping Beast Ltd. 2020:

When I put the Vikings together, I did them 8 at a time to ensure that they fit on the bases together. Later I found out that this was not really necessary, as there was plenty of room on the movement trays. By doing this, however, it did organize the figures so that it looked like leaders were in the front rank and I could make some (sorta) mini-vignettes.

Note that I cut of the hilt of the scabbard for those figures that were carrying shields. If you can't find it, it's the second figure to the left in the front rank wielding an axe and sword. Highly unlikely but it looks cool!

I failed to mention earlier that I mounted the Vikings on round 40mm bases which all came from extra bases I had from GW products. I used masking tape to cover the slots. Note that I have not mounted any shields! I decided to paint the shields off of the figures and then add them later.

I wanted to have some big banners to represent the big guys. Working in plastic makes this easy and the figures were perfect. All I had to do was drill a hole in one of the arms that held a shield. I used a brass rod for the shaft and the spear head from some Old Glory spears I had lying around in the bit box.

A quick search of the internet will get you some cool "Viking" banners for free.

Gripping Beast has some really nice metal figures and a bought a few for leaders and extra's to round out my army. Did I mention that I made these for Dux Bellorum? Of course they can be used easily for just about any Dark Age set of rules.

The Big Boss which is a metal Gripping Beast Viking figure. He also has the +2 Stare of Intimidation.

Here are some samples of what you can do with the box:

For me the Dane axe was the hardest to put together. You have to get those arms on the body just right.

As I mentioned earlier, I found it MUCH easier to paint the shields separately before gluing them to the figure.

I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough Vikings! Easy to paint and very colorful with different shields. The Gripping Beast box of Hirdmen will definitely get you going on the right path.

The Sons of Astragard

Since the discovery of the uncharted island name Astragard by the French dirigible Hyperion, the lost Viking civilization that has been cut off from the rest of the world for centuries is now making an impact at the end of the 19th Century in the world of In Her Majesty's Name.

 The French dirigible Hyperion at about 85°N 67°W.

Since their discovery the Vikings of Astragard will hire themselves out as mercenaries to governments and private organizations or will simply raid in locations throughout the world that catches opponents and targets completely by surprise.

 Viking Raiding Party.

Erik Niallson is one of the most imposing and ferocious of Viking leaders - he towers over ordinary men and has an intimidating stare that many in Astragard will swear are the "Eyes of Odin."  His constant companion is his wolf Fenrir who is officially classified as a War Poodle.

Erik Niallson and Fenrir.  Erik is a metal Gripping Beast miniature and Fenrir is a Space Marine War Poodle from Games Workshop.

Name: Erik Niallson

Pluck: 2+

Leadership: +2

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +4

Shooting Value: +4

Talents: Inspirational, Fearless, Tough

Basic Equipment: The Spear of Odin +2 Weapon Bonus and -2 Pluck Penalty; Sword +2 Weapon Bonus and -1 Pluck Penalty

Armor: Ancient chain mail forged by Dwarfs (12)

Cost: 91 points

Name: Fenrir the Giant Wolf

Pluck: 5+

Leadership: 0

Speed: +2; Move 12" and Run 6".

Fighting Value: +3

Shooting Value: N/A

Talents: Tough, Terrifying

Basic Equipment: Teeth and Claws +1 Weapon Bonus and -1 Pluck Penalty

Armor: Tough Fur (8)

Cost: 30 points

 Bersi Skáldtorfuson the skald or bard of Astragard.  Figure is from Wargames Foundry's Late Roman range.

Name: Bersi Skáldtorfuson

Pluck: 5+

Leadership: +1

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +1

Shooting Value: 0

Talents: Medic, Erudite Wit, Inspirational (it's the sagas he will compose!), Intervention

Mystical Power: Clouding Men's Minds

Basic Equipment: Club Weapon Bonus +1

Armor: Brigadine

Cost: 46 points

 Bersi and Gunnbjorn the Beserker.  Gunnbjorn is a hard plastic Gripping Beast figure from their Viking Box set.

Name: Gunnbjorn

Pluck: 3+

Leadership: 0

Speed: +1

Fighting Value: +3

Shooting Value: 0

Talents: Berserker, Fearless, Tough

Basic Equipment: Great Axe +2 Weapon Bonus and -2 Pluck Penalty,  Sword +2 Weapon Bonus and -1 Pluck Penalty

Armor: Chainshirt (10), Shield +1 to armor if using Sword

Cost: 46 points

 Viking Warriors from Astragard.  Gripping Beast hard plastic figures.

Name: Viking Warrior

Pluck: 4+

Leadership: 0

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +1

Basic Equipment: Sword Weapon Bonus +2 and Pluck Penalty -1; Spear Weapon Bonus +2 and Pluck Penalty -1; Fighting Knife Weapon Bonus +1 and Pluck Penalty -1

Armor: Chainshirt and Shield (11)

Cost: 36 points

 Fenrir charges Chinese Imperial Soldiers.

 Now that Fenrir's belly is full he decides to take on the Yeti.

Gripping Beast Vikings

The other days my Vikings were standing in for tribal infantry while play testing The Men Who Would be Kings.  At the end I realized I have never really taken any "posed" pictures when I finished these Vikings as a Sea Raider Army for Dux Bellorum.  Since then they have battled Middle Earth, in Dragon Rampant and various other games over the last year.  The over whelming are from one box of Gripping Beast miniatures with 2 metal command packs thrown in for variety.

Half Way There!

I have finished 1/2 of my Sea Raiders Army for Dux Bellorum!  I think I'm on a roll!

More Vikings for Dux Bellorum

Not great photos but I am making progress on the Vikings Sea Raider army for Dux Bellorum.  All of the figures are Gripping Beast hard plastics.

 

The summer has been busy which is slowing down the painting but I would not trade it for the family time!  We are also hosting 2 students from Narashino, Japan and I took advantage of it to have them translate all of the Samurai terms for a possible new project!