General Update

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and getting ready for the New Year.
Time to post a quick update re the ranges.

Graven Images

The stock of Disturbia figures we have is now listed in the shop and are being sold at the 2007 prices!
The Cliffhangar and Gotterdammerung ranges should be on by the weekend. Don't forget these two ranges will be cast to order.

 Border Reivers

The Greens for the standing Gallowglass will be on their way to me shortly, 6 different figures followed by 6 more advancing/attacking.

Jacobite Rebellion

Richard has started work on the cast dollies, after some discussion we have decided to release the Government firing line first, 3 poses - at the ready, charge your bayonet and standing firing. Grenadiers and hat men. Hat men will be in regulation dress and campaign dress. A further set will be released later campaign dress but with hat brims turned down. Command for the above will also be available. There will also be some marching figures to be sculpted but these will be in the next set of sculpts.

So all in all could get off to a busy start of the year.

I have also listed some lovely Elizabethan flags we have in stock from Pete's flags and I also have the Jacobite and Royal Eccosse sets from Iain at Flags of War. There are also Clan and Regimental deals to be had under the Special Offers tab in the shop.

Whilst I dont have a trade stand at York if anyone wants an order to avoid postage let me know asap and I can bring it with me for collection there.

Finally all the best for the New Year.

Crann Tara to produce Graven Images 40mm ranges

I am pleased to say that Alan(Hoka Hey wargames) and I have reached agreement with Steve from Monolith designs to start producing the 40mm (1/48th) figures he sold under the Graven Images label.
First to be released are Cliff Hanger (characters and warriors from TV and Cinema sci fi- Gorrilla warriors, Flash Gordon etc) and Gotterdamerung ( WWII meets the occult so we have standard Russian,German and British troops and then throw in Zombies, vampires, werewolves etc)
I shall be listing these ranges in the shop over the festive break, initially they will be cast to order so please allow 21 days for delivery. If sales are ok Steve has a large number of masters we would like to get in to production.
We also have a limited stock of some figures from the Disturbia range (Sandmen, Ju-Ju warriors and very nasty scarecrows) I will also be listing these. They will be sold at the 2007 price and when they've gone that's it.

Have a look at the photos below, a lot of the Gotterdamerung figures are standard WWII chaps and can be used for skirmishing - for me the Warriors of Mongo look like a promising diversion!!!!

Web shop updated

Just a note to highlight the we shop has been updated.
I have had to increase the Jacobite figure pack prices by 0.50p for standard packs and 0.25p on command packs.
However to go someway to offset this I have now created regimental and clan packs which means you effectively get 24 figures including command and the command are free.
There's also a 'fiery cross ' deal which sees you getting 100 figures for £110 .
These can be found under the special deals tab. There's more to come with even larger discounts.
I have also listed the excellent Jacobite flags by 'Flags of  War' and the start of a range of Elizabethan flags by 'Pete's flags' both ranges worth checking.

Also coming shortly Martin of Warbases has caught the Reiver bug and is in the process of  creating a  Bastle House. We hope to be stocking this shortly.

Metal Masters back and on their way to Richard

Just a short update to say I have received the metal masters of the dollies for the regular troops and they have already been sent to Richard so hopefully it wont be too long before we start to see the Government troops taking their positions.

Dollies for the Government Troops are complete>

Changing tack again now back to the Jacobite Rebellion I should be receiving the Dollies from Richard tomorrow.

As you can see there's a good variety of poses etc. and the first of the cavalry.
The above will let us get the Government foot sculpted, the Irish Piquets, the alternative Royal Ecosse and the Dragoons - mounted and on foot.
Exciting times!!!

Test Casting done - Figures available to buy

Alan and I did all the test spins last night, spot on no problems so as a result of that all the figures are now listed in the shop
 http://www.cranntaraminiatures.co.uk/
Alan will be updating his shop this week also
http://www.hokaheywargaming.co.uk/

We have put up some great deals on multiple packs on the site just click on the special deals/offers tabs.
any problems just e.mail me.

Better Photos

I realised that the pictures I put up weren't that great so here's some better ones which show the figures off far more.

Crann Tara Miniatures Expands into Reiver Country,

 I am really pleased to inform people that together with Alan from Hoka Hey wargames
http://www.hokaheywargaming.co.uk/ 
we have purchased The Border Reiver range sculpted by the late Jim Bowen and once sold by Monolith under their Graven Images label.

Over the coming weeks I will be listing the figures on the Crann Tara shop, what is a surprise is that there are many figures that have never been released (almost 100) and Jim was obviously extending this into the Elizabethan Wars in Ireland of which there are also a  lot of figures.

We are in talks with a sculptor who we feel complements Jims style with a view to extending the Reiver range by adding some more characters such as Hounds Master, Hunters etc.and completing the Irish with cavalry and galloglass.
Comments regards other figures people would like to see would be appreciated.

I've also started work on some skirmish rules to go with the range so fingers crossed.


We plan on having the figures released in time for Smoggycon on the 23rd November and to be fully listed on the web shop by the month end.
In the mean time here's a few pics.

Auld Wat

Broken Men

Garrison Men Pike Level

Garrison Men Pike Marching

Irish Command

Irish Kern - Arquebus

Irish Kern -Javelin

The Reivers

The Bishop

Garrison Men - Bow

Irish Foot - Harquebus

More progress :) work on Government Troops

Richard  has been in touch to say he hopes to be able to start on the dollies for the Government troops  and the Irish Piquets in the next couple of weeks.
This will mean once they are done we can plan in to have the troops sculpted and the work will be quicker, it also means I can increase the variety.
First up will be the Government troops in campaign dress, turn backs unbuttoned, some with tricornes some with Tricorne turned down.
Marching and a firing line of standing firing and 'charge bayonet' , because of taking this route it also means I can get the Government troops in regulation dress completed as well.
Still giving thoughts to the Irish Piquets but they won't be far after.
Richard is also sculpting a mounted Dollie and some more dynamic poses for either skirmishing troops or the dismounted Government Dragoons.
Things are looking good.
Now all I need to do is sell some figures to pay for this!

New Figures now in stock

Just a short update to say that the new figures are all now in stock and uploaded on to the shop, so now's your time to get a few !!!!!!!

Highland Command and Lowlanders painted

Whilst waiting for Griffin to complete the production moulds and cast the first stock I have managed to complete painting the spare masters

First up are the lowlanders, nice figures and too be honest the plaid could be painted as anything as it has been made to be fairly non descript.

 Next is the lowland drummer flanked by two Highland Officers which will make up the lowland command for the moment.

 Highland Officers and piper.

 Finally the two firing figures, the one in trews can be painted as a lowlander or highlander as you see fit as can the two lowlander figures.
I shall be updating the shop over the next couple of days so when the stock arrives I'm ready to hit the road! (wishful thinking!)

Royal Ecossais painted

Whilst waiting for the production moulds to be finished and the first stock to arrive I've started painting some of the spare master figures I had cast.
The lowlanders and Highlanders are under way but the Royal Ecossais are done.
All self explanatory but the first is the advancing figure.

 A picture of all the figures

 The Command

 Finally marching

As usual with Richards sculpts they are a joy to paint and I can't wait to start on a full regiment, that of course will be for the imagi-nation so it will be around 50 figures strong.

Lowlanders should be next!

Metal Masters arrive

No pics for this. The metal masters arrived yesterday so I will work out mould contents today and get them back in the post on Monday.
That means I should have stock in for mid.September.
Website will be updated this week with the new packs and a may even a get a few of the new ones painted:)

New Greens finished and on their way

Been a long time coming but the new greens are done and on their way to me.
First up are the new Highlanders, a couple of firing figures,Officers and a piper.

 Then we have the Royal Ecossais I think the Officer is in a brilliant pose.

 Finally some lowlanders, in the short term Highland Officers will have to stand in.

Overall 13 new figures doubles the range!! I will start to update the web shop over the next couple of weeks. I guess it will be around 3 -4 weeks before I have moulds made and figures cast etc. But keep checking here and the shop for progress and updates.

Good news from Richard

Richard contacted me today to say he was well on with the highlanders and he'd started on the low landers and Royal Ecosse. He will send me pictures of the greens to post as he completes the figures so its looking good at last1:)

Great News at last

Just a short post to say that at last Richard has been in touch to say that he is now in a position to start my sculpts. I haven't pushed for a time scale but just a recap, there will be Royal Ecosse, Highland Command and Lowlanders.
Will keep you all updated. Thanks for being patient.

American stockist of Crann Tara Miniatures

Just a short note to announce that Keith from Loyalhanna outpost is to become the sole American stockist of Crann Tara Miniatures.
He is fully aware of the current problems faced by my sculptor but is happy to support the range which is good news all round.
The figures should be back from the casters this week and with Keith and a couple of weeks.
Check his web site for updates.
http://loyalhannaoutpost.com/

Decision Time

For those people who have made comment thank you, I have had further contact with Richard and have spoken with Frank (Minden Miniatures) and I have decided to stick with it and wait.

I think when I got the news I just felt that the range wasn't as advanced as Frank's and Jim's and therefore wasn't in a very strong position. But I know the range will be first class when complete and I want to see it complete.

Richard is doing some conversions and dolly work for Frank to get his 'eye' back in and to hopefully get him started again on the new figures.

So please be patient and watch for the updates, thanks

What To Do - The Future isn't Bright

Yesterday I received a long e.mail from Richard, firstly apologising for his lack of communication (which given his current circumstances is understandable), but more importantly stating he has put all his projects on hold!
He is effectively acting as a full time carer for his mother and says that all sculpting has effectively stopped and that even when he has time he finds he hasn't the energy to do professional sculpting justice.
This is a major blow for me and whilst he hasn't given up he has put the project on hold with no ability to predict when he can start again.
This leaves me with a predicament of what to do;-

I can sit tight and just wait - bearing in mind the project was for me originally.
I can look for some alternative sculptors - I have made some tentative enquiries but I'm not yet convinced they can match Richard's style.
I can look to sell up and possibly start all over again.
None of the decisions are easy to take as I have spent a bit of money on the project etc and have money set aside to continue the range but equally I don't just want the money to be sitting doing nothing.
Any thoughts?
Cheers.